InterMat Staff

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University wrestling team opened its 2012-13 season with a 44-12 victory over Manchester University. A pair of injury defaults is all that stood between the Hoosiers and an opening day shutout. Indiana racked up six falls in the match and seven on the night as Geno Capezio pinned his opponent in an exhibition bout. Results: Exhibition - Geno Capezio (IU) pins Bryce Roberts (MU), 2:00 125 lbs - Zach Zimmer (IU) pins Taylor Hart (MU), 4:46; Team Score: 6-0 133 lbs - Joe Duca (IU) pins Joe Mindola (MU), 2:04; TS: 12-0 141 lbs - Eric Roach (IU) maj. dec. Johnny Tullos (MU), 17-4; TS: 16-0 149 lbs - Danny Ginter (MU) inj. def. Mitchell Richey (IU); TS: 16-6 157 lbs - #18 Taylor Walsh (IU) pins Chuck Holmquest (MU), 3:18; TS: 22-6 165 lbs - #20 Ryan LeBlanc (IU) pins Aaron Bullock (MU), 0:45; TS: 28-6 174 lbs - Cheney Dale (IU) pins David Stevens (MU), 4:45; TS: 34-6 184 lbs - Luke Sheridan (IU) pins Chad Ulmer (MU), 4:57; TS: 40-6 197 lbs - Ray Wajda (MU) inj. def. Garret Goldman (IU); TS: 40-12 285 lbs - #16 Adam Chalfant (IU) maj. dec. Jimmie King (MU), 20-8; TS: 44-12 Following the first-period fall from Capezio, Zach Zimmer and Joe Duca opened the team dual with back-to-back pins at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. Zimmer built a 13-4 lead before locking in a cradle to earn the fall with 14 seconds remaining in the second period. Duca needed just 2:04 to dispose of his opponent, sticking Joe Mindola in the opening period. Eric Roach kept the IU points coming at 141 pounds, posting a 17-4 major decision to increase the Hoosier lead to 16-0. The redshirt freshman from Crown Point, Ind., threw his foe straight to his back in the waning seconds but came up just shy of the fall. Manchester lit the scoreboard for the first time in the subsequent bout as Mitchell Richey was forced to take an injury default late in the first period. The next four match-ups all went in favor of the Cream and Crimson. Nationally-ranked Hoosiers Taylor Walsh (#18) and Ryan LeBlanc (#20), as well as Cheney Dale and Luke Sheridan, each added pins to the IU effort. Walsh hooked the far leg on a cradle and flatten out Chuck Holmquest early in the second stanza. LeBlanc's six team points weren't as elaborate, notching a takedown almost instantly and ultimately sticking Aaron Bullock in just 45 seconds. Meanwhile, Dale and Sheridan both built large leads before closing the door with second-period pins. Next up was 197-pounder Garret Goldman, who climbed out to an 8-0 edge before suffering an injury as well and taking an injury default. The nation's 16th-ranked heavyweight, Adam Chalfant, capped off the evening by majoring Jimmie King in the final bout. Chalfant utilized some crushing two-leg takedowns for the 20-8 major decision. He added up nine takedowns, an escape and the riding time advantage. Indiana gets back to the mats on Sunday, competing in the Hokie Open. Wrestling action is slated to start at 9 a.m. and live results will be available. You will need to register as a user (free) and select 'Hokie Open 2012' (also free). Results for the Hoosiers can also be viewed on Twitter (@IUWrestling1).

With the Big Ten expected to compete for a seventh straight national championship, BTN will provide extensive live coverage of Big Ten Wrestling for the 2012-13 season on television and online. The television schedule includes a pair of Monday night meets live in primetime; a late-season showdown between Penn State and Iowa, which between them have accounted for the past five National Champions; and live coverage of both the Midlands Championships and the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Additionally, a record number 44 matches will be streamed live online on the Big Ten Digital Network (BTDN). A large number of those streamed will also be televised on delay via Student U. BTN’s coverage of the regular season kicks off with Old Dominion at Purdue, which will stream live on BTDN at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 10. BTN will televise live the final session of the 50th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern, at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 30. Of the 32 Division I teams competing, seven Big Ten squads will be represented, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin. BTN’s coverage of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, hosted by Illinois, will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 10. Penn State will look to capture its third straight Big Ten championship under Head Coach Cael Sanderson. Iowa and Minnesota finished second and third, respectively, last season. The Big Ten opens the 2013 season with four teams ranked in the top five of the NWCA/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Minnesota begins the season as the nation’s top-ranked team, while two-time defending national champion Penn State is ranked second. Iowa and Ohio State round out the top five, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 include No. 6 Illinois, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 13 Michigan and No. 14 Northwestern. Throughout the season, go to the BTN/BTN2Go/BTDN Olympic Sports TV schedule page for the most up-to-date information on the BTN and BTDN wrestling schedules. 2012-2013 Big Ten Wrestling on BTN/BTN2GO and BTDN (all times ET) Saturday, Nov. 10 Old Dominion at Purdue 1 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Nov. 10 Missouri at Purdue 3 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 11 Pittsburgh at Michigan 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Nov. 16 Lehigh at Penn State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Nov. 16 Minnesota at Nebraska 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Nov. 30 Edinboro at Michigan State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Dec. 7 Eastern Michigan at Michigan 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Dec. 7 Michigan State at Wisconsin 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Dec. 8 Oregon State at Minnesota 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Dec. 8 Arizona State at Nebraska 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 9 Wisconsin at Nebraska 3 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 16 Southern Illinois Edwardsville at Purdue 1 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 16 Iowa Western Community College at Purdue 3 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 30 Midlands Championships at Northwestern 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 4 Ohio State at Iowa 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 4 Purdue at Michigan State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 6 Ohio State at Northwestern 3 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 6 Bucknell at Michigan State 12 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 11 Nebraska at Michigan 7 p.m. (Live on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 11 Minnesota at Ohio State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 12 Nebraska at Northwestern 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 13 Minnesota Indiana 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 13 Michigan State at Penn State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 18 Wisconsin at Penn State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 18 Ohio State at Indiana 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 18 Iowa Michigan 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 18 Illinois at Nebraska 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 20 Penn State at Purdue 1 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 20 Iowa at Michigan State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 20 Wisconsin at Ohio State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Monday, Jan. 21 Illinois at Minnesota 8:30 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 25 Northwestern at Michigan State 6 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Jan. 25 Indiana at Wisconsin 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 26 Iowa at Minnesota 4 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Sunday, Jan. 27 Northwestern at Michigan 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 27 Iowa at Minnesota 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 27 Nebraska at Penn State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 27 Indiana at Illinois TBA (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 1 Penn State at Iowa 9 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Feb. 1 Michigan at Indiana 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 01 Michigan State at Nebraska 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 1 Purdue at Northwestern 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 3 Michigan at Purdue 1 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 3 Michigan State at Minnesota 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 8 Iowa at Illinois 8 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Friday, Feb. 8 Ohio State at Michigan 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 10 Michigan at Michigan State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 10 Penn State at Ohio State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 10 Nebraska at Iowa 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Monday, Feb. 11 Indiana at Purdue 6:30 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go) Saturday, Feb. 16 Edinboro at Iowa 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 17 Rider at Penn State 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 22 Central Michigan at Michigan State 7 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Feb. 23 Northwestern at Indiana 2 p.m. (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, March 10 B1G Championships at Illinois 2:30 p.m. (LIVE on BTN/BTN2Go)

Penn State's David Taylor and Cornell's Kyle Dake are heading to Washington D.C. this weekend to compete in the most anticipated wrestling match of the decade. On Wednesday we covered the arguments fans and pundits made for a Taylor victory. Today we cover the arguments for Dake. 1. "Dake has the better credentials ... Kid can win" Kyle Dake will be in search of his fourth NCAA title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)You don't win three NCAA titles at three different weight classes just to get questioned about moving up to a fourth. When you win, you tend to win some more. Though Dake has taken some early season losses in two of his championship seasons, and is arguably facing his toughest opponent to date, his ability to wrestle at the level of his opponent, or better, is always on display. Don't forget that he did take third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and was a preferred workout partner to Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs. 2. "Taylor is a slow starter" Dake's opponent has a nasty habit of getting out of the gates at a trudge. Maybe it takes a minute for the engines to fire, but Taylor has been most vulnerable at the beginning of matches. His 2011 NCAA finals loss to Bubba Jenkins came in the first period after he let the Arizona State wrestler progress with an early takedown, and in the second period lock in a cradle. Dake doesn't always come out swinging, but Taylor is most vulnerable in the first minute, before his foot is wholly pressed on the accelerator. If Dake gets hustling early, like he did in their freestyle matchup, he'll end with the first win of the season-long series. 3. "Dake can get out from bottom and is nasty on top" The prevailing logic has been that Taylor's legwork and length will keep Dake down. It's possible, but Dake has one of the fastest stand ups in the history of the sport. Assuming there isn't any first-period scoring, Dake will spend the start of either the second or third period on the mat and be tested on his standup. Given that he's almost never been ridden, it's difficult to say outright that Taylor will get the job done. Also, should his first move from bottom fail, Dake has excellent secondary and tertiary attacks option from bottom, creating the type of scrambles that have earned him both reversals and back points. If Taylor chooses to stay aggressive on top and hold Dake down, he could open himself up for one of Dake's bigger moves. As for top? Ask Frank Molinaro, and Derek St. John, the latter of whom chose neutral in the third. 4. "Dake is a better scrambler and a big-move wrestler" It's already been covered a little in the previous points, but Dake is a big-move wrestler. Though he sometimes wins by only a few points, he often finds way to group his points together. Whether it's transitioning from bottom to top or from his feet to top, he finds ways to get four or five points for his efforts. Throws aside, he is one of the best ever at capitalizing on the mistakes of his opponents. His scrambling ability also gets him out of sure-loss scenarios, like when Montell Marion of Iowa had him dead to rights on a takedown but not only did Dake prevent the finish, he scored a takedown of his own. He's creative and strong in all types of unique scrambling positions. 5. "Dake handled Taylor last time they wrestled" Kyle Dake handled David Taylor when the two met in April (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Yes, it was freestyle, but Dake beat Taylor at the U.S. Team Olympic Trials. The sport is different, but the takedowns scored by Dake would have worked in a collegiate mat (assuming he doesn't lock his hands on the first takedown and kept it legal). Dake's style isn't hampered by moving onto the NCAA mat and though he gave up positioning on Taylor's shot in the second period, he did finish it with a kickback. It wouldn't have been called a fall, but it would have been a takedown. It's also possible that when you win a match, you win the advantage in the rematch. Disagree? Post your comments below and we'll discuss. No matter who you're supporting, the wrestling community is the big winner with a national event happening in early November. This is our Daytona 500.

The UFC is still on hiatus but there is plenty of televised MMA action this weekend, with Bellator, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, and the World Series of Fighting all holding shows. Richard and John analyze the fights on all three cards and take a look at what prospects and former UFC fighters might come up big. Also, bantamweight prospect and Xtreme Couture fighter Jimmy Jones joins the show once again. Jones will fight Sergio Pettis, also a top prospect and the brother of UFC lightweight star Anthony, in one of the feature bouts on the RFA show televised on AXS TV. Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

T.R. Foley talks with Cal Poly coach Brendan Buckley and gets lines for NCAA champions from Brian Muir. Listen to Episode 1 of "Back Points with T.R. Foley." Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

No wrestling fan or pundit can know for certain who is going to win Saturday's NWCA All-Star Classic match between Penn State's David Taylor and Cornell's Kyle Dake, but that hasn't stopped most from choosing a side. Both are defending NCAA champions, with Taylor staying at his natural weight and coming in as last year's Hodge Trophy award winner. Dake is a record-setting wrestler, having won three NCAA titles at three weights in three years. Immoveable object meets Unstoppable force. The excitement for the match is unprecedented, which has led many fans to choose and defend their wrestlers. This list is a collection of the top five reasons fans believe Taylor will beat Dake Saturday night in Washington D.C. Don't agree? Come back tomorrow. 1. "Taylor's more comfortable at the weight class" David Taylor gets his hand raised after an NCAA semifinal victory (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Taylor is coming into his second season at 165 pounds, while Dake is making an attempt to wrestle at his fourth weight class in as many years. Bumping up in weight is common, but has Dake's luck run out now that he's 24 pounds heavier in competition than he was just 3.5 years ago? According to the argument, Taylor will be able to control much of the action in the match because he'll have a touch more experience dealing with guys at the weight, and where Dake will be wrestling his tallest opponent to date, Taylor will feel an enormous leverage advantage. In addition, because it's an early match in the season, Taylor will have more gas in the tank picking up the lighter wrestler, while Dake will struggle to accommodate for extra tonnage. 2. "Dake won't get out from bottom, Taylor will" Mat wrestling is very important to both Dake and Taylor. Both have been dominant in their ability to keep their opponents down, score quick back points, and get out in a hurry. Dake is especially talented at fighting for mat returns and wrestling through positions on the edge of the mat to ensure he doesn't give up easy points. However, with Taylor he'll have difficulty lifting his taller opponent and face even more trouble should he get into an on the mat scramble for positioning. From bottom Dake uses the explosive standup made popular by Cornell NCAA champion Jordan Leen. Dake's standup is difficult to stop, but if you were to create a wrestler physically capable of stopping that upward momentum, it would be a lanky wrestler like Taylor who also has the desire to stay on top. Both positions are a mindset and while both wrestlers believe that they'll get out and/or keep the other down, only one will win the position. That's Taylor. 3. "Dake's win came in freestyle with a move not legal in folkstyle" Freestyle and folkstyle have become two very different sports. The pushout rule and separation of points by periods have made freestyle more fun to watch, but have lest it as a poor indicator of future outcomes on the folkstyle scene. As always, freestyle also has strict rules on back exposure which severely limited options for Taylor an always funky defensive wrestler. As for the match details, Dake's big move in the first period would have likely been illegal in a folkstyle match. The second period fall wouldn't have been had it been folkstyle, and it's possible that given time to work on his back Taylor would have found his way to the takedown. 4. "Taylor's scrambles will neutralize Dake's offense" Taylor is a scrambling machine. Few wrestlers in the past twenty years have been as effective at turning a questionable situation into big points. The Penn State wrestler isn't just hitting roll-through funks, he's finding slight advantages throughout matches -- in situations where other wrestlers simply turn and kick away -- and coming back with big points. Taylor's built to put limbs in new and interesting places, which helps him to exert leverage opponents haven't felt before. The instinct to score points from the scramble is Taylor's calling card and should he use his length to wiggle out of Dake's attack, or even firm up one of his own low leg singles or ankle picks, he'll have a scrambling advantage. 5. "Taylor has better partners and coaches to wrestle with in the room" David Taylor has a stable of top training partners, which includes coaches Casey Cunningham and Cael Sanderson (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The Penn State wrestling room is arguably the toughest in the nation. Taylor can't avoid competition. There are no easy goes in a room with NCAA champions Ed Ruth and Quentin Wright. Coached on a daily basis by the greatest collegiate wrestler of all time. In addition, Taylor has Casey Cunningham helping with his top game and a roster of backups and other starters that were some of the top recruits in the nation. While Dake has a tough room, plenty of competition and a highly accomplished coaching staff, the competitive advantage goes with the squad in State College. Don't agree with the logic of the fans? Be sure to post below and also check back tomorrow for "Why Dake will beat Taylor."

The only thing more impressive than Mike Powell's prodigious strength was his outsized bravado. Over the course of a few short weeks, the very thing that defined him -- his strength -- disappeared.

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Bloomsburg University assistant wrestling coach Scott Owen has resigned his position to take a post with the New Mexico Activities Association. Owen was beginning his fifth season as the Huskies assistant coach. In his four years with the Huskies Owen helped coach 13 NCAA qualifiers and one All-American, while also directing recruiting operations and serving as primary training partner for middleweights. Owen came to Bloomsburg from the United States Naval Academy where he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Middies helping send 16 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships while also helping produce four All-Americans and two, top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships. He also led recruiting efforts for the Midshipmen bringing in two consecutive top-25 nationally ranked classes in 2007 and 2008. “I would like to thank John (Stutzman) for the opportunity to help lead our young men in pursuit of their goals,” said Owen. “John has been a mentor as well as a friend to me for a long time and I value the time we were able to work side by side bringing Bloomsburg wrestling to national prominence. I consider Bloomsburg wrestling part of my extended family and to leave them behind will be very hard. I cherish the memories I've made here as well as the chance to work alongside some outstanding men. I will forever be a Husky fan and will root on our guys and coaches from afar as they continue to push Bloomsburg wrestling into the forefront of college wrestling.” “Scott has been a huge asset to me, the program and our student-athletes,” Stutzman. “Scott has been my right hand man here and has been directly responsible for our many successes. I can say that he will be missed not only in the wrestling room, but also as a friend. I wish him and his family the very best in his new position back home in New Mexico. Bloomsburg University wrestling is better today because of Scott and for that I am forever grateful.” Prior to his time at Navy, Owen worked at his alma mater Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill., where he helped lead the Huskies to national recognition on the mats. He served as a volunteer and assistant coach at the MAC school from 2004-05, where he helped coach seven NCAA Championship qualifiers and one NCAA Finalist. As a member of the New York Athletic Club, Owen was a two-time Freestyle World Team Trials qualifier, a U.S. Open All-American and was ranked as high as third on the Olympic ladder at 74 kilograms. He placed in numerous international tournaments including a fifth place showing at the 2007 Ivan Yarygin International held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, considered one of the toughest tournaments in the world. He also won the Sunkist International Open earlier that season. As a collegiate wrestler at Northern Illinois, Owen was a four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American, placing fifth at 157 pounds in 2002 and 2003. He was ranked as high asnumber one in the country during the 2002-03 season and was a three-time Mid-American Conference champion. He ended his career as the all-time wins leader in Northern Illinois history with 117 wins and is just one of three Northern Illinois wrestlers to finish his career as a two-time All-American. Before wrestling at Northern Illinois, Owen was a three-time New Mexico state champion and was a two-time member of the ASICS All-American Team in 1996 and 1997. He also excelled in the classroom, where he graduated cum laude for NIU in biological sciences with an emphasis in pre-med and a minor in chemistry. He was a two-time member of the NWCA First-team Academic All-America Team and was named to the Verizon / CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team in 2002. In December of 2007 he earned his master's degree in sport management from Northern Illinois.

Doane College has just announced that it has made the decision to add a wrestling program for the 2013-14 academic year. With an emphasis on enrollment at the university, the President Jacque Carter has emphasized the addition of new sports programs to enhance student growth. Students have shown support for the new wrestling program as they believe it is a nice way to help recruit quality students. “With only 40 some schools in the NAIA having wrestling, it will be a useful recruiting tool and there will be a great opportunity for success," said senior Kevin Roehrich. For more information on the addition of men's wrestling, visit the original press release at the following link: HERE.

Related Content: Results | Placewinners | Photos | Videos | Highlights Nathan Rose (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) ROCHESTER, Minn. -- In a tournament filled with national champions, All-Americans, and state champions, it was Nathan Rose who shined brightest at the third annual InterMat JJ Classic held on Sunday at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. Nathan Rose (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)The Sibley East (Minn.) junior won the title in the 195-pound weight class, and had a path that included a semifinal victory over University of Michigan commit Payne Hayden (St. Johns, Mich.) and a finals victory over Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.), a USA Wrestling Cadet National Triple Crown winner and the nation's No. 8 sophomore. In the finals, Rose built a 7-1 lead on Benick in the third period on the strength of three takedowns. Benick battled back and put himself back in the match with three consecutive takedowns of his own, but it was too little too late as Rose held on for the 9-8 victory. Rose, an undefeated (45-0) state champion as a sophomore and two-time NHSCA Nationals champion, was named Outstanding Wrestler of the event. Josh Alber (Photo/The Guillotine)Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) and Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) were the lone repeat champions. Alber, a Super 32 Challenge runner-up a week ago, dominated his competition en route to winning his second consecutive JJ Classic title at 120 pounds. He had bonus-point victories in all four of his victories leading up to the finals. In the finals he registered a 10-4 victory over 2011 JJ Classic champion Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb). Hall, the nation's No. 1 freshman, cruised to the title at 160 pounds. His road to the title include a technical fall in the quarterfinals, pin in the semifinals, and a 13-4 major decision in the finals over Lucas Westrich (Lakeville North, Minn.). Hall's title last year came at 145 pounds. Dayton Racer (Photo/The Guillotine)Hall was one of three JJ Classic champions for Apple Valley. The other two were Dayton Racer (152) and Paul Cheney (220). Racer, a Cadet National folkstyle champion, won by injury default in his championship match against Andrew Millsap (Junction City, Kan.), a state champion and Cadet National Greco-Roman All-American. Cheney handled Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.) 9-1 in the championship match at 220 pounds. Drew West (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Three champions came from the state of Iowa: Drew West of Highland (100), Alijah Jeffery of Linn Mar (113), and Logan Ryan of Bettendorf (132). West was the No. 1 seed, while Jeffery and Ryan were the No. 2 seeds. West won the title at 100 pounds -- a weight class contested for the first time at the JJ Classic. He had three pins in five matches, including a first-period pin in the championship match against fellow Iowan Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa). Jeffery, a Junior National folkstyle and freestyle All-American, defeated Junior National folkstyle runner-up Syler Petry in the finals 3-2 at 113 pounds. Ryan, a Junior National folkstyle champion, won a hard-fought match over Cadet National folkstyle runner-up Mark Voss (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) 8-6 to earn the tile at 132 pounds. Michigan had a pair of champions in Mason Smith of Clio (106) and Zac Hall of St. Johns (126). Smith, a state fourth-place finisher as a freshman, came through as the No. 5 seed to win the title at 106 pounds. His run to the title included three consecutive victories over Fargo champions. In the quarterfinals Smith won 12-4 over Junior National freestyle champion Tanner Rohweder (Dowling Catholic, Iowa). He followed that up with a 7-0 semifinal victory over 2011 Cadet National Triple Crown winner Gannon Volk. Smith concluded his tournament by pinning Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.). Zac Hall (Photo/The Guillotine)Hall, a two-time state champion, topped 2011 JJ Classic champion Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa) 10-2 to win the championship at 126 pounds. Hall took a 3-0 lead into the third period before blowing the match open with two more takedowns and a three-point nearfall. It was the second meeting between the two this year, with Hall also winning the previous meeting in the FILA Cadet National freestyle competition earlier this year. Bobby Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.), the nation's No. 20 sophomore wrestler, earned a 7-2 victory over state champion T.J. Ohara (Tartan, Minn.) in the finals at 170 pounds. Steveson was dominant throughout the day with two pins, a technical fall, and a five-point decision over Ohara. South Dakota State coach Chris Bono and North Dakota State Roger Kish took time out of their schedules to catch the action at the JJ Classic (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Tanner Trembley, a state champion and Junior National folkstyle All-American, improved upon his third-place finish at last year's JJ Classic to win the title at 138 pounds. His finals victory came over state third-place finisher Carver James (Dakota, Ill.) 6-2. Wisconsin's lone champion was Kasey Caelwaerts (Pulaski) at 145 pounds. Caelwaerts, a Cadet National folkstyle All-American, won 9-6 over state placewinner Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.). Peterson had notched a 7-2 victory in the semifinals over top-seeded Brent Schafer (St. Johns, Mich.), a state champion and University of Indiana commit. Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.), a state runner-up, proved to be too much for Laquan Wallace (Champlin Park, Minn.) in the finals at 182 pounds. Hammerlund cruised to an 11-3 victory. Jason Callanan (Rochester Mayo, Minn.) earned the championship at heavyweight with a pin over Mitch Ciesielski (Independence, Iowa). Austin Anderly (LeSueur-Henderson, Minn.), who placed third at 100 pounds, earned the Most Falls in Least Time award. Finals Results: 100: No. 1 Drew West (Highland, Iowa) pinned No. 6 Jack Wagner (Bettendorf), 1:36 106: No. 6 Mason Smith (Clio, Mich.) pinned No. 2 Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), 2:42 113: No. 2 Alijah Jeffery (Linn Mar, Iowa) dec. No. 5 Skyler Petry (WEM, Minn.), 3-2 120: No. 1 Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) dec. Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb.), 10-4 126: No. 1 Zac Hall (St Johns, Mich.) maj. dec. No. 2 Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa), 10-2 132: No. 2 Logan Ryan (Bettendorf, Iowa) dec. No. 1 Mark Voss (St Michael-Albertville, Minn.), 8-6 138: No. 1 Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.) dec. No. 7 Carver James (Dakota, Ill.), 6-2 145: No. 3 Kasey Caelwaerts (Pulaski, Wis.) dec. No. 4 Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.), 9-6 152: No. 1 Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.) won by inj. default over No. 2 Andrew Millsap (Junction City, Kan.) 160: No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 3 Lucas Westrich (Lakeville North, Minn.), 13-4 170: No. 1 Bobby Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.) dec. No. 2 T.J. Ohara (Tartan, Minn.), 7-2 182: No. 1 Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 3 Laquan Wallace (Champlin Park, Minn.), 11-3 195: No. 2 Nathan Rose (Sibley East, Minn.) dec. No. 1 Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.), 9-8 220: No. 1 Paul Cheney (Apple Valley, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 2 Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.), 9-1 295: No. 1 Jason Callanan (Rochester Mayo, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Mitch Ciesielski (Independence, Iowa), 4:24

100: 1st: No. 1 Drew West (Highland, Iowa) pinned No. 6 Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa), 1:36 3rd: No. 4 Austin Anderly (LeSueur-Henderson, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Austin Gomez (Carol Stream, Ill.), 3:53 5th: No. 7 Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) dec. No. 8 Ryan Killeen (Spectrum, Minn.), 11-10 106: 1st: No. 5 Mason Smith (Clio, Mich.) pinned No. 2 Mitchell McKee (St Michael-Albertville, Minn.), 2:42 3rd: No. 3 Kaz Onoo (Mason City, Iowa) dec. No. 6 Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf, Iowa), 8-5 5th: No. 1 Gannon Volk (Apple Valley, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 11 Taylor Venz (Farmington, Minn.), 15-5 113: 1st: No. 2 Alijah Jeffery (Linn Mar, Iowa) dec. No. 5 Skyler Petry (WEM, Minn.), 3-2 3rd: No. 4 Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.) pinned No. 8 Sam Bennyhoff (Mound-Westonka, Minn.), 3:35 5th: No. 3 Jarred Oftedahl (Benilde-St Margaret's, Minn.) pinned No. 10 Jonah Eide (Dowling Catholic, Iowa), 1:00 120: 1st: No. 1 Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) dec. No. 3 Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb.), 10-4 3rd: No. 4 Maolu Woiwor (Apple Valley, Minn.) pinned No. 5 Tanner Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn.), 1:33 5th: No. 2 Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) tech. fall No. 10 James Goman (Trinity School, Minn.), 20-4 126: 1st: No. 1 Zac Hall (St Johns, Mich.) maj. dec. No. 2 Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa), 10-2 3rd: No. 4 Andres Gonzalez (Clear Lake, Iowa) dec. No. 3 Austin Eicher (Hartland, Mich.), 7-2 5th: No. 6 Leighton Gaul (New Hampton, Iowa) dec. No. 11 Brock Morgan (Apple Valley, Minn.), 6-5 132: 1st: No. 2 Logan Ryan (Bettendorf, Iowa) dec. No. 1 Mark Voss (St Michael-Albertville, Minn.), 8-6 3rd: No. 5 JJ Wolfe (Dakota, Ill.) dec. No. 6 Josh Wenger (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa), 5-1 5th: No.3 Ben Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.) dec. No. 4 Dustin Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.), 10-8 SV 138: 1st: No. 1 Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.) dec. No. 7 Carver James (Dakota, Ill.), 6-2 3rd: No. 5 Shamar Williams (Lakeville South, Minn.) dec. Zachary Beaumaster (Monticello, Minn.), 10-5 5th: Marcus Riggle (Faribault, Minn.) won by over inj. def. over No. 2 Brett Stolarzyk (Stewartville, Minn.) 145: 1st: No. 3 Kasey Caelwaerts (Pulaski, Wis.) dec. No. 4 Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.), 9-6 3rd: No. 11 Chase Straw (Independence, Iowa) dec. No. 9 Luke Zilverberg (Scott West, Minn.), 5-3 5th: No. 10 Andrew Dayland (St. Charles, Minn.) won by over inj. def. over No. 1 Brant Schafer (St Johns, Mich.) 152: 1st: No. 1 Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.) won by over inj. def. over No. 2 Andrew Millsap (Junction City, Kan.) 3rd: No. 3 Patrick Casey (Shakopee, Minn.) dec. No. 4 Chase Monger (Eden Prairie, Minn.), 3-2 5th: No. 8 Skyler St. John (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) dec. No. 11 Brandon Krone (Anoka, Minn.), 8-5 160: 1st: No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 3 Lucas Westrich (Lakeville North, Minn.), 13-4 3rd: No. 2 Tim Moore (Rochester John Marshall, Minn.) dec. No. 4 Matt Gribben (Eden Prairie, Minn.), 5-2 5th: No. 9 Collin Sohn (Wayzata, Minn.) won by over inj. def. over No. 7 Kyle Fank (Independence, Iowa) 170: 1: No. 1 Bobby Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.) dec. No. 2 T.J. Ohara (Tartan, Minn.), 7-2 3rd: No. 5 Matt Collins (Dowling Catholic, Iowa) dec. No. 3 Jackson Graham (Apple Valley, Minn.), 7-2 5th: No. 9 Cory Berry (Champlin Park, Minn.) dec. No. 6 Dillon Downes (Zumbrota-Mazeppam Minn.), 6-3 182: 1st: No. 1 Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 3 Laquan Wallace (Champlin Park, Minn.), 11-3 3rd: No. 4 Sam Moeller (Rosemount, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 2 Aaron Almedina (Lakeville North, Minn.), 12-0 5th: No. 12 Ryan Vogelgesang (Burnsville, Minn.) won by inj. def. over No. 5 Greg Johnson (LARP, Minn.) 195: 1st: No. 2 Nathan Rose (Sibley East, Minn.) dec. No. 1 Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.), 9-8 3rd: No. 4 Trae Story (Roseville, Minn.) won by inj. def. over No. 5 David Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn.) 5th: No. 7 Max Bullock (Waconia, Minn.) won by inj. def. over No. 3 Payne Hayden (St Johns, Mich.) 220: 1st: No. 1 Paul Cheney (Apple Valley, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 2 Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.), 9-1 3rd: No. 4 Logan Hortop (Faribault, Minn.) pinned No. 7 Nick Pegelow (Eastview, Minn.), 1:43 5th: No. 3 Zach Kennedy (Pine Island, Minn.) dec. No. 5 Jack Garcia (Apple Valley, Minn.), 7-6 285: 1st: No. 1 Jason Callanan (Rochester Mayo, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Mitch Ciesielski (Independence, Iowa), 4:24 2nd: No. 2 Mitch Ciesielski (Independence, Iowa) dec. No. 3 Timothy Duffy (Eastview, Minn.), 6-4)

During the Ohio State-Penn State football game on Saturday night, one of our staff writers posted an offensive tweet from his personal account. His comment in no way represents our values at InterMat. We will be taking corrective action on this and are deeply sorry to anyone who was offended by the comment.

For the last twenty years of the twentieth century the US Army used the recruiting slogan "Be all You Can Be" and in the new millennium they have pitched "Army of One" and "Army Strong." Third year head coach Joe Heskett has embraced all three when it comes to wrestling recruiting and the dividends are starting to pay off as the commitments are starting to line up. The latest recruit to hear the call is Blair senior Russell Parsons. Russell Parsons (Photo/David Gard, The Star-Ledger)"I want to stick the Flag in the Ground at West Point because Army is the best place for me," stated Parsons over the phone on Thursday night. He chose the Black Knights over Harvard and Princeton. "Looking around at my options it became clear that I needed to make a choice that would be best for me as a wrestler and as a student," offered Parsons. "After getting to know the coaches at Army; seeing the character of the wrestlers, students, and staff; and falling in love with the campus; I know I made a great choice." A three year starter for the Buccaneers and the defending national prep school champion, Parsons enters his senior year ranked No. 34 in the InterMat Top 100. As a junior he went 36-4 winning the POWERade, taking second at the Beast of the East, and fourth at the Ironman. With the retirement of head coach Jeff Buxton this summer, Parsons will be back at 152 pounds and will be counted on to be a leader for new head coach Charles Danhoff. "The goal this year is for the team to have the best season we can and continue to build on the success we have had in the past," said Parsons. "Personally, I want to end my career with an undefeated season. If that doesn’t happen, you want to wrestle your best and place as high as you can to help the team do as well as they can." After he stopped running cross country, Parsons has become a year-round wrestler that has caught the freestyle bug. He wrestled in Fargo as a Cadet and placed seventh last season as a Junior. "I definitely would like to continue wrestling freestyle during the offseason in college," responded Parsons when asked about the international styles. "The more you wrestle and the more you learn, the better you are going to be regardless of the style." Parsons will enroll at West Point in the fall of 2013 and he hopes to make an immediate impact at 149 or 157 pounds. "Your senior year is a special time and I have a lot to be excited about this year and in the future," stated Parsons. "I have to thank my parents for always being there for me and I have to thank coach Buxton and all of the Blair coaches for pushing me to be all that I can be."

InterMat senior writer T.R. Foley answers reader questions about NCAA wrestling, international wrestling, recruiting, or anything loosely related to wrestling. You have until Thursday night every week to send questions to Foley's Twitter or email account. Do you want to read a past mailbag? View archives. Wrestling lost a great leader this week. Jeff Blatnick, 55, passed away after heart failure. He was a cancer survivor, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division II champion. Blatnick was a son of wrestling, but after the Olympics went on to become a UFC commentator and respected MMA judge. He worked with several state commissions and leagues to bring about new rules for help legitimize the sport. But even as Blatnick moved on to become a big name in MMA, he remained a hero of the wrestling community. Below is a video to remind you of Blatnick's accomplishment on the mat and his character off it. I found it tough to watch. Blatnick will be missed. I'll be writing a piece about Blatnick's life for the December issue of FIGHT! Magazine. Please send me your personal stories this weekend and I'll try to include your anecdotes in the piece. On to your questions ... Q: I would first like to thank InterMat for the coverage and you for the awesome mailbag week in and week out. You guys have been able to keep me up to date on all the big news as I am currently forward deployed on the USS IWO JIMA, wrapping up an 8-month deployment. Unfortunately, I am not going to be back stateside to watch the All-Star Classic; I would have loved to drag my wife up to DC to watch it. I am a PSU fan, and with that being said I'm sure you know where I am going with this. For the Taylor/Dake matchup, do you would think it will to end up on Youtube or someplace to watch it well after the match is over. It has to, right? Just trying to figure out how I'm going to be able to catch the match in the mid December time frame. Thanks again for everything! -- Kelin F. Foley: Thanks to you, sir. It's nice to know we have an international following, though you didn't specify where you were deployed overseas. As the son of a Marine, I still remember he excitement of getting a postcard from my father when he was deployed. Do you send your family handwritten notes, or are you on FaceTime? Does it depend on where you are deployed? You could sign up for Flo's broadcast, but it's $20 and you have to remember to cancel the subscription after you're finished watching. Failing to do so could cost you an additional $220 with automatic monthly renewal! The company's decision has come at the cost of some fan support, but assuming they hire good commentators, have graphics and don't screw up the feed you might find it worth your money. Fox Sports has also agreed to air the Classic on tape delay. Have a great time on deployment and make it home safely! Q: What happened to Destin McCauley, don't hear anything about him anymore after he graduated from high school. -- Jeff P. Foley: McCauley originally committed to Wisconsin in 2010 to start competing in 2011-2012. Like many of the top wrestlers in an Olympic year McCauley chose to take an Olympic redshirt and train to make the Olympic team. He didn't and in the meantime the situation at Wisconsin changed dramatically with head assistant coach Donny Pritzlaff leaving to take a position at Michigan. At the end of the summer McCauley found that he'd rather not attend Wisconsin and out himself back on the market, eventually choosing to wrestle at Iowa State in 2012-2013. However, he later decided to forgo college to stay in Colorado Springs and train to make the next Olympic Games. I don't know what his academic situation was, or if it influenced him to stay off campus, but I DO like the idea that one of our most talented freestylers is going to commit to international wrestling. Again, I don't know what his academic situation is, but college is not for everyone and I'm happy to see some guys chasing their dreams. Q: It's great to see you quote M E S. How about All-Star Classic predictions? Dark horse D1 teams for the coming season? Your AA predictions or Dark horse AA's? Have Fun -- Mike S. Foley: I love Man, Economy & Sports. We are in a great time for sports information. The economics of sports, the statistical analysis, and the breadth of information available to fans has never been better. The amount of information can be over-indulgent, but on average we're damn lucky. As for the predictions, we'll be getting to all these over the next few weeks. I can tell you I'm pretty big on 174-pound superhero/wrestler Matt Brown from Penn State. Multimedia Halftime! The man who posted this video was eventually fired from NBC, though I think he should have been given a significant raise! Excellent comedy. The logo for "Back Points w/ T.R. Foley" has been finalized. I'm lucky to have gone to high school with one of the best graphic designers in the world. Seriously, she's incredible. Who can recognize this type of wrestling jacket? The new Podcast was scheduled to premiere this week, but will instead come in next week. Interviews are done, but the sound quality is subpar. I'm going to try and fix it (It sounds like I'm calling from the headquarters of MIB). If all goes well I'll be improving the sound quality AND adding a second, late week podcast. Q: Did Cody Wiercioch drop to 170 to face Chance in PA finals or for college next year? -- Chuck F. Foley: I reached out to the very best high school analyst in the country, our very own Josh Lowe. This is what he wrote ... Cody was an in-season 170 last year, and I sense he would be favored to win AAA state at either 170 or 182. That obviously presumes Chance Marsteller stays at 160 again this year. I am hearing that is more likely than not to be the case. If Wiercioch stays at 170, which may just be an optimal weight for him, we saw the de facto state final in the Super 32 final; Wiercioch beat Brett Harner (Norristown) 5-3. Up at 182 in AAA is fellow Super 32 champ Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area). 195 in AAA has two-time Super 32 champ Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area), who won state last year, as well as returning runner-up Jake Hart (Hampton). Two-time state champion Thomas Haines (Solanco), only a junior, is up at 220. At 160, Marsteller is likely to have yet another state champion in his weight with Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin). Remember that Chance beat defending state champ Brian Brill 17-7 in last year's state final. In what should not be breaking news to anyone, the quality depth and breadth of talent in PA (class 3A in particular) is staggering. Q: I follow Jordan Burroughs on Twitter and he can sometimes come off as a little arrogant about his abilities and accomplishments (i.e. alliseeisgold). Do you think he should tone it down a little and be more humble about his accomplishments or do you think the sport of wrestling needs a flamboyant and colorful personality (similar to Muhammed Ali and the sport of boxing). -- Casey L. Foley: I absolutely think he comes across as arrogant, but heaven bless that man and his accomplishments! Burroughs is a rare talent and though he has been very honest about his abilities, I find it refreshing that he does it WITHOUT the humblebrag. I hate the #humblebrag. Though it's linked right above these words, I will go ahead and explain by linking to a funny video. His post last night read: "It's flattering to see how many wrestlers out there want to be me for Halloween. Thanks guys!" Humblebrag: "I wrestle for the love of the sport so it's still weird for me to think someone would dress up as me for Halloween." Burroughs is an honest and I think sweet man. We should let him live it up. He also posted this photo on Twitter last week. I'm sold.

The third annual InterMat JJ Classic takes place this Sunday, Oct. 28 at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. This year's field includes several nationally ranked wrestlers, national champions, state champions, and state placewinners. Eighteen past Cadet or Junior National finalists are entered. Online registration remains open, and walk-up registrations are accepted. For more information and to register for Sunday's event, visit the JJ Classic website. Below is a weight-by-weight preview of this year's JJ Classic. Please note: This preview includes wrestlers registered through 10 p.m. on Thursday night. Information in this preview is subject to change due to additions, scratches, and weight class changes. 100: The 100-pound weight class is a non-NFHS weight class, but was added to the JJ Classic this year. The wrestlers in this weight class may lack high school experience, but certainly do not lack national accomplishments. Drew West (Highland, Iowa) was a Preseason Nationals champion last year in the middle school division, where he earned a victory in the finals over Minnesota state runner-up Mitchell McKee. West was a USA wrestling national top-three finisher in all three styles this year, as well as a Northern Plains double champion. Austin GomezAustin Gomez (Carol Stream, Ill.) and Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.) were USA Wrestling national champions in multiple styles this year. Gomez won national titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman, while finishing runner-up in folkstyle. He is also a multiple-time Preseason Nationals champion. Robb was a USA Wrestling National Triple Crown winner this year, winning national titles in folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. He has been a MN/USA Triple Crown winner each of the past two years. Robb was a USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion in 2011. Victor Gliva (Farmington, Minn.) and Jaxon Sommers (Totino-Grace, Minn.) are Cadet National folkstyle All-Americans. Gliva finished third at 88 pounds, while Sommers finished fourth at 94 pounds. Austin Anderly (LeSueur-Henderson), Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.), and Ryan Killeen (Spectrum, Minn.) have been successful in MN/USA Wrestling events, and should figure into the mix in this weight class. Anderly was a MN/USA state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman, and finished this past high school season with a 20-8 mark. Lloyd was a MN/USA state champion in folkstyle, finished runner-up in Greco-Roman, and fourth in freestyle. In addition, Lloyd placed third in USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals at 84 pounds. Killeen was a MN/USA state runner-up in both freestyle and Greco-Roman this year. He also sent 4-1 in freestyle at the Schoolboy Duals at 91 pounds. Devyn Johnson (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Iowa's top entry in this weight class is Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa). Wagner is an Iowa/USA state champion in folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman, and finished sixth at Preseason Nationals last year. The top wrestler coming out of Wisconsin in this weight class is Trent McManus (Adams Friendship, Wis.), a state placewinner in all three styles, including a runner-up finish in freestyle. Also in this weight class is Devyn Johnson (Osakis, Minn.), the first female wrestler ever to enter the JJ Classic. Her wrestling resume speaks for itself. She was a Junior National folkstyle runner-up this year in the girls division, and has been a national champion in USGWA and USA Wrestling events. Johnson represented the United States at the Pan American Cadet Championships in 2011. This past spring she was a MN/USA state runner-up in folkstyle competing in the boys division. Johnson was an ASICS Girls High School All-American Team Honorable Mention selection this year. There are several other wrestlers with age group success in this weight class who are capable of reaching the podium as well. Predictions at 100: Andrew Hipps: When it comes to lighter weight classes like this one, having a weight advantage can make a big difference. With that said, I expect Drew West to be standing on top of the podium because his national success this year has come at 100 pounds or heavier, while many other age group stars in this weight class have been winning in weight classes below 100 pounds. Steve Elwood: This class of youngsters is the most difficult weight class to predict. I haven't seen any of them live, but I'm going with the USA Wrestling National Triple Crown winner Peyton Robb from Owatonna, Minnesota. This kid is going to be a star in Minnesota. 106: Cameron Sykora (Photo/The Guillotine)Two-time state champion Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.) comes in as the favorite at 106 pounds. Sykora is coming off a season in which he compiled a 45-1 record en route to winning a Minnesota Class A state championship at 106 pounds as a freshman. He has gone 89-5 over the past seasons. This past spring he won both the Northern Plains Regional and Southeast Regional in freestyle at 113 pounds. He was a JJ Classic runner-up last year. Gannon Volk (Apple Valley, Minn.), Mitchell McKee (Kimball, Minn.), and Tanner Rohweder (Dowling Catholic, Iowa) have all been Cadet or Junior National champions in Fargo. Volk was a Cadet National Triple Crown winner in 2011, and is coming of a season in which he compiled a 26-4 record. McKee was a Cadet National Greco-Roman champion this past summer, and finished runner-up in the Minnesota state tournament at 106 pounds to Sykora. Rohweder earned a Junior National freestyle title this past summer at 100 pounds. Kaz Onoo (Mason City, Iowa) and Mason Smith (Clio, Mich.) are also top contenders in this weight class. Onoo is a Junior National freestyle All-American and state placewinner who has been impressive this fall. He notched a win over Illinois standout Tommy Pawleski, a multiple-time Fargo finalist and state champion at the Hammer Classic. Last weekend Onoo won the Blue Chip Fall Brawl at 113 pounds in dominating fashion. Smith is state fourth-place finisher who went 53-6 last season. He was a runner-up at the Grappler Fall Classic two weeks ago. Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Paul Fitterer were Cadet National folkstyle All-Americans this year. (Fitterer was also a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American.) Jake Allar (Benilde-St. Margaret's, Minn.) was a freestyle and Greco-Roman national champion in 2011, and went 36-8 as a seventh-grader this past season. Brad Osatiuk (Maple Grove, Minn.), Taylor Venz (Farmington, Minn.), Malik Stewart (Blaine, Minn.), and Drew Eldeen (Tri-Valley, S.D.) all won 30 or more matches last season. Two eighth-graders who could figure into the mix are Bryce West (Highland, Iowa) and Tanner Cole (Owatonna). Predictions at 106: Andrew Hipps: I'm going with the chalk here ... Cameron Sykora gets his JJ Classic title after finishing runner-up last year. If Sykora and Kaz Onoo meet in the semifinals again, it's going to be much closer than last year's 8-2 match. Onoo is wrestling very well right now. Steve Elwood: Outside of 100 pounds, there might not be a tougher pick. How can you not pick Cameron Sykora here? I am going to take a pass on him and pick Kaz Onoo from Iowa to beat Sykora in the semis and take out Mitch McKee in the finals. This is a great list of lightweights. 113: This weight class has four wrestlers with a tremendous amount of national success: Kyle Akins (Sycamore, Ill.), Alijah Jeffery (Linn-Mar, Iowa), Jarred Oftedahl (Benilde-St. Margaret's, Minn.), and Skyler Petry (WEM, Minn.). All four are multiple-time state placewinners, but all four are still in search of their first state championship. Akins is a two-time Illinois state placewinner, finishing third in 2011 at 112 pounds and fourth this past season at 113 pounds. He also won Border Wars Nationals and Dominate in the Dells. Akins reached the semifinals of Preseason Nationals last year at 113 pounds before losing and injury defaulting out of the competition. During that run he earned victories over Jeffery and Oftedahl. Jarred Oftedahl (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Jeffery is an Iowa Class 3A state third-place finisher in each of the past two seasons, compiling a record of 86-11 over those two seasons. He was a Cadet National All-American this year in folkstyle and freestyle, finishing third in folkstyle and seventh in freestyle. Oftedahl has the most complete wrestling resume of any wrestler in this weight class. He has been a Junior National champion in folkstyle and Greco-Roman, Cadet National folkstyle champion, and six-time All-American in Fargo. He is a two-time state placewinner, finishing runner-up in 2011 and fifth this past season. He was runner-up in the 2010 JJ Classic and fourth in last year's JJ Classic. He is also coming off a dominating performance at the Blue Chip Fall Brawl, where he went 6-0 with five pins. Petry was a state finalist this past season at 106 pounds, finishing the season with a 43-3 record. He was a state fifth-place finisher the previous season with a 41-2 record. Petry was a Junior National folkstyle runner-up this past spring, and a Cadet National folkstyle third-place finisher in 2011. He was also a FILA Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up this year. Cody Hanson (St. James, Minn.) was a state placewinner in 2011 and should be in the hunt for a spot on the podium this weekend. Sam Bennyhoff (Mound-Westonka) went 38-4 as a freshman at 106 pounds. Ty Pelot is a two-time FILA Cadet All-American in Greco-Roman, as well as a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American. He is coming off a season in which he went 43-5. Jonah Eide (Dowling Catholic, Iowa), Collin LaBrosse (Park, Minn.), Seth Elwood (Medford, Minn.), and Zach Chytka (Apple Valley, Minn.) could make some noise in this weight class. Predictions at 113: Andrew Hipps: I have been high on Alijah Jeffery ever since I watched him give two-time state champion Tommy Thorn a very competitive match in the Junior National folkstyle competition. He wrestles for Lin Marr in Iowa, the same program that produced NCAA champions Matt McDonough and Jay Borschel. Jeffery is very big for this weight class and he's my pick. Steve Elwood: The two top juniors in this weight class, Kyle Akins and Alijah Jeffery, are the safe picks to meet in the finals. But I like senior Jarred Oftedahl to continue his winning streak and walk away with this weight. I look for him to be in top form. 120: Josh Alber (Photo/Rob Preston)This weight class features two returning JJ Classic champions and five state champions. Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) is a two-time state champion who is undefeated in his high school wrestling career. He is coming off a runner-up finish at the Super 32 Challenge, with his most notable victories coming over Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) and Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.). Alber won the JJ Classic last year at 120 pounds. Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) is a three-time state champion, winning state titles as a seventh-grader and eighth-grader at 103 pounds, and last season as a freshman at 113 pounds. Shearer is a Rumble on the Red champion, two-time Minnesota Christmas Tournament runner-up, and InterMat JJ Classic runner-up. Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb.) was a JJ Classic champion last year at 106 pounds. He is a two-time Nebraska state finalist, winning a state title this past season at 106 pounds and finishing the season with a 49-2 record. Rodriguez has been a Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo in each of the past two summers, finishing runner-up in 2011 and third this past summer. He was a Northern Plains double champion this year at 120 pounds. Maolu Woiwor (Apple Valley, Minn.) claimed the state championship in Minnesota's big school division (Class AAA) at 106 pounds this past season. He was a MN/USA Wrestling state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman this spring. Woiwor was also a Cheesehead Invitational champion at 106 pounds. Another state champion entered in this weight class is Kevin Perez (Junction City, Ks.). Tanner Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn), Trevor Westerlund (Albert Lea, Minn.), and James Goman are state runner-ups. Johnshoy has been in the state finals the past two years, losing to Tommy Thorn both times. He finished third at last year's JJ Classic and earned the award for most pins in least time. Westerlund (Albert Lea, Minn.) was a state runner-up to Woiwor at 106 pounds and compiled a record of 37-4. He was a Rumble on the Red champion and finished third at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament. Goman was a state runner-up at 113 pounds in Minnesota's small school division (Class A). Anthony Luft (Worthington, Minn.) is a two-time state placewinner, finishing fifth this past season and sixth in 2011. Other state placewinners entered in this weight class include Louie Sanders (LCWM, Minn.) and Hank Friederichs (Chatfield, Minn.). Sanders finished fifth at 113 pounds, while Friederichs was fifth at 106 pounds. Predictions at 120: Andrew Hipps: I would be crazy to pick against Josh Alber after his run to the Super 32 Challenge finals. He caught the attention of many college wrestling coaches across the country with his performance. He has past wins over some top contenders in this weight class, including Jordan Shearer. Look for Alber to repeat as JJ Classic champion, and for Shearer to finish runner-up for the second straight year. Steve Elwood: Can I take back what I wrote about 113 pounds being the second hardest pick? This thing is very deep with two former JJ champs and five state champions. Last weekend Josh Alber stunned the East Coast experts making the finals at the Super 32 Challenge. I like him to win this weight class. The semis could be extraordinary at this weight. 126: Zac Hall (Photo/Dave Jedlicka)Two-time state champion Zac Hall (St. Johns, Mich.) headlines a deep and talent-filled 126-pound bracket at this year's JJ Classic. Hall has compiled a record of 98-2 over the past two seasons of high school wrestling, with his state titles coming at 103 pounds and 112 pounds. He is coming off a strong summer in national tournaments. Hall finished runner-up in the FILA Cadet National freestyle competition in June and runner-up in the Junior National freestyle competition in July. Two returning JJ Classic champions have also entered this weight class: Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf). Gross is a two-time Cadet National freestyle champion in Fargo. He won a FILA Cadet National freestyle title this year, which earned him a spot on the Cadet World Team, and he represented the United States at the FILA Cadet World Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. He is also a state champion. Fredy StrokerStroker, last year's JJ Classic champion at 113 pounds, is one of the nation's top sophomore wrestlers. He claimed a Cadet National folkstyle title this past spring, and has been a Cadet All-American in all three styles. In July Stroker claimed a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in freestyle while representing the United States at 54 kilos. This past season he finished runner-up in the Iowa state tournament compiled a 44-2 record, with both losses coming to nationally ranked Phillip Laux of Iowa City West. Stroker also helped lead Bettendorf High School to both the individual and dual state team titles and a No. 10 national ranking in the final InterMat Fab 50 team rankings. Also registered in this weight class is Nate Thomas (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), a state champion and two-time state finalist. Thomas earned his state title as a freshman in 2010 at 103 pounds. He was a state runner-up the following season as a sophomore at 112 pounds. An injury kept Thomas off the mat last season. He won a gold medal at the AAU Junior Olympic Games this summer after going 18-0. Thomas has also been a Minnesota Christmas Tournament champion and Cadet National All-American in Greco-Roman. Two returning JJ Classic runner-ups, Andres Gonzalez (Clear Lake, Iowa), and Ben Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.) are entered in this weight class and will be looking to take a step up on the podium this year, which will be a tall order. Gonzalez is a two-time state placewinner, finishing third this past season and compiling a record of 41-2. Brancale was a state third-place finisher this past season, and a Cadet National freestyle All-American this past summer in Fargo. Austin Eicher (Hartland, Mich.), Quinten Berres (Kimball, Minn.), Nick O'Brien (Wayzata, and Leighton Gaul (New Hampton, Iowa) are all multiple-time state placewinners. Eicher was a state runner-up this past season and fourth the previous season. He won a gold medal at the Disney Duals. Berres posted a 45-2 record en route to a state third-place finish this past season. He was sixth the season before. Berres has also been a champion at Preseason Nationals, Blue Chip Fall Brawl, and Liberty Nationals. O'Brien has placed sixth twice, and also placed in the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Rumble on the Red. Gaul has state finishes of third and fifth, and was 38-3 this past season. He is also a Northern Plains freestyle champion. Charlie Jones (Waterloo Columbus, Iowa) won a state championship in Iowa's 1A and finished the season with a 45-5 record. Other state placewinners entered in this weight class include Josh Wenger (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) and Quinn Miracle (Chippewa Falls, Wis.). Wenger placed fourth in the state tournament, and recorded a win during the regular season over Phillip Laux of Iowa City West. Miracle was a state third-place finisher with a 34-3 record. Predictions at 126: Andrew Hipps: Zac Hall was pushed hard in the Grappler Fall Classic finals by fellow two-time state champion Ken Bade, and I expect him to be pushed hard again this weekend at the JJ Classic. I like Fredy Stroker to make the finals opposite Hall. Stroker has been training with NCAA runner-up Daniel Dennis and two-time state champion Phillip Laux, among others, and should be in prime form. But I'm taking Hall in a tight one over Stroker in the finals. Steve Elwood: There is an argument this is the overall deepest weight class at this year's JJ Classic and I have to agree. Fredy Stroker should meet Seth Gross in a great semi with the winner getting Zac Hall from Michigan. I like Stroker to make the finals and finish with the upset special of the JJ. Fredy Stroker champion at 126. 132: This is one of the more balanced weight classes at this year's JJ Classic, as it includes nine state placewinners and only one state champion. Freddie Rodriguez (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)That lone state champion in the weight class is Freddie Rodriguez (Iowa City High, Iowa), a three-time state champion who has won virtually everything a high school wrestler can win. In 2010 he became the second wrestler ever to capture a Junior National Triple Crown, winning Junior National titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman, and freestyle. He was also FILA Cadet Nationals double champion and FloNationals champion in 2010. Rodriguez climbed to as high as No. 6 overall among all high school junior wrestlers in the United States. But Rodriguez did not compete in high school last year, and the last time he competed was at the NUWAY Southwest Kickoff Classic a year ago, where he went 0-2 at 138 pounds. He is the most accomplished high school wrestler not only in this weight class, but in the entire tournament. But the fact that he has not been competing also makes him one of the biggest question marks. The question becomes, which Freddie Rodriguez will show up in Rochester this weekend? The one that every college wrestling coach in America coveted because of his incredible wrestling talent and will to win? Or the one that showed up in Las Vegas last year and bowed out of the competition after just two matches? Mark Voss (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) is the highest returning JJ Classic placewinner in this weight class, finishing fifth at last year's event. Voss has been a top-three finisher in the Cadet National folkstyle competition the past two years, finishing runner-up this year and third in 2011. He is also a state finalist and two-time state placewinner. Logan Ryan (Bettendorf, Iowa) is a Junior National folkstyle champion and two-time state placewinner. He won his Junior National folkstyle title by defeating three-time state champion Austin Hood in the finals. Dustin Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.), Shamar Williams (Lakeville South, Minn.), Keith Thell (Foley, Minn.), Evan Caldon (Elk River, Minn.), and Eliot Jurries (Jackson County Central, Minn.) are all past state placewinners. Weinmann was a state fourth-place finisher in 2011, and is coming off a season in which he went 39-4. He finished fourth in the Junior National folkstyle competition earlier this year. Williams, who transferred to Lakeville South from Apple Valley, finished fourth in the state tournament and compiled a record of 23-3. He was a Cadet National folkstyle All-American in 2011. Thell was a state placewinner in 2010, and eight months later won the JJ Classic at 119 pounds. He has battled injuries the past two seasons, but has recently been cleared to wrestle in the JJ Classic and will be a threat in this weight class. Caldon placed sixth in the state tournament and finished with a 37-9 record. Jurries was fifth in the state tournament and posted a 41-9 mark. In addition to the state placewinners, there are several very accomplished state qualifiers capable of contending for spots on the podium. Predictions at 132: Andrew Hipps: I remember telling InterMat high school analyst Josh Lowe on the trip back from Fargo in 2010 that Freddie Rodriguez was the most impressive wrestler I saw in the Junior National freestyle competition ... more impressive than Destin McCauley, Morgan McIntosh, and everyone else competing. Rodriguez competed in a preseason event last fall in Las Vegas and looked like a shell of the wrestler I saw 15 months prior, and he hasn't competed since. I really have no idea what to expect from F-Rod this weekend, but my Fargo memories are still etched in my mind, and for that reason he's my pick. Steve Elwood: Mark Voss is much better than the rest of the country knows and it appeared like he was destined for a great final with Bettendorf's Logan Ryan. That was the case until the ghost of Freddie Rodriguez joined in. F-Rod will either be lights out here or a complete bust. I'm going with lights out and picking another Freddie (different spelling) to be the champion. 138: Taner Trembley (Photo/The Guillotine)State champion Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.) enters this year's event as the favorite at 138 pounds after placing third at the JJ Classic last year at 132 pounds. Trembley finished with a 43-2 record this past season en route to winning his state title. He is a three-time state placewinner and Junior National folkstyle All-American. Another state champion entered in this weight class is Brett Stolarzyk (Stewartville, Minn.). Stolarzyk has won 73 matches over the past two seasons. His state title came in 2011 as a sophomore at 112 pounds. This past season Stolarzyk finished third in the state tournament at 120 pounds. He was a Northern Plains third-place finisher in both Greco-Roman and freestyle this year. Stolarzyk was also a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American in 2011. Marcus Hamer (Kimball, Minn.), Mason Brownlee (Tri-City United, Minn.), and Kollin Kragnes (West Fargo, N.D.) are multiple-time state placewinners. Hamer was sixth in the state tournament this past season at 132 pounds and fourth at 103 pounds in 2010. Brownlee is a two-time state fifth-place finisher and Cadet National folkstyle All-American. Kragnes was a state runner-up this past season and fifth in 2011. Other state placewinners entered in this weight class include Dylan Herman (United South Central, Minn.), Carver James (Dakota, Ill.), Jacob Woodard (Bettendorf, Iowa), and Kyle Opsahl (Hinckley-Finlayson, Minn.). Herman was a state third-place finisher this past season, compiling a 34-3 record. James also finished third in the tournament and is a Cadet National folkstyle All-American. Woodard was a state fifth-place finisher and Cadet National freestyle All-American. Opsahl placed sixth in the state tournament this past season and put together a record of 35-5. A talented freshman to keep an eye on in this weight class is Owen Webster (Shakopee, Minn.), a USA Wrestling national champion in folkstyle and Greco-Roman, and runner-up in Greco-Roman. He went 9-0 at Schoolboys Duals. Webster compiled a 13-1 record in high school competition last season at 113 pounds before an injury ended his season. Predictions at 138: Andrew Hipps: Tanner Trembley impressed me at last year's JJ Classic with his third-place finish in a deep 132-pound weight class won by Sam Brancale. I see Trembley winning this weight class over either Brett Stolarzyk or Marcus Hamer in the finals. Steve Elwood: At the risk of sounding like a CD with a smudge, I'm going to say the same thing about Taner Trembley as I did of Mark Voss. Trembley is way underrated nationally and much better than advertised. He should meet Stewartville state champion Brett Stolarzyk in the finals. I like Trembley in a well fought battle. 145: University of Indiana commit Brant Schafer (St. Johns, Mich.) is the wrestler to beat in this weight class. Schafer compiled a 49-1 record this past season en route to winning a Michigan Division 2 state championship at 135 pounds. He was a state runner-up the previous season as a sophomore, and a state fifth-place finisher as a freshman at 112 pounds. He has been a Junior National freestyle All-American in Fargo. Weston Droegemueller (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Returning InterMat JJ Classic runner-up Weston Droegemueller (Wayzata, Minn.) has an impressive wrestling resume. The senior has competed in every state tournament since his seventh grade year, and has won 157 matches with one season to go. He was a state fourth-place finisher this past season and went 42-5. Droegemueller also placed in the top four in both the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Rumble on the Red. Kasey Caelwaerts (Pulaski, Wis.) finished third in the Cadet National folkstyle competition, and went 38-3 this past season. Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.) is a state third-place finisher and three-time state qualifier. He is coming off a 42-win season. Jake Hanson (Rochester Mayo, Minn.) is a three-time section champion and state sixth-place finisher in 2011. Ben Donnelly (Woodbury) is a Cadet National folkstyle All-American, state placewinner in 2011, and three-time state qualifier. Austin Jordan (Stillwater, Minn.) is a section champion who won 37 matches last season. Andrew Dayland (St. Charles, Minn.) is a two-time state qualifier who was injured last season after going 15-1. He was a JJ Classic runner-up in 2010 at 112 pounds. Others with high national finishes include Cadet National folkstyle All-American Chase Straw (Independence, Iowa), NHSCA All-American Mason Moreno (Hayfield, Minn.), NHSCA All-American Weston Dobler (West Fargo, N.D.), and Cadet National Greco-Roman runner-up Joey Gunther (Libertyville, Ill.). Predictions at 145: Andrew Hipps: Brent Schafer is a physical, hard-nosed wrestler who will soon be wrestling in the Big Ten for Indiana. Schafer my pick here, but I expect Weston Droegemueller to meet Schafer in the finals and give him a very competitive match. Droegemueller didn't back down from Mark Hall last year, and he won't back down from Schaefer or anyone else in the country. Steve Elwood: I finally made it to a weight where I feel comfortable saying this is a sure thing. I can't imagine anyone beating Brant Schafer here. This senior is a hammer and it's too bad he opted up and away from Trembley after originally registering at 138. I'm not suggesting he is avoiding Trembley, only that it would have been a sweet match. Schafer is your champ here. 152: Cadet National folkstyle champion Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.) is the favorite in this weight class. This past season Racer compiled a 40-5 record as a freshman en route to a state runner-up finish at 138 pounds. He won the Minnesota Christmas Tournament last December. Andrew Millsap (Junction City, Ks.) won a state championship this past season at 138 pounds, and was a state sixth-place finisher in 2011. He was also a Cadet National All-American in Greco-Roman, which included a win over Racer. Patrick Casey (Shakopee, Minn.) was a state placewinner in 2010 and has won 30 or more matches in each of the last three seasons. Chas Monger (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Skyler St. John (Cedar Rapids Prairie), Iowa) and Colton Carlson (Willmar, Minn.) all won over 30 matches last season. Jake Deutschlander (Benilde St. Margaret's, Minn.) has been a Cadet National Greco-Roman All-American, and was a state qualifier in 2011. Sean O'Neil (Prior Lake, Minn.) was a MN/USA state freestyle runner-up this year. Other state placewinners in this weight class include John Frisco (Aberdeen Central, S.D.) and Kyle Kragnes (West Fargo, N.D.). Predictions at 152: Andrew Hipps: Dayton Racer is the class of this field and should cruise to the title. Steve Elwood: Here is another weight that on paper looks like a lock. Dayton Racer is the most accomplished of the bunch and should win going away. Patrick Casey has over 90 wins the last three seasons and as a senior may have something to say about the hyped sophomore from Apple Valley. But I'm staying with Racer. 160: Mark Hall (Photo/Rob Preston)Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) is the nation's No. 1 freshman and will be looking for his second straight JJ Classic title. He is already a two-time state champion with four years of high school competition remaining. He has been winning national events since he was young ... and hasn't stopped winning. His most recent title came last weekend at the Super 32 Challenge, where Hall not only won the title, but also became the first freshman in ten years to win a title at above the opening weight. That title came a week after Hall won the Grappler Fall Classic in Michigan. This summer Hall earned a gold medal at the Cadet Pan American Championships, and then followed it up with a title in the Cadet National freestyle competition in Fargo. Hall is the overwhelming favorite to win the title, but there several solid competitors entered in this weight class. Tim Moore (Rochester John Marshall, Minn.) compiled a 36-5 record this past season. He was a Northern Plains double champion in 2011. Tyler DeMoss (Hononegah, Ill.) won 32 matches this past season, and two weeks ago finished fourth at the Grappler Fall Classic. Lucas Westrich is a Cadet National folkstyle All-American, and won 30 matches last season as a freshman at 145 pounds. Matt Gribben (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was a state qualifier with 34 wins last season. Mitchell Johnson (Aberdeen Central, S.D.) was a state placewinner this past season at 145 pounds. Kyle Fank (Independence, Iowa) is coming off a 33-win season. Joe Hoeve (Farmington, Minn.) is a past Minnesota Ninth Grade League state champion. He went 27-12 this past season. Predictions at 160: Andrew Hipps: My prediction is that Mark Hall wows the crowd on more than one occasion. Steve Elwood: This is the fourth straight weekend Mark Hall has entered a tournament and has one more next weekend. He is wrestling better than ever and he will have to get injured to finish anywhere lower than first. He is one of America's top three most exciting wrestlers in high school. 170: Bobby StevesonBobby Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.) and T.J. Ohara (Tartan, Minn.) are expected to be the top two seeds and be on a collision course to meet in the finals. The two met in the Cadet National folkstyle competition this past spring, with Steveson coming out on top 7-5. Steveson, the nation's No. 20 sophomore, started his high school wrestling career strong this past season, compiling a 39-2 record as a freshman on his way to placing in the state tournament at 160 pounds. He finished second in the Cadet National folkstyle competition at 160 pounds. In late July, Steveson moved up to 170 pounds and finished third in the Cadet National freestyle competition in Fargo, with his only blemish coming against Cadet National double finalist Chandler Rogers of Washington. He has placed three times at the Grappler Fall Classic, including a runner-up finish two weeks ago. Ohara was a surprise state champion this past season at 152 pounds, knocking off national age group star Mason Manville in the state semifinals before downing returning state finalist Adam Jackson in the finals. Ohara made his mark at the national level this past spring and summer. He finished fourth in the Cadet National folkstyle competition at 160 pounds in Cedar Falls, Iowa in early April. In late July, Ohara finished third in the Cadet National freestyle competition at 160 pounds, losing only to Cadet National double finalist Kimball Bastian of Utah in three periods. Jackson Graham (Apple Valley, Minn.), Josh Selly (Tri-City United, Minn.), and Nick Hoff (LARP, Minn.) earned All-American honors this year at the Cadet level. Graham finished seventh in the Cadet National freestyle competition at 160 pounds. Selly was eighth in the Cadet National folkstyle competition at 145 pounds. Hoff finished eighth in the Cadet National folkstyle competition at 182 pounds. Matt Collins (Dowling Catholic, Iowa), Zach Melcher, and Cory Berry have all been state qualifiers. A wrestler to watch in this weight class is seventh-grader Gable Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.), the younger brother of Bobby Steveson. Gable Steveson has won five straight USA Wrestling national titles. He has also won Tulsa Nationals and Liberty Nationals. Predictions at 170: Andrew Hipps: I'm taking T.J. Ohara to avenge his Cadet National folkstyle loss to Bobby Steveson and take the title at 170 pounds. Steve Elwood: After choosing three easy picks, it gets harder the rest of the way. I'm pumped to watch Bobby Steveson from Indiana. He should get the top seed, but you can't discount Minnesota state champion T.J. Ohara. I like these two in a hard fought championship battle with Steveson taking the crown 182: State runner-up Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.) is the most accomplished wrestler in the weight class. He finished 2-2 in last weekend's Super 32 Challenge. Hammerlund placed third in last year's JJ Classic. He has also placed in the top six at the Rumble on the Red, Preseason Nationals, and the Blue Chip Fall Brawl. There are a handful of state qualifiers who should contend for high finishes in this weight class: Lequan Wallace (Champlin Park, Minn.), Sam Moeller (Rosemount, Minn.), Greg Johnson (LARP, Minn.), and Daniel Chavez (St. Charles, Minn.). Johnson was sixth at last year's JJ Classic. Zach Wills (Park, Minn.) and Sam Hinsch (Rochester Mayo, Minn.) could find spots on the podium. Predictions at 182: Andrew Hipps: I'm going with the safe pick: Miles Hammerlund. Steve Elwood: There should be four or five tough Minnesota seniors that all made the state tournament in this balanced weight class, all seeded high. I like Miles Hammerlund over any one of them. He had some nice wins at the Super 32 Challenge and is likely the most talented one in this group. 195: Lance Benick (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.), the nation's No. 8 sophomore, will be looking for his second straight JJ Classic title after a tremendous spring and summer in national events. Benick posted a combined record of 18-0 in three Cadet National competitions this year, winning national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman, and freestyle. In the folkstyle and freestyle competitions he won all of his matches by fall or technical fall. The 15-year-old Benick captured a high school state championship at 182 pounds this past season as a freshman at Totino-Grace, finishing the season with record of 34-3. Benick is not the only state champion and national champion entered in this weight class. Nathan Rose (Sibley East, Minn.) is a two-time NHSCA Nationals champion and state champion heading into his junior season. His NHSCA Nationals titles have come at 189 pounds (2011) and 195 pounds (2012). This past season Rose went 45-0 as a sophomore en route to winning a Minnesota Class A state championship at 195 pounds. Another top talent in this weight class is Payne Hayden (St. Johns, Mich.), a University of Michigan commit. Hayden won the Grappler Fall Classic two weeks ago, and was a fourth-place finisher at the Super 32 Challenge last year. He has been an All-American at the Cadet and FILA Cadet levels. Hayden is a three-time Michigan state placewinner, finishing third as a freshman and sophomore, and runner-up last season as a junior. He was a Michigan state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman this year. Trae Story (Roseville Area, Minn.) and David Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn.) are returning state placewinners. Story was a Minnesota Class AAA state runner-up this past season at 195 pounds, finishing the season with a 41-2 record. He is also a FILA Cadet National double All-American (runner-up in freestyle, third in Greco-Roman). Johnson finished sixth in the state tournament and compiled a 30-3 season record. Clay Broze (Cannon Falls, Minn.) and Max Bullock (Waconia, Minn.) were both 30-match winners last year. Predictions at 195: Andrew Hipps: A lot of talent in this weight class. I'm going to take Lance Benick to defeat Payne Hayden in the finals by three or four points. Steve Elwood: Oh boy! How often does a tournament have so many tough upperweight studs. This group goes five deep, but most Minnesota fans are hoping for a final featuring the Triple Crown winner Lance Benick vs. two-time NHSCA champion Nathan Rose. I expect Benick to get the top seed here. Rose should get a crazy semifinal against St. Johns' Payne Hayden. His reward for winning will be Benick. I think Lance will be too much for him. 220: Paul Cheney (Apple Valley), Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.) and Aaron Almedina (Lakeville North, Minn.) headline this year's group of 220-pounders. All three won over 30 matches and competed in the state tournament. Cheney was a Minnesota Christmas Tournament runner-up, Cheesehead Invitational fifth-place finisher, NUWAY Nationals fourth-place finisher. Linssen placed sixth in last year's state tournament at 195 pounds. He was also a JJ Classic runner-up last year. Almedina went 31-12 and placed at the Rumble on the Red. Zach Lorang (Rochester Mayo), Zach Kennedy (Pine Island, Minn.), and Logan Hortop (Faribault, Minn.) should also figure into the mix. Predictions at 220: Andrew Hipps: I'm picking Cody Linssen to win this weight class. He's the lone returning state placewinner and was in the JJ Classic finals a year ago. Steve Elwood: Paul Cheney and Cody Linssen met in an epic battle in section 3AAA and it went to 3OT. Cheney came out ahead, but Linssen finished higher at the state tournament. I like Cheney in a very close match. 285: Sam Stoll (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)This heavyweight class is anchored by Sam Stoll (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), one of the nation's top heavyweights. Stoll has earned All-American honors four times in Fargo, with Cadet National double titles in 2011. This past summer he finished third in the Junior National Greco-Roman competition. Stoll was a state finalist in 2011. This past season he compiled a 48-2 record and finished third at the state tournament. Stoll is ranked as the nation's No. 12 junior wrestler. Jason Callanan (Rochester Mayo) and Luis Pinto (Prior Lake, Minn.) were both 20-match winners and top-four finishers in their respective sections. Predictions at 285: Andrew Hipps: The only way I would consider picking against Sam Stoll this weekend is if Adam Coon shows up at the JJ Classic this weekend. Steve Elwood: Here is my last lock of the day. Sam Stoll should finish at the top and I doubt he goes six minutes in any match. Sam Stoll is one of the nation's finest upperweights and it's highly unlikely he loses here.

Here is a look at the top senior wrestlers in Indiana ... There really isn't much Mitch Sliga hasn't done during his three years in high school (Photo/Paul Tincher, IndianaMat.com)1. Mitch Sliga (Fishers) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 195 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Analysis: There really isn't much Sliga hasn't done during his three years in high school, he has won Fargo twice, won FILA Cadets, won a state title, placed at FILA Juniors, placed at FILA Cadet Worlds and the list goes on. Along with his stellar wrestling accolades, this Northwestern commit, has a done serious damage in the classroom. He will be a great fit for the Wildcats in the top of their lineup and after beating some college wrestlers at FILA Juniors he could step in as a true freshman. 2010: Third at 189 pounds 2011: Third at 189 pounds 2012: Champion at 195 pounds 2. Neal Molloy (Danville) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Molloy has had quite an offseason after finishing a disappointing fifth at state as a junior. First he placed third at FloNationals, then he placed fifth at Fargo and he wrapped up the offseason with a runner-up finish at the Super 32 Challenge. He has verbally committed to Indiana University and will look to wrestle 141 pounds in college. He has the build to move up to 149 pounds if that is where the Hoosiers need to be. 2010: Qualifier at 119 pounds 2011: Champion at 130 pounds 2012: Fifth at 132 pounds 3. Isaiah Bradley (Muncie South) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Analysis: Bradley has kept getting better and better while making multiple jumps in weight throughout his career. He captured a state title last year at 152 pounds after making the jump from 135 pounds as a sophomore. Last spring he placed sixth at FloNationals and outside that tournament has had limited exposure outside of the state. 2010: Qualifier at 119 pounds 2011: Fifth at 135 pounds 2012: Champion at 152 pounds 4. Nick Crume (Jimtown) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: Crume comes from a school that is better known for their football teams than their wrestling teams. Don't let that fool you as he is a tough, gritty competitor much like their football team. He is a great technician that rarely gets out of position and is tough to score on. 2010: Qualifier at 112 pounds 2011: Third at 125 pounds 2012: Third at 126 pounds 5. Josh Farrell (Greenfield-Central) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Farrell is just one of two incoming seniors that has three state medals. He is sneaky good and one that is not flashy or look to be exceptionally talented. He is a hard worker and while jumping from 103 pounds as a freshman to 138 pounds as a junior he continued to get better. Look for him to be at 152 pounds this year and challenge for that elusive blue ring. 2010: Sixth at 103 pounds 2011: Seventh at 119 pounds 2012: Runner-up at 138 pounds 6. Schuyler Phillips (Yorktown) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Phillips has steadily improved each year of his high school career. After qualifying for semi-state as a freshman, he extended his season by a week his sophomore year by qualifying for state. As a junior he finished second behind No. 1-ranked Jarred Brooks. This year this tough Tiger wrestler will be in the hunt once again for a state championship. 2011: Qualifier at 112 pounds 2012: Runner-up at 113 pounds 7. Luke Blanton (Alexandria) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Blanton comes from a wrestling family with many brothers to wrestle with inside the wrestling room and outside of it. The past two years he has pulled two of the biggest upsets in the state. As a sophomore he defeated semi-state champion and returning placer Layton Binion in the opening round. Last year he defeated returning state champion Neal Molloy in the quarterfinals. He is a tough wrestler that has a knack for rising to the occasion for big matches. 2011: Sixth at 125 pounds 2012: Fourth at 132 pounds 8. Donte Winfield (Perry Meridian) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Analysis: Winfield was having a fine junior campaign until he was upset on Friday night at state. He was a favorite to challenge for the title and due to the lack of wrestlebacks was put out of the state tournament. His spring included a runner-up finish at Fargo that got him on the national radar very quickly. He is a hard-nosed wrestler that is extremely hard to score on. 2012: Qualifier at 285 pounds 9. Matt Hurford (Culver Community) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 184/197 Analysis: Most wrestlers are at a disadvantage when they start their career as an upperweight, but much like Mitch Sliga, Hurford has made the most of it. He qualified for state as a freshman and followed that up with a fifth-place finish as a junior. This spring he also placed Seventh at FloNationals against many of the nation's top wrestlers. 2010: Qualifier at 189 pounds 2012: Fifth at 182 pounds 10. Jake Masengale (Perry Meridian) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Analysis: Masengale has recently committed to wrestle for Duane Goldman and the Indiana Hoosiers upon graduation. After qualifying for state as a sophomore, he placed second last year to longtime rival Sean Mappes. Masengale has had limited national exposure, but did go 6-1 at Cadet Duals in 2011. 2011: Qualifier at 171 pounds 2012: Runner-up at 170 pounds Honorable Mention: Luke Kriech (Franklin Community) 2012: Runner-up at 152 pounds Blake Giffin (South Dearborn) 2012: Third at 145 pounds Anthony Linnear (Fort Wayne North Side) 2012: Third at 170 pounds Adam Garcia: Merrillville 2012: Fourth at 120 pounds Luke Welch (Castle) *Committed to Purdue 2012: Fifth at 120 pounds Mitchell Hartman (South Bend Clay) 2012: Sixth at 138 pounds Jullian Torres (Portage) 2012: Sixth at 126 pounds John Tatom (Hamilton Southeastern) *Committed to Indiana 2012: Sixth at 145 pounds Dylan Jones (Avon) 2012: Sixth at 195 pounds Nick Bova (Perry Meridian) 2012: Seventh at 138 pounds Brad Busse (Bellmont) 2012: Seventh at 182 pounds Levi Moss (Ben Davis) 2012: Eighth at 132 pounds Jared Boehm (Heritage Hills) 2012: Eighth at 220 pounds Nathan Wright (Evansville Mater Dei) 2012: Eighth at 285 pounds Anthony McHugh (Culver Academies) Three-time state qualifier

The selection of Chael Sonnen as The Ultimate Fighter 17 coach alongside light heavyweight champion Jon Jones already raised the eyebrows of many fans. But now some top fighters, including Dan Henderson and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, are also questioning why a former middleweight contender with a penchant for trash talking is getting an immediate shot at the 205 belt. Richard and John discuss this ongoing story and also break down Bellator 78, taking place on October 26. Joining the show is Bellator season six featherweight tournament champion Daniel Straus, who will take on UFC veteran Alvin Robinson on the card this Friday. Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

Freshmen matter. Forget the years where they were put on the back burner, the kid to pull off the bench, slap on the ass and wish 'em good luck. These kids don't need two or three years to make an impact. They're ready and they're hungry now. Last year's crop of true freshman were dominating. NCAA finalist Nico Megaludis (Penn State) headlined the crop of collegiate ingénues followed closely by All-Americans Nick Gwiazdowski (Binghamton/N.C. State), Logan Storley (Minnesota), Hunter Stieber (Ohio State), and Cam Tessari (Ohio State). To say nothing of the talent that didn't place: Andrew Campolattano (Ohio State), Jake Sueflohn (Nebraska) and Morgan McIntosh (Penn State). Those kids could wrestle. The list of top ten freshmen also includes redshirts. Yes, they've been on campus for a full year, but this season will be the first time they sport the team colors and jog onto the mat for a dual meet, or earn tournament points. These are ten of the up-and-comers that are either going to break your bracket in March, or help your team fill a much-needed hole in the lineup. Expected redshirts: Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State, 133) and Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern, 141/149) Honorable Mention: Connor Medbery (Wisconsin, 285), Rossi Bruno (Michigan, 133), Donny Longendyke (Nebraska, 285) Kenny Courts10. Kenny Courts (Ohio State, 184) A two-time Pennsylvania state champion, Courts took a redshirt in 2011-2012 and is the most athletically gifted wrestler on the list. Courts is a talented wrestler and at 184 pounds could be an immediate impact and compliment a team filled with sophomore studs. He was recovering from injury last season. 9. Cody Brewer (Oklahoma, 133) The three-time Missouri state champion from Oak Park High School is expected to make an immediate impact for Mark Cody's Sooner squad. He had a solid redshirt season winning the Oklahoma City Open and finishing 12-2 on the season. Nick Hodgkins8. Nick Hodgkins (Central Michigan, 141) This kid's a fighter. No, really he's legitimately a fighter. The two-time Pennsylvania state champion took the circuitous route to the starting lineup at CMU. Not only did he win his amateur MMA debut in 2011, he also bested Alex Dieringer in the Dapper Dan Classic 7-2. Hodgkins finished the 2012 redshirt season with a record of 22-6. 7. Eric Hess (Lehigh, 165) It wasn't long ago that Lehigh missed on a top recruit, but with a renewed sense of purpose in the Lehigh Valley, Pat Santoro has his wrestlers competing harder than ever before. Eric Hess is more than just a big recruit. The Benton, Pa. native is also a survivor, having outpaced Hodgkin's lymphoma after his senior season. I'm not betting against Hess, and neither should you. Alex Dieringer6. Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State, 157) Dieringer is a stud. The Wisconsin native joined teammate Austin Marsden in representing the U.S. this summer at the FILA Junior Freestyle World Championships in Thailand. Dieringer only won one match, but there's no need to pout, his collegiate credentials are impressive enough. Dieringer won all three of the tournaments he entered his redshirt season. Give Dieringer another year of John Smith and he'll be looking to climb onto the podium in March. 5. Jordan Thomas (Michigan, 174/184) The other big-time Michigan recruit won 219 matches in his four years at Greenville high school. Had it not been for Taylor Massa, Thomas would have been the Michigan wrestler of the year and that state's most sought after recruit. Despite not earning top billing, Thomas will be wrestling alongside Massa in Ann Arbor, and with that type of teammate and a training situation that includes Tyrel Todd and Andy Hrovat, Thomas will be well positioned to make a run at the stating sport for the Wolverines and perhaps qualify the weight for the NCAA tournament, though fans of Thomas might also think he's already positioning himself for a run at the podium. Nathan Burak4. Nathan Burak (Iowa, 197) If the name looks familiar, it's because Nathan's two older brothers Gabe and Micah have also wrestled at the Division I level. Gabe wrestled at Penn before a 5th year transfer to Northern Colorado, while brother Micah wrestled at Penn. The youngest Burak will be competing at 197 pounds, which means his athleticism could account for any strength advantage he'll be ceding over to older opponents. Burak is expected to beat out returning starter Vinnie Wagner who was one of two Hawkeyes who failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Burak actually beat fellow Hawkeye freshman Sammy Brooks in the Junior National Greco-Roman competition in 2011 for third place. 3. John Meeks (Iowa State, 133) With Destin McCauley in Colorado Springs for the foreseeable future, Cyclones fans needed to find someone to get excited to watch in 2013. Meeks, a four-time undefeated wrestler from Roosevelt High School in Iowa, is the type of talent that can refocus a fan's perspective from broad disruption to the awe of singular greatness. Meeks will have to deal with expectations, but if navigates the first-year on the mats as well as he did his entire high school career, he'll be the kid to help revive the Cyclones and get Jackson's program back on track. 2. Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin, 133) Thielke actually beat Meeks in high school, albeit a preseason tournament in 2010. The new-look Badgers are hoping that Thielke will keep up his winning ways in college and make a major first-year impact on the program. He and Tyler Graff will form a solid one-two punch for the Badgers in the lower weights. The Badgers have gone through some major turmoil over the past two seasons, but Thielke coming off an Olympic redshirt, has the ability to soothe some of the programmatic aches with a stud-like 2013 season. Success comes easy to Thielke, who earned a bronze at the Junior Worlds in September. Taylor Massa (Photo/Michigan Sports Information)1. Taylor Massa (Michigan, 165) The nation's No. 2 overall recruit in the Class of 2012 won't require a redshirt season in order to compete at the national level. Like many of the top freshmen from the past decade, Massa not only has the talent to make an impact, he'll have the coaching (Joe McFarland, Sean Bormet, Donny Prtizlaff) and the training partners to make a serious impression on one of the nation's toughest weight classes. If Massa is going to make the NCAA finals as a freshman, he'll likely have to best either NCAA champion David Taylor (PSU) or Kyle Dake (Cornell), and possibly contend with Oklahoma State's summer transfer 2011 NCAA runner-up Tyler Caldwell. That might seem like long odds but Massa is uniquely talented and Ann Arbor is buzzing with excitement about the Michigan native's potential.

Andrew Pariano

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Sunday at the Super 32 Challenge always serves as an exciting ending to the scholastic wrestling season's de facto kickoff. This year's event served as no exception, and especially in the championship finals matches. It started with the opening match at 106 pounds, where freshman Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) used a last-second takedown right at the edge of the mat to secure a 4-3 victory over eighth grader Spencer Lee (Saegertown, Pa.) Suriano, ranked seventh nationally among all freshmen and a middle school division Super 32 champion last year, also beat fourth-ranked freshman Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) 2-0 in the semifinal and New York state runner-up Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry, Ohio) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Earlier in the tournament, he also beat a state runner-up 9-3, and fellow 2011 middle school division champion Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.), 3-2. En route to being the first eighth-grader in tournament history to make the final, Lee had shut out all six opponents he wrestled. That included two first-period pins, a 17-0 technical fall, two major decisions, and a 4-0 decision victory. He is ranked third among junior high wrestlers nationally. Yet another milestone came when Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) won the 152 pound championship with an 8-5 victory over state champion Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.). Already with two state titles prior to the ninth grade in Minnesota, Hall became the first freshman in ten years to win a title at above the opening weight. (Ashtin Primus won a Super 32 title in 2002.) A third milestone champion emerged at 285 pounds, where Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union) became the first ever Vermont native to win a Super 32 championship. In the final, he scored four takedowns to beat Luke Fleck (Franklin Regional, Pa.) 9-4. However, his toughest match was the semifinal when he secured a fall at the 5:24 mark of overtime against Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio) in a rematch of this spring's NHSCA Sophomore National final. Wrestlers from Pennsylvania were absolutely dominant in this year's Super 32 Challenge yet again, as five Keystone State grapplers won titles, with eight others taking second place. Champions were Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) at 120 pounds, Zain Retherford (Benton) at 138, Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan) at 170, Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area) at 182, and Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area) at 195. After placing sixth as a freshman at 113, Krivus upset J.R. Wert (Christiansburg, Va.) -- last year's third place finisher in the same weight -- by a 3-2 score on a late takedown. Then, in the 120 pound final, he upended two-time undefeated state champion Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) 5-1 with takedowns in the first and third period. Alber, a 2011 InterMat JJ Classic champion, reached the final by upsetting 2010 champion Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) 3-1 with a late takedown. Retherford continued his dominant string of winning going back to last spring, with a 5-0 victory in the final against Neal Molloy (Danville, Ind.) -- a 2011 state champion and Junior National freestyle All-American this past summer. It was a fourth straight Super 32 placement for Retherford, who had won titles at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, FILA Cadet Nationals (freestyle), Junior Nationals (freestyle), and FILA Cadet Worlds (freestyle) since having to miss his junior season due to the PIAA ruling him ineligible. He had two early round pins than an "Ashnault 2010-like" gauntlet of five matches ensued, with wins over Cadet freestyle All-Americans Logan Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) and Josh Shields (Franklin Regional, Pa.) just to get to the Sunday quarterfinals; then a 3-2 victory over state placer Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.) in the quarterfinal, followed by a 7-0 win over two-time state runner-up Troy Heilmann (South Plainfield, N.J.) in the semifinal round. Wiercioch made his third Super 32 challenge placement a superlative one with a second title in three years. The championship match was a possible state finals preview, as he upended Brett Harner (Norristown, Pa.) 5-3 with takedowns in the first and third periods in a battle of Top 100 senior prospects. In making it to the final, Harner had two wins on Sunday over fellow Top 100 senior prospects -- first was a 6-5 win over returning runner-up Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C), and then in the semifinals it was a 3-1 upset victory over returning placer, and Junior National freestyle All-American, Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, Va.). Taylor improved upon his fourth place finish in last year's event, as he won the title at 182 pounds with a 3-1 overtime victory against state champion B.J. Toal (Troy Christian, Ohio). In earlier matches, Taylor beat two-time state champion Jared Haught (Parkersburg, W.V.) 3-2 and upended a pair of returning state runners-up in Shayne Brady (Carthage Central, N.Y.) and Ryland O'Brien (First Colonial, Va.) McCutcheon became a repeat Super 32 champion with a 4-1 victory over fellow Top 100 senior Raymond O'Donnell (Saucon Valley, Pa.). Key to the victory was a second period takedown for McCutcheon. From five matches on the weekend, McCutcheon was extremely stingy, as he only gave up two points. The third, and final, multi-time champion from this year's event was Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.), who won the 126 pound title match with a 4-3 decision over defending champion Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.). Just to reach the final, Kemerer beat a pair of three-time state champions that are also top 30 in the senior class. In the quarters, it was a 4-2 victory over Dalton Brady (Chandler, Ariz.); while the semifinal match was a 4-3 tiebreak win against fellow defending Super 32 champion Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.). Kemerer needed a last-second takedown to force overtime in the semi against Diehl. Dance had the lone offensive points of the final against Kemerer with a first period takedown and third period reversal. In Sunday matches prior to the final, Dance majored Junior freestyle All-American Tate Robinson (Baylor School, Tenn.) 13-3 in the quarterfinal, and then beat two-time Cadet freestyle champion Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) by an 8-2 score in the semifinal. Without a shadow of a doubt, the match of the tournament came in the 132 pound final, where three-time state champion Dean Heil (St. Edward, Ohio) pulled somewhat of a “Houdini Act” to beat freshman sensation Aaron Pico (St. John Bosco, Calif.) 11-9 in overtime. It did not seem that this would be the case after one period, as Heil opened out to a 4-1 lead on the strength of two excellent takedowns. However, Pico turned it up in the second period with two takedowns of his own, including one rather late in the period, to exit with a 6-5 lead. Heil tied it at 6-6 with an opening escape. Then, Pico got an escape when Heil took a second injury time, which gave him a 7-6 lead. Then, with close to 30 seconds left, Pico got what most thought would be a match-sealing takedown. However, it was not to be, as Heil scored an escape, and then got a takedown just before time was out to tie things at 9-9. The overtime period featured an excellent scramble starting from a Heil attack, each wrestler having chances to score; but it was determined that Heil established momentary control for the match-winning takedown, and an 11-9 victory. Rounding out the weight class champions were Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.) at 113 pounds, Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) at 145, Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif.) at 160, and Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.) at 220. Millhof used two technical falls and a pin to reach Sunday competition, where he would use a 3-0 victory over two-time state placer Jake Gromacki (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.) and 11-6 victory over two-time state champion Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.) to advance to the final. In that match, he upended high school teammate Sean Russell, 1-0 on a second period escape. Leeth, a state champion this past year and 2011 Cadet freestyle champion, won his championship match in the first period on an injury default against Solomon Chishko (Canon McMillan, Pa.) in a battle of Top 50 in the nation juniors. It was a fourth Super 32 placement for Chishko, who placed eighth at 112 while in eighth grade, before taking third and fifth the prior two years. Martinez replicated a FloNationals final victory over fellow Junior National freestyle champion Josh Llopez (St. Mary's Ryken, Md.) to win the weight class championship; this time it was a 9-4 victory in which he scored offensively in all three periods. Llopez had a massive battle in the semifinals with fellow top 50 ranked junior Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.). Trailing 3-1 with about 20 seconds left, he scored a reversal with near falls to earn a 6-3 victory and the finals berth. Finally, the highly anticipated clash between Snyder and Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) certainly was worth the wait. Ranked second overall in the junior class, Snyder scored an 8-4 victory over Haines -- a defending Super 32 champion ranked sixth overall in that same Class of 2014. The match was tied 2-2 after two, with Snyder scoring a takedown in the first period. Then, in a reversal situation, Snyder was in deep on an attack and planted Haines onto his back. It was called a reversal with imminent near fall, as Haines was briefly hurt. After Haines escape, Snyder scored another takedown off his same hi-crotch/low-single attack. The 8-4 score reflects a subsequent Haines escape. As always, the Super 32 showcased many of the nation's best wrestlers in highly competitive matches.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After Day 1 of the Super 32 Challenge, the quarterfinal matches in all 14 weight classes are set. Wrestling will resume on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. ET. All eight past Super 32 champions are in contention to win another championship tomorrow, including the trio in the 126-pound weight class. 106: Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) vs. Kyle Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), Nick Suriano (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) vs. Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry, Ohio); Brandon Olsen (Indian River, Va.) vs. Ricky Cavallo (Hempfield, Pa.), Eli Stickley (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. Spencer Lee (Saegertown, Pa.) Pletcher, Bierdumpfel, and Suriano are excellent ninth graders, all top 25 ranked nationally. Pletcher was fourth in the Super 32 high school division last year, Bierdumpfel a double Cadet runner-up, and Suriano won the middle school division last year. Rodriguez was second at state, Stickley took fifth, and Olsen was sixth at state. Cavallo did not qualify for state as freshman, but was second at POWERade; while Lee is ranked third overall among junior high wrestlers nationally. 113: Zack Fuentes (Norristown, Pa.) vs. Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.), Jake Gromacki (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.) vs. Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.); Drew Romero (Broomfield, Col.) vs. Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna, Del.), Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.) vs. Nick Piccinnini (Ward Melville, N.Y.) Six wrestlers in this weight class's quarterfinal round were state champions last year. This includes all four wrestlers in the bottom half of the draw, as well as Ozias and Millhof from the top half. All four returning Super 32 placers in this weight have advanced to the quarterfinal round -- Ozias, Millhof, Fleetwood, and Russell. Placing fifth at state was Fuentes, while Gromacki was sixth. Upset of the day was had by Piccinnini in the round of 16 when he beat Zahid Valencia, the nation's No. 1 sophomore, 2-1 in the overtime tiebreaker. 120: J.R. Wert (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Nathan Boston (Woodford County, Ky.), Sam Krivus (Hempfield, Pa.) vs. Kevin Jack (Danbury, Ct.); Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Jared Prince (Palm Harbor University, Fla.), Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) vs. Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) Four wrestlers in this weight won state championships this past high school season -- Wert, Cruz (also a 2010 Super 32 champion), Alber, and Lucas -- while Boston finished as state runner-up after winning in 2011. Finishing second at state was Prince, while Jack was second at the New England Regional, and Krivus finished third at state after placing sixth in this event last year. 126: Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Tate Robinson (The Baylor School, Tenn.), Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) vs. Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg, Pa); Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) vs. Brandon James (Perry Meridian, Ind.), Dalton Brady (Chandler, Ariz.) vs. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) All three past Super 32 Challenge champions advanced to the quarterfinals -- 2009 champion Dance, and defending champions in Diehl and Kemerer. Four state champions remain in the quarterfinals as well, one per match -- Dance, Gross, Diehl, and Brady. Robinson, a state champion in 2011, and Kemerer finished as runners-up this past year. Finishing third last year was James, while Ems was a state qualifier. 132: Dean Heil (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Scott Delvecchio (South Plainfield, N.J.), Javier Gasca III (Kingsburg, Calif.) vs. Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional, Pa.); Cody Lecount (Perry Meridian, Ind.) vs. Dennis Gustafson (Forest Park, Va.), Jason Estevez (Livingston, N.J.) vs. Aaron Pico (St. John Bosco, Calif.) Heil and Delvecchio are the lone 2012 state champions left in the quarterfinal round, four other remaining wrestlers finished top three at state, Maruca was fifth in his state tournament as a frosh, while Pico is the nation's second ranked freshman. 138: Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) vs. Neal Molloy (Danville, Ind.), Fox Baldwin (Osceola, Fla.) vs. Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin, Pa.); T.J. Miller (Camden Catholic, N.J.) vs. Troy Heilmann (South Plainfield, N.J.), Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.) vs. Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.) Lewis and Baldwin are the lone 2012 state champions left in the quarterfinal round; however, Molloy and Miller were 2011 state champions, while Retherford won state in 2010. Dippery and Heilmann were state runner-up this past year, while Zacherl placed seventh at state as a sophomore. 145: Victor Lopez (Poway, Calif.) vs. Chad Walsh (Camden Catholic, N.J.), Solomon Chishko (Canon McMillan, Pa.) vs. Jordan Marshall (Troy Christian, Ohio); Reed Van Anrooy (Roseburg, Ore.) vs. Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.), Troy Joyce (Brandon, Fla.) vs. Zach Kelly (Kiski Prep, Pa.) Marshall, Van Anrooy, and Leeth were all state champions in this past high school season. Chishko is one win away from placing at the Super 32 for a fourth consecutive year, and placed third at state this past year; while Lopez was fourth at state, Kelly fourth at National Preps, and Walsh was fifth at state; and Joyce was not in the lineup last year but took second in 2010 as an eighth grader. 152: Wayne Stinson (Northern Burlington, N.J.) vs. Shayne Tucker (Bella Vista, Calif.), Joshua Farrell (Greenfield Central, Ind.) vs. Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.); Ryan Harris (Beachwood, Ohio) vs. Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.), Raymond Nicosia (Pocono Mountain East, Pa.) vs. Nick Hall (Thompson, Ala.) Hammond, Mark Hall, and Nick Hall are the remaining state champions in the quarterfinal round. Tucker and Farrell both finished as state runner-up, Harris finished third at state, Nicosia sixth, while Stinson has yet to place at state despite qualification appearances in all three high school seasons to date. 160: Abraham Rodriguez (Hermiston, Ore.) vs. Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif.), Ryan Blees (Bismarck, N.D.) vs. Jonathan Schleifer (East Brunswick, N.J.); Cody Law (Forest Hills, Pa.) vs. Josh Llopez (St. Mary's Ryken, Md.), Ty Walter (Mifflinburg, Pa.) vs. Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.) Five state champions remain in a championship bracket that has loaded up for wrestling tomorrow morning -- Rodriguez and Martinez facing one another, joined by Blees, Llopez (also a defending Super 32 champion), and Peppelman. Law was a state runner-up, Schleifer third at state, and Walter was sixth in 2011 though he placed in this event last year. 170: Parker Vonegidy (Piedmont, N.C.) vs. Peter Renda (Brandywine Hts., Pa.), Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan, Pa.) vs. Keaton Subjeck (Oak Ridge, Calif.); Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Andrew Garcia (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.) vs. Brett Harner (Norristown, Pa.) Six quarterfinalists combine for five InterMat Top 100 Class of 2013 wrestlers and five state champions from last year in an absolutely stacked set of quarterfinals. Epperly vs. Garcia is a matchup of state champions, while Kee and Harner is match of Top 100 seniors. Vonegidy, Wiercioch (also a 2010 Super 32 champion), Epperly, Garcia, and Kee won state titles; Vonegidy, Wiercioch, Epperly, Kee, and Garcia are Top 100 seniors. Renda was second at state, Harner third at state, and Subjeck took fifth last year. 182: Jared Haught (Parkersburg, W.V.) vs. Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown, Pa.), Shayne Brady (Carthage Central, N.Y.) vs. Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area, Pa.); Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.) vs. Dakota DesLauriers (Burrell, Pa.), Taylor Jackson (The Villages, Fla.) vs. B.J. Toal (Troy Christian, Ohio) Haught, Ness, Jackson, and Toal are the four state champions remaining in the quarterfinals of this weight class. A pair of runner-ups also resides in the front side of the draw with Brady and DesLauriers advancing to the quarterfinals, while Taylor placed third at state last year. 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. Spencer Neff (Good Counsel, Md.), Zachery Roseberry (Brentsville, Va.) vs. Matthew Moore (Brick Memorial, N.J.); Raymond O'Donnell (Saucon Valley, Pa.) vs. Jesse Stephanos (Jupiter, Fla.), Jacob Hart (Hampton, Pa.) vs. Rory Bonner (West Deptford, N.J.) All eight wrestlers remaining placed at state last year, including a pair of state champions in McCutcheon (defending Super 32 champion) and Stephanos. Hart was a state runner-up, Roseberry and O'Donnell were third at state, Neff was fifth at National Preps, Bonner was fifth at state, and Moore took seventh at state. 220: Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.) vs. Patrick Phillips (Porter Ridge, N.C.), Trevor Stevens (Pope, Ga.) vs. Christian Jenco (Bergen Catholic, N.J.); John Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) vs. Trent Allen (South Brunswick, N.C.), Justin Williams (Skyline, Va.) vs. Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) Snyder and Haines remain on a collision course, both won their season-ending tournament last year; Snyder won National Preps for a second time, while Haines won the Super 32 and a second Pennsylvania 3 state title last year. Stevens was fourth at state, Williams took fifth, and Kramer sixth. Jenco did not make the state tournament, but was double third at the Cadet Nationals; and Allen placed at the Super 32 but did not compete in the state tournament. 285: Chaas Delgado (Trinity, N.C.) vs. Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.), Jacob Roza (Gladwin, Mich.) vs. Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio); Logan Turner (Martinsville, Va.) vs. Travis Boyd (Blanchester, Ohio), Ivan Deleon (Seven Lakes, Tex.) vs. Luke Fleck (Franklin Regional, Pa.) No state champions remain in this weight class; however, six of the wrestlers placed at their state tournaments. Placing third were Garren and Turner, Deleon was fourth, Webb was fifth at the New England Regional, while Roz and Boyd were fifth at state. Delgado was a state qualifier, while Fleck made the state tournament in 2011.

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Domestic abuse charges have been dismissed against former Iowa wrestler Montell Marion. He was a three-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up for the Hawkeyes at 141 pounds. Watch Scott Casber's interview with Marion.

Takedown Wrestling Media presented by Fight Now announced that they have reached a major distribution agreement with Sports Time Ohio. Under the terms of the agreement STO will air Takedown Wrestling Media programming to promote and grow the sport of wrestling. The distribution agreement between Takedown Wrestling Media and Sports Time Ohio is both important and strategic. It will allow both the companies to work together to promote the sport at all levels and to more thoroughly deliver wrestling news to fans in STO's Ohio Valley regional footprint as well as to its viewers on DirecTV and Dish Networks. STO will begin to air Takedown Wrestling Media's 30 minute weekly programming beginning Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 ET/5:30 CT. "All of us at Takedown Wrestling Media are pleased to partner with Sports Time Ohio to keep sports and wrestling fans around the world informed of the news from the world of wrestling. College and International styles alike will benefit from the wide and growing distribution of STO," said Scott Casber, Founder of Takedown Wrestling Media. Casber's views were mirrored by Sports Time Ohio's Vice President of Program Acquisition, Pat Kilkenny, who said, "We believe that the time is right to expand our wrestling news coverage. We see the sport of wrestling as being under-reported nationally and feel that by teaming up with Takedown Media we can give STO wrestling fans access to the finest worldwide wrestling coverage available." The distribution agreement between Takedown Wrestling Media and Sports Time Ohio is the 13th major media partnering agreement between Takedown Wrestling Media and national and international sports broadcast companies in recent months. The agreement is part of a global strategy by Takedown Wrestling Media to create a worldwide network of interconnected sporting news outlets designed to cover and promote the growing sport of wrestling in all its disciplines. Takedown Wrestling Media's international growth is led by its primary partner Fight Now TV from Montreal, Canada/ New York City, New York and Fight Box airing in (Krakow Poland, Moscow Russia and throughout Eastern Europe)