Epic Brawl in Rochester as Clash Turns Ten

Willie Saylor, Editor

Fortuitous, Christmas falling on a weekend this year.

Because of the holiday, most wrestling programs were idle, allowing all us wrestling aficionados to take a deep breath before the chaos of what will be the best in-season dual tournament ever put together commences this weekend in Rochester, Minnesota.

Fitting, too, that this spectacle marks the 10^th year of the event.

Six of TOM’s Top 10 teams will be here, along with two more ranked in the Top 25, and five Honorable Mention squads.

Over the course of the past few months, line-ups of the Clash teams have been gone over with a fine-toothed comb as we try to sort out how each squad matches up with one another.

If you missed it, you can view the Clash Selection Show.

Or, go right to the brackets.

During the tournament, results can be found on trackwrestling.com.

Here, we’ll breakdown each of the four brackets, and give our fearless predictions. Each of the four brackets consists of eight teams. The first day, teams wrestle to get into their placement pool. Each of the four bracket winners will be put in a round robin for Day II, to determine places 1 through 4. Each of the bracket runners-up will be placed in another pool to determine places 5 through 8, etc, etc.

It should also be noted that a random starting weight will be drawn at the coaches meeting on Thursday evening.

*Team #’s represent seeds – Individual #’s represent TOM ranking.

Bracket “A”

#1-St. Edward, OH

#8-Punahou, HI

 

#5-Hastings, MN

#4-Jefferson, GA

 

#3-Christiansburg, VA

#6-Arrowhead, WI

 

#7-Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, MN

#2-Carl Sandburg, IL

 

The Breakdown:

Top Half:

St. Edward is the #1 overall seed for a reason. Their line-up is almost unprecedentedly balanced, the back-half of which, might be the greatest ever. Every wrestler the Eagles have from 160-HWT has been a Top 4 All-American within the last two years.

I like Jefferson to beat Hastings. Jefferson has won 10 consecutive state titles in 2A, and feature several standout athletes. But they shouldn’t be a major threat to Ed’s in the bracket semi.

Bottom Half:

Carl Sandburg came into the Clash last year as the #14 overall seed and created a stir. First they upset Wisconsin Rapids (the 3^rd overall seed), and then won the bracket with a win over Montini, the 6^th seed.

Their semi with Christiansburg might be the tightest semi of any bracket.

CBurg should get be favored in the lower weights with #14-Coy Ozias (106), #7-JR Wert (113), and #6-Joey Dance (126). Sandburg will be favored at 120 with #19-Sebastian Pique.

Sandburg has two Fargo Champs coming: #18-Colin Holler, at 145, and #9-Ricky Robertson at 170.

CBurg will counter with Beast Champ, #14-Zach Epperly at 160. But they seem to be the only sure favorites. There are still seven other weight classes to be wrestled among relatively unproven commodities.

I’ll take Sandburg to win a nail-biter.

Bracket Final:

St. Ed’s will be far too superior in the back half for Sandburg to contend with. Win’s from Ed’s at 126 and 132 (#4-Dean Heil and #5-Edgar Bright) seem assured. There will be a premier bout with Fila Champ #4-Mark Martin and #9-Robertson, but the Eagles are heavily favored in everything thereafter.

Eds, 45-9.

Bracket Predictions:

1. St. Edward

2. Carl Sandburg

3. Christiansburg

4. Jefferson

 

Bracket “B”

#1-Apple Valley, MN

#8-Mitchell, SD

 

#5-Coon Rapids, MN

#4-Baylor, TN

 

#3-Colonial Forge, VA

#6-Owatonna, MN

 

#7-Corona Del Sol, AZ

#2-Archbishop Moeller, OH

 

The Breakdown:

Top Half:

Mitchell, SD, has a couple nice wrestlers, but they’ll be no match for the breadth and depth of Apple Valley, the returning champs and the #2 overall seed.

Valley should face the winner of a very interesting opening round match between Coon Rapids and Baylor. Coon Rapids has solid bookends with 106lber Blaine Tschida in the front and Michael Burkhardt and Tanner Lowe (220/HWT) in the back.

I’ll take Coon Rapids to win before they get bounced by AV.

Bottom Half:

In the bottom semi, we should get a really entertaining match-up between Colonial Forge and Moeller (who should get past Owatonna and Corona Del Sol, respectively).

Both teams are a great picture of overall line-up balance. Outside of Moeller’s 7^th ranked Joey Ward (132) and CF’s #17-David Reck (182), there aren’t many stars in their line-ups. What there is, is plenty of solid, blue-collar wrestlers.

The difference should be Moeller’s power in the upperweights. At the Ironman, Moeller had four placers from 152 on. I think that gets them through this dual here.

Bracket Final

Archbishop Moeller is sneaky good. Surely everyone thinks Apple Valley will dispatch them. But it could be more interesting than what might be anticipated, especially if Moeller can get wins at 106 and 126, and win the 132lb bout with #7-Ward against #12-Dakota Trom. In which case, Moeller has a shot in the upper weights.

OK, maybe I’m being dramatic. Valley should roll, especially with the bonus points they’re likely to put up at certain weights.

Apple Valley, 36-15.

Bracket Predictions:

1. Apple Valley

2. Archbishop Moeller

3. Colonial Forge

4. Coon Rapids

Bracket “C”

#1-Brandon, FL

#8-Ironwood Ridge, AZ

 

#5-Forest Lake, MN

#4-Vacaville, CA

 

#3-St. Michael-Albertville, MN

#6-Lewiston, ID

 

#7-Rapid City Central, SD

#2-Simley, MN

 

The Breakdown:

Top Half:

Brandon was the runners-up here last year, losing just one dual. And they bring back a wealth of talent, with a line-up featuring three nationally ranked kids and 4 other Honorable Mentions.

They should cruise in their first dual against Clash newcomer, Ironwood Ridge.

Like most 4-5 matchups, Forest Lake and Vacaville should be a great dual. Vacaville has been to the Clash every year, so they know what to expect. They’re also the 6^th ranked team in California and boast hard-nosed kids throughout the line-up. I’ll take Vacaville.

Bottom Half:

I like the Lewiston team a lot. They just had a fine showing at Tri-State, and I look for them to have a good tourney here. But they may be outmatched by STMA, who has a dynamite line-up down low. From 106 (Aaron Dick) through 145 (Wayne Voss), they have virtually no holes. Then they come at you with a nice 1-2 punch up top with Eull (195) and Edling (220). They’re tough.

Simley should cruise in their opening round match to meet STMA in another semi I expect to be closer than most would think. Hypothetically, STMA could take 5 of the first 6 bouts against the Spartans, with Eull and Edling looming. At the Minnesota Christmas Tournament, STMA and Simley had head-to-heads at 126, 132, and 138, with all of them resulting in STMA wins.

That being said, if Simley gets Juan Torres and Cody Hazlett back, they could be the difference. Another potential move is having Kyle Gliva down at 113.

I’ll take Simley, 33-24, but watch this match-up. It could get interesting, especially if Torres is a scratch.

Bracket Final:

It goes without saying that this will be a pressure-packed dual. Every point, every scramble, will be critical. But if it goes to plan (which, when does it ever), it will come down to this: if Brandon can win one of the last three bouts, they win. If not, Simley moves on.

Brandon, 29-25.

Bracket Predictions:

1. Brandon

2. Simley

3. St. Michael-Albertville

4. Vacaville

 

Bracket “D”

#1-Clovis, CA

#8-Anoka, MN

 

#5-Luxemburg-Casco, WI

#4-Marist, IL

 

#3-Kason-Mantorville, MN

#6-Pierre, SD

 

#7-Prior Lake, MN

#2-St. Paris-Graham, OH

The Breakdown:

Top Half:

In most years drawing Anoka would be a tough match-up. But they’re rebuilding and hampered by a bunch of injuries.

This 4-5 dual should be a great one. LC is the top team in Wisconsin this year. And Marist is coming off an awesome 2^nd place showing at the Dvorak. I’ll go with LC in a barnburner, before Clovis heads to the bracket finals.

Bottom Half:

Pierre has a good core of young talent, but KM will put up too much bonus where Pierre is weak.

The interesting thing is, that’s exactly what I think will happen in the semi as well; too much bonus, but this time, for SPG. KM will get 12 at 195 and HWT, but SPG will have had that covered with bonus point wins from #14-Blake Kastl (145), #1-Bo Jordan (152), #7-Isaac Jordan (160), and #6-Huston Evans (182).

Bracket Final:

If you weren’t having fun yet, here’s where things get REALLY interesting, folks!

Perhaps the best bracket final in the tournament. Each team has its virtues. And it will be a match-up based dual; not many of their studs hit each other.

Here are the line-ups:

106: Khristian Olivas/Julian Gaytan (CLO) vs. Eli Stickley (SPG)

113: Jonas Gaytan (CLO)  vs. Eli Seiple (SPG)

120: #11-Daniel Gaytan (CLO) vs. #5-Ryan Taylor (SPG)

126: Vincent Hernandez(CLO) vs. Micah Jordan (SPG)

132: Matt Gay (CLO) vs. Nate Hinkel/Chase Crabtree (SPG)

138: Devin Everek/Sergio Enloe (CLO) vs. Hinkel/Crabtree (SPG)

145: Jason Ladd (CLO) vs. #14-Blake Kastl (SPG)

152: Colby Thompson (CLO) vs. #1-Bo Jordan (SPG)

160: Adrian Salas (CLO) vs. #7-Isaac Jordan (SPG)

170: #2-Zach Nevills (CLO) vs. Lane Thomas (SPG)

182: Ryan Davies (CLO) vs. #6-Huston Evans (SPG)

195: Dakota Gordan (CLO) vs. Josh Counchman (SPG)

220: Matt Weiss (CLO) vs. Anthony Welty (SPG)

HWT: #4-Nick Nevills (CLO) vs. Darin Bovey (SPG)

SPG will be heavily favored at 145 and 152. Clovis will have bonus points in mind at 170, 195, and HWT.

The key bouts will occur at 113 where it will be Julian Gaytan for Clovis against SPG’s Eli Seiple, and at 120 in a battle of state champions with #5-Ryan Taylor (SPG) and #11-Daniel Gaytan (Clovis).

For Clovis to win they have to have one of the following happen: get bonus points in the back half, or limit bonus in the middle, or win one bout from 106-126.

For SPG to win they have to probably get: 1) all the bonus points they can out of their horses at 45 and 52 and 2) wins at both 113 and 120.

Clovis, 28-27.

Bracket Predictions:

1. Clovis

2. St. Paris-Graham

3. Luxemburg-Casco

4. Kasson-Mantorville

 

Hey, Where Ya Goin’!

We’re just getting started. That was only Day I.

So, the placement brackets (if I’m omniscient) will look like this:

1^st Bracket: St. Edwards, Brandon, Clovis, Apple Valley

2^nd Bracket: SPG, Simley, Moeller, Carl Sandburg

3^rd Bracket: Luxemburg-Casco, St. Michael, Colonial Forge, Christiansburg

4^th Bracket: Kasson-Mantorville, Vacaville, Coon Rapids, Jefferson

 

Eagles! Eagles! Eagles! Cougars?

*I thought the mascots were an interesting, yet totally irrelevant, sidenote. Only Clovis is a bird of another feather. Wait. What?

Championship Pool Line-Ups with TOM Rankings

#2-St. Edward (OH)

106: LJ Bentley                                           Notes:  It can’t be overstated: St. Eds up top is downright
113: Alex Moore/Sal Carrao                     scary. And Heil and Bright are among the country’s
120: Collin Heffernan/A. Stanley           best. Nearly ‘sure things’. What gets lost in the shuffle
126: #4-Dean Heil                                      when discussing Eds is their ‘not-yet-star’ guys from
132: #5-Edgar Bright                                  138 to 152. They’ll be in matches with anyone. And it’s
138: Markus Scheidel                                 one reason I favor them to win the whole darn thing.
145: Nick Barber

152: Martin VanCuran

160: HM-Jacob Davis
170: #5-Mark Martin
182: #14-Dominic Abounader
195: #16-James Suvak
220: #13-Ty Walz
HWT: #5-Greg Kuhar

 

#4-Apple Valley (MN)

106: Gannon Volk/Maolu Woiwor              Notes: Valley’s power lies in the middle and in their
113: Brock Morgan                                          line-up flexibility. From 120 through 182, these kids
120: #20-Seth Gross                                      can all go. And, like Eds, their ‘non-stars’ are capable,
126: Shamar Williams                                    not holes. If Valley is going to win this thing, they’re
132: #12-Dakota Trom                                   going to have to sweep up much of the middle and
138:  Dayton Racer                                          an upset or two at other spots.
145: #7-Mark Hall/HM-Mason Manville
152: #5-Brandon Kingsley/#7-Mark Hall
160: #5-Brandon Kingsley/HM-Ben Sullivan
170:  HM-Ben Sullivan/HM-Daniel Woiwor
182: #17-Daniel Woiwor /Corbin Farrell
195: Corbin Farrell/Trom Peterson
220: Paul Cheney/Trom Peterson
HWT: Zach Martens

 

#5-Brandon (FL)

106: HM-Dylan Lucas                            Notes: Balance, balance, balance. Brandon has
113: HM-James Flint                              virtually no holes. From 106 through 182 are nails.
120: Victor Fugate/Devan Berrian      The reservation many have when handicapping
126: #7-Rossi Bruno                               Brandon’s line-up is there upperweight proficiency.
132: #9-Kevin Norstrem                        Anywhere else in America they might be fine. But here,
138: Troy Joyce                                       Clovis and St. Eds are nails up top. That being said,
145: Brice Jones/Dakota Greene         the three guys after Koziel have wrestled admirably
152: HM-Travis Berridge                       in recent weeks. If, and it’s a big ‘if’, Brandon gets
160: #10-Clark Glass                              contributions from these guys this weekend, they could
170: Jacob Haydock                                cause a mighty stir.
182: HM-Kyle Koziel
195: Robert Enmon
220: Jonathan Summit
HWT: Darren Lester

 

#5-Clovis (CA)

106: Khristian Olivas/Julian Gaytan               Notes: Clovis brings in what could be the finest team
113: Jonas Gaytan/Julian Gaytan                     California has ever produced. You don’t know many of
120: Jonas Gaytan/#11-Daniel Gaytan            the names, but odds are, they’re state qualifiers
126: #11-Daniel Gaytan/Vincent Hernandez    (there’s 10 of them!). The Cougars are solid from top-
132: Vincent Hernandez/Matt Gay                   to-bottom. And there back half is rivaled only by Eds.
138: Devin Everek/Sergio Enloe
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

Handicapping the Round Robin

St. Edward vs. Clovis

It’s amazing how similarly these two teams are built. Both have solid, capable guys even where they don’t have stars. Both have young, inexperienced lightweights, veteran  middle guys, and upper-tier big men. There’s no doubt Clovis can wrestle with Eds from

160 on. I see a lot of close matches, but with a lot of edges to the Eagles.

St. Edwards  30, Clovis 18

Apple Valley vs. Brandon

This should be a tighter dual than most think. Brandon, on paper, takes 4 of the first 5.

Additionally, with Berridge and Glass on the two Valley studs (Hall and Kingsley), there isn’t likely to be bonus points that AV is accustomed to having out of those two guys.

Valley is a favorite here, but Brandon could pull off the upset if they win the close bouts.

One thing’s for sure: if Brandon is to win, they’ll need Haydock and Koziel to take out Sullivan and Woiwer, respectively.

For Valley, they’ll almost undoubtedly stretch their line-up and put Manville on the mat. If not, they give Koziel a free six, which creates all kinds of chaos.

Apple Valley 32, Brandon 19

St. Edward vs. Brandon

St. Edward is a bad match up for most folks, but it’s a particularly poor one for Brandon. The competitiveness of each bout should be relatively close. But Eds has the edge in so many bouts, that even should they stub their toes here or there, they should still be  fine. Look for a lot of regular decisions until Walz and Kuhar slam the door.

St. Edwards 37, Brandon 12

Apple Valley vs. Clovis

This dual will be a tale of two halves: Apple Valley down low, Clovis – up top. I have a 7-7 split in bouts, with Clovis sweeping the last five. The question will be: who puts up more bonus?

In a way, this dual won’t be about who wins and loses individual bouts, it will be about who doesn’t lose them by a lot.

If there’s bonus to be had from Valley, it’s through the middle, in some form from Trom, Hall, and/or Kingsley.

For Clovis, their opportunities for big wins will come at 70, 95, and HWT.

Apple Valley 30, Clovis 24

Brandon vs. Clovis

We again have mis-matched line-up strengths here, with Brandon having  the edge down low and Clovis’ back half causing problems for Brandon.

Brandon could (and probably should) win 4 of the first 5 bouts. From there on out though, the pickin’s will be slim.

Clovis will be favored in 6 of the 9 remaining bouts, with bonus likely in a  few of them,  which will be the difference.

Clovis  25, Brandon 22

St. Edward vs. Apple Valley

For all the marbles.

Similar to the Clovis-Eds dual in that there figures to be a great number of close bouts, with the edge going to Eds in most cases.

I hadn’t touch on it until this point, but a big factor may be St. Ed’s situation at 120lbs,  where Collin Heffernan certified at. He wrestled 126 two weeks ago. If he’s at 120 for the second day of The Clash (when the weight is 123), it could prove crucial. A Gross-Heffernan bout would be down to the wire. Otherwise, Eds is looking at giving up bonus.

For Valley to win, they’d need one or two of a few things to happen: a big win out of  Dakota Trom, a crucial Racer-Scheidel bout to go their way, and/or, to pull off at least two upsets post-160. It could happen. It just isn’t likely.

 

106: Maolu Woiwor (AV) dec. LJ Bentley (STE)  AV 3-0

113: Alex Moore (STE) dec. Brock Morgan (AV)  Tied 3-3

120: HM-Seth Gross (AV) dec. Heffernan (STE) AV 6-3

126: #4-Dean Heil (STE) md. Shamar Williams (AV)  STE 7-6

132: #5-Egdar Bright (STE) dec. #12-Dakota Trom (AV) STE 10-6

138: Markus Scheidel (STE) dec. Dayton Racer (AV)  STE 13-6

145: HM-Mason Manville (AV) dec. Nick Barber (STE)  STE 13-9

152: #7-Mark Hall (AV) md. Martin VanCuran (STE)  Tied 13-13

160: #5-Brandon Kingsley (AV) dec. HM-Jacob Davis (STE) AV 16-13

170: #5-Mark Martin (STE) dec. HM-Ben Sullivan (AV) Tied 16-16

182: #14-Domenic Abounader (STE) dec. HM-Dan Woiwor (AV) STE 19-16

195: #16-James Suvak (STE) dec. Paul Cheney/Corbin Farrell (AV)  STE 22-16

220: #13-Ty Walz (STE) dec. Cheney/Farrell (AV)  STE  25-16

HWT: #5-Greg Kuhar (STE)  dec. Zach Martens (AV)  28-16

And then….Happy New Years!