Clinch Gear Preseason High School Team Rankings

Willie Saylor, Editor

The Green Bay Packers

Raise your hand if, last year at this time, you had the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl, then going on to win their first 11 games this season.

Actually, the Packers wouldn’t have even made the playoffs had Tampa Bay held on to a lead against the Detroit Lions.

So what does that have to do with wrestling rankings?

Well, nothing, really. But it does illustrate the point that even the most in-tune admirer can’t rationally predict the future. You take the information you have and make educated guesses.

I like to think that when it comes to wrestling, I’m pretty good at doing just that. But on a team level and, like football, there’s bound to be surprises. There’s just so many moving parts; fourteen wrestlers, line-up movement, last second takedowns and flukish pins…heck if I can see all that coming.

That’s not to say that we should expect a dark-horse team to come swooping in and claim a title. But if you’re asking to pick a clear national champion right now, well, that’s why coaches coach, to improve their kids, and why wrestlers wrestle, to win whether they are, or aren’t, supposed to.

What we can do is outline the contenders and rank them on the info we have.

Luckily, this year there are so many meetings and cross-meetings that it makes transitive properties bloom everywhere. In fact, every team in my Top 25 here will either see each other, or wrestle someone who has. I cringe when some fans refer to the high school national title as ‘mythical’. With so many mutual meetings this year, it should be less mythical, and more actual, than it’s ever been.

Tiers

Team rankings are a different animal. It’s quite complicated. Duals are different than tournament scoring and teams are just composed rather differently.

Take St. Paris, for example, who is #8 here. I’d absolutely take them to outpoint #7-Clovis in a deep tournament. But a dual or a shallow tournament? That’s another story.

Or perhaps Team A matches up well with Team B, but not so much with Team C, who would clearly beat Team A.

So while the rankings are obviously in a certain order, they are also predicated on circumstance. Perhaps a more practical way of looking at things in the preseason, where not a meaningful bout has been wrestle yet, is by viewing them as ‘tiers’.

As such:
1. Blair & St. Eds : Loaded throughout
2. St. Johns: Balanced, Stars and Solids
3. SPG, Apple Valley, Clovis, Canon-Mac, Brandon, Simley : match-up based

I wouldn’t fault anyone for arguing movement within the tiers. I’ve flipped-flopped them myself in dozens of permutations.

Teams 4 through 7 were exceptionally difficult to order.

At the Top

Blair and Eds. Eds and Blair.

I considered St. Edward at #1, mostly for the surety of points they’ll get in a tournament format from their back half. From 160 through HWT, they’ll most likely have a placer at each weight in even the deepest of in-season tournaments (read: Ironman).

But with nine Fargo All Americans, Blair has proven its deep tournament mettle as well.

Plus, I favor Blair, by the narrowest of margins (8 to 6), in a dual against Eds.

The good news: it’s really not up to the rankers. Blair and St. Edward meet the first weekend of the season at the Ironman, where the winner claim the top step on the podium, at least for the time being.

The regular season is getting set to kick off. Every ranked team will be in action by next weekend. So, without further ado, here’s the 2011 Preseason Clinch Gear High School Team Rankings…

#1 Blair Academy – New Jersey (2)
Head Coach: Jeff Buxton
State Division: Prep
Opening Date: Ironman, Dec. 9th
Key Departures: Evan Silver (112), Caleb Richardson (119), Austin Ormsbee (135), Willie Wilson (215)
Additions: Chaz Tucker (103) from Massachusetts

Line-Up:
106: Chaz Tucker
113: #8-Joey McKenna
120: PJ Klee
126: #12-Max Hvolbeck
132: #1-Mark Grey
138: #7-Todd Preston
145: #10-Dylan Milonas
152: HM-Russ Parsons
160: HM-Patrick Coover
170: Addison Knepshield
182: Michael Mocco
195: HM-Frank Mattiace
220: David Farr
HWT: #1-Brooks Black

Notes: Blair has the reputation of putting out great tournament teams on an annual basis. And while they’ll be a great deep tourney team once again this season, featuring as many ranked individuals (6) as any other team in the country, the Bucs just may be a better dual squad this year.

What should prove to separate Blair from the pack in ’11-’12 is their incredible balance; there are just no holes. Even their unranked wrestlers, from Parsons to Farr, are all tough outs, setting up Blair to be extraordinarily tough, even by their standards, in both dual and tourney formats.

Their ranked individuals are battle-tested and proven nationally, so you know what you’re going to get there. Nine kids in their line-up have AA’d in Fargo. And guys like Mocco, Knepshield, Mattiace, and Farr have made big strides this summer.

#2 St. Edward – Ohio (5)
Head Coach: Greg Urbas
State Division: Division I
Opening Date: vs. CVCA, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: None
Additions: None

Line-Up:
106: LJ Bentley
113: Alex Moore/Sal Carrao
120: Collin Heffernan
126: #9-Dean Heil
132: #13-Edgar Bright
138: Markus Scheidel
145: Nick Barber
152: Martin Van Curan
160: #9-Mark Martin
170: HM-Jacob Davis
182: #11-Dominic Abounader
195: HM-James Suvak
220: #13-Ty Walz
HWT: #8-Greg Kuhar

Notes: The Eagles have a real shot at a national title this year. The new weights help their cause. Heil, a state and FloNats Champ, and Bright, who won Fargo cadets anchor the lower weights. And, the back half of the line-up just might be the best in high school history. Many teams will have a tough time winning one single bout in the last six weights vs. Eds.

The middleweights just may be key for the Eagles. Colin Heffernan, who was undefeated at Cadet FS duals and/or Markus Scheidel, a Cadet AA this summer, surprisingly certified at 120. Big boost for them if he can go there. State qualifier Nick Barber goes at 145, with experienced Martin Van Curen at 152. In short, they’re not as thin in the middle as some would expect.

The issues for Eds, surprisingly enough, will come down low where they’ll start unproven kids at the first two weights.

#3 St. Johns– Michigan (9)
Head Coach: Zane Ballard
State Division: Division 2
Opening Date: Davison Invitational, Dec 10th
Key Departures: Tyler Pemberton (215)
Additions: Drew Wixson (103/106), Logan Massa (119/120) Ben Whitford, from Marmion Academy (145)

Line-Up:
106: Drew Wixson
113: #17-Zac Hall
120: Logan Massa
126: HM-Jacob Schmitt
132: Brant Schaffer
138: HM-Josh Pennell
145: #1-Ben Whitford
152: HM-Travis Curley
160: HM-Jordan Wohlfert
170: #1-Taylor Massa
182: Payne Hayden
195: CJ Dominguez
220: Ben Proctor
HWT: Blake Cooper

Notes: St. Johns is kind of ‘locked’ into the #3 position based on a fantastic roll call from 106 through 182. They aren’t quite as strong, on paper, as the top two teams here, from a balanced/dual perspective, but they should be 1) right with them in duals and 2) deadly in individual tournament formats.

For better or worse, and due to Michigan travel restrictions, STJ’s national ranking will hinge on just two events: their dual with Detroit Central Catholic, and their dual with St. Edward.

#4 Canon McMillan – Pennsylvania (22)
Head Coach: Chris Mary
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: vs. Fr. LeBoeuf, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: Nick Catalano (145)
Additions: Cody Weircioch (170)

Line-Up:
106: Brendan Price
113: #12-Dalton Macri
120: #11-Connor Schram
126: HM-Colton Shorts
132: Malichi Krenzelack
138: #7-Solomon Chisko
145: Sammy Minor
152: Dario Dobbin
160: William Pihiou
170: #4-Cody Weircioch
182: Mark Dami
195: Ian Binotto
220: Alex Campbell
HWT: #16-Cody Klempay

Notes: Canon-Mac placed nearly half (6 of 14) of their line-up at the PA state tournament in the large school division. Five of those six were 2nd or 3rd. Just one of them graduated: state runner-up Catalano. Every other starter is back.

Macri, a Super32 placer and Fargo AA may have been the best back-up in the country last year as he was beaten out for the spot by Shorts. He’ll enter the line-up, and now, they add two-time state finalist and former Super32 Champ, Cody Weircioch.

Although the extra upperweight will hurt them, they should be strong enough to win both the state duals and the individual PIAA AAA title. One kid to keep an eye on is Alex Campbell who had 30+ wins last year as a sophomore at 215.

They probably aren’t deep enough to topple Blair when they meet up at the Powerade, but they should be right on their heels.

On paper, they have eight state placers in their line-up, virtually unheard of in PA. The question for CM will be what they get from the rest of their team. If they don’t get much, they’ll still have one of the better deep tournament teams in the country. If they get some help, they could be one of the best teams overall, and even prove to rival some of the top dual squads.

#5 Apple Valley – Minnesota (1)
Head Coach: Jim Jackson
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: @ Prior Lake, Dec 2nd
Key Departures: Jordan Kingsley (112), Matt Kelliher (130), Destin McCauley (152), Steven Keogh (160), Jake Waste (171), Matt Hechsel (189)
Additions: Gannon Volk (103), Maolu Woiwor (103), Brock Morgan (113), Dayton Racer (138) from Missouri, Mason Manville (145) from Virginia, Ben Sullivan from Alaska (160)

Line-Up:
106: Gannon Volk/Maolu Woiwer/Howard Smith
113: Brock Morgan
120: #20-Seth Gross
126: Shamar Williams
132: #11-Dakota Trom
138: Dayton Racer
145: #14-Mark Hall/Mason Manville
152: #5-Brandon Kingsley/#14-Mark Hall
160: #5-Brandon Kingsley/#14-Mark Hall/HM-Ben Sullivan
170: HM-Ben Sullivan/#17-Daniel Woiwor
182: #17-Daniel Woiwor (182)/Corbin Farrell
195: Corbin Farrell/Paul Cheney/Trom Peterson
220: Paul Cheney/Trom Peterson
HWT: Zach Martens

Notes: It should be an interesting year for the two-time defending national champs. They graduated an awful lot. But their room is deep as can be. The guys listed above are a talented lot. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Eagles are still in the conversation for a title.

The middle of their line-up will feature a bunch of talented youngsters. As noted, Hall will move up and/or around. Another 8th grader, Mason Manville, who transferred in from Virginia this fall, will get the nod at 45. Fr. Dayton Racer will go at 38.

That potentially stretches Sullivan and Woiwor all the way up to 182. Expect a lot of movement in their line-up as big duals dictate match-ups.

Preseason, we have AV amongst a pack of teams that, on paper, seem really close. While a third straight title seems unlikely, they very well could end up at the top of this tier, and in the Top 5 again. At minimum, and with five wrestlers with individual state titles, The Eagles will be among the country’s elite individual tourney teams.

#6 Brandon – Florida (3)
Head Coach: Russ Cozart
Opening Date: @ Cougar Invitational, Dec 2nd
State Division: 3A
Key Departures: Tyler Liberatore (135), Wally Figaro (160), Mike Ettore (189)
Additions: Dylan Lucas (106), Jacob Haydock from Cascia Hall, OK (160/170)

Line-Up:
106: HM-Dylan Lucas
113: #18-James Flint
120: Victor Fugate
126: #3-Rossi Bruno
132: #8-Kevin Norstrem
138: Troy Joyce
145: Brice Jones
152: HM-Travis Berridge
160: #7-Clark Glass
170: Jacob Haydock
182: HM-Kyle Koziel
195: Robert Enmon
220: Jonathan Summit
HWT: Darren Lester

Notes: A perennial power, Brandon will have a formidable line-up once again. By their standards, they do have some holes, however. So while they have the horses to do well in deep tournaments, Brandon might be susceptible against some of the better dual teams.

Dylan Lucas will look to enter the national picture at the opening weight class, and James Flint is a kid I like to have a breakout year. But the back end of the line-up (the last three weights) are inexperienced.

#7 Clovis – California (7)
Head Coach: Steve Tirapelle
State Division: CIF (One Class)
Opening Date: Newbery Park Invitational, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: Juan Salas (130), Brady Bersano (140), Blake Thompson (152), Taylor Ferguson (215)
Additions: Khristian Olivas (106)

Line-Up:
106: Khristian Olivas/Julian Gaytan
113: Jonas Gaytan/Khristian Olivas/Julian Gaytan
120: Jonas Gaytan/#15-Daniel Gaytan
126: #15-Daniel Gaytan/Vincent Hernandez
132: Vincent Hernandez/Matt Gay
138: Sergio Enloe/Matt Gay
145: Jason Ladd
152: Colby Thompson
160: Adrian Salas
170: #2-Zach Nevills
182: Ryan Davies
195: Dakota Gordan
220: Matt Weiss
HWT: #4-Nick Nevills

Notes: Clovis is expecting perhaps its best team ever. Which is saying a lot, considering 1) they’ve won nine state titles, and 2) they’re coming off a banner year in which they set records for both state qualifiers and state placers.
They have a line-up that is a lot like St. Ed’s: two studs down low, and a back half with zero holes. The difference between the two is that St. Ed’s uppers have wrestled more on the national level.

The prevailing (mis)conception of Clovis is that they’re a line-up of solid-but-not-spectacular wrestlers. But look at these rather mind-boggling numbers, and remember that CA is a single class state; Clovis has six wrestlers ranked first or second in the state, and another ranked third. That’s half their line-up!

Against the nation’s best, they’ll no doubt be right in the thick of things in duals. But we have them conservatively (and tentatively) here at #9. With just three ranked wrestlers, the teams above them currently have more ‘sure things’ that would, on paper, place higher in deeper national individual tournaments. Of course, that’s why they wrestle the matches. With a good showing at the Clash, Clovis could shoot up the rankings.

#8 St. Paris Graham – Ohio (4)
Head Coach: Jeff Jordan
State Division: Division II
Opening Date: vs Huntington, WV, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: Nick Brascetta (140), Matt Stephens (152), Kyle Ryan (160)
Additions: Blake Kastl from Gilroy, CA (145)

Line-Up:
106: Eli Stickley
113: Eli Seiple/Chase Crabtree
120: #5-Ryan Taylor
126: Micah Jordan (126)
132: Nate Hinkel/Hayden Bronne
138: #8-Case Garrison
145: #19-Blake Kastl
152: Marcus Howells
160: #4-Bo Jordan
170: #10-Isaac Jordan
182: Lane Thomas/Josh Couchman
195: #4-Huston Evans
220: Anthony Welty
HWT: Darin Bovey

Notes: The Falcons will be incredible through the middle with a seemingly endless list of ranked wrestlers. The key for them is what they’ll get out of their bookends. The first two weights are unproven, and their last two haven’t produced very well. Chase Crabtree (113) gained valuable experience last season as a starter, but on paper, the Falcons give up these four bouts to elite teams.

SPG is tough to gauge within this tier. Taylor, Garrison, Bo Jordan, and Evans are likely finalists in any tournament they go in. How many teams can say that? So, I love them as a deep tournament team, a format in which they’d beat most teams in the country. But against better dual squads, they’re likely giving up too much before the dual even starts, with several weights that look like probable holes.

Unfortunately for SPG, their schedule is more dual-heavy with The Clash and head-to-heads with Ed’s and Blair.

#9 Simley – Minnesota (6)
Head Coach: Jim Short
State Division: AA
Opening Date: Chisago Lakes and Hibbing, Dec 2nd
Key Departures: Dan Dick (152)
Additions: Stephen Mincey (132) from Apple Valley

Line-Up:
106: Cortez Arredondo
113: #9-Kyle Gliva
120: Pedro DeLao
126: HM-Juan Torres
132: Zach Rivera
138: Mack Short
145: #5-Jake Short
152: #20-Nick Wanzek
160: Dale Barner
170: #9-Micah Barnes
182: Brandt Olsen/Stephen Rudd
195: Cody Hazelett
220: Jack Ryan
HWT: Matt Kadrlik

Notes: Simley is one of those teams that always seems to reload with talent from the room that you haven’t heard of. On one hand, I’m tempted to bump them up on that trend. On the other, it’s probably more appropriate to have it proven again.

The Spartans are set up, like usual, as a great dual squad. They might not be the best in a deep tournament, but their balance will serve them well at The Clash.

Kadrlik serves an import position with an encouraging year under his belt last year. And, the staff has high hopes for Jack Ryan.

#10 Bethlehem Catholic – Pennsylvania (17)
Head Coach: Jeff Karam
State Division: AA
Opening Date: Ironman, Dec. 9th
Key Departures: Jaydon Rice (125), Kyle Dehaut (152)
Additions: Zane Heller (132)

Key Starters:
106: #1-Darian Cruz
113: #9-Zeke Moisey
120: Tommy Horner
126: #10-Randy Cruz
132: Zane Heller
138: Richie Cruz
145: Aaron Morekin
152: Ryan Todora
160: Nick Cortapassi
170: #17-Elliot Riddick
182: Jose Ortiz
195: Josh Alpha
220: TBD
HWT: Benjamin Bunce

Notes: BECA loses just one key starter from a team that won the state dual title in PA’s small school division last year in dominating fashion. On the individual side, they placed six guys in the top six at the state tournament. They add another state placer in Heller, who transferred in from Northern Lehigh. And Ortiz had a good offseason as a Fr. national runner-up at NHSCA’s.

They probably don’t have the horses to go with the elite teams in front of them, but they do have some good depth in the weights not listed, with a state qualifier at 195 and an experienced heavyweight. They should fare well at the Ironman and Beast, and repeat as state dual champs.

#11 Wyoming Seminary – Pennsylvania (10)
Head Coach: Scott Green
State Division: Prep
Opening Date: Clyde Cole Invitational, Dec. 2nd
Key Departures: Tyler Fraley (119), Adam Morris (160), Terrence Jean-Jacques (HWT)
Additions: Danny Boychuck (103) from NJ, Michael Johnson, Jr. (HWT) from IL

Key Starters:
106: Danny Boychuck
113: Tyler Ponte
120: Evan Botwin
126: #7-Dom Malone
145: Cohl Fulk
160: #5-Eric Morris
220: #12-AJ Vizcarrando
HWT: #13-Michael Johnson, Jr.

Notes: Balance is the key here for the 2011 version of Sem. They have solid guys throughout their line-up, and should be around 10th in either dual or individual format.

#12 Allen – Texas (UR)
Head Coach: Jerry Best
State Division: UIL (Public)
Opening Date: The Woodlands Tournament, Dec. 2nd
Key Departures: None
Additions: Jaden Wiser (113) from Utah, Jack Bass (145) from Virginia.

Key Starters:
126: HM-Jarrod Trotter
132: Sky Walker
138: HM-Bo Nickal
145: HM-Jack Bass
152: Tracey Eitel
160: #3-Oliver Pierce
195: #19-Nick Cobb

Notes: Allen will be paced by a strong middleweight gauntlet. How high they can climb in the rankings, will be determined by if they can get anything outside of that core. Their first three, and last two, are unproven.
The Cougars wrestle a monster national schedule so we should see exactly how they stack up.

#13 Detroit Central Catholic – Michigan (UR)
Head Coach: Mitch Hancock
State Division: Division 1
Opening Date: vs. Davison, Dec 7th
Key Departures: Miles Trealout (189)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
119/120: Malik Amine
132/135: Ken Bade
138/140: HM-Logan Marcicki
145: HM-Alec Mooradian
160: HM-Andrew Garcia
182/189: #18-Kevin Beazley

Notes: Consider that most pundits, including myself, believe St. Johns is a Top 3 choice this preseason. Now consider that their dual with DCC last year was just a four point affair. DCC has very good balance in a dual format.

#14 Christiansburg – Virginia (HM)
Head Coach: Darryl Weber
State Division: AA
Opening Date: @ Franklin County, Nov. 30th
Key Departures: Brady Epperly (160)
Additions: Coy Ozias (106)

Key Starters:
106: #18-Coy Ozias
113: #5-JR Wert
120: Kyle Dulaney
126: #2-Joey Dance (126)
132: Dallas Smith
160: HM-Zach Epperly

Notes: The front end of the Blue Demon’s line-up is scary. And while they’ll certainly make hay there, the back end has some question marks. I have them at #14 as a conservative measure. They could certainly prove to be higher than that.

#15 Iowa City West – Iowa (11)
Head Coach: Mark Reiland
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: @ Linn-Marr, Dec. 1st
Key Departures: Elijah Sullivan (140), Garrett Hathaway (145), Britt Thompson (152)
Additions:

Key Starters:
113: #6-Phil Laux
126: HM-Jack Hathaway
132: HM-Dakota Bauer
138: Kegan Wakefield
152: Gradey Gambrall
160: #8-Justin Koethe
195: Mickey Pelfrey

Notes: With Hathaway and Bauer back at their normal weights, ICW is scary good from 113 through 138. While line-up balance is a question, the Trojans should be among the nation’s best tournament teams.

#16 Wisconsin Rapids – Wisconsin (19)
Head Coach: Scott Benitz
State Division: Division 1
Opening Date: Dec. 1st @ DC Everest
Key Departures: Jason Munoz (103), Jake Jaborik (125), Garrett Schilling (160), Curt Fuller (HWT)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
132: Keegan Einerson
138: Jake Raflik (138)
145: #9-Rylan Lubeck
152: Kasey Einerson
160: #15-Zak Benitz
182: Ryan Cone
195: #1-Devin Peterson

Notes: Last year, we had Rapids ranked lowest among national publications. I felt they were overrated, not in a pejorative sense, but from an evaluative standpoint in looking across their line-up.

This year, I feel the opposite way; I think they’re getting less rave reviews than they otherwise demand. They dominate in their home state, all of the above wrestlers are state placers, and they wrestle a tough national schedule annually, which should give them valuable experience going forward.

They could find it tough sledding in deeper tournaments, but they have a very balanced line-up, which makes them a formidable dual squad.

#17 Bettendorf – Iowa (14)
Head Coach: Dan Knight
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: vs Pleasant Valley, Dec 1st
Key Departures: Taylor Wickett (140), Jacob Smith (145), Dominic Chase (160), Brody Berrie (HWT)
Additions: Fredy Stroker (113) from PA

Key Starters:
113: HM-Fredy Stroker
120: Drake Swarm
132: Logan Ryan

138: HM-Connor Ryan
145: Bubba Hernandez

160: Colby Vance
182: Bryan Levsen
220: Nate Shaw

Notes: Bett is somewhere in between a good dual team and a good tournament team. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out for them in and amongst a slew of solid Iowa AAA teams.

It’s pretty darn impressive that they could graduate what they did (four state placers) and still be as competitive as they will be.

#18 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (24)
Head Coach: Shawn Jones
State Division: 6A
Opening Date: Dec. 9th, Walsh Ironman
Key Departures: Zach Skates (160), Cody Johnson (215)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
113: Zak Edwards
120: Caleb Clark
126: Nathan Clark
132: Clay Archer
138: Tanner Bailey
145: #16-Chase Ferman
170: Brock Warren
182: Seth Calvert

Notes: BA returns the bulk of a team that swept the state individual and dual tournaments. All of the above wrestlers qualified for the 6A state tournament. Ferman and Calvert were champs.

#19 Massillon Perry – Ohio (16)
Head Coach: Dave Riggs
State Division: Division I
Opening Date: @ Hamilton Township, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: Artem Timchenko (120), Tanner Lemon (145), Anthony Wise (215)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
103: HM-David Bavery
138: HM-Mitch Newhouse
145: #11-Zach Dailey
195: Jo Tayse
HWT: Doug Mayes

Notes: This team showed their balanced line-up last year when they surprised many folks by winning King of the Mountain. The loss of Timchenko will hurt. But they’ll still be a tough out.

#20 Central Dauphin – Pennsylvania (12)
Head Coach: Jeff Sweigard
State Division: AAA
Opening Date:
Key Departures: Kevin Gooding (140), Kenny Courts (189)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
113: Jeremy Schwartz
120: Austin Rose
126: HM-Tyson Dippery
132: HM-Shyheim Brown
145: Nick Varndell
152: HM-Garrett Peppelman
160: Colton Peppelman
195: Dorian Spradlin

Notes: Gone are the bona fide studs that made CD a threat in both formats. But their balance is still intact. Look for a similar year to what they had last year when they were mostly overlooked during the individual tournament portion of the year and then came back to win their 5th straight state dual title.

#21 SouthEast Polk – Iowa (UR)
Head Coach: Jason Christiensen
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: vs Des Moines East, Dec. 1st
Key Departures: Matt Knipp (152), AJ McBroom (189), Bryan Varisco (HWT)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
126: #6-Cory Clark
160: Dylan Blackford
170: #8-Alex Meyer
182: Casey Marnin
195: Bud Smith
220: #6-Willie Miklus

Notes: SEP has more depth than one might think. That being said, they’re still a deep tournament team as far as national rankings go.

#22 Bakersfield – California (8)
Head Coach: Andy Varner
State Division: CIF (One Class)
Opening Date: Newbery Park Invitational, Dec. 3rd
Key Departures: Ian Nickell (112), Timmy Box (135), Adam Fierro (152), Bryce Hammond (160)
Additions: None

Key Starters:
132: Micah Cruz
138: #13-Natrelle Deminson
145: Maxx Ramirez
152: #6-Coleman Hammond
170: #13-Silas Nacita

Notes: Bakersfield won’t be quite as strong as the last two years when they placed 1st and 2nd, respectively in the state tournament. But they still have a good core of talent that will keep them near the top in Cali.

#23 Tulsa Union – Oklahoma (25)
Head Coach: Kevin Crutchmer
State Division: 6A
Opening Date: Dec. 6th, @ Owasso
Key Departures: None
Additions: None

Key Starters:
126: HM-Josh Walker
138: HM-Brian Crutchmer
160: #19-Kyle Ash
182: #3-Kyle Crutchmer

Notes: Union finished as Runner-Up at both Reno and the state tournament last year. Their core four (listed above), have the ability to go deep in even the toughest of tournaments. But with just a couple additional state qualifiers, they don’t have much in the way of dual meet balance.

#24 Moeller – Ohio (HM)
Head Coach: Jeff Gaier
State Division: Division I
Opening Date: Dec. 3rd, Moeller Super Duals
Key Departures: Brian McVeigh (119),
Additions:

Key Starters:
126: Tyler Zeigler
132: #6-Joey Ward
152: Dakota Sizemore
160: Michael Blum
195: Jerry Thornberry
220: Chalmer Freauf
HWT: Caleb Denny

Notes: Moeller is a team on the rise, with a feeder system that’s churning out talent. This group will certainly be competitive wrestling a very tough schedule.

#25 McDonogh School, Owings Mills, MD
Head Coach: Pete Welch
State Division: AAA
Opening Date: vs Pleasant Valley, Dec 1st
Key Departures: None
Additions: Myles Martin from New Jersey

Key Starters:
120: Logan Meister
126: Xavi Ramos
138: Myles Martin
145: #11-Jack Clark
152: Toby Hague
195: Kevin Marvel
HWT: Roman Braglio

Notes: An up-and-coming squad, McDonough has several tough kids, and the beginning of some semblance of balance.

Honorable Mention
Carl Sandburg – Illinois (HM)
Collinsville, OK (UR)
Colonial Forge, VA (UR)
Glenbard North – IL (HM)
Longwood, NY (UR)
Lowell, MI (UR)
McDonough School, MD (UR)
Montini Catholic, IL (21)
Poway, CA (UR)
Perry Meridian (UR)
Shenendehowa, NY (HM)
South Plainfield – NJ (HM)
St. Anthony’s, NY (UR)
Timber Creek, NJ (UR)
Tuttle, OK (UR)
Waverly-Shell Rock, IA (15)