Greetings All,
With the release of the brackets today, revised thoughts for the semi-finals, finals, and 3rd place winners, as well as thoughts for the Michigan gents in this bracket...
Also... no Bullock at 197 for Michigan? Yatooma? Are you kidding me?
- 125 -
Semi-Finals: Figueroa over DeAugustino, Ramos over Kaylor
Finals: Ramos over Figueroa via Decision
3rd place: Heinselman
Thoughts: I think Figs shows everyone here that he does contend, just as much as Courtney would/will. McHenry loses to him, then the grind of the backside will get to him that will show that he is just meant to be a 118lber. I think 1-2 wins is peak for him here.
- 133 -
Semi-Finals: Arujau over Latona, Ragusin over McGee
Finals: Arujau over Ragusin via Decision
3rd place: McGee
Thoughts: I think Ragusin is going to show here that he belongs in the conversation with Arujau for #3 in what will be a much closer bout than folks thought before this weekend.
- 141 -
Semi-Finals: Mattin over Jack, Cornella over D'Emilio
Finals: Mattin over via Cornella via Decision
3rd place: Carlson
Thoughts: Mattin is a grinder and I think where he is most in danger is going to be Vasquez - if Vasquez gets past Hardy. It is someone who will be able to out-quick and out-athlete him enough to where he can't get his grind on. He is set up beautifully to miss those highly athletic 141lbers all the way through the finals.
- 149 -
Semi-Finals: Sasso over Thomas, Lamer over Millner
Finals: Sasso over Lamer via Decision
3rd place: Parco
Thoughts: I really think this is going to be Lamer's coming out party and he will beat two gents folks consider high contenders en route to getting controlled in the finals.
- 157 -
Semi-Finals: Lewan over Coleman, Robb over Scott
Finals: Lwan over Robb via Decision
3rd place: Coleman
Thoughts: I think Lewan could win 3-2/3-1 in every match through the finals. I am more worried about a Coleman match than a Robb, tbh. I think a healthy Coleman is as much of a contender for a NC as any 157lber in the Top 10.
- 165 -
Semi-Finals: Kharchla over Yant, Olguin over Formato
Finals: Kharchla over Olguin via Major
3rd place: Cook
Thoughts: Mattin has Ramirez in the first round and I think he is going to try to throw the sink at him... and fail - unfortunately. I do think that the bottom half of this bracket is very likely to ge tblown up. Olguin and Formato are real threats to knock Ramirez off, and I think they will.
- 174 -
Semi-Finals: Smith over Lewis, Labriola over Walker
Finals: Smith over Labriola via Decision
3rd place: Lewis
Thoughts: A lot of very physical, very tough gents here. I think Walker shows he belongs right up there, though, in beating Conigliaro and Romero before dropping in the semi-finals and beating Foca in the consi-semis. I think Smith balls out here. He is hungry for that Lewis win and he got Labs last time out too.
- 184 -
Semi-Finals: Keckeisen over Munoz, Hidlay over Bolen
Finals: Hidlay over Keckeisen via Decision
3rd place: Romero
Thoughts: I think Bolen gets Romero this time, but Finesilver beats him on the backside - then proceeds to lose to Romero for 3rd.
- 197 -
Semi-Finals: Sloan over Harvey, Trumble over Allred
Finals: Sloan over Trumble via Major
3rd place: Harvey
Thoughts: I think this is the year we start seeing the Sloan we thought we would have a couple years ago and I think he wins this weight class convincingly. Also... Yatooma? Are you serious? There is no way this guy is the best guy they have for 197 to put out there... when Bullock is still on the roster... what the actual deuce?
- 285 -
Semi-Finals: Davison over Schultz, Parris over Hendrickson
Finals: Parris over Davison via Pin
3rd place: Hendrickson
Thoughts: I think Davison pulls off the dub against Schultz. Just got me a feeling. Of all the weights, this is the one where the 1-2 seems to be the most likely weight to happen... so it won't. I don't see anyone on the bottom side capable of beating Parris. We have seen Davison beat the elite of 285 before, albeit in freestyle (Cassioppi). I think Schultz then forfeits out.