Then on Sunday morning, the on-day middle school tournament will occur, as will the journey to determine a champion -- and seven other placers -- in each high school division weight class. Many of the nation's elite wrestlers will assemble for a truly rigorous "pre-test" as they "Battle for the Belt."
This is the 15th edition of the Super 32 Challenge in some iteration, an event that started as a local tournament at Morehead High School in North Carolina. It is the ninth year the tournament has been held at the Greater Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.
The past history of this tournament field, and the subsequent performance of the participants, provides validation for the Super 32 Challenge as being arguably the best showcase of high school wrestlers in the country. At the end of the 2012-13 season, 96 participants from the 2012 Super 32 Challenge appeared in the top 20 of the InterMat national weight class rankings; the prior two editions of the Super 32 had 70 participants in that year's season end rankings. In addition, over the last three years, an average of 200 participants earned a state title, New England Regional title, or National Prep title at season's end.
Based on the registration list as of Tuesday evening, the following is an overview of all fourteen weight classes, as well as a prediction for the top three finishers in each weight class.
106:
Four sophomores who ended their freshman seasons ranked nationally at this weight class lead the way in this year's opening weight of the Super 32 Challenge. Rudy Yates (Brother Rice, Ill.) was a state champion, and won last year's Preseason Nationals in this weight class; Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Academy, Tex.) won a National Prep title, and also was a Cadet freestyle national champion this summer; Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.) was fourth at state, and third at the FloNationals; while Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio) was a state champion, and champion at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals.
Top tier freshmen are also among the contenders in this weight class, led by Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.), who was a Super 32 Challenge middle school division champion before winning a New York high school state title at 99 pounds. Diakomihalis is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2017, and is joined by another pair of ranked incoming freshmen in No. 24 Paxton Rosen (Edmond North, Okla.) and No. 25 Austin DeSanto (Exeter, Pa.)
Notable veteran wrestlers in this weight class include state champion Devon Brown (Franklin Regional, Pa.), who was also champion at the FILA Cadet freestyle nationals in May; state runner-up Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), who was third in freestyle at the Junior Nationals this summer; state champion Toribio Navarro (Bradley Central, Tenn.); along with Junior folkstyle champion Christopher Lacayo (Santiago Corona, Calif.)
Ten additional All-Americans from Fargo this summer are featured in this weight class, including Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Joey Prata (St. Christopher's, Va.) and Cadet National freestyle champion Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.)
Prediction: Yates over Mueller in a rematch of last year's Preseason Nationals final for the Super 32 title, with Curry finishing third. However, there is talk of Mueller bumping up to 113 pounds; if that happens Warner is next in the ladder.
113:
Six of the eight placers in last year's Super 32 Challenge at 106 pounds return to the tournament in this weight class, led by the two finalists, Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) and Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.). Suriano went on to be an undefeated state champion during his freshman year of high school, and is No. 5 overall nationally in the Class of 2016; while Lee is the top incoming freshman nationally, was runner-up at the FloNationals, and was champion in freestyle at the FILA Cadet Nationals. Last year's final was a 4-3 classic won by Suriano on a takedown right before the end of the match.
Among other returning placers, Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry, Ohio) went onto win a state title, take third in Cadet freestyle, and is ranked nationally in the Class of 2015; Eli Stickley (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) won the Walsh Ironman, but was only third at his state tournament; Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.) went onto win a state title, was fourth in Cadet Greco-Roman, and is ranked nationally in the Class of 2016; while Hayden Lee (Marysville, Ohio) went on to place at state for a second consecutive year.
This very deep weight class also features another nationally ranked wrestler from the Class of 2016 and two more from the Class of 2017 respectively. Two-time state champion Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.) is ranked No. 16 nationally among all sophomores, won a NHSCA Freshman Nationals title, and was a FILA Cadet National Greco-Roman champion; returning Super 32 Challenge middle school champion Eric Hong (Georgetown Prep, Md.) is ranked No. 7 overall among freshmen, and has a fourth place finish at the FloNationals along with a double All-American finish at the Cadet Nationals to his credit before starting high school; while Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) is ranked No. 11 in the Class of 2017.
Seven other wrestlers in this weight class were All-Americans in Fargo this past summer, including Junior Greco-Roman champion Brandon Staley (Winter Springs, Fla.) and Junior double All-American Isaac Jimenez (Coronado, Tex.). Also meriting attention in this weight class are state champion Christian Moody (Collinsville, Okla.); three-time state placer Christian Clary (Dayton Christian, Ohio); and Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe, Pa.), who was a National Prep runner-up and placed at the Flo Nationals.
Prediction: Look for a rematch of last year's instant classic of a final at 106 pounds between Suriano and Lee, with Rodriguez leading the rest of the field.
120:
Among the favorites in this weight class are three of the nation's most elite seniors, all of whom finished the 2012-13 season ranked in the top five at 113 pounds. Stevan Micic (Hanover Central, Ind.) ended the season number one at the weight class, and is No. 25 overall among seniors nationally. He is a two-time state champion, and a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this past May. Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.) was runner-up at the Super 32 Challenge last year, champion at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, and is a three-time state champion; he is No. 43 overall in the Class of 2014. Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna, Del.) is a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, finished second to Russell at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, and has finished fifth twice in Junior freestyle; he is ranked No. 51 overall in the senior class.
Six other wrestlers in this talent heavy weight class placed at the FloNationals this past April. Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) was champion of the 106 pound weight class, has also placed third twice in the Super 32 Challenge, and is ranked No. 6 overall in the sophomore class. Nick Piccinnini (Ward Mellville, N.Y.) was runner-up at 113 pounds, is a two-time state champion, and stands No. 30 overall in the Class of 2015. Jake Gromacki (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.) is now a two-time FloNationals placer, a three-time state placer, and placed in the Super 32 last year. Two-time state finalist Markus Simmons (Broken Arrow, Okla.) was fifth at 113 pounds. State champion George Phillippi (Derry Area, Pa.) finished sixth at 113, and is ranked No. 26 overall in the sophomore class. State champion Kyle Akins (Sycamore, Ill.) was seventh at 113 pounds, and followed that up with a third place finish in freestyle at the Junior Nationals. Finally, Tyrone Klump (Nazareth, Pa.) placed third at state and fifth in the FloNationals, both at 106 pounds.
Eleven additional wrestlers were All-Americans this past summer in Fargo. Among that group are Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Skyler Petry (Watertown, Minn.), Cadet double finalist Mitch McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), and Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Chris Debien (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Other notable wrestlers in the tournament include state champion and three-time state placer Luis Gonzalez (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), returning Super 32 Challenge placer Brandon Olsen (Indian River, Va.), and NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Radley Gillis (Archbishop McCarthy, Fla.)
Prediction: Based on the registration list, Micic headlines the field; however, it is my understanding that he is in Russia and will not be in the tournament. As a result, look for a Russell vs. Fleetwood final, with Russell replicating results from last year's semifinal at 113 pounds and the NHSCA Junior Nationals 113 pound final from last spring. New Jersey state champ Gonzalez is my pick for third place.
126:
If one thinks the 120 pound weight class was crazy deep with talent, just check out this one that features five top 100 overall seniors. That group is led by No. 23 Tommy Thorn (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) and No. 27 Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.). Thorn is a three-time state champion, who in 2012 was both a champion in freestyle at both Junior Nationals and the FILA Cadet Nationals; while Millhof is a two-time state champion, who won both the Super 32 Challenge and NHSCA Junior Nationals during the 2012-13 season. Other top 100 seniors include No. 67 Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), a two-time state runner-up and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer; No. 68 Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.), a three-time state champion who was runner-up at the Super 32 last year; and No. 88 Dalton Macri (Canon-McMillan, Pa.), a two-time state placer who placed fifth at the Super 32 in 2010.
Further augmenting that group is four top 50 juniors and an additional top 50 sophomore. Leading the junior group is No. 23 Davion Jeffries (Broken Arrow, Okla.), a two-time state champion and 2012 Preseason Nationals champion; returning Super 32 placer Jared Prince (Palm Harbor University, Fla.) is No. 29 in the Class of 2015, and was third at the FloNationals; three-time state champion Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) is No. 43 among juniors, and was runner-up at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals; while No. 49 Brandon James (Perry Meridian, Ind.) is a returning Super 32 placer, and was a Junior National freestyle All-American this summer at 126 pounds. That sophomore would be No. 31 Kevin Budock (Good Counsel, Md.), a runner-up at National Preps and champion at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals.
2011 Super 32 placer James Flint (Brandon, Fla.), a four-time state finalist, is among four other wrestlers in this field to have earned an All-American finish in Fargo this past summer. Other returning Super 32 Challenge placers include New England regional champion Kevin Jack (Danbury, Conn.), two-time state placer Christian Innarrella (Delbarton, N.J.), and state placer A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa.)
Additional state champions meriting attention in this field are NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Anthony Tutolo (Lake Catholic, Ohio), Junior National folkstyle champion Trae Blackwell (Union County, Ky.), Deondre Wilson (Warren Central, Ind.), Eli Seipel (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), and FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Lincoln Olson (Davison, Mich.)
Prediction: Look for a Thorn v Millhof battle of top 30 seniors in the final, with Thorn upending last year's Super 32 champ. 2012 FloNationals champ Moisey is my pick for third place.
132:
Like the previous weight class, seven top 100 seniors are present in the field. This group is led by No. 34 Colton Adams (Scottsbluff, Neb.), a three-time state champion and three-time Preseason Nationals champion; No. 45 Gary Wayne Harding (Collinsville, Okla.) is also a three-time state champion, and this summer placed third in Junior freestyle; No. 55 Brock Ervin (Union County, Ky.) is a four-time state champion and was a NHSCA Junior Nationals champion this spring; No. 58 Anthony Giraldo (North Bergen, N.J.) won state this past year, is a three-time state placer, a returning Super 32 placer, and was third in both the NHSCA Junior Nationals and Junior Greco-Roman; No. 62 Mike Magaldo (Watchung Hills, N.J.) won state in 2012, is a three-time state placer, and was third in the FloNationals; No. 66 Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.), a three-time state champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer; while No. 93 Bryce Meredith (Cheyenne Central, Wyo.) is a three-time state champion and two-time Junior National freestyle All-American.
This field also gets a significant boost from the presence of three top 20 overall juniors, led by two-time Super 32 Challenge finalist Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.). Ranked No. 6 in his grade, Kemerer was champion in this tournament at 106 pounds in 2011, is a two-time state runner-up, and was an All-American in Junior freestyle this summer. Another high end junior is No. 10 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.), who was champion in 2012-13 at the Super 32 Challenge, Pennsylvania Class AAA tournament, and the FloNationals; while No. 19 Keegan Moore (Putnam City, Okla.) was a state champion this past year.
A further talent injection is provided by four nationally ranked sophomores: No. 21 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.) was a Cadet Nationals double finalist, No. 32 Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) placed third at state, No. 33 Chris Mauriello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) was a NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion, while No. 37 Griffin Parriott (New Prague, Minn.) is a two-time state placer and a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American. In addition, incoming freshman Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford, Pa.) is ranked No. 23 overall in that grade.
Six additional wrestlers in this field have earned All-American honors in Fargo during the course of their high school careers. Notable among this group are Tate Robinson (The Baylor School, Tenn.), three-time state champion Will Steltzen (Collinsville, Okla.), and Cadet freestyle runner-up Jonathan Ross (Northern York, Pa.). Three others in the field were placers at the FloNationals this past year: two-time state placer Zach Valley (Northampton, Pa.), three-time state champion Jamal Morris (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.), and state placer Kent Lane (Southern Columbia, Pa.)
Also meriting attention in this weight class are two-time state placer Chase Zemenak (Nazareth, Pa.), New England regional champion Christian Monserrat (Methuen, Mass.), and returning Super 32 Challenge placer Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg, Pa.)
Prediction: Look for a battle of past Super 32 Challenge champions in the final between Kemerer and Krivus, with the 2012 champ Kemerer coming up on top in this battle of star WPIAL juniors. Three-time Preseason Nationals champ Adams is my pick for third.
138:
A quartet of top 100 seniors anchor the field in this weight class, which led by No. 15 Jason Nolf (Kittanning, Pa.), a two-time state champion who placed third at the Super 32 last year and second at the FloNationals. Others in this group include No. 70 Cody LeCount (Perry Meridian, Ind.), a two-time state finalist and state champ this past year; No. 86 Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.), a two-time state placer who was third at the FloNationals this spring; and No. 99 Tanner Bailey (Broken Arrow, Okla.), a three-time state placer and state champ this past year.
Seven additional wrestlers in this field were All-Americans in Fargo this past summer, a group led by three-time state finalist Jonce Blayclock (Berryhill, Okla.), who was sixth in Junior freestyle at 138 pounds. Others include two-time state champion Justin Oliver (Davison, Mich.), who also finished third at the FloNationals; Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Blake Clevenger (Kearney, Mo.); along with Cadet Greco-Roman runners-up in Logan Kass (Benilde St. Margaret's, Minn.) and Patricio Lugo (South Dade, Fla.)
Three other wrestlers -- in addition to Nolf, Zacherl, and Oliver -- placed at the FloNationals this past April: state placer Jesse Rodgers (North Allegheny, Pa.), who was sixth at 132 pounds; three-time state placer Cody Burcher (Claymont, Ohio), who was seventh at 126; and state runner-up Zac Carson (Uniontown Lake, Ohio), eighth at 132.
Other notables in this tournament field include two-time state placer Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley, Pa.), who is ranked No. 18 in the Class of 2015, and a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American; returning Super 32 placer Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional, Pa.), a two-time state placer and ranked No. 26 in the Class of 2015; two-time state champion Max Thomsen (Union, Iowa), ranked No. 45 in the Class of 2015; NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Clay Walker (Eastside, S.C.); state placer Justin Thomas (Santiago Corona, Calif.), who is ranked No. 30 overall in the Class of 2016; along with Super 32 middle school champion Kyle Lawson (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2017.
Prediction: Last year Nolf was victim to an upset in the round of 32, which won't be the case this year, as he's my pick to win the tournament. Next in line are fellow top 100 seniors in LeCount and Zacherl, who both missed placement in last year's Super 32 Challenge by one round.
145:
This is yet another very deep weight class with five top 100 seniors and three top 50 juniors, including the pair of wrestlers who met in last year's final for this weight class: Solomon Chishko (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) and Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.), Leeth winning the match by injury default. Ranked No. 12 overall in the senior class, Chishko is after a rare fifth Super 32 Challenge placement finish (previously 8-5-3-2), and is a three-time state placer after winning state last season. Leeth is No. 40 in the Class of 2014, a three-time state finalist (two-time champion), and finished fifth in both the FloNationals and Junior National freestyle championships this past off-season.
Lead among the other ranked seniors is No. 18 Joseph Galasso (Father Judge, Pa.), a three-time state placer who won state this past year, and was eighth in last year's Super 32 Challenge after finishing second in the 2012 FloNationals. Alfred Bannister (Bishop McNamara, Md.) is ranked No. 20 in the senior class as a three-time National Prep placer, champion this past year, and also won Outstanding Wrestler honors at last December's Beast of the East; while two-time state runner-up Gary Dinmore (Hunterdon Central, N.J.) is No. 69 overall in the Class of 2014.
In the anchor position among juniors is Logan Massa (St. Johns, Mich.), who was fourth at the Super 32 Challenge last year and is No. 3 overall in the Class of 2015. Massa also was runner-up at the FILA Cadet Nationals in freestyle, third in freestyle at the FILA Junior Nationals, and a state champion during 2013. Next among the juniors is No. 11 Tommy Forte (Mishawaka, Ind.), a state champion and Junior National folkstyle runner-up. Two-time state placer Paden Bailey (Broken Arrow, Okla.) is No. 34 overall among juniors.
Five other wrestlers in this field earned an All-American finish in Fargo this past summer, head among them is Phil Downing (Broomfield, Colo.), a three-time state champion who has placed sixth in Junior Greco-Roman each of the last two years; as well as two-time state champion Josh Reyes (Parkrose, Ore.), who was seventh in Junior Greco-Roman this summer.
Others in this field meriting attention are former National Prep placer Nick Bennett (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.); state runner-up Frankie Garcia (Norwich, N.Y.); two-time state runner-up Aaron Hartman (Palm Harbor University, Fla.); Cadet folkstyle champion Carver James (Dakota, Ill.); NHSCA Freshman nationals champion Thomas Bullard (Archer, Ga.), who is ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2016; and returning state placer Michael Longo (Santiago Corona, Calif.)
Prediction: Look for Chishko to cement his name in Super 32 Challenge lore as a five-time placer with a title during his senior year, which is something that Taylor Massa -- NCAA round of 12 as a true freshman at the University of Michigan -- did in two years ago. With some irony, the prediction is here is that his opponent in the finals will be Logan Massa, who is Taylor's younger brother. Three top 40 seniors will battle it out for third place, with the pick here being Pennsylvania state champ Galasso.
152:
A pair of top 100 seniors and a pair of top 50 juniors head the field in this weight class. Those two seniors would be No. 22 Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian, Ohio) and No. 80 Zach Kelly (The Kiski School, Pa.). Danishek was runner-up at the Walsh Ironman this December, and is a three-time state champion; while Kelly is a two-time National Prep placer, was sixth at the Super 32 last year, and third in Junior freestyle this summer.
Notable among the juniors is three-time state champion Fox Baldwin (Osceola, Fla.), who is ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2015, placed third in last year's Super 32 and was a FloNationals champion in 2012 among three placing finishes in that tournament. The other nationally ranked junior is No. 50 Zach Hertling (Ocean Township, N.J.), a two-time state placer who also won a title at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals.
Six other wrestlers in this field have earned All-American honors in Fargo during the course of their career. Among that group is three-time state runner-up Jack Bass (Robinson, Va.), state champion Colstin DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.), and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Corbin Allen (Hanover, Va.).
Two others join Hertling and Allen in winning NHSCA grade-level nationals titles this past April: Cody Hughes (Marshwood, Maine), a two-time New England regional placer who won at the sophomore level; along with Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.), who both won freshman titles.
Additional notables in the field include returning Super 32 placer Toby Hague (McDonogh, Md.), who has also placed three times at National Preps; state champion Louis Hernandez (Mepham, N.Y.), two-time former state champion Hunter Sutton (Churchill, Md.), New England regional champion Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.), two-time state placer Jeric Kasunic (Benton, Pa.), and 2012 state champion Austin Eades (Jenks, Okla.)
Prediction: Look for a dynamic, high scoring battle between the senior Danishek and the freshman Baldwin in the final, with Danishek coming out on top. Kelly is my pick to finish third.
160:
Two of the nation's best seniors who did not win a state title during the 2012-13 season stand out at the head of this field. Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.) is ranked No. 19 overall in the Class of 2014, and did win state as a sophomore before falling to Chance Marsteller in his state finals bout last year. Peppelman is a three-time state placer (5-1-2), and a two-time Super 32 placer. Jonathan Schleifer (East Brunswick, N.J.) is ranked No. 28 in the senior class, and a three-time state placer (8-3-2). During the 2012-13 season, he also finished third at the Super 32 Challenge and was a FloNationals champion. A third high profile senior in this field is No. 32 Jack Clark (St. Augustine Prep, N.J.), a two-time National Prep champion, who was runner-up at the FloNationals this spring.
Three wrestlers in this field earned All-American honors in Fargo during the past summer. Among them are Christian Stackhouse (Riverside, N.J.), who was third in Junior freestyle; and Logan Breitenbach (Archbishop Spalding, Md.), who is also a two-time National Prep placer.
Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class are state champion and two-time state finalist Taylor Misuna (Grassfield, Va.), state runner-up and FloNationals placer Jordan Atienza (Franklin, Mich.), National Prep placer Dom Scalise (The Kiski School, Pa.), New England champion Andrew LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.), Preseason Nationals champion and two-time state finalist (state champ this past year) Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.), two-time state finalist and state champ this past year Michael Hamilton (Bartlesville, Okla.), state placer and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Ben Schram (Bellbrook, Ohio), and three-time state placer Austin Reese (Mechanicsburg, Ohio).
Prediction: Peppelman was less than 20 seconds away from a finals spot last year, giving up a takedown very late in the match against 2011 champion Josh Llopez. However, the pick this year is for him to not only reach the final but to win it. Look for Schliefer, who was also a late match loser in the other 160 pound semifinal last year, to make the final this year and finish as runner-up; while the pick here for third place is Clark.
170:
Chance Marsteller (Photo/Rob Preston)Garcia is a three-time state finalist, two-time state champion, and was seventh in Junior freestyle this past summer. White is a two-time National Prep placer, and has finished third the last two summers in Junior Greco-Roman. Harris is a three-time state placer, finishing as undefeated state champ this past year, and was seventh in last year's Super 32 at 152 pounds.
Three wrestlers in this tournament placed in this past April's NHSCA Junior Nationals. Lead among them is state champion Adis Radoncic (Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, N.Y.), who was fifth at 170 pounds. Others included two-time state champion Jake Henson (Pope, Ga.) and state qualifier Derek Holcomb (Newark Valley, N.Y.)
Other notable wrestlers in this field include Travis Linton (Rootstown, Ohio), a state champion who was fifth at the FloNationals; two-time state finalist T.J. O'Hara (Tartan, Minn.), who won state in 2012 and was third at the Preseason Nationals; three-time state placer Seth Williams (Tiffin Columbian, Ohio); state placer and 2012 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion David-Brian Whisler (Warren Howland, Ohio); two-time New England regional runner-up Brad Drover (North Andover, Mass.); state runner-up Steven Schneider (MacArthur, N.Y.); two-time National Prep placer Bryce Pappas (St. Mary's, Md.); two-time state champion and FILA Cadet double All-American Taylor Lujan (Carrollton, Ga.); and state champion Jacob Cooper (Springport, Mich.)
Prediction: With the nation's top Class of 2014 wrestler Marsteller in the field, there is little debate about who will win. The pick is obvious -- Marsteller is projected to add a second Super 32 title to the one he won in 2011. It should be an excellent battle between top 100 seniors Garcia, White, and Harris for other spots in the top three -- with my picks being Garcia for second and White for third.
182:
Two top 100 seniors headline the field in this weight class, No. 46 Lance Dixon (Edmond North, Okla.) and No. 71 Zack Zavatsky (Greater Latrobe, Pa.). Dixon is a three-time state placer, who won state this past year, and was sixth in Junior freestyle at 170 pounds; while Zavatsky is a two-time state placer, and was third in the FloNationals at 170 this spring.
Four Pennsylvania state placers are among the other more notable wrestlers in this field: Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs), Tom Sleigh (DuBois), Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown), and Stephen Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic). Sponseller is a two-time placer, having finished third and second the last year years; Sleigh placed third this past year, and also took sixth at the FloNationals in April; Reynolds was fourth at state, and a match away from placing at the Super 32 last year; while Loiseau was fifth at state.
Others to watch include National Prep champion Nicky Hall (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), who also placed fourth and second in New York the two years prior; Cadet Greco-Roman champion Hunter Ritter (John Carroll, Md.), who also was champion at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals and third at National Preps; Cadet freestyle runner-up Jack Harris (Urbana, Ohio), who placed fifth at state as a freshman and is ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2016; two-time state placer Armani Robinson (Greeneview, Ohio), who also was an All-American at the FILA Cadet Nationals in freestyle; NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Malik McDonald South View, N.C.); state runner-up Jared Langley (Newton, Kans.); as well as state placers Tyler Wildmo (St. Johns, Mich.), and Nick Costa (Brick Memorial, N.J.)
Prediction: Look for a battle of top 100 seniors in the final, with Dixon upending Zavatsky, while Hall finishes in third place.
195:
Four of the nation's elite seniors anchor the field in this weight class: No. 57 Nathan Rose (Sibley East, Minn.), No. 72 Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.), No. 78 Derek White (Edmond North, Okla.), and No. 81 Joel Dixon (Edmond North, Okla.). Rose is a two-time state champ, who won the Preseason Nationals title last year, and was champion at both the NHSCA freshman and sophomore nationals; Ness is a three-time state champ, who was fourth at the Super 32 last year, and runner-up at the FloNationals in April; White was a state champion this past year, and finished third in Junior freestyle this summer; while Dixon finished as a state runner-up, and was second in Junior freestyle this summer.
Two excellent sophomores, both of whom were champions at this past April's NHSCA Freshman Nationals, are also among the field in this weight class: No. 22 Matthew Correnti (Holy Cross, N.J.) and No. 36 Drew Phipps (Norwin, Pa.). Correnti placed eighth at state, and took third in Cadet freestyle this summer; while Phipps qualified for state and took sixth in Cadet freestyle. Another pair of wrestlers in this field placed eighth at the FloNationals: Teddy Warren (Dundee, Mich.), who was also a state champion in 2012-13; and Bailey Faust (Lexington, Ohio), who qualified for state in 2012-13 and also earned double All-American honors at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo.
Additional notable wrestlers in this field include state placer Ralph Normandia (Franklin, N.J.), NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American Michael Oxley (Christian Brothers Academy, N.J.), state champions Alec Shunnarah (Hoover, Ala.) and Anthony Mancini (Salesanium, Del.), along with Cadet National double All-American Randy Scott (Mooresville, Ind.)
Prediction: Four top 100 seniors are in this weight class, and should head the show; but when all is said and done, look for Rose to beat Ness in the final with White taking third.
220:
Two of the wrestlers with an All-American finish in Fargo on the resume stand at the head of the field in this weight class. The first of the pair is Andrew Dixon (Edmond North, Okla.), a two-time state finalist, state champion this past year, who also was a Junior freestyle All-American in 2012 and is ranked No. 30 overall in the Class of 2014. During his freshman season, Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) placed fourth at the Super 32 Challenge, second at the state tournament and FloNationals, and was a Cadet Nationals double All-American; he is ranked No. 8 overall in the Class of 2016.
Another pair of wrestlers joins Wood as returning place-winners in the Super 32 Challenge. Christian Jenco (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) placed third in this weight class last year, while NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Trent Allen (South Brunswick, N.C.) placed sixth.
Other wrestlers to watch in this field include returning state placer Jake Temple (Avella, Pa.), two-time state finalist and NHSCA Junior Nationals third place finisher Matthew Moore (Apalachee, Ga.), New England regional runner-up Ian Butterbrodt (St. Johns, Mass.); Rafael Rokosz (Southampton, N.Y.), a Junior Greco-Roman All-American; two-time state placer Jerry Thornberry (Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio); along with a pair of state runners-up in Ben Cruz (Osceola, Fla.), John Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.), and Oliver McKenzie (Waynesboro, Va.)
Prediction: Look for a second Dixon triplet, this time Andrew, to be in possession of a championship belt with Keystone State natives Wood and Temple rounding out the top three.
285:
Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) has been in the finals the last two years in the 220 pound weight class, winning as a sophomore before falling to future college teammate Kyle Snyder in last year's final at the Super 32. However, the three-time state champion and No. 9 overall Class of 2014 prospect, moves up a weight class for this year's tournament. He'll enter as the favorite, but a group of five notable seniors will be among the challenge pack.
Leading that group is two-time Junior National freestyle All-American Jake Scanlan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), who has placed fourth the last two years at the Iowa state tournament. Haines is also joined in this weight class by the defending weight class champion at the Super 32 in Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.), a New England regional champion who earned double All-American honors at the Junior Nationals this summer after placing fifth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in April. State champion Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio) placed fourth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals after finishing fifth at the Super 32 Challenge last year. Logan Turner (Cave Spring, Va.) missed the 2012-13 season, but placed third at state in 2012 and was sixth in the Super 32 last year; while Austin Underwood (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.) was a state runner-up and seventh in the Super 32 down one weight class last season.
Others to watch include state champion Patton Gossett (White Knoll, S.C.), FILA Cadet Greco-Roman champion Gavin Jolley-Little (Jeffersonville, Ind.), NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American Dakota Bell (North Wilkes, N.C.), and FILA Cadet freestyle runner-up Nick Nader (Gahanna Lincoln, Ohio).
Prediction: Look for it to be a battle of past Super 32 champions in the final, with Haines winning his second title in three finals appearances; while defending champion Webb takes second. Projected to finish third is two-time Junior National freestyle All-American Scanlan.
Follow InterMat throughout the weekend for updates on the Super 32 Challenge -- via Twitter (@JoshMLowe), and recap articles updating competition after both Saturday and Sunday.
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