http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/022916aaa.html
Saturday and Sunday. Can view it all on BTNPlus. I am not sure if the finals on Sunday will be on the main BTN (?)
My humble opinions on the chances for each Buckeye:
125 lbs.
1. Nathan Tomasello, OSU
2. Thomas Gilman, IOWA
3. Nico Megaludis, PSU
4. Tim Lambert, NEB
5. Elijah Oliver, IND
6. Johnny Jimenez, WIS
7. Conor Youtsey, MICH
8. Sean McCabe, RU
Nathan should get to the finals, then have a very difficult match vs either Gilman or Megaludis. I think any of those three could beat the other any given day. In the Gilman vs Nico semi, and in the finals vs Nathan...first takedown should win each match... possibly in overtime. Those three are just very even. Would be nice for Nathan to win this, so he keeps 1st seed at nationals, and face Dance from V Tech in the semis, who is also very good, but seems to be just a step down from Nathan and Gilman. My prediction: Nathan takes 1st. I wont pick against him, ever.
133 lbs.
1. Zane Richards, ILL
2. Cory Clark, IOWA
3. Jordan Conaway, PSU
4. Geoff Alexander, MD
5. Eric Montoya, NEB
6. Ryan Taylor, WIS
7. Johnni DiJulius, OSU
8. Rossi Bruno, MICH
9. Dom Malone, NU
10. Anthony Giraldo, RU
11. Luke Welch, PUR
12. Garth Yenter, MSU
13. Alonzo Shepherd, IND
14. Sam Brancale, MINN
Hopefully JDJ can get to semis, but I cant see him getting to semis. The top 2 in this weight should have no trouble getting to finals, then toss a coin.
141 lbs.
1. Micah Jordan, OSU
2. Tommy Thorn, MINN
3. Anthony Ashnault, RU
4. Jameson Oster, NU
5. Javier Gasca III, MSU
6. Anthony Abidin, NEB
7. Danny Sabatello, PUR
8. Jimmy Gulibon, PSU
Micah is still a freshman (RS), but I have been very impressed. I really like watching him wrestle. I think he is a step above the others in this weight class (in the B1G). If he can win the B1G championship, he could be seeded in top 4 at nationals. I would prefer him in the lower bracket (2, or 3) and avoid Heil from Okl St till (possible) finals. There are 6 kids in this weight, nationally, that are all same level, and will be fun to watch in two weeks. My prediction: Have to think Micah gets 1st B1G championship, as a freshman.
149 lbs.
1. Zain Retherford, PSU
2. Brandon Sorensen, IOWA
3. Jake Sueflohn, NEB
4. Jason Tsirtsis, NU
5. Alec Pantaleo, MICH
6. Alex Griffin, PUR
7. Andrew Crone, WIS
8. Jake Short, MINN
Hunter Steiber is not wrestling. Knee.
Retherford is a beast, but I am really looking forward to seeing him wrestle Sorensen from Iowa. Should be the first real threat he will face all year. If he beats Sorensen convincingly, then Retherford is a serious candidate for the Hodge trophy.
157 lbs.
1. Jason Nolf, PSU
2. Isaiah Martinez, ILL
3. Richie Lewis, RU
4. Jake Ryan, OSU
5. Edwin Cooper, Jr., IOWA
6. Brian Murphy, MICH
7. Tyler Berger, NEB
8. Lou Mascola, MD
I dont see Jake making the finals. He got beat bad by both the top 2 seeds earlier this year. He could finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th. Nolf vs Martinez part II will be another anticipated matchup. Nolf stunned previously (career) unbeaten, and returning national champ Martinez earlier this year, in Illinios. Honestly, Nolf kicked the sh!t out of him. Kinda shocking as that was the first time we ever saw Martinez struggle. Will be very interesting to see if Martinez is back to form and can win the rematch. Probably will be same two in the national finals.
165 lbs.
1. Isaac Jordan, WIS
2. Bo Jordan, OSU
3. Steven Rodrigues, ILL
4. Anthony Perrotti, RU
5. Chad Welch, PUR
6. Austin Wilson, NEB
7. Geno Morelli, PSU
8. Patrick Rhoads, IOWA
Bo should coast to the finals, and then we will see the cousins in their third matchup. Isaac has won both previous matches. Last year in B1G finals, Isaac got the only takedown in a weird scramble, but Bo looked to be the better. This year, Isaac schooled Bo. Isaac got three takedowns, and Bo didnt even come close to scoring. Winner this time will get #2 seed, and loser will get #3 seed. Then, they will probably meet again in the national semis, winner getting Dieringer (Okl State) and favorite for Hodge trophy.
174 lbs.
1. Bo Nickal, PSU
2. Alex Meyer, IOWA
3. Zach Brunson, ILL
4. Myles Martin, OSU
5. Nathan Jackson, IND
6. Micah Barnes, NEB
7. Nick Wanzek, MINN
8. Ricky Robertson, WIS
9. Phil Bakuckas, RU
10. Mitch Sliga, NU
11. Aaron Calderon, MICH
12. Josh Snook, MD
13. Shane Shadaia, MSU
14. Andrew Hoselton, PUR
Miles has the talent to make the finals, but also is a true freshman and can mess up at any time. I really like his skill set, other than I have seen him get pretty winded by the third period. My prediction, 2nd.
184 lbs.
1. Dom Abounader, MICH
2. Matt McCutcheon, PSU
3. Sam Brooks, IOWA
4. TJ Dudley, NEB
5. Nick Gravina, RU
6. Kenny Courts, OSU
7. Jeff Koepke, ILL
8. Ryan Christensen, WIS
Kenny wrestled out of his mind at nationals last year, made the semi finals and took 5th. Can he reproduce that run? He could finish as high as 3rd, or not at all.
197 lbs.
1. Morgan McIntosh, PSU
2. Brett Pfarr, MINN
3. Nathan Burak, IOWA
4. Max Huntley, MICH
5. Aaron Studebaker, NEB
6. Mark Martin, OSU
7. Hayden Hrymack, RU
8. Jacob Cooper, MSU
Not sure if Mark places here. The top 3 are a big step above the rest here.
285 lbs.
1. Adam Coon, MICH
2. Kyle Snyder, OSU
3. Sam Stoll, IOWA
4. Billy Smith, RU
5. Michael Kroells, MINN
6. Collin Jensen, NEB
7. Brooks Black, ILL
8. Nick Nevills, PSU
Kyle is the most talented wrestler, by far, of this group. But, this may be his first test against a really good heavyweight, who will be 40 pounds larger. Prediction: Kyle wins, gets #2 seed at nationals, setting up the much anticipated match vs Gwiz in national finals.
Saturday and Sunday. Can view it all on BTNPlus. I am not sure if the finals on Sunday will be on the main BTN (?)
My humble opinions on the chances for each Buckeye:
125 lbs.
1. Nathan Tomasello, OSU
2. Thomas Gilman, IOWA
3. Nico Megaludis, PSU
4. Tim Lambert, NEB
5. Elijah Oliver, IND
6. Johnny Jimenez, WIS
7. Conor Youtsey, MICH
8. Sean McCabe, RU
Nathan should get to the finals, then have a very difficult match vs either Gilman or Megaludis. I think any of those three could beat the other any given day. In the Gilman vs Nico semi, and in the finals vs Nathan...first takedown should win each match... possibly in overtime. Those three are just very even. Would be nice for Nathan to win this, so he keeps 1st seed at nationals, and face Dance from V Tech in the semis, who is also very good, but seems to be just a step down from Nathan and Gilman. My prediction: Nathan takes 1st. I wont pick against him, ever.
133 lbs.
1. Zane Richards, ILL
2. Cory Clark, IOWA
3. Jordan Conaway, PSU
4. Geoff Alexander, MD
5. Eric Montoya, NEB
6. Ryan Taylor, WIS
7. Johnni DiJulius, OSU
8. Rossi Bruno, MICH
9. Dom Malone, NU
10. Anthony Giraldo, RU
11. Luke Welch, PUR
12. Garth Yenter, MSU
13. Alonzo Shepherd, IND
14. Sam Brancale, MINN
Hopefully JDJ can get to semis, but I cant see him getting to semis. The top 2 in this weight should have no trouble getting to finals, then toss a coin.
141 lbs.
1. Micah Jordan, OSU
2. Tommy Thorn, MINN
3. Anthony Ashnault, RU
4. Jameson Oster, NU
5. Javier Gasca III, MSU
6. Anthony Abidin, NEB
7. Danny Sabatello, PUR
8. Jimmy Gulibon, PSU
Micah is still a freshman (RS), but I have been very impressed. I really like watching him wrestle. I think he is a step above the others in this weight class (in the B1G). If he can win the B1G championship, he could be seeded in top 4 at nationals. I would prefer him in the lower bracket (2, or 3) and avoid Heil from Okl St till (possible) finals. There are 6 kids in this weight, nationally, that are all same level, and will be fun to watch in two weeks. My prediction: Have to think Micah gets 1st B1G championship, as a freshman.
149 lbs.
1. Zain Retherford, PSU
2. Brandon Sorensen, IOWA
3. Jake Sueflohn, NEB
4. Jason Tsirtsis, NU
5. Alec Pantaleo, MICH
6. Alex Griffin, PUR
7. Andrew Crone, WIS
8. Jake Short, MINN
Hunter Steiber is not wrestling. Knee.
Retherford is a beast, but I am really looking forward to seeing him wrestle Sorensen from Iowa. Should be the first real threat he will face all year. If he beats Sorensen convincingly, then Retherford is a serious candidate for the Hodge trophy.
157 lbs.
1. Jason Nolf, PSU
2. Isaiah Martinez, ILL
3. Richie Lewis, RU
4. Jake Ryan, OSU
5. Edwin Cooper, Jr., IOWA
6. Brian Murphy, MICH
7. Tyler Berger, NEB
8. Lou Mascola, MD
I dont see Jake making the finals. He got beat bad by both the top 2 seeds earlier this year. He could finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th. Nolf vs Martinez part II will be another anticipated matchup. Nolf stunned previously (career) unbeaten, and returning national champ Martinez earlier this year, in Illinios. Honestly, Nolf kicked the sh!t out of him. Kinda shocking as that was the first time we ever saw Martinez struggle. Will be very interesting to see if Martinez is back to form and can win the rematch. Probably will be same two in the national finals.
165 lbs.
1. Isaac Jordan, WIS
2. Bo Jordan, OSU
3. Steven Rodrigues, ILL
4. Anthony Perrotti, RU
5. Chad Welch, PUR
6. Austin Wilson, NEB
7. Geno Morelli, PSU
8. Patrick Rhoads, IOWA
Bo should coast to the finals, and then we will see the cousins in their third matchup. Isaac has won both previous matches. Last year in B1G finals, Isaac got the only takedown in a weird scramble, but Bo looked to be the better. This year, Isaac schooled Bo. Isaac got three takedowns, and Bo didnt even come close to scoring. Winner this time will get #2 seed, and loser will get #3 seed. Then, they will probably meet again in the national semis, winner getting Dieringer (Okl State) and favorite for Hodge trophy.
174 lbs.
1. Bo Nickal, PSU
2. Alex Meyer, IOWA
3. Zach Brunson, ILL
4. Myles Martin, OSU
5. Nathan Jackson, IND
6. Micah Barnes, NEB
7. Nick Wanzek, MINN
8. Ricky Robertson, WIS
9. Phil Bakuckas, RU
10. Mitch Sliga, NU
11. Aaron Calderon, MICH
12. Josh Snook, MD
13. Shane Shadaia, MSU
14. Andrew Hoselton, PUR
Miles has the talent to make the finals, but also is a true freshman and can mess up at any time. I really like his skill set, other than I have seen him get pretty winded by the third period. My prediction, 2nd.
184 lbs.
1. Dom Abounader, MICH
2. Matt McCutcheon, PSU
3. Sam Brooks, IOWA
4. TJ Dudley, NEB
5. Nick Gravina, RU
6. Kenny Courts, OSU
7. Jeff Koepke, ILL
8. Ryan Christensen, WIS
Kenny wrestled out of his mind at nationals last year, made the semi finals and took 5th. Can he reproduce that run? He could finish as high as 3rd, or not at all.
197 lbs.
1. Morgan McIntosh, PSU
2. Brett Pfarr, MINN
3. Nathan Burak, IOWA
4. Max Huntley, MICH
5. Aaron Studebaker, NEB
6. Mark Martin, OSU
7. Hayden Hrymack, RU
8. Jacob Cooper, MSU
Not sure if Mark places here. The top 3 are a big step above the rest here.
285 lbs.
1. Adam Coon, MICH
2. Kyle Snyder, OSU
3. Sam Stoll, IOWA
4. Billy Smith, RU
5. Michael Kroells, MINN
6. Collin Jensen, NEB
7. Brooks Black, ILL
8. Nick Nevills, PSU
Kyle is the most talented wrestler, by far, of this group. But, this may be his first test against a really good heavyweight, who will be 40 pounds larger. Prediction: Kyle wins, gets #2 seed at nationals, setting up the much anticipated match vs Gwiz in national finals.
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