MD152 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Fellas what do you guys think is the toughest weight class this year, my thoughts are 133, also i will give you my top 5, many of you are like data banks and I am slightly jealous, with this being said here's my top 5 P4P toughest weight classes to win a National title or to be an AA (All-American)...... we all know about the lucky drawl of the brackets these 5 there is gonna be no "lucky side" #1~ 133 (holy toledo this is stacked) semis Blaze Davino & Crookham Byrd does Blaze Blaze em all??? (3rd /4th could be Davino vs Forrest ....5/6 Crookham vs Larkin and finally 7/8 Frost vs Ayala........ keep an eye out for Fugitt and Van Dee #2~ 184 (Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh leads the way........) McEnelly muscles his way through??? #3~ 125 (thes cats always can scrap.(Robinson,Lilledahl,Ventresca,Seymour, Bouzakis,Volk, Peterson &Spratley) Does Bouzakis surprise em? #4~ 157 powerhouse guys here with Shapiro finally getting it??? #5~ 174 Haines has last year as the greatest motivator, is it enough...Haines hammers his way to the top??? HM~ 165 Mesenbrink is different lets be honest, can Caliendo find "it" or does Lockett or Blaze steal the thunder to meet in the finals
peanut Posted January 13 Posted January 13 133 is bananas. There's the returning champ (Byrd) plus six other former All Americans (Ayala, Frost, Van Dee, Fugitt, Knox, Crookham). Then there's Davino, Blaze, and Forrest (but he appears to be redshirting). Larkin and Serrano are also no walks in the park. And at this point we're already 11 or 12 athletes deep. Is this tougher than the 2008 149 pound bracket?
MD152 Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 10 minutes ago, peanut said: 133 is bananas. There's the returning champ (Byrd) plus six other former All Americans (Ayala, Frost, Van Dee, Fugitt, Knox, Crookham). Then there's Davino, Blaze, and Forrest (but he appears to be redshirting). Larkin and Serrano are also no walks in the park. And at this point we're already 11 or 12 athletes deep. Is this tougher than the 2008 149 pound bracket? I dont know if its tougher...but i will also say its not weaker!!!!
ionel Posted January 13 Posted January 13 5 minutes ago, peanut said: 133 is bananas. There's the returning champ (Byrd) plus six other former All Americans (Ayala, Frost, Van Dee, Fugitt, Knox, Crookham). Then there's Davino, Blaze, and Forrest (but he appears to be redshirting). Larkin and Serrano are also no walks in the park. And at this point we're already 11 or 12 athletes deep. Is this tougher than the 2008 149 pound bracket? Who appears to be redshirting and how so? .
mr.nonothingatall Posted January 13 Posted January 13 133 is crazy deep and unpredictable, but as far as what weight class has the deepest talent. I would go with 184. Ferrari, welsh, sinclair, mcenelly, are all top caliber guys with unique styles and great defense. Full of un-bias blasphemy.
happyvalet Posted January 13 Posted January 13 133 - (Byrd, Davino, Blaze, Seidel, Crookham, Jax, Larkin, Ayala, Frost) 157 - (Shapiro, Larkin, Robideau, Duke, Antrell, Cannon, Watters, Webster) 184 - (Angelo, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh) 125 - (Robinson, Bouzakis, Spratley, Ventresca, Lilledahl, Volk, Seymour, Peterson, Strickenberger) 141 - (Mendez, Echemendia, Vega, Hardy, Stanich, Cornella, Davis) 165 - (Mesenbrink, Lockett, Caliendo, Blaze, Garvin) 285 - (Yonger, Trumble, Feldman, Ferrari) 174 - (Haines, Ruiz, Kharchla, Singleton, Kennedy) 197 - (Barr, Elam, Novak, Little, Rademacher) 149 - (Van Ness, Joy, Tyus)
fishbane Posted January 13 Posted January 13 1 hour ago, peanut said: 133 is bananas. There's the returning champ (Byrd) plus six other former All Americans (Ayala, Frost, Van Dee, Fugitt, Knox, Crookham). Dylan Shawver and Chris Cannon are also former AAs at this weight. Figueroa would be another if OSU use him and redshirt Forrest.
fishbane Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 hours ago, peanut said: Is this tougher than the 2008 149 pound bracket? Is it even close? 133: Byrd (RS-5-5-R12-inj-1), Ayala (NQ-RS-2-2), Crookham (RS-3-inj) Frost (RS-6-R12), Van Dee (RS-NQ-7), Fugitt (RS-4), Knox (RS-8), Shawver (NS-NQ-RS-7-R12), Cannon (RS-7-7-NQ-inj-DNQ), Figueroa (RS-NS-1-NQ) That's ten wrestlers with at least 1 AA honor and 14 total AA placements. That drops to 9 returning AAs and 13 placements if Figueroa is out. Top newcomers include Blaze (U20 World Champ/3rd Olympic trials), Devino, Larkin, and maybe Forrest (U23 World Champ/Senior world team member). 149: Schlatter (1-3), Churella (RS-8-NQ-2), Lang (RS-R12-4-2), Palmer (4), O'Connor (5), Fisch (RS-DNQ-5), Jenkins (NQ), Burroughs (NQ), Caldwell (NQ) That's 6 returning AAs with 9 total AA placements. Top newcomer is Brent Metcalf who redshirted and did not wrestle the previous year. Bubba Jenkins had won a junior world title that off-season. I don't recall any other significant international freestyle accomplishments from this group.
peanut Posted January 13 Posted January 13 7 hours ago, fishbane said: Is it even close? 133: Byrd (RS-5-5-R12-inj-1), Ayala (NQ-RS-2-2), Crookham (RS-3-inj) Frost (RS-6-R12), Van Dee (RS-NQ-7), Fugitt (RS-4), Knox (RS-8), Shawver (NS-NQ-RS-7-R12), Cannon (RS-7-7-NQ-inj-DNQ), Figueroa (RS-NS-1-NQ) That's ten wrestlers with at least 1 AA honor and 14 total AA placements. That drops to 9 returning AAs and 13 placements if Figueroa is out. Top newcomers include Blaze (U20 World Champ/3rd Olympic trials), Devino, Larkin, and maybe Forrest (U23 World Champ/Senior world team member). 149: Schlatter (1-3), Churella (RS-8-NQ-2), Lang (RS-R12-4-2), Palmer (4), O'Connor (5), Fisch (RS-DNQ-5), Jenkins (NQ), Burroughs (NQ), Caldwell (NQ) That's 6 returning AAs with 9 total AA placements. Top newcomer is Brent Metcalf who redshirted and did not wrestle the previous year. Bubba Jenkins had won a junior world title that off-season. I don't recall any other significant international freestyle accomplishments from this group. Wow, that’s crazy. What an incredible weight class. And these freshman aren’t intimidated. You gotta love it.
Gene Mills Fan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 8 hours ago, happyvalet said: 133 - (Byrd, Davino, Blaze, Seidel, Crookham, Jax, Larkin, Ayala, Frost) 157 - (Shapiro, Larkin, Robideau, Duke, Antrell, Cannon, Watters, Webster) 184 - (Angelo, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh) 125 - (Robinson, Bouzakis, Spratley, Ventresca, Lilledahl, Volk, Seymour, Peterson, Strickenberger) 141 - (Mendez, Echemendia, Vega, Hardy, Stanich, Cornella, Davis) 165 - (Mesenbrink, Lockett, Caliendo, Blaze, Garvin) 285 - (Yonger, Trumble, Feldman, Ferrari) 174 - (Haines, Ruiz, Kharchla, Singleton, Kennedy) 197 - (Barr, Elam, Novak, Little, Rademacher) 149 - (Van Ness, Joy, Tyus)
fishbane Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 minutes ago, peanut said: Wow, that’s crazy. What an incredible weight class. And these freshman aren’t intimidated. You gotta love it. The freshman are really good. Last year at the US Open Forrest won it, Blaze was 3rd, and Devino was 4th at 61kg. All of them beat NCAA champs at the event. I think it was a few years before those 2008 149s were top 4 at senior nationals.
Pinnacle Posted January 13 Posted January 13 How did Crookham look this past weekend against Cornell and American?
Gus Posted January 13 Posted January 13 10 hours ago, happyvalet said: 133 - (Byrd, Davino, Blaze, Seidel, Crookham, Jax, Larkin, Ayala, Frost) 157 - (Shapiro, Larkin, Robideau, Duke, Antrell, Cannon, Watters, Webster) 184 - (Angelo, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh) 125 - (Robinson, Bouzakis, Spratley, Ventresca, Lilledahl, Volk, Seymour, Peterson, Strickenberger) 141 - (Mendez, Echemendia, Vega, Hardy, Stanich, Cornella, Davis) 165 - (Mesenbrink, Lockett, Caliendo, Blaze, Garvin) 285 - (Yonger, Trumble, Feldman, Ferrari) 174 - (Haines, Ruiz, Kharchla, Singleton, Kennedy) 197 - (Barr, Elam, Novak, Little, Rademacher) 149 - (Van Ness, Joy, Tyus) Good list! I think I would move 125 to 6 and bump up 141 and 165 because of the top end hammers (Mendez and Mesenbrink).
Tyler Posted January 13 Posted January 13 11 hours ago, Gus said: I would go 133, 157, 184 in that order. This is my thought as well
BigRedFan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 minutes ago, Pinnacle said: How did Crookham look this past weekend against Cornell and American? Crookham scored his first TD (in the second period) against Ferrara on a counter and a long scramble, and took only one shot in the third period (:14 to go) to get his second TD. Got called for stalling in neutral in the third period.
Gene Mills Fan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 minutes ago, BigRedFan said: Crookham scored his first TD (in the second period) against Ferrara on a counter and a long scramble, and took only one shot in the third period (:14 to go) to get his second TD. Got called for stalling in neutral in the third period. sounds like Crookham's back to normal. Did he get waved/called back to center by Ferrara?
bnwtwg Posted January 13 Posted January 13 In ten years, we will all be looking back at 165 and 184, in that order. They will produce the senior team medalists. i am an idiot on the internet
GimJustafan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 1 hour ago, Gus said: Good list! I think I would move 125 to 6 and bump up 141 and 165 because of the top end hammers (Mendez and Mesenbrink). add returning AA steveo to list at 125
Pinnacle Posted January 13 Posted January 13 7 hours ago, BigRedFan said: Crookham scored his first TD (in the second period) against Ferrara on a counter and a long scramble, and took only one shot in the third period (:14 to go) to get his second TD. Got called for stalling in neutral in the third period. Did he look healthy in the process, because to me if he is 100% he's an insanely tough wrestler even if mostly on counters.
happyvalet Posted January 13 Posted January 13 4 minutes ago, Pinnacle said: Did he look healthy in the process, because to me if he is 100% he's an insanely tough wrestler even if mostly on counters. Looked like his normal, gumby-kneed self
Pinnacle Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Just now, happyvalet said: Looked like his normal, gumby-kneed self +
TAC Posted January 14 Posted January 14 On 1/13/2026 at 12:34 PM, happyvalet said: 133 - (Byrd, Davino, Blaze, Seidel, Crookham, Jax, Larkin, Ayala, Frost) 157 - (Shapiro, Larkin, Robideau, Duke, Antrell, Cannon, Watters, Webster) 184 - (Angelo, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh) 125 - (Robinson, Bouzakis, Spratley, Ventresca, Lilledahl, Volk, Seymour, Peterson, Strickenberger) 141 - (Mendez, Echemendia, Vega, Hardy, Stanich, Cornella, Davis) 165 - (Mesenbrink, Lockett, Caliendo, Blaze, Garvin) 285 - (Yonger, Trumble, Feldman, Ferrari) 174 - (Haines, Ruiz, Kharchla, Singleton, Kennedy) 197 - (Barr, Elam, Novak, Little, Rademacher) 149 - (Van Ness, Joy, Tyus) Good list
Nak21 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Toughest - as in there’s an almost immovable rock in your way of winning a title, a dude who just isn’t losing this year - 141, 165, 174 in no particular order. Toughest - as in you’re gonna have to run a gauntlet of studs and no one knows until ~11pm Sat night who’s gonna come out on top - 133, 184, 157, 125, HWY in kinda an order. 149 and 197 seem to have clear cut top guys but lack much depth compared to the other weights.
Anthony Severino New York Military Academy, New York Class of 2027 Committed to Army West Point Projected Weight: 141, 149
Zach Rehak Thomas Jefferson, Pennsylvania Class of 2027 Committed to Seton Hill Projected Weight: 125
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