103 Pounds
Leading the pack is top seed Nick Brascetta of St. Paris Graham (Ohio), who placed sixth in last year's Ironman. Right behind him is Fargo double national champion, super-frosh Mark Grey of Blair Academy (New Jersey). These two stand out as the front-runners in the first of several possible match-ups between Graham and Blair. Also, keep an eye on Cadet All-American Kevon Powell of Montini Catholic (Illinois).
Those you know: Brascetta, Grey and Powell.
Those you don't know: Corey Keener of Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania), Dominic Malone of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania), and Mitch Baran of Brecksville Broadview-Heights (Ohio).
Predicted championship match: Brascetta vs. Grey
Hunter Stieber (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)This is the first of several outstanding weight classes at the Ironman. If defending champion Hunter Stieber of Monroeville (Ohio) wants to be champion again, he will definitely earn it. Standing in his way is second-seeded, Cadet All-American Devin Carter of Christiansburg (Virginia), third seeded Gus Sako of traditional powerhouse St. Edward (Ohio) and Cadet All-American Evan Silver of Blair Academy. Pennsylvania state runner-up Mason Beckman of Reynolds (Pennsylvania) is a tough draw as the No. 7 seed.
Those you know: Stieber, Carter, Sako, Carter and Beckman
Those you don't know: Jerome Robinson of St. Ignatius (Ohio), Geoff Alexander of Shady Side Academy (Pennsylvania) and Kegan Squire of Wadsworth (Ohio)
Predicted championship match: Stieber vs. Beckman
119 Pounds
Traditionally a strong weight class with several ranked wrestlers, 119 does not disappoint. Leading the field is Ohio state champion Jamie Clark of St. Edward (Ohio). Closely behind him … National Prep champion Sean Boyle of Blair Academy (New Jersey), and Cadet All-American Jesse Delgado of Gilroy (California). After those three, the depth drops off, but keep an eye on Oklahoma state runner-up Derek Steeley of Broken Arrow (Oklahoma), who is a dangerous draw at the No. 8 seed.
Those you know: Clark, Boyle, Delgado, Steeley
Those you don't know: Shane Gentry of Colonial Forge (Virginia), Gabe Gomez of Broomfield (Colorado), and James Ingrham of University School (Ohio)
Predicted championship match: Clark vs. Boyle
125 Pounds
This weight class lost some of its thunder with Logan Stieber of Monroeville (Ohio) and Martin Gonzalez of Gilroy (California) both out with injuries, but there are still several nationally-ranked wrestlers competing. Sam White of Massillon Perry (Ohio) and Zach Neibert of St. Paris Graham (Ohio) are the clear favorites. White defeated Neibert during last year's tournament, so this gives something fans can look forward to. Simon Kitzis of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) is an entertaining wrestler and should test Neibert in the semifinals.
Those you know: White, Neibert and Kitzis
Those you don't know: Pat Owens of Germantown Academy (Pennsylvania), Brandon Westerman of McEachern (Georgia) and Garrett Frey of Blair Academy (New Jersey)
Predicted championship match: White vs. Neibert
130 Pounds
What a weight class! At the top is 2006 Ironman champion Tony Ramos of Glenbard North (Illinois). Close behind is 2007 Ironman champion Chris Villalonga of Blair Academy (New Jersey) and Luke Goettl of Mingus (Arizona). For Ramos to reach the final, he may have to go through AAA Pennsylvania state champion Cort Choate of Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania), only a No. 8 seed, and super-frosh Felipe Martinez of St. Paris Graham (Ohio), who is the No. 13 seed. Villalonga could see Cadet-All American Cam Tessari of Monroeville (Ohio) in the quarters as well.
Those you know: Villalonga, Ramos, Goettl, and Choate
Those you don't know: Martinez, Frank Martellotti of Shady Side Academy (Pennsylvania), and Devon Brown of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania)
Predicted championship match: Villalonga vs. Ramos
135 Pounds
Another brutal weight class which shows why Ironman is the premier high school folkstyle tournament. The top seed is three-time Ironman champion David Taylor of St. Paris Graham (Ohio), who has moved up four weight classes from last season. Seeded No. 2 is Josh Kindig of Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania), who lost to Taylor 1-0 in the finals of Super 32 last month. Jimmy Chase of Glenbard North (Illinois) is also looking to capitalize on his fourth-place finish the 2008 U.S. Olympic Tea Trials (Greco-Roman). In this weight class, there will be plenty of interesting early matchups. National Prep champ Austin Ormsbee of Blair Academy (New Jersey) is a tough draw as the No. 10 seed.
Those you know: Taylor, Kindig, and Chase
Those you don't know: Andrew Williams of Tabb (Virginia), Josh Chang of Mingus (AZ), and Zac Hancock of Troy Christian (Ohio)
Predicted championship match: Taylor vs. Kindig
140 Pounds
Fans everywhere are looking forward to seeing Collin Palmer of St. Edward (Ohio) and Andrew Alton of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania), but there are two other wrestlers who may have a say. Vlad Dombrovsky of Natomis (California) is a California state champion … and Dane Johnson of Shady Side Academy (Pennsylvania) is a two-time Pennsylvania state champion. The semfinals of this weight class should be exciting. Keep an eye on California state runner-up Kyle West of Oak Ridge (California), who will be a sleeper at the No. 10 seed.
Those you know: Palmer, Alton, Dombrovsky, and Johnson
Those you don't know: West, Raider Lofthouse of Mountain Crest (UT), and Jordan Thome of Troy Christian (Ohio)
Predicted championship match: Palmer vs. Alton
Brad Squire (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Dylan Alton of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania) is a clear favorite here at 145. Seth Horner of Massillon Perry (Ohio) and Brad Squire of Wadsworth (Ohio) will make things interesting, but Alton is the class of this weight class.
Those you know: Alton, Horner Squire
Those you don't know: Brian Stephens of St. Paris Graham (Ohio), Pierce Harger of Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) and Weston Lymangrover of Mingus (Arizona).
Predicted championship match: Alton vs. Squire
152 Pounds
This is one of the few weight classes without a clear favorite. Leading the pack is top-seeded David Habat of St. Ignatius (Ohio). Next is Fargo champion Brandon Rolnick of Lawrenceville (New Jersey) and Cadet All-American Zach Skates of Broken Arrow (Oklahoma). Keep an eye on super-frosh Jason Luster of Woodbury Forest (Virginia), who may surprise people as the No. 11 seed.
Those you know: Habat, Rolnick, and Skates
Those you don't know: Luster, Adam Hogue of Blair Academy (New Jersey) and Isiah Meade of Caesar Rodney (DE)
Predicted championship match: Habat vs. Skates
160 Pounds
Again, another weight class that is totally up for grabs. Kyle Lang of Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Ohio) is the top seed, but Zach Toal of Troy Christian (Ohio) and Riley Kilroy of Padua Franciscan (Ohio) will challenge him for the title. Keep an eye on No. 11 seed Jesse Shanaman of Blair Academy (New Jersey) and No. 12 seed Justin Armstrong of Bishop Lynch (TX). Both will make runs at this weight.
Those you know: Kilroy, Lang, and Toal
Those you don't know: Shanaman, Armstrong, and Kyle Ryan of St. Paris Graham (Ohio)
Predicted championship match: Armstrong vs. Toal
Chris Phillips (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Arguably the most interesting weight class of the tournament. Many remember Chris Phillips of Monroeville (Ohio) stealing the show by winning the tournament last year as a freshman at this weight. If he is to repeat, he must go through Ed Ruth of Blair Academy (New Jersey) and Ethan Lofthouse of Mountain Crest (Utah). Fourth-seeded Nick Hefflin of Massillon Perry (Ohio) could also be a sleeper at this weight.
Those you know: Ruth, Phillips, Lofthouse
Those you don't know: Hefflin, James Mannier of St. Paris Graham (Ohio), and Michael Harvey of Germantown Academy (Pennsylvania)
Predicted championship match: Lofthouse vs. Ruth.
189 Pounds
Max Huntley of Blair Academy (New Jersey) and Max Thomusseit of St. Paris Graham (Ohio) lead the pack here. Nick Mills of University School (Ohio) should test Thomusseit in the semfinals, but look for a potential Graham-Blair final in what should have a huge impact on the team race. Keep an eye on unseeded, Virginia state runner-up Billy Curling of Great Bridge (Virginia), who could surprise some people in the early rounds.
Those you know: Mills, Huntley, Thomusseit
Those you don't know: Curling, Roman SanDoval of Shady Side Academy (Pennsylvania) and Carl Foreside of Montini Catholic (Illinois)
Predicted championship match: Huntley vs. Thomusseit
215 Pounds
Joe McMullen of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) is the favorite here. Oklahoma state runner-up Terry Williamson of Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) is another wrestler to keep an eye on. Ryan Nelisse of Elyria (Ohio) could also make be a threat to win this weight class.
Those you know: McMullen, Williamson, Nelisse
Those you don't know: Mike Green of St. Edward (Ohio), Grant Goebel of Montini Catholic (Illinois), and Ben Krakower of Blair Academy (New Jersey)
Predicted championship match: McMullen vs. Williamson
285 Pounds
Jeremy Johnson of Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Ohio) is the clear favorite here. Will Ringer of Reynolds (Pennsylvania) and James Meder of Valley Forge (Ohio) will try to stand in Johnson's way.
Those you know: Johnson, Ringer and Meder
Those you don't know: Michael McMullen of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania), Zack Corl of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania), and Zach Hanson Parkersburg South (West Virginia)
Predicted championship match: Johnson vs. Ringer
Team race: In a close race, look for Blair Academy to overtake St. Paris Graham to re-claim their spot as the No. 1 team in the nation. Keep an eye on steadily improving Wadsworth, who should have a good showing as well.
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