State Championship Review/National Prep Predictions
Feb 19, 2024 9:52:46 GMT -5
faded87t, mrwrastlin#2, and 1 more like this
Post by gcscoach on Feb 19, 2024 9:52:46 GMT -5
I would like to start by congratulating The Potomac School for running a first class event. Every year you can go to other pages on this forum and hear complaints of how the state tournament is run while we get to go to lovely locations with programs that care about how the event is run. Coach CJ Remmo deserves our gratitude!
This weekend made it evident that VISAA wrestling is rebounding from covid in a big way. The depth after covid, which saw many squads lose a ton of kids due to taking a year off, was bad. This season we had many weight classes where really good competitors didn't make the podium and that is a distinct change over the past couple years. The extremities (106, 113, 285) still lack a bit of depth but that will improve quickly. 113 featured 14 competitors in the 8th and 9th grade. An influx of youth like that will ensure depth into the future.
Here are my takeaways at each weight and prediction for how the boys will do at Preps.
106 - Not a deep weight by any means but Luke Houchins battled through a tough semi bout to dominate in the finals. Carson Bishop made him earn the trip to the finals and made me a fan of his going forward.
Prep Prediction: Houchins goes 2-2 and DNP. This weight is real deep at Preps and Houchins would have to upset multiple opponents to get to the round of 12
113 - This weight class was super hard to seed and the seeding committee failed pretty bad on this one. It was our worst performance from a seeding perspective. I came away really impressed with freshman Evan Mcnamara. The one thing we didn't get wrong was Noah Rankin. He must be one of the worst kids to prepare for. Super long and devastating on top. He is the real deal.
Prep Prediction: Rankin places top 6. This would be above seed but he seems to be a nightmare stylistically. My only concern is that I never saw him on bottom and can he get out against the highest level of competition. Trey McKinney goes 3-2 and DNP.
120 - This was a fun top 4. Jameson Burns was just a bit better in every position than his opponents. The semis, while not close score wise, were enjoyable battles to watch.
Prep Prediction: Burns goes 3-2 and DNP. 120 might be the hardest Prep weight to place at this year. The top four spots might already be claimed by guys ranked nationally #1,3 12,13. Just brutal.
126 - While this weight class lacked drama at the top, the placers 2-8 where very competitive. Cruz Liu made big jumps from early in the season and really showed well this weekend. Drew Roggie was his normal dominant force and I can't wait to see him against elite competition.
Prep Prediction: Roggie places top 8 and earns AA status again.
132 - This weight class was super tough once again this year. Both semifinal bouts were quite competitive. Miles Hinson made Arbogast really work to get to the finals. Niko Colavecchio lived on Montgomery's legs in the semis. The 2-1 score was indicative of Montgomery's defense but the young freshman gutted it out. Niko certainly had a plan in the finals of how to attack Arbogasts leg ride but the senior proved too crafty in the end.
Prep Prediction: Brycen Arbogast places top 8 and ends his career on the podium. I think Colavecchio, Montgomery and Hinson can all win 2 or 3 matches but placing may be a tall order.
138 - Walker Turley is really fun to watch. I don't imagine it is quite as fun to actually wrestle him. Nate Foldes had a great semis match to earn the right to face off with Turley but that challenge was a bit too much.
Prep Prediction: Turley places top 4. Foldes and Wilson will both go 2-2 or 3-2 and gain some valuable experience for the future.
144 - I have used the analogy of a hot knife through butter when describing Luke Murray wrestle this season. He is really good, like 51-0 good. Preps will be a good measuring stick on how good he his. His weight class features the nationally #2 and #11 ranked wrestlers.
Prep Prediction: Murray places top 4. This may be a reach but he seems to be a level above last season and he placed 7th last year.
150 - This weight class was so deep and yet Tyler Hood made it look pedestrian. He is so solid and gives up nothing. The Barone/Lewis semi was great action and both are real impressive. Unfortunately someone had to wrestle Hood and that was not a fun experience I assume.
Prep Prediction: Hood places top 4. Barone and Lewis go 3-2 and DNP
157 - This was the final I was most looking forward to watching. I really thought Merritt Clinton was ready to battle Faglioni for six solid minutes. Sometimes I am just wrong. Faglioni was dominant from the beginning and gave Clinton no room to breathe. Dominant performance the entire weekend by Faglioni.
Prep Prediction: Faglioni has a real tough weight at Preps but I think he is that good. Top 4 once again. Merritt Clinton places top 12.
165 - Scary, fierce, intimidating, beast, are all good descriptions of Lane Foard. 30lbs of muscle added from last season and a whole new monster was created. Once again, I thought Leif Clinton had the horsepower and technique to slow Foard down. I was wrong. Great performance.
Prep Prediction: Lane Foard places top 6. Leif Clinton places top 12.
175 - Wagner was dominant all weekend and put on a good show in the finals. He withstood the attack rate of Winans and earned that spot on the podium.
Prep Prediction: Wagner 3-2 and DNP
190 - This weight class was not very deep. It was the Cash Colbert show from start to finish. He learned a valuable lesson as well. If you the vastly dominant wrestler, try not slamming your opponent twice and tempt fate that they get hurt. Good lesson to learn with two years to go.
Prep Prediction: Colbert places top 6.
215 - The only upset of the finals and it brought the needed drama to a top heavy set of finals matches. Great throw by Sanderson to pin Blackman. Great performance all weekend. He made a lot of coaches rethink their Upperweight OW choice.
Prep Prediction: Blackman reverts to top form and makes the podium with a top 8 performance. Sanderson makes it to the round of 12.
285 - Henry Sensoy had a great season and tournament and I can't wait to see how his skill set performs on the national stage.
Prep Prediction: Sensoy falls just short of AA states and makes it to the round of 12.
Good luck at Preps gentlemen!
This weekend made it evident that VISAA wrestling is rebounding from covid in a big way. The depth after covid, which saw many squads lose a ton of kids due to taking a year off, was bad. This season we had many weight classes where really good competitors didn't make the podium and that is a distinct change over the past couple years. The extremities (106, 113, 285) still lack a bit of depth but that will improve quickly. 113 featured 14 competitors in the 8th and 9th grade. An influx of youth like that will ensure depth into the future.
Here are my takeaways at each weight and prediction for how the boys will do at Preps.
106 - Not a deep weight by any means but Luke Houchins battled through a tough semi bout to dominate in the finals. Carson Bishop made him earn the trip to the finals and made me a fan of his going forward.
Prep Prediction: Houchins goes 2-2 and DNP. This weight is real deep at Preps and Houchins would have to upset multiple opponents to get to the round of 12
113 - This weight class was super hard to seed and the seeding committee failed pretty bad on this one. It was our worst performance from a seeding perspective. I came away really impressed with freshman Evan Mcnamara. The one thing we didn't get wrong was Noah Rankin. He must be one of the worst kids to prepare for. Super long and devastating on top. He is the real deal.
Prep Prediction: Rankin places top 6. This would be above seed but he seems to be a nightmare stylistically. My only concern is that I never saw him on bottom and can he get out against the highest level of competition. Trey McKinney goes 3-2 and DNP.
120 - This was a fun top 4. Jameson Burns was just a bit better in every position than his opponents. The semis, while not close score wise, were enjoyable battles to watch.
Prep Prediction: Burns goes 3-2 and DNP. 120 might be the hardest Prep weight to place at this year. The top four spots might already be claimed by guys ranked nationally #1,3 12,13. Just brutal.
126 - While this weight class lacked drama at the top, the placers 2-8 where very competitive. Cruz Liu made big jumps from early in the season and really showed well this weekend. Drew Roggie was his normal dominant force and I can't wait to see him against elite competition.
Prep Prediction: Roggie places top 8 and earns AA status again.
132 - This weight class was super tough once again this year. Both semifinal bouts were quite competitive. Miles Hinson made Arbogast really work to get to the finals. Niko Colavecchio lived on Montgomery's legs in the semis. The 2-1 score was indicative of Montgomery's defense but the young freshman gutted it out. Niko certainly had a plan in the finals of how to attack Arbogasts leg ride but the senior proved too crafty in the end.
Prep Prediction: Brycen Arbogast places top 8 and ends his career on the podium. I think Colavecchio, Montgomery and Hinson can all win 2 or 3 matches but placing may be a tall order.
138 - Walker Turley is really fun to watch. I don't imagine it is quite as fun to actually wrestle him. Nate Foldes had a great semis match to earn the right to face off with Turley but that challenge was a bit too much.
Prep Prediction: Turley places top 4. Foldes and Wilson will both go 2-2 or 3-2 and gain some valuable experience for the future.
144 - I have used the analogy of a hot knife through butter when describing Luke Murray wrestle this season. He is really good, like 51-0 good. Preps will be a good measuring stick on how good he his. His weight class features the nationally #2 and #11 ranked wrestlers.
Prep Prediction: Murray places top 4. This may be a reach but he seems to be a level above last season and he placed 7th last year.
150 - This weight class was so deep and yet Tyler Hood made it look pedestrian. He is so solid and gives up nothing. The Barone/Lewis semi was great action and both are real impressive. Unfortunately someone had to wrestle Hood and that was not a fun experience I assume.
Prep Prediction: Hood places top 4. Barone and Lewis go 3-2 and DNP
157 - This was the final I was most looking forward to watching. I really thought Merritt Clinton was ready to battle Faglioni for six solid minutes. Sometimes I am just wrong. Faglioni was dominant from the beginning and gave Clinton no room to breathe. Dominant performance the entire weekend by Faglioni.
Prep Prediction: Faglioni has a real tough weight at Preps but I think he is that good. Top 4 once again. Merritt Clinton places top 12.
165 - Scary, fierce, intimidating, beast, are all good descriptions of Lane Foard. 30lbs of muscle added from last season and a whole new monster was created. Once again, I thought Leif Clinton had the horsepower and technique to slow Foard down. I was wrong. Great performance.
Prep Prediction: Lane Foard places top 6. Leif Clinton places top 12.
175 - Wagner was dominant all weekend and put on a good show in the finals. He withstood the attack rate of Winans and earned that spot on the podium.
Prep Prediction: Wagner 3-2 and DNP
190 - This weight class was not very deep. It was the Cash Colbert show from start to finish. He learned a valuable lesson as well. If you the vastly dominant wrestler, try not slamming your opponent twice and tempt fate that they get hurt. Good lesson to learn with two years to go.
Prep Prediction: Colbert places top 6.
215 - The only upset of the finals and it brought the needed drama to a top heavy set of finals matches. Great throw by Sanderson to pin Blackman. Great performance all weekend. He made a lot of coaches rethink their Upperweight OW choice.
Prep Prediction: Blackman reverts to top form and makes the podium with a top 8 performance. Sanderson makes it to the round of 12.
285 - Henry Sensoy had a great season and tournament and I can't wait to see how his skill set performs on the national stage.
Prep Prediction: Sensoy falls just short of AA states and makes it to the round of 12.
Good luck at Preps gentlemen!