TOM’s Top Prospect Report: 141 – Class of 2011

By Willie Saylor, Editor

In this, our fourth installment of the industry’s original prospect rankings, we compile the nation’s best seniors at their projected college weights.

This year we will be releasing them weight by weight. We are adding more detail this year and reviewing a lot of data and video. Once we are done with these we will also be publishing our top “sleeper” prospects for the class of 2011 and 2012.

College Coaches: We are close to launching our new service. This is a recruiting service available to College Coaches of all levels. You will have access to our in-depth analysis from our Clinch Gear Camps, Access to Athlete profiles on all or our nationally ranked wrestlers and watch list. Recruiting Tournament Programs that will only be available to College Coaches and more. Contact us today to learn more. recruiting@theopenmat.com

The Top Prospect Rankings are much anticipated, receiving a litany of positive feedback annually from college coaches, athletes, and other wrestling journalists. Perhaps the most telling, however subtle, response, was from one writer who characterized them as ‘rankings with a point.’

The Top Prospect Report is not a rankings, per se, but a subjective projection. Head-to-head results and cumulative accomplishments do not always take precedent. Instead, the Top Prospect Report is largely based not only on talent and resume, but also work ethic, character, grades, and desire, to inform my forecast of the nation’s next class of successful college wrestlers.

We feel this is a pragmatic way of looking at the graduating class as they wrap up their prep careers. Whether it is considered a recruiting resource, a wrestler’s barometer, or just as a fan’s guide, we can’t help ourselves but to speculate and project today’s top high school talent onto tomorrow’s college (or international) mats.

*Note: The accomplishments listed are certainly not a full resume. We list them merely as a sampling of their achievements. We will update the rankings and college data as results dictate, and as more information comes in. We welcome a discussion of the rankings on our forums.

This senior class is loaded with 141lb prospects. What’s interesting is that a few schools are in on some of the same wrestlers, making the signing of one having the potential for a domino-effect. Up top, it’s take-your-pick with the #1 and #2. We liked Stieber’s all around game.

141
1. Hunter Stieber, Monroeville, OH *Ohio St*

• 3x State Champ
• Fargo Champ
• Fila Champ
• 3x Ironman Finalist (1x Champ)

Notes: Steiber is the complete package. Training under coach Erik Burnett, who’s been working with Ohio’s best and churning out studs lately, Hunter is capable in all facets the game. He stays in position and is hard to score on. Good on top-and-bottom. His most admirable attribute is his ability to transition from move-to-move. If there is a caveat, Steiber the Younger (his brother is a freshman at Ohio St.) has a dramatically bent-over stance that could be susceptible to the head pounding prevalent at the college level. Also keep in mind that Steiber is in the midst of a growth spurt, wrestling 119 last season and 135 throughout the summer.

2. Austin Ormsbee, Blair Academy, NJ, Status: Unsigned

• 3x National Prep Champ
• Fargo National Champion
• Beast of the East Champ

College Choices: Oklahoma St. Cal Poly, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota

Notes: I can throw a bunch of superlatives in Ormsbee’s direction. Along with Chris Phillips (174) Austin is the best kid in the country scoring from front-head position. Along with Alex Dieringer (149) Ormsbee’s the most instinctual/improvisational wrestler, letting it all hang out and turning funky, scramble-like situations into scores and scoring opportunities. And he’s singularly the slickest wrestler in this year’s class on his feet.

TOM’s Prediction: Maryland

3. Evan Henderson, Kiski Prep, PA, Status: Unsigned

• 2x National Prep Finalist (1x Champ)
• 2x NHSCA Placer
• Ironman 3rd
• PA State Placer (Fr. Year)

College Choices: Nebraska, North Carolina, Lehigh

Notes: A very steady wrestler, Henderson isn’t going to wow you, he’s just going to wrestle fundamentally and post wins. His only loss last year was a 1-pter to Villalonga in Ironman semi’s. He’ll need to be a bit better defensively on his feet in college, as he scores a great deal on countering right now in situations he won’t next year. Evan’s strong suit is on top where he employs a great ride sure to rack up RT, often using a trapped ankle and crossface series. Henderson loves competition and is a tireless worker, so coaches can rest assured what they’re getting in that department.

TOM’s Prediction: Lehigh

4. Jake Sueflohn, Arrowhead, WI,  Status: Unsigned

• Cheesehead Champ & OW
• State Champ
• Fargo AA

College Choices: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Central Michigan

Notes: Sueflohn is tough to evaluate. There are times when his technique is fine, and other times when it’s sloppy and awkward. What he has going for him is his ability to ride and, perhaps, the best stamina of anyone in the country. Jake may have beaten more ranked wrestlers than anyone in this class over the past calendar year, and there’s a similar theme to each of these victories: the late comeback. That’s rare at any level. You can refine technique, but you can’t teach heart. He may not be ready as soon as he steps on campus, but the college that signs Jake will get a hard worker sure to experience some level of DI success.

TOM’s Prediction: Nebraska

5. Nik Pena, Selma, CA,  Status: Unsigned

• State Champ (3 x Placer)
• Doc Buchanan Champ
• Super32 5th
• Ironman 4th

College Choices: Cornell, Stanford, Iowa St., Missouri

Notes: Pena is the prototypical California low-single wrestler. He’s smooth on high-crotches and wrap-arms and transitions well from shot-to-shot. When he’s full-go he’s tough to stop. Unfortunately his gas tank is limited. He’ll need to get in better, 7-minute shape. And his mat wrestling (top-and-bottom) is almost non-existent as he’s a 2-for-1 type.

TOM’s Prediction: Stanford

6. Terrel Wilbourn, Howells Central, MO, Status: Unsigned

• 2x Fargo Finalist (1x Champ)
• 2x State Champ

College Choices: Not Reported

Notes: Terrel is an interesting wrestler. He has a ton of potential to have a successful DI career. The skill set is there but he’s still pretty raw, so he needs some polishing. He is quick and wrestles well in scrambles. Needs to work on set-ups against elite competition. Like most wrestlers he will also need to improve his mat wrestling at the next level. In the right program he can be a very good fit.

TOM’s Prediction: Missouri

7. Elijah Sullivan, Iowa City West, IA, Status: Unsigned

• Fargo JR Greco National Champ
• State Runner-Up, State 3rd

College Choices: Nebraska-Omaha, Northern Iowa, Stanford, Columbia

Notes: Sullivan is a tough-nosed kid and a scrapper. As evidenced by his Junior Greco title, he’s quite efficient in handfighting situations. Elijah isn’t a one-trick pony, though. He’s been successful in Iowa in folkstyle his entire high school career. His only two losses at the Iowa state tournament came at the hands of 4 x finalist, Jake Ballweg. It should be noted that Elijah’s former teammate, Bret Baumbach, is a freshman at Stanford.

TOM’s Prediction: Columbia

8. Taylor Moeder, St. James Academy, KS *Old Dominion*

• State Champ
• Fargo JR GR Champ
• NHSCA JRs 4th
• Fargo JR FS, 4th

Notes: This could be a real steal for HC Steve Martin. Moeder keeps very good position on his feet. He takes a low volume of shots, but they’re high quality, deep attempts. Moves a lot on the bottom and never sits still. He also works for turns from the top position. With the right coaching and workout partners that push him to become more aggressive on his feet, he could turn out to be a very productive college wrestler.

9. Chris Mecate, Redlands Valley, CA, Status: Unsigned

• Super32 Champ
• 5-Counties Champ
• Temecula Runner-Up
• State 5th

College Choices: Cal Poly, Columbia, Arizona St., Old Dominion

Notes: What we like about Chris is his ability to win (and close out) close matches against elite competition; something paramount at the Division I level. His strength is on his feet and he could use some work on the mat, which shouldn’t be a problem if he ends up where we think he will.

TOM’s Prediction: Cal Poly

10. Travis Shaffer, Derry, PA *PITT*

• 3x State Placewinner
• PowerADE Champ
• Flonationals Champ

Notes: Shaffer is an interesting prospect. He’s funky and tough to finish on. Travis’ greatest asset is his ability on top where he employs a variety of tilts. I’d like to see a bit more self-generated offense and assertiveness from him on his feet.

11. Bo Schlosser, Bettendorf, IA, Status: Unsigned

• State Champ
• State 4th (Illinois/Soph. Year)
• Fargo Placer

College Choices: Iowa, Iowa St. Michigan St., Wisconsin, Oklahoma St.

Notes: Schlosser has wrestled that past two seasons at 135, and we have him projected as a 41lber, but he could, by his own admission, wrestle 133 for the bulk of his career. A Greco specialist, he’s very comfortable in handfighting situations. Bo is wiry, with deceptive strength. He has a penchant for straight singles to the right side, although he could use work on set-ups and overall on his feet.

TOM’s Prediction: Iowa State

12. Bob Dierna, Wayne, NY, Status: Unsigned

• NHSCA JR Nationals Champ
• NHSCA SO Nationals, 3rd
• State Champ (3x Placer)

College Choices: Not Reported

Notes: Dierna is an under-the-radar type. He is quick and explosive. Always seems to be moving and is another no-set up kind of shot guy. His speed and ability to get in deep somewhat off set things. Another thing that stood out breaking down his video is that he has excellent hip position on his shots. One thing we notice a lot is too many wrestlers struggle to get their hips under them on shots. This guy has that part mastered. His weakness there is that he tends to come up to high on his finishes at times and has to fight his opponent hips. On top he is aggressive and looks for tilts and arm bars. We see him with some really good upside for the team who lands him.

TOM’s Prediction: Edinboro

Other Top Prospects at 141lbs.

• Lucas Smith, Wheeling, IL, Status: Unsigned
• Caleb Ervin, Union County, KY, Status: Unsigned
• Stephen Robertson, Montini, IL, Status: Unsigned
• Nick Catalano, Canon-MacMillan, PA *North Carolina*
• Derek Heyman, Tioga, NY *Binghamton*