2010 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet National Championships Preview – Freestyle

Welcome to TOM’s 2010 Preview of the ASICS Vaughn Cadet Freestyle Championships. This preview is based on wrestlers registered for the event. As we all know things may change before the actual event begins. If that happens some of this info may become irrelevant.

As with anything, we do not know every wrestler from every state. We base on the information and research we have. We have attempted to give you a preview of each weight and provide you with some guys to keep an eye on that we feel may have good tournaments.

If we are missing someone or if you think there are others people should keep and eye on, please leave a comment so people can be informed.

The tournament looks to be an exciting one. There are a few weights that are loaded and as we all know, there are always guys who come out of nowhere to make things even more interesting. Video will be available each day of the event and you can find it on the right side of this website.

There are some notable guys also missing from the registrations opening the door to new names and faces. We will have to wait and see how we do with our predictions.

Results
Cadet Greco
Cadet Freestyle
Junior Greco
Junior Freestyle
Women

Coverage
Video
Chat
TheMat.com Special Section

84

This is not a large weight class but there is some stiff competition. It looks to be a 3 horse race with a few dark horses laying in wait. Davion Jeffries of Team Oklahoma is coming off a great tournament at the Cadet National Duals (8-1) and he holds wins over several in this field. Look for Casey Cobb of Team Idaho to challenge Jeffries. Cobb’s only loss at Cadet Duals (7-1) came at the hands of Jefferies in a close 3 period contest. Cobb has also won 5 tournaments on 2010. Another guy to watch out for who also was impressive at the duals is Parker Howell of Team Kansas. Howell posted a 7-1 record and did not meet up with either of our favorites.

There are two guys I would keep an eye on that may challenge for the top of the podium. The first is Tyler Jensen of Team Utah, he has 6 tournament wins this year and may be knocking on the door. The other is Volk Gannon of Team Minnesota. Gannon went 4-0 at Cadet Duals and did not meet up with any of the top contenders. Minnesota looked sharp at the Duals sweeping both styles so I would not count any of their guys out.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Davion Jeffries – OK
2. Parker Howell – KS
3. Casey Cobb – ID
4. Volk Gannon – MN

91

This is a bigger class and has some depth.  Also there are some unknowns, if we miss them we apologize. The front runner here seems to be Minnesota’s Jarred Oftedahl. Oftedahl complied at perfect 10-0 record at the duals and added another 5 wins on the Jr. level. We see two other wrestlers that will make a push for the title. Jordan Lind of Team Illinois went 10-0 in Greco at 84 and moves up here. Also coming off an impressive Duals performance is Team Texas wrestler Dylan Akers who went 8-1. With that said there are several other wrestlers who could make a statement.

Brandon George of Team Utah went 7-0 at the Greco Duals and beat Akers. We will find out if a change in style has an affect. Skyler Petry of Team Minnesota posted a 4-1 record at the duals and can not be counted out here to take a top 8 finish. Rounding out our dark horse wrestlers is Ronnie Bresser of Team Oregon who has 6 tournament wins in 2010 including an Oregon state title and a West Regional win.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Jarred Oftedahl – MN
2. Dylan Akers – TX
3. Brandon George – UT
4. Jordan Lind – IL

98

The weight is loaded with young talent. I am only covering 6 guys here but there are about a dozen that will battle for the top spots. On paper it appears to be a two horse race with another two guys right on their heels. For us the favorite has to be Phillip Laux of Team Iowa. Over a 2 week period he compiled a 19-1 record between Cadet and Jr. Duals. His only loss was a split with our number 2 pick here. What gives him the edge in our eyes is his win over Michigan Phenom Rodriguez who Laux beat at Junior Duals. With that said look for Team Pennsylvania wrestler Darian Cruz (#14) to give Laux all he can handle. Like I said these two split at the duals and Cruz ended with a 10-1 record. Right behind them and capable of winning the weight is Joey McKenna of Team New Jersey. MeKenna also posted a 10-1 record at the duals with his only loss coming at the hands of Laux. Add to the mix this years FILA Cadet National Champion Nathan Tomasello (#4) of Team Ohio and you have another wrestler who could win this one.

Although we feel strongly about the three guys we already covered there are a few others that may make a bid for the stop sign. Zac Hall of Team Michigan is the first guy to keep an eye on at the Cadet Duals he went 8-2 with his only losses coming at the hands of McKenna and Laux. Team Utah’s Mike Cook was able to get a 6-2 record at the duals with his two losses coming from Cruz and Laux.

I will add one more to watch out for. I did miss him. Darshawn Sharp of Georgia went 6-1 at the Cadet Duals. Looking through is past matches and the Duals I am not sure where he fits here. He was last years 84 lbs Champion. I apologize for missing him on the first run. With that said I can see him making a bid for his second title.  Interesting he did not meet up with any of the guys here at the duals.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Phillip Laux – IA
2. Darian Cruz (#14) – PA
3. Nathan Tomasello (#4) – OH
4. Joey McKenna – NJ

105

A top heavy 105 is loaded with some talented wrestlers that may surprise some. Lets start with #7 (112) Jared Cortez of Team Illinois. Cortez went 10-0 at Cadet duals while wrestling 112 and is now dropping down to 105. We think this makes him the man to beat here. He also managed a runner-up finish at the 2010 Cadet FILA Nationals losing to Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan. We have another FILA Cadet runner-up in Team Michigan’s #5 Jacob Schmitt who also posted a 10-0 record at Cadet National Duals. If these two meet up it should be one heck of a match. Also looking to make a statement is former TOM #1 and now #6 Anthony Ashnault of Team New Jersey. Ashnault had some tough osses at Cadet Duals posting a 7-4 record, but bounced back at Junior Duals making an 8-2 run. Do not count him out of this field.

Add to the mix #19 (112) Marshawn Sharp of Georgia. Sharp is a serious contender here dropping from 112 where he went a perfect 8-0 at the Junior Duals. Watch out for Team Minnesota’s Nate Thomas who went 5-3 at Cadet Duals we look for him to rebound here. Rounding out a tough field for us is #19 Zeke Moisey of Team Pennsylvania who ended up with a 10-1 record.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #7 (112) Jared Cortez – IL
2. #19 (112) Marshawn Sharp – GA
3. #6 Anthony Ashnault – NJ
4. #5 Jacob Schmitt – MI

112

This seems to be one of the more open ended weight classes so far. What we mean is that there is any number of guys who could end up on top of this hill. #19 Jack Hathaway of Iowa drops down from 119 where he went 11-0 at Cadet Duals and should be a strong contender here. Right behind him we have #11 Sam Brancale of Minnesota who posted a strong 6-1 record at Cadet Duals losing only to Cortez. There is also #12 Paul Petrov of Team Indiana. He has been very tough on the Indiana Circuit and we would not be shocked to see him make some noise here.

Then we have Max Hvolbeck of CA who like Brancale posted a 6-1 record also only losing to Cortez. So who can step up and make claim to this years National Title? We like the fact that Hathaway is coming down from 119 but do not count anyone out here. Then there is Team Connecticut wrestler #4 Dom Malone. Look for Malone to put himself in a position to make some noise here.

There is another set of guys here that we think are equally capable of winning this weight. Paul Klee of California went 5-0 and the duals and could be someone who knocks of one of the guys mentioned above. Another guy I think that may surprise some people is Shiquan Hall of Florida. He went 5-3 at Junior Duals, but those loses were to highly ranked wrestlers and they were close matches.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #4 Dom Malone – CT
2. #19 Jack Hathaway – IA
3. #11 Sam Brancale – MN
4. #12 Paul Petrov – IN

119

Well after what we think will be the top 2 in this weight, it is pretty open. We are not familiar with many of the wrestlers at this weight, so if we miss some guys, do not freak out. (That was like a disclaimer). We see Nebraska’s #13 Thomas Gilman as the man to beat here. Gilman went and impressive 7-1 wrestling up at the Junior Duals and has was the Cadet Fila National Runner-up. After that there are three very solid guys that will be gunning for him. #15 Bryce Brill of Illinois went a perfect 8-0 at the Cadet Duals and had a good FILA Cadet Nationals losing to two very solid wrestlers.

Another wrestler to keep an eye on is Missouri’s #20 Skylar Wood. While he lacks some of the freestyle experience that some of the others have, he has shown over the past few years he is among the best in the nation. Look for #17 Corey Keener from Pennsylvania. Keener is solid and can pose to be a threat to any of the above mentioned wrestlers. Finally we have #19 (125) Stephen Myers of Team Ohio. Myers is also dropping down into the 119 class and we could see him do well.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #13 Thomas Gilman – NE
2. #15 Bryce Brill – IL
3. #17 Corey Keener – PA
4. #20 Skylar Wood – MO

125

This one looks to us to have one clear favorite. That would be Team Illinois’s #7 Ben Whitford. He impressed with his 16-1 record that he tallied up between Cadet and Junior Duals. Barring an upset we expect to see him atop the podium at this weight. But like anything, winning a large event like this is never a guarantee. Minnesota’s #14 Dakota Trom will look to avenge his loss to Whiteford and he is more then capable of reversing things. After these two you have a handful of guys that can play a role in this weight. Again, we may be missing some guys but its clear that this weight can really open up.

Darick Lapaglia of Missouri went 6-1 at the Cadet Duals with his only loss coming from Whitford. Likewise Zach Ross of Pennsylvania went 6-1 as well with his only loss coming from Whitford as well.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #7 Ben Whitford – IL
2. #14 Dakota Trom – MN
3. Zach Ross – PA
4. Darick Lapaglia – MO

130

This should prove to be an exciting weight class. We see three pretty big guys in this weight. #3 (119) Brandon Jeske of Virginia was your FILA Cadet Champion this year and has an impressive resume. He may be the man to beat but we am not 100% sold at that. #5 Natrelle Demison of California may not have the National resume that some of the others do, but we would not count him out of this one. Then we have Zane Richards of Illinois who ripped off a 14-1 record between the Cadet and Junior Duals. These three should be looking to finish atop of the heap.

Not to be left out New Jersey wrestler TJ Miller is coming off a impressive showing at the Cadet duals by going 10-1 and should be in the mix. Finally we are watching Devin Vasquez of Texas who was also impressive at the Cadet Duals posting a 8-1 record.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #5 Natrelle Demison – CA
2. #3 (119) Brandon Jeske – VA
3. Zane Richards – IL
4. TJ Miller – NJ

135

Like most other weights so fare we have a few front runners and some others that may threaten. Iowa’s #8 Brandon Sorenson has been very solid for awhile now and owns a win over most of the guys in this field. Look for Minnesota’s #17 Jake Short to try and avenge his lost a few weeks ago to Sorenson in a close three period match. Sitting in the weeds is #15 Joey Lavallee of Neveda. We would not be surprised to see him make a run to the top either.

Watch California’s #16 (140) Isias Martinez as he has the skills to compete with the guys at this weight and may surprise some here. To round out this weight we suggest you also watch for New Jersey’s Toby Hague who posted a 9-2 record at Cadet Duals only losing to Sorenson and Short.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #8 Brandon Sorenson – IA
2. # 17 Jake Short – MN
3. #15 Joey Lavallee – NV
4. #16 Isias Martinez – CA

140

The weight Has TOM’s #2 wrestler in the nation Minnesota’s Brandon Kingsley. Kingsley went 8-0 at the CD duals and looks poised to make a run at a National Title. Standing in his way are a few guys who would like for that not to happen. Georgia’s #16 Tyler Askey is a returning AA and will push to make his case for the top spot.

The watch lost starts with Angelo Silvestro of Team Illinois who posted a 5-1 record at Cadet Duals losing only to Kingsley. Ohio’s TJ Fox went 8-1 at the Duals and his only loss also came to Kingsley. Look for both of these guys to try improving upon the previous matches. Rounding out the watch list for this weight is Brian Murphy also of Team Illinois. He managed an 8-2 record at the Duals with his only losses coming at 145.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Brandon Kingsley – MN
2. Tyler Askey – GA
3. Brian Murphy – IL
4. TJ Fox – OH

145

Loaded is what we think, by far the toughest weight we have broken down yet. Lets start with the phenom from Pennsylvania #15 Chance Marsteller. He compiled a solid 10-0 record at the duals and looked good doing so. Iowa’s #17 Gabriel Moreno pushed him hard in their match at the duals winning the first period before dropping the final two. Moreno took 3rd here last year and looks to improve upon that and avenge his loss. I would say this could be a great finals match up but there are few other guys who would beg to differ. #13 Coleman Hammond of California is one tough customer as well. He placed fourth in the very tough CA State HS Tournament as a freshman.

Add to this mix #19 Jared Reis of North Dakota who was in 8-0 at the Duals and did not meet up with the others. As you can see this weight is pretty tough to Navigate. Add two kids from Minnesota to the mix as well. Daniel Woiwor managed a 6-1 record at the duals only losing to Moreno. His teammate Nick Wanzek drops down from 152 where he was 6-0 at the duals. Like I said this weight is loaded and I am sure I am leaving a few guys out. One last guy to watch for is #19 (135) Jacob Crawford of Virginia. He is moving up so let’s see how he does with the move.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #15 Chance Marsteller – PA
2. #17 Gabriel Moreno – IA
3. #13 Coleman Hammond – CA
4. #19 Jared Reis – ND

152

This one appears to be fairly wide open. With that said lets look at some of the possible contenders. We will start with #18 Oliver Pierce of Team Texas. Pierce will be one of the guys to beat at this weight. We are interested in seeing how Georgia’s Glenn Climmons does. He is dropping down from 160 where he went a perfect 6-0 at Cadet Duals. Another guy that needs to be considered a threat here is Zach Beard of Oklahoma who posted a 9-0 record at the Cadet Duals and will be in the mix.

Keep an eye out for Tim Riley of Pennsylvania who tallied up a nice 7-0 record at Cadet Duals. Top wrap up 152 we are also watching to see how Cougar Babin of Texas can do. He was able to go 8-0 at the duals and will have to get by his teammate Pierce to take the top of the stand. Who knows maybe an all Texas final.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Glenn Climmons – GA
2. # 18 Oliver Pierce – TX
3. Zach Beard – OK
4. Tim Riley – PA

160

Another weight where there are some new faces and could be anyone’s to win. Andras Lukacs-Farkas seems to have a god chance here. He was able to post a 8-1 record at Cadet Duals. Look for Kansas wrestler Spencer Wilson to make a run at the top spot he was able to finish 6-2 at Cadet Duals bouncing between weights. He also went 2-0 at the Junior Duals a week later. Tennessee’s McCoy Newberg is another guy who has the talent to make a bid. He was 7-2 at the duals and his two loses were to wrestlers not entered here. Rounding out the weight is Dan Rowland of Illinois who went 8-2 at the duals and will be looking to make a run of his own.

TOM’s Prediction
1. Andras Lukacs-Farkas – IA
2. McCoy Newberg – TN
3. Spencer Wilson – KA
4. Dan Rowland – IL

171

This should be a fun weight. We are looking at #7 Sam Brooks of Illinois and #5 (160) Jordan Rogers of Washington to collide. Brooks was last years runner-up and posted a 6-1 record with his only loss coming at 189. Then we have this year FILA Cadet National Champion in Rodgers. These two should provide us with an exciting match if they meet up.

Some guys who will be looking to make sure that match up does not happen starts with Matt Reed of Kansas who obtained a 6-0 at the duals and will look to put himself in contention. Also looking to work his way into the mix is Missouri’s Jonathan Inman who was able to put up an 8-1 mark at the Duals. Rounding out the field and looking to be the Dark Horse is Illinois’ Jack Dechow who went 5-0 at the duals and will look to make the podium.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #5 Jordan Rodgers – WA
2. #7 Sam Brooks – IL
3. Jonathon Inman – MO
4. Matt Reed – KA

189

We think this will be interesting. TOM’s #7 Mitch Sliga of Indiana will look to be the top dog in a weight with some balance. Sliga has not competed in many national freestyle events this summer, but we know he is one tough hombre. Another untested freestyle guy is our #20 Jesse Doyle of North Carolina. We look to see him in the mix but unsure where he will fall within this group.

Missouri’s Hashem Omari impressed us at the Duals where he went 9-0 with some nice wins and a lot of bonus points. Also we are tracking Mickey Pelfrey of Iowa who posted a solid 10-1 record at the duals. His only loss came to a guy who is not registered at the weight. Look for Pelfrey to put himself in position to make a run.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #7 Mitch Sliga – IN
2. Hashem Omari – MO
3. Mickey Pelfrey – IA
4. #20 Jesse Doyle – NC

215

Although this weight is small it is loaded. The guy that has really impressed us this year has been #3 Adam Coon of Michigan. He has been nearly unstoppable at the Duals both for Cadet and Juniors. He went a perfect 10-0 at the Cadet Duals. Standing in his way is Minnesota’s #5 Michael Kroells who dropped a close 3 period match to Coon at the Duals. Kroells has the talent and ability to change that result but only time will tell.

Add to the mix our #16 Joe Scanlan of Iowa. Although Scanlan had disappointing Duals going 7-4, we fully expect him to rebound and make some noise at Fargo. Finally another guy to watch out for is Dawson Peck of Team Pennsylvania who went 9-2 at the duals and had a win over ranked Scanlan. We would not be surprised if he made a statement here.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #3 Adam Coon – MI
2. #5 Michael Kroells – MN
3. #16 Joe Scanlan – IA
4. Dawson Peck – PA

285

Well as we come to the end of the preview we will look at the big men. There is a clear cut favorite here. #2 Brooks Black of Pennsylvania will look to run the tables here. Brooks who is coming off a 11-0 run at Cadet Duals has been very impressive. There are very few weights we would say there are locks to win, but this may be the exception. One guy that may give Black a run for his money is #20 Doug Vollaro of Florida. Vollaro who wrestled in the Junior Duals went 6-3. You may think that in not so good, but all 3 losses came to the best in the land at Heavyweight. We are expecting to see these two battle it out for the title.

There are others at this weight that could also make statements. Evan McGee of Oklahoma went 7-2 at the Duals and looks to improve. Another Florida wrestler to look at is John Dreggors who does have a Greco win over Vollaro this season. A bit of an unknown is Maryland’s Dylan Devine. Devine has been impressive competing in Maryland but his yet to be really tested outside the state. Wrapping up the preview we have Michael Johnson of Illinois who went 5-2 at the duals losing to Black and another wrestler not entered.

TOM’s Prediction
1. #2 Brooks Black – PA
2. #20 Doug Vallaro – FL
3. Evan McGee – OK
4. Dylan Devine – MD