Blair Starts 2023 As #1 but Matchup with Sem Looms

At the start of 2023, it’s a familiar face atop the high school wrestling ranks. Blair was the champ at Ironman, the nation’s best tournament, and has already beaten Malvern and Lake Highland Prep. But just behind them is a worthy Sem team who will get its shot at the nation’s #1 on January 20th. One interesting note, neither team flaunts a #1-ranked wrestler in the nation at the moment.

#1s Stay Steady in First Week After a Wild End to the Year

After three #1-ranked wrestlers were dethroned at the end of 2022, the current #1s were able to hold serve throughout a busy first week with guys like Cael Hughes winning Geary, Ben Davino winning Cheesehead and Kannon Webster going undefeated at The Clash.

National High School Tournaments Continue to Deliver

As a lot of the conversation in the first week of the year was around the disappointing participation and spectatorship of some of college wrestling’s most prestigious in-season tournaments, the high school tournament scene continues to thrive. Clovis High School put on a show for Doc B, equipped with blackouts and neon lights for intros, wrestlers and spectators stuffed on the gym floor matside a la Ironman, and arguably the best trophy in wrestling — a cowboy hat. Doc B was just one of many high school tournaments that have entertained in this young season.

Buchanan Dominates Doc B

Buchanan cruised at the Doc B, outscoring second-place Palm Desert by 70 points on the back of two champs and 13 placewinners to prove it's California’s best team.

Beau Priest vs Jaydon Robinson Early Candidate for Match of the Year

The 148-pound semifinal between Powerade champ and #16 Jaydon Robinson and #19 Beau Priest was an instant classic. Priest got out to the early lead before Robinson started chipping away with some takedowns. A few late reversals by both wrestlers knotted the match at 14 and sent it to OT. You’re going to want to watch this one. 

Beau Mantanona Has the Best Finishing Stuff in High School Wrestling Right Now

Clean leg attacks and high-level hand fighting tend to be some of the most common qualities of a wrestler built for the next level, but the ability to put people away tends to set the best guys apart and that’s exactly what Mantanona’s been doing. At Who’s #1 in the fall, we saw him convert on a super mean half-nelson to pin Penn State commit Tyler Kasak. In the Doc B final, he was cruising with an 8-0 lead over Golin Guffey before slapping on a cradle and pinning him in the final 20 seconds of the match. Mantanona’s brother Brock was also a champ at the Doc B.

Ethan Parco is the New #1 at 145

With Mantanona moving up to 152 pounds, that makes room for a new #1 and Ethan Parco certainly looked the part at the Doc Buchanan. The younger brother of Arizona State’s Kyle Parco blanked Beau Priest 5-0 to confirm his spot at the top.

Freshman Moses Mendoza Goes from Unranked to Top 10

The freshman from Gilroy impressed all weekend long at the Doc B, including a major decision win over returning California state placer Edwin Sierra in the quarters. On Day Two, Mendoza left no doubt winning both his semis and finals matches by a score of 7-4.

Tyler Knox is a Beast on Both Coasts.

The Massachusetts native is proving you don’t need to be from a powerhouse wrestling state to notch powerhouse wins after bringing home a title at Beast of the East a few weeks ago and winning the Doc B just last week. Stanford has to be feeling good about this guy.

Daschle Lamer Keeps Pace with Welsh And Norman

Lamer entered Doc B ranked #3 in the nation behind Ironman champ at 175 Rocco Welsh and 165-pound runner-up Lorenzo Norman. Lamer secured the championship to keep pace with the two guys ahead of him and hopes for an opportunity to continue his ascent.

The Bergen Catholic vs. Delbarton Dual Will Be Awesome Again.

Delbarton won a Beast title and finished third at Powerade while Bergen Catholic is coming off a fourth-place finish at Doc B. Delbarton entered the season as the New Jersey’s #1 team, but Bergen Catholic prevailed in last year’s matchup. We all know dual meets are about matchups and these two are once again as evenly matched as it gets.

Stillwater With Eight Champs at Geary

Stillwater continued its case as one of the best teams with a dominant performance at the nation’s oldest tournament. Aydan Thomas, Sam Smith, Beric Jordan, Cael Hughes, Kael Voinovich, LaDarion Lockett, Landyn Sommer, and AJ Heeg were all victorious.

Mirasola Brothers Win Cheesehead

Connor Mirasola put on a scoring clinic on his way to the 182-pound title while Cole won a top 10 matchup and a battle of the Coles when he beat Cole Han-Lindemyer 3-2.

Koy Hopke Continues His Dominant Season at Cheesehead

The double Fargo champ put on the most dominant performance of the weekend by doing what he does, pinning all three opponents in the first period to move to 33-0.

Dom Munaretto Notches Third Top 10 Win of the Season

With his major decision win over Carter Pearson in the Cheesehead Finals, Munaretto added to a resume that already includes wins over #4 Tyler Dekraker and #8 Ayden Smith at Ironman, plus others over #6 Davis Motyka, #7 Joseph Uhorchuk.

Minnesota Reigns At The Clash 

It was an all Minnesota final at The Clash, where several of the nation’s toughest teams met to square off. In the end, St. Michael-Albertville took home the title over in-state foe Hastings. SMA won every dual of the tournament by 20 or more points. Bettendorf (IA) and Joliet Catholic (IL) rounded out the rest of the winner’s bracket finishing in third and fourth, respectively.

The Bishop McCort Freshmen Are as Advertised

When the season began, there was a lot of talk and anticipation around the high school debuts of Bo Bassett and Jax Forrest. Both freshmen entered the season ranked #1 in the country and the pair has delivered. As the calendar turns to 2023, both remain at the top of their weight class rankings and are coming off impressive Powerade titles and East Coast Catholic Classic titles where both wrestled up a weight.

Bethlehem Catholic Takes Out Notre Dame Green Pond

This one had all the makings of a classic PIAA showdown with five bouts being decided by two points or less and BECA prevailed 29-23. Still, both programs should be in the mix for PIAA team state titles where BECA competes in AAA, while Notre Dame is in AA.

Linn-Mar Beats Iowa City High

Two of Iowa’s best teams in Class 3A clashed on Jan. 5 with Linn-Mar coming out on top 49-21. In the biggest matchup of the dual, #4 Gabe Arnold won 3-1 in a top-10 matchup with #6 Tate Naaktgeboren at 182 pounds. 

Will South Jersey Crown A State Champ in 2023?

It’s the home of Jordan Burroughs and James Green, but the region could be at risk of going without a state champ for the first time since 1976. There are certainly some candidates, as a few guys find themselves ranked inside the top three of the state rankings, but no number 1’s. Last year, it was Martin Cosgrove in the last match of the state tournament who secured the lone title for SJ. 

Next Up Is Escape the Rock

Next up, is Escape the Rock. This year’s tournament flaunts a loaded field that includes Blair, Malvern, Bethlehem Catholic, and Notre Dame, plus New Jersey powers St Peter’s Prep, St. John Vianney, Christian Brothers Academy, and Southern. 120 pounds should be the one to watch with Marc-Anthony McGowan, Zac Jacaruso and Anthony Knox occupying the top three seeds. It’s all LIVE on Flowrestling! Be There.