Vitali Arujau wrestling Amirhossein Maghsoudi of Iran in the Cadet World finals (Photo/Gerhard Remus)Over recent years, the Super 32 Challenge has served as a key measuring stick for the high-end high school wrestler. In the 2016 NCAA Division I tournament, eight of the finalists participated in this event during their high school career. That includes four of the ten NCAA champions: Dean Heil (Oklahoma State), Zain Retherford (Penn State) two-time national champion Isaiah Martinez (Illinois), and Kyle Snyder (Ohio State). Furthermore, of the 330 qualifiers, over one-third were past Super 32 Challenge participants; while 32 of the 80 All-Americans had participated in this tournament during their scholastic career. Also of note, Olympic champion Kyle Snyder won the Super 32 Challenge in October 2012.
This coming year's event should be no exception. The talent level among the approximately 1,500 wrestlers registered to compete is extraordinarily high. Competition starts on Saturday morning (Oct. 15) at 8 a.m. ET, and continues on Sunday (Oct. 16) with 16 wrestlers remaining in the competition, quarterfinals starting at 8 a.m.
Below is a weight-by-weight overview.
Note: Information used for this preview is based on the list of registered wrestlers as of Sunday evening, Oct. 9. There will likely be further changes in weight classes, as well as wrestlers listed here who do not compete in the event.
106: In past years, this opening weight class has been a bastion for star freshmen to win championships. In recent years that list includes Adam Busiello, Cade Olivas, Yianni Diakomihalis, Nick Suriano, and Michael Kemerer. The last non-freshman to win this weight class was Darian Cruz back in 2010. Leading those candidates this year would be No. 6 Jeremiah Reno (Liberty, Mo.), No. 11 Andrew Cerniglia (Nazareth, Pa.), No. 25 Cullan Schriever (Mason City, Iowa), and Greg Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.)
However, the most credentialed wrestler in this weight class is a sophomore, Mosha Schwartz (Ponderosa, Colo.). Ranked No. 34 overall in the Class of 2019, he was a Cadet Triple Crown winner in 2015, a Junior National folkstyle champion this spring, and was on the Cadet World Team in Greco-Roman at 46 kilograms.
In addition to Diakomihalis, at least five other wrestlers in this weight class were state champions last year: two-time Junior freestyle All-American Cody Phippen (Platte County, Mo.), Junior National double All-American Brandon Kaylor (Bonney Lake, Wash.), Ryan Chauvin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), two-time Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Elijah Varona (South Dade, Fla.), and Junior National double finalist Brendon Garcia (Pueblo County, Fla.)
Additional Fargo freestyle All-Americans from this past summer in this weight class include Eric Faught (Clear Lake, Iowa), Lucas Byrd (LaSalle, Ohio), Eric Barnett (Hortonville, Wis.), Keegan O'Toole (Arrowhead, Wis.), Cevion Severado (Christian Brothers College, Mo.), Dylan Ryder (Half Hollow Hills West, N.Y.), Cody Craig (Skowhegan, Maine), Nathaniel Rankin (Plano East, Texas), Brandon Nunez (John Browne, N.Y.), and Riley Weir (Sand Springs, Okla.). An additional top contender includes Israel Navarro (Wilmar, Minn.), a state medalist who ended the 2015-16 season nationally ranked at 106 pounds.
113: Last year's 106 pound champion Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.), ranked No. 8 in the Class of 2019, will lead an excellent group of wrestlers in this weight class. Three other nationally ranked sophomores are among the stars of the field. No. 16 Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) was a Cadet National freestyle champion this past summer, No. 19 JoJo Aragona (Pope John, N.J.) was runner-up to Busiello at the Super 32 Challenge last year, while No. 42 Colt Newton (Choctaw, Okla.) placed third in Cadet freestyle this summer.
Five other wrestlers have won major national level tournaments during this calendar year. Nico Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.) was champion in Junior freestyle, and is ranked No. 43 in the Class of 2018; Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia, Pa.) was champion in Junior Greco and at the FloNationals; Jesse Vasquez (St. John Bosco, Calif.) was champion in Cadet folkstyle, and is ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2020; Corey Gamet (Parma Western, Mich.) was a Cadet freestyle champion; Jace Koelzer (Olathe South, Kansas) was champion in Cadet folkstyle and Greco-Roman.
Five additional wrestlers were runners-up in major national level tournaments during the calendar year. Returning Super 32 placer Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa) was runner-up in Junior folkstyle, Joseph Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.) was runner-up in Junior Greco, Ben Kamali (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) was runner-up at the FloNationals, while T.J. Hicks (Bradley Central, Tenn.) and Jake Ferri (Shawseen Tech, Mass.) were NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up finishers.
Other notable contenders include state champion Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), who placed third in both styles at the Junior Nationals this summer; two-time state placer Nate Keaton (Circleville, Ohio), champion at the Walsh Ironman last December; two-time state placer Matt Cardello (CVCA, Ohio), third place at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle; and Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2020.
120: Wrestlers whom are among the best in their grade are abound in this weight class, with ten whom appear in the InterMat national rankings for their respective graduating class. The group is led by 2017 wrestlers Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio) and Drew West (Highland Riverside, Iowa). No. 63 Mattin is a two-time state champion, two-time Super 32 placer, and two-time Junior National freestyle All-American; while No. 83 West is a three-time state placer, winning a state championship as a sophomore.
Another pair are from the Class of 2018. No. 43 Tommy Hoskins (Legacy Christian, Ohio) is a two-time state champion and placed eighth in Junior freestyle this summer; while No. 49 Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.) was runner-up at the Super 32 last year, and is a two-time state runner-up. Another three are from the Class of 2019, led by No. 5 Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.), a state champion this past season. In addition are No. 17 Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) and No. 43 Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.); Alirez is a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American and was also a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American this spring.
Another are elite freshmen in No. 2 Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) and No. 4 Sam Hillegas (North Hills, Pa.); Saunders is a two-time middle school division champion at the Super 32 and was a semifinalist in Cadet freestyle this summer, while is a three-time middle school division champion at the Super 32. Lastly is Carson Manville (South County, Va.), No. 2 overall among Junior High wrestlers and champion in the Super 32 middle school division last year.
Four others in this weight class were Junior freestyle All-Americans this summer. Two-time state champions Jet Taylor (Sallisaw, Okla.) and Dominic LaJoie (Gaylord, Mich.) also placed at the FloNationals, while Brock Bergelin (Denmark, Wis.) and Clayton Singh (Kearney, Mo.) are both two-time state champions. Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class include two-time state placer Anthony Cirillo (Rocky Point, N.Y.), three-time state placer Jonathan Gomez (Locust Valley, N.Y.), state champion Brock Henderson (North Linn, Iowa), three-time state champion Korbin Meink (Skutt Catholic, Neb.), and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Chris Wright (Central Dauphin, Pa.)
126: Five of the top six finishers from last year's 120 pound weight class at the Super 32 anchor the field of this weight class. Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) was the champion, and is ranked No. 21 in the Class of 2018; he also was champion at both the NHSCA Freshman and Sophomore Nationals. Two-time state placer Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) was the runner-up, and is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2017. Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2019, placed third; he is a two-time Cadet National double champion and was a state runner-up during the high school season. Alex Thomsen (Underwood, Iowa) placed fifth, and is ranked No. 29 in the Class of 2018; he was a Junior National All-American in both styles this summer, and is a two-time state champion. State champion Colin Valdiviez (Rockhurst, Mo.) placed sixth, and is ranked No. 80 in the Class of 2017.
Four other wrestlers in this weight class are ranked within their respective grade levels. From the Class of 2017 it is a pair of NHSCA Junior Nationals placers in No. 89 K.J. Fenstermacher (Northampton, Pa.), a two-time state placer; and No. 92 Robert Garcia IV (Selma, Calif.), a three-time state placer. Cadet National freestyle champion Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) is a three-time state champion, and ranked No. 28 in the Class of 2018; while NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) is ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2019 and was a New England Regional runner-up last year.
Additional wrestlers to watch include Junior National freestyle All-Americans Dan Moran (Northampton, Pa.) and Jakob Campbell (Boyertown, Pa.), NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Jose Tapia (Capital, N.M.), state champion Jake Gliva (Simley, Minn.), 2014 Super 32 placer Shane Metzler (West Morris Central, N.J.), three-time state champion Clai Quintanilla (North Central, Wash.), and UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Chase Zollmann (Poway, Calif.)
132: Seven of the top 100 wrestlers from the Class of 2017 are present in this weight class, most notable among them is No. 3 Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.). The UWW Cadet world silver medalist in freestyle is a three-time state champion and placed third at the Super 32 last year in that loaded 126 pound weight class. Rounding out the group of seven are No. 23 Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.), a state champion and FloNationals champion last March; No. 32 Chris Sandoval (Windsor, Colo.), fourth in this weight class at the Super 32 last year and champion in Junior folkstyle; No. 40 Paul Konrath (Connections Academy, Ind.), champion in Junior folkstyle and runner-up in Junior freestyle; No. 54 Kyran Hagan (Eureka, Mo.), runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American; No. 87 Drew Marten (Tecumseh, Mich.), a state champion; and No. 98 Zach Trampe (Council Rock South, Pa.) a two-time state placer and 2015 FloNationals placer.
Six other wrestlers are ranked within their respective grade level. Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) is ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2018, and is a two-time state champion, two-time Super 32 placer, and two-time FloNationals placer. Cadet freestyle All-American Dustin Plott (Tuttle, Okla) is ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2020, and also won the middle school division at the Super 32 last year; while Austin Boone (Lowell, Mich.) is No. 22 among freshmen. State runner-up Devin Schwartzkopf (Francis Howell Central, Mo.) is ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2019, returning state placer Ryan Vulakh (North Penn, Pa.) is ranked No. 30 in among sophomores, while state champion and Cadet freestyle All-American Kevon Davenport (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) is No. 47 in the class.
Additional wrestlers to watch in this absolutely loaded weight class include returning Super 32 placers Quinn Kinner (Kingsway Regional, N.J.), Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin, Pa.), and Mason Wohltman (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.); returning FloNationals placers Zack Donathan (Mason, Ohio) and Marshall Keller (Christiansburg, Va.); two-time state placer and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.); five-time state champion Zach Van Alst (Montgomery Catholic, Ala.); Junior freestyle All-American Jeremy Schoenherr (Stratford, Wis.); Cadet National double finalist Mason Phillips (Stanwood, Wash.); and three-time state placer Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.)
138: Four star juniors are among the anchor wrestlers in this weight class, most notable among them is FloNationals champion Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), who is ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2018; Sasso placed third in the Super 32 last year, finished runner-up in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals, and earned All-American honors in both styles at the Cadet Nationals each of the last two years. No. 19 Jaden Mattox (Grove City Central Crossing, Ohio) placed in the Super 32 as a freshman and is a two-time state finalist, including a state title this past season. No. 22 Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind.) placed fifth at the Super 32 in this weight class last year, was a state champion this past high school season, and a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American. Rounding it out is No. 31 Grant Aronoff (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fla.), state champion this past season and champion at the NHSCA Freshman and Sophomore Nationals.
Four other grade level ranked wrestlers are present in this weight class, most notable among them is FloNationals runner-up Ben Freeman. Ranked No. 30 in the Class of 2017, he is also a three-time state champion and two-time Super 32 placer. From the Class of 2019, No. 20 Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) and No. 44 Jake Mariakis (Ridgeland, Ga.) are in the field; state champion Amine was a Cadet National double All-American, while state runner-up Mariakis placed at the FloNationals. Rounding it out is Sonny Santiago (St. John Bosco, Calif.), ranked No. 19 in the Class of 2020.
Additional wrestlers to watch include returning Super 32 placer Corey Shie (La Salle, Ohio), a two-time state placer; New England Regional champion Timmy Kane (Fairfield Warde, Ct.); two-time state champions Jacob Greenwood (Poudre, Colo.) and Josh Humphreys (St. Alban's, W.Va.); NHSCA Junior Nationals placers Jimmy Hoffman (Hazelton, Pa.), Bradley Beaulieu (Marshfield, Me.), Danny Bertoni (Middletown, Md.), Robbie Cleary (Bound Brook, N.J.), and Sammy Hepler (Tri-Valley, Pa.); three-time state champion and FloNationals placer Knox Fuller (Bradley Central, Tenn.); Junior folkstyle runner-up Chris Deloza (Clovis North, Calif.); Cadet folkstyle runner-up Kasper McIntosh (Portage, Ind.); as well as 2014 Super 32 placers Roderick Mosley (Heritage Hall, Okla.) and Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, N.Y.)
145: Four nationally ranked Class of 2017 wrestlers are among the anchors of this weight class, including No. 11 Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.), a three-time state champion and runner-up in this Super 32 weight class last year. No. 24 Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) placed fourth at the Super 32 two years ago, was a UWW Cadet world champion in freestyle in the summer of 2015, and was a Junior National freestyle runner-up this past summer. The other two ranked seniors are returning Super 32 placers in No. 76 Peter Pappas (Plainview JFK, N.Y.) and No. 91 Denton Spencer (Camden County, Ga.); both wrestlers are also two-time state runners-up, while Spencer also was champion at the NHSCA Junior Nationals this past spring.
Also among the contenders here are a trio of nationally ranked Class of 2018 wrestlers. Most notable among them is returning Super 32 placer Joe Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.). Ranked No. 8 in the junior class, Lee is a two-time state finalist -- winning this past year -- and was a UWW Cadet National freestyle runner-up at 69 kilograms. No. 15 Anthony Artalona (Tampa Prep, Fla.) is a two-time state champion and beat Verkleeren to win a Junior National freestyle title this summer. No. 40 Josiah Rider (Grand Junction, Colo.) is placed fifth in this weight class last year at the Super 32 and was a state champion come season's end. Two other grade level ranked wrestlers in this weight class are No. 9 Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), who placed fourth at the state tournament as a freshman; and two-time state placer Ashton Habeil (Lake Gibson, Fla.), who is ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2020.
Others to watch include three-time state finalist Brik Filippo (Tuttle, Okla.), state champion this past season; FloNationals placers in Brock Wilson (Nazareth, Pa.), Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny, Pa.) and Nick Santos (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.); two-time state champions Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake, Iowa) and Justin Ruffin (Union Grove, Ga.); two-time state placers Sandro Ramirez (Wauseon, Ohio) and Tyler Shilson (Centennial, Mass.); NHSCA Junior Nationals placers Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.), Ryan Monteiro (Minnechaug Regional, Mass.), Chase Archangelo (Smyrna, Del.), and Bryce Marcus (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fla.); along with NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Joe Casey (Bound Brook, N.J.)
152: Five nationally ranked Class of 2017 prospects are among the notable stars of this field. Most notable among them is No. 9 Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), a three-time state champion -- and 2015 UWW Cadet world team member in freestyle -- who suffered a major injury during the state semifinal round this past season. However, he is back and in good form. Other nationally ranked seniors include No. 20 Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.), a returning Super 32 placer and Junior National freestyle All-American this past summer; No. 43 Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.), a two-time state finalist (2016 champion) and runner-up at both the NHSCA Sophomore and Junior Nationals; No. 81 Jake Brindley (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), a two-time state champion and 2014 Super 32 placer; along with No. 96 Hunter Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.), a Junior National freestyle All-American and three-time state champion.
Another pair of stars are ranked from the Class of 2018. David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio), champion in the Super 32 last year at 145 pounds, is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2018 and was a bronze medalist at the UWW Cadet world championships in freestyle last month. Also present is No. 38 Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.), a Cadet National double champion this summer and champion in both the NHSCA Freshman and Sophomore Nationals. Additional grade level ranked wrestlers are a pair from the Class of 2020, who won middle school division titles at the Super 32 last year, in No. 7 Nevan Snodgrass (Kettering Fairmont, Ohio) and No. 18 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan, Pa.)
Others to watch include state placer Connor Melbourne (John Jay Cross River, N.Y.), runner-up at the NHSCA Sophomore and Junior Nationals; state placer and NHSCA Junior Nationals third place finisher Nicholas Palumbo (Lenape Valley, N.J.); state runner-up and FloNationals placer Matt Grippi (Fox Lane, N.Y.); state champion Erich Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.); two-time state champion Elijah Tanner (Collinsville, Okla.); along with state third place finishers in Joshua Kim (Santiago Corona, Calif.) and Colt Yinger (Mechanicsburg, Ohio).
160: Five grade level ranked wrestlers, including four top 60 Class of 2017 prospects anchor the field. Leading the way here is Junior National freestyle champion Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), a returning state champion and Super 32 placer, who is ranked No. 28 in the Class of 2017. Next in line is No. 36 Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg, Va.), also a returning Super 32 placer, along with being a FloNationals runner-up and two-time state champion. No. 51 Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook, N.J.) is a three-time state placer, and state champion this past season; while No. 56 Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) was also state champion this past season, and also won a NHSCA Junior Nationals title. State runner-up and FloNationals runner-up Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.) is ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2018, and also placed at the Super 32 last year in this weight class. An additional grade level ranked wrestlers is Cadet freestyle All-American Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), who is ranked No. 45 in the Class of 2019.
Other contenders include returning Super 32 placer Georgio Poullas (Canfield, Ohio), three-time state runner-up Nick Kiussis (Brunswick, Ohio), state champion and Junior freestyle All-American Sammy Cokeley (St. James Academy, Kansas), two-time state champion Braeden Redlin (Allen, Texas), and state champion Emille Shannon (Christian Brothers College, Mo.)
Additional wrestlers with major national event credentials in this weight class include NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion and Cadet double All-American Josh Stillings (Pennridge, Pa.), FloNationals placer Dale Tiongson (St. Paul's, Md.), Super 32 placer Isaiah Johnson (A.L. Brown, N.C.), NHSCA Junior Nationals placers Shawn Mosca (Wheatley, N.Y.) and Skitch Light (Central Dauphin, Pa.), UWW Cadet Nationals freestyle placer Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley, Pa.), along with Cadet freestyle All-American Joel Shapiro (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa).
170: Four top 100 ranked seniors anchor the wrestlers in this field, a group headed by No. 32 Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.). The FloNationals and Junior Greco-Roman champion placed fourth in this Super 32 weight class last year and is a two-time state placer. No. 64 Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) is a two-time state champion, and this past spring placed at the FloNationals and was a NHSCA Junior Nationals champion; No. 73 Ethan Smith (Sparrows Point, Md.) was a state champion this past season and placed third at the FloNationals; while No. 74 Bunmi Smith (Camden County, Ga.) is a three-time state placer and was state champion this past season.
Two additional FloNationals placers are in this weight class. Two-time FloNationals placer Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton, Ky.), who also placed third at the NHSCA Junior Nationals; along with state medalist Dalton Group (Susquenita, Pa.). Four additional wrestlers were NHSCA Junior Nationals placers: state medalists George Walton (Bound Brook, N.J.) and Bryan McLaughlin (Woodbridge, N.J.), two-time New England regional third place finisher Joe Accousti (Newtown, Ct.), as well as Ty Bagoly (Exeter Township, Pa.)
Others to watch include state champion Myles Wilson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.), three-time state placer Jason Hoffman (Hadley-Luzerne, N.Y.), state runner-up A.J. Meyers (Toms River East, N.J.), two-time state placer Dom Mandarino (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), Cadet National double All-American Devin Winston (Park Hill, Mo.), and two-time state qualifier Emil Soehnlen (Massillon Perry, Ohio). Winston is ranked No. 41 overall in the Class of 2019.
182: Five top 100 seniors anchor what is a rather strong field in this weight class. The group is headlined by No. 18 Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.), runner-up at last year's Super 32, also a two-time state champion and FloNationals placer. No. 21 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa.) is a two-time state placer, was third at the Super 32 last year, and won a FloNationals title this spring. In that finals match at the FloNationals, Bonaccorsi beat No. 25 Jelani Embree (Warren Lincoln, Mich.), who was a state champion this past high school season and a Junior National double All-American in Fargo this summer. No. 49 Anthony Falbo (Newtown, Ct.) is also a returning Super 32 placer; this past season he won a New England regional title, while in the off-season he won a second straight NHSCA grade-level title and placed fourth in Junior freestyle. Rounding out the quintet of elite seniors is No. 85 Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.), a two-time state champion, who placed at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and was a Junior double All-American this off-season.
Other notable seniors in this field include state champion and Junior freestyle All-American Jackson Hemauer (Deforest, Wis.), state medalist and returning Super 32 placer Dawson Peck (Chambersburg, Pa.), state champion Kendall Norfleet (Marian Catholic, Ill.), two-time state placer J.T. Brown (Elyria, Ohio), Junior National double All-American Miles Lee (South Philadelphia, Pa.), a pair of state champion and NHSCA Junior Nationals placers in Khamari Whimper (Baylor School, Tenn.) and Antonio Stewart (Camden County, Ga.), state champions Kaden Russell (St. Ignatius) and Stanley Smeltzer (Smithfield, Va.), along with state placer and NHSCA Junior Nationals placer Kendall Elfstrum (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.)
Additional wrestlers to watch include Cadet folkstyle champion and freestyle runner-up Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind.), as well as state medalists Jared Ball (Hilliard Darby, Ohio) and Cody Mulligan (Saegertown, Pa.)
195: Three nationally ranked seniors and two juniors are among the top wrestlers in this weight class field. The highest ranked of the group is Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.), ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2018; the FloNationals runner-up at 182 pounds is also a two-time state champion and placed fifth in both styles at the Junior Nationals this summer in Fargo. No. 26 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) is the other junior; the state champion is a returning Super 32 placer and finished third at the FloNationals competing at 195 pounds, while also winning a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals title and finishing third in Cadet freestyle.
Heading up the 2017 contingent is No. 53 Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.), a 2015 Cadet National freestyle champion, who won a state title and finished fifth at the FloNationals this past year. No. 61 Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) placed fifth at state in 2015, was a Junior folkstyle champion this spring, and placed seventh in both styles at the Junior Nationals this summer. No. 90 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny, Pa.) was a state champion this past high school season, and then placed at both the FloNationals and Junior National freestyle tournaments this off-season.
Another pair of wrestlers are grade-level ranked in this weight class. Braxton Amos (Parkersburg South, W.Va.) is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2020 and enters high school with a Cadet National double title this summer and winning a middle school division title at the Super 32 last fall; while state champion Daniel Kerkvleit (Simley, Minn.) is ranked No. 36 in the Class of 2019 and placed third in Cadet freestyle losing just to Amos.
Other wrestlers to watch include NHSCA Junior Nationals champion John Borst (Sherando, Va.), who was runner-up in Junior freestyle this past summer; two-time state champion Noah Bushman (Cave Spring, Va.); state placers Kanan Sarver (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) and Joe Doyle (Council Rock South, Pa.); two-time placer John Kelbly (Smithville, Ohio), a NHSCA Junior Nationals placer; two-time state placer Danny Salas (St. John Bosco, Calif.); and state champion Miles Nuessle (Liberty, Ariz.)
220: Two wrestlers are returning Super 32 placers from this weight class last year, Zane Black (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) and Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.). Black is ranked No. 71 in the Class of 2017 and was runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals; while Nye was state champion last high school season and a Junior freestyle All-American in the summer of 2015. The only other grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is state placer Johnny Shafer (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), who is No. 33 in the Class of 2019.
Additional contenders include two-time state champion Jeffrey Allen (Amherst County, Va.), a Junior National double All-American this past summer; FloNationals placers Ryan Vasbinder (Byron Center, Mich.) and Eric Keosseian (Howell, N.J.); along with state medalists Diata Drayton (Marist, Ill.) and Nino Manzonelli (Allen, Texas).
285: The headline wrestler in this weight class is Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio), the No. 15 overall wrestler in the Class of 2017; he was champion at the FloNationals in 2014 and runner-up in Junior freestyle during the summer of 2015. Two others in this weight class are returning Super 32 placers, Evan Ellis (Eastern, Ind.) and Mansur Abdul-Malik (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Ellis is a two-time state placer and was a FloNationals placer this spring, while Abdul-Malik is a two-time National Prep placer.
Other contenders include Junior National freestyle All-American Zach Muller (Downers Grove North, Ill.), NHSCA Junior Natonals placers Laith Alsous (Lew-Port, N.Y.) and Sammy deSeriere (Mullen, Colo.), state champion Tyler Shannon (Arkansas City, Kansas), two-time state qualifier Blake Zalapi (Hononegah, Ill.), FloNationals placer Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan, Pa.), and two-time state runner-up Evan Surgeon (Southeast Guilford, N.C.)
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