Flo Breakdown: 39th Annual Dapper Dan Classic
Flo Breakdown: 39th Annual Dapper Dan Classic
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Flo Breakdown: 39th Annual Dapper Dan Classic
Willie Saylor, Editor
The Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic is a fantastic event that high school wrestling aficionados mark on their calendars each year. Not only is it a celebration of the accomplishments the competitors achieved in high school, but a dual between senior all stars of the U.S. and those of PA, the event serves as a sort prelude to the stars at the NCAA level in future years.
Consider that since the Dapper's inception, the annual average number of NCAA DI Champs that were Dapper Dan alumni is a staggering 3.65. Last year DI Champs that were Dapper invitees included Logan Stieber, Kellen Russell, and David Taylor. Nico Megaludis, Jordan Oliver, and Quentin Wright were runners-up. In total, exactly one quarter, or 20 of the 80 All Americans from St. Louis, were Dapper Dan participants.
In short, the guys that populate the Dapper Dan line-up this year will go to be the stars of the NCAA in future years.
Making the Dapper Dan even more special, beyond the highest wrestling ability that the participants demonstrate, is the character and conscientiousness of the athletes at the Dapper Dan. They're fine young men, with good grades, personality, and conduct. But what else would you expect from a sport that demands such self discipline and work ethic to get to the top?
And the committee gives them a first-class experience, complete with a tour and a banquet, the Dapper Dan truly is an experience. As the event likes to proclaim, "A Rosebowl for Wrestling."
We at FLO can't wait!
Flo will be streaming the matches live starting with the undercard of Pa's District 7 (WPIAL) vs. Viriginia's All Star Seniors. That dual begins at 4PM Eastern, followed by the main event at 6PM, live from the University of Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. If you can make it to the event, it's a fabulous evening of wrestling you won't want to miss. If not, watch live on Tech Wave as the top wrestlers in the country tangle.
Below are the match-ups with credentials and match breakdowns and predictions. And a disclaimer certainly has to be issued with these predictions. These guys are at the highest level and very evenly matched. Every year at the Dapper Dan there are results, sometimes individual, sometimes across the board, that go completely against the conventional thinking coming in. The year PA had their best team (with the Alton's, etc), and everyone thought it would be the best chance for a PA win, they got slaughtered. Another year, they looked to have no shot, but Nicky Hodgkins, Travis Shaffer, and Mike Ottinger upset Alex Dieringer, Hunter Stieber, and Destin McCauley for an unlikely PA win.
USA - PA Match-Ups with FloRanking
113: #5-Paul Mascarenas, Cleveland, NM 175-3, South Dakota State
4x State Champ
Fargo Champ
USAW Preseason Nationals Champ
vs.
#13-Zach Fuentes, Norristown 181-36
State Runner-Up, State 5th
Ironman, Beast of the East, Powerade Placer
The Match-Up: Mascarenas is a slickish wrestler. Fuentes is a scrapper that's really come on in the last calendar year. Both wrestlers are mat savvy with a high wrestling I.Q. I see Fuentes forcing the action and Mascarenas looking for options to counter.
I think the world of Mascarenas, and it's a slim margin, but I think the tougher PA schedule and proximity to the state tournament will benefit Fuentes here.
Willie's Prediction: Fuentes dec. Mascarenas, 4-3
120: #1-Nathan Tomasello, CVCA, OH 178-5, Ohio State
4x State Champ
3x Ironman Champ
2x Fargo Champ
2x Super 32 Runner-Up
vs.
#3-Darian Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic 153-8, Lehigh
2x State Champ
Super 32 Champ
Fargo Champ
Ironman Runner-Up
2x Beast Champ
The Match-Up: Everyone knows the style difference between these two: Tomasello the bull, and Darian the technician. These two are both hungry for different reasons. Tomasello, because he wakes up focused. Cruz, because he wants the #1 spot.
Darian is quicker and more athletic. But Tomasello is much bigger and stronger. The key will come in the tie ups. Tomasello will want to control ties and pass the elbow to a high crotch. Darian will want to avoid ties altogether where he's at a physical disadvantage. He'll want to create space and use motion.
In the end, I'm going with the hot hand. Darian looked ridiculous at the state tournament.
Willie's Prediction: Cruz dec. Tomasello, 5-3
126: #1-Joey Dance, Christiansburg, VA 186-14, Virginia Tech
4x State Champ
4x Super 32 Finalist, 2x Champ
Flonationals Champ
JR World Team Member
Ironman Champ
Beast Champ
Fargo Champ
vs.
#3-Connor Schram, Canon McMillan 159-11, Stanford
4x State Finalist, 2x Champ
Powerade Champ
Fargo 4th
The Match-Up: Dance is among the most sophisticated, savvy, and college-ready wrestlers in the country. He was the only High Schooler in the country to make a JR World team last year. That being said, Schram presents an interesting test for Dance. Schram stays in impeccable position and is incredibly difficult to score on. Lately he's picked his spots to hit a beautifully timed blast double, which he did to Kemerer in both Powerade and State finals.
Willie's Prediction: Dance dec. Schram 5-4
132: #3-Dean Heil, St. Edward, OH 126-6, Oklahoma State
4x State Champ
Super 32 Champ
Ironman Champ
FloNationals Champ
vs.
#4 (at 126) Ryan Diehl, Trinity
4x State Champ
Super 32 Champ, 3x Placer
FloNationals 3rd
The Match-Up: Diehl is coming up a weight to face Heil, but I think he'll be fine in that regard. He's a gamer that pushes himself. What the match will come down to is if he's able to defend when Heil picks his spots. Heil will hang out, hang out, hang out, and than blast through you. Will Diehl be ready for it?
Willie's Prediction: Heil dec. Diehl, 7-4
138: #3-Anthony Ashnault, South Plainfield, NJ 170-0, Rutgers
4x State Champ
2x Super 32 Champ
6x Fargo All American
vs.
#1-Zain Retherford, Benton 130-3, Penn State
2x State Champ
Fila Cadet World Champ
Super 32 Champ
Powerade Champ
Ironman Champ
Fargo Champ
The Match-Up: One of the most anticipated bouts on the docket. Ash owns two wins over Zain at Super 32 and one in Freestyle last summer. Zain beat Ash twice in FS last summer as well.
The bout will be as 'college-like' as you find here: positioning, grinding, and scrapping. It will all come down to winning the details and the critical situations.
As a sidenote: these two know each other very well. In addition to facing each other numerous times, they often work out together.
Willie's Prediction: Retherford dec. Ashnault, 4-2
145: #2-Ben Whitford, St. Johns, MI 167-1, Michigan
4x State Champ
5x Fargo Champ
Super 32 Champ
vs.
#3-Mikey Racciato, Pen Argyl 186-8, Pitt
3x State Champ, 3rd
Hurricane Champ
King of the Mountain Champ
The Match-Up: Retherford-Ashnault is the most highly anticipated, but this is the bout I'm most intrigued with. Racciato is an unconventional 'feel' type of wrestler. He does things you just can't teach, blending superior athleticism with uncanny instincts.
That being said, he's never wrestled anything close to what he'll see on Sunday. When Whitford's on, he on the Chance Marsteller-Kyle Snyder echelon. He's not only dominant, he's a crowd pleaser; he's always on the attack.
I really don't know what to expect here, other than fireworks.
Willie's Prediction: Whitford dec. Racciato, 17-15
152: #1-Jake Short, Simley, MN 237-20, Minnesota
4x State Champ
2x Cheesehead Champ
Fargo Champ
vs.
#7-Austin Mathews, Reynolds 184-17, Clarion
State Champ, 2x Runner-Up
Ironman Runner-Up
Super 32 Runner-Up
The Match-Up: Short is about as defensive as they come. He rarely gets out of position or takes any offensive risk. Mathews on the other hand is wildly offensive, which means it's going to come down to who wins the scrambles. I think Mathews does.
Willie's Prediction: Mathews dec. Short 8-5
160: #3-Isaiah Martinez, Lemoore, CA 207-7, Illinois
3x State Champ
2x Fargo Champ
Flonationals Champ
Super 32 Champ
vs.
#9-Cody Law, Forest Hills 112-26, Penn State
State Champ, Runner-Up
Flonationals Placer
Super 32 Placer
Fargo AA
The Match-Up: Martinez is one of the most gifted wrestlers in the class of 2013. He has a high wrestling IQ, good sense of pressure and ability to improvise mid-move. He has fun out on the mat, which makes for a fun bout to watch. Law is more bread-and-butter. And he's strong as a bull. I think he'll give Martinez a better go than most think, but shouldn't be an upset threat.
Willie's Prediction: Martinez dec. Law, 8-3
170: #2-Zach Beard, Tuttle, OK 163-9, Wyoming
4x State Champ
Fargo Champ
Fila Runner-Up
vs.
#1-Cody Wiercioch, Canon McMillan 167-5, Pitt
3x State Champ, Runner-Up
2x Super 32 Champ
Ironman Champ
The Match-Up: Beard is one of the best kids in America that doesn't get as much credit as he should. His only loss at Fila's was to Marsteller, albeit in a lopsided bout. He'll give Wiercioch a real battle. But Wiercioch's defense should be the difference maker.
Willie's Prediction: Wiercioch dec. Beard, 5-3
182: #2-Domenic Abounader, St. Edward 135-8, Michigan
3x State Champ
Fargo AA
Fila AA
Ironman Runner-Up
vs.
#1-Eric Morris, Wyoming Seminary 171-15, Harvard
2x Prep Champ, 2x Runner-Up
Ironman Champ
Beast Champ
Fargo Champ
The Match-Up: Abounader is a freak athlete, also starring on the gridiron for the Eagles, who were among the nation's best football teams throughout his career. Morris is strong as a bull and asa defensively sound as they come. Both were wrestling as best as I've ever seen them at their season-ending tournaments. This should be a real war. If Morris picks his spots offensively, I think he gets the job done. If he's conservative, we might be looking at overtime.
Willie's Prediction: Morris dec. Abounader, 3-1
195: #10-Broc Berge, Kasson-Mantorville, MN 177-9, Iowa
2x State Champ
Fargo Runner-Up
vs.
#4-Jake Hart, Hampton 143-20, Edinboro
State Champ, Runner-Up
Powerade Runner-Up
Super 32 Placer
The Match-Up: Hart came on strong at the end of the year. He had a tight loss to Mattiace in the Powerade final and beat Matt McCutcheon twice down the stretch. Berge took a couple unexpected losses, including in the state finals. But to put Berge's ability in perspective, he gave #1-Solomon his only loss last summer in Fargo. He can beat anyone. I'll go with momentum here though.
Willie's Prediction: Hart dec. Berge, 3-1
220: #2 (at 195) Frank Mattiace, Blair Academy, NJ 160-16, Penn
2x Prep Champ
Ironman Champ
Powerade Champ
Beast Champ
vs.
#1 (at 195) Ryan Solomon, Milton 142-14, Pitt
2x State Champ, Runner-Up
Beast of the East Champ
6x Fargo All American
The Match-Up: I think we're looking at one of the best matches of the night, which is saying a lot, considering its the best HS dual you can put on a mat. Both possess offensive weapons and a good ability to ride. I think Solomon's fine positioning and forward movement ultimately win out.
Willie's Prediction: Solomon dec. Mattiace, 5-3
HWT: #1-Brooks Black, Blair Academy, NJ 145-8, Illinois
3x Prep Champ, Runner-Up
3x Beast Champ
3x Ironman Champ
2x Powerade Champ
2x Fargo Champ
2x Fila Champ
vs.
#6-Aaron Bradley, Nazareth 113-19
State Champ, State Runner-Up
Beast Runner-Up
The Match-Up: A rematch of this year's Beast finals won by Black in overtime. I think this will be a fantastic bout. Bradley was really impressive in Hershey, particularly in his ability to wrestle through positions when most wrestlers stop. That being said, Black is the most tried and true wrestlers at any weight in the country. I think he finds a way to get it done against Bradley again. There isn't anything, offensively, Bradley can throw at Black that he hasn't seen before. And Black is superior on the mat.
Willie's Prediction: Black dec. Bradley, 3-1.
Team Score: Last year, it was Murphy's Law for PA. Everything that could go wrong did. They got off on the wrong foot and it carried over to nearly every bout.
Now I'll risk saying something silly, but I wholly believe it to be true: a lot of the success that PA has (or does not have) in this event has to do with the approach the kids, collectively and individually, take in to the Dapper Dan. This is a group of fighters. Guys like Solomon and Diehl and Hart are proud and hungry.
In short, if PA wrestles angry instead of like it's an exhibition, they have a chance.
I have it 24-15 PA above. That's with Cruz, Mathews, and Hart, all considered heavy underdogs, winning. Those, along with Fuentes-Mascarenas, should be key bouts.
That being said, PA has a knack, outside of last year, of picking up an upset or two. I think they have a real shot here.
Also notice I have no bonus points. Every bout should be ultra tight. Solomon-Mattiace, Morris-Abounader, Retherford-Ashnault and on down the line. You could come up with a hypothetical for a blow-out from either side. We'll see if momentum plays a factor.
2012 Results:
All-Time Dapper Dan Results
USA - 20, PA - 18
Willie Saylor, Editor
The Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic is a fantastic event that high school wrestling aficionados mark on their calendars each year. Not only is it a celebration of the accomplishments the competitors achieved in high school, but a dual between senior all stars of the U.S. and those of PA, the event serves as a sort prelude to the stars at the NCAA level in future years.
Consider that since the Dapper's inception, the annual average number of NCAA DI Champs that were Dapper Dan alumni is a staggering 3.65. Last year DI Champs that were Dapper invitees included Logan Stieber, Kellen Russell, and David Taylor. Nico Megaludis, Jordan Oliver, and Quentin Wright were runners-up. In total, exactly one quarter, or 20 of the 80 All Americans from St. Louis, were Dapper Dan participants.
In short, the guys that populate the Dapper Dan line-up this year will go to be the stars of the NCAA in future years.
Making the Dapper Dan even more special, beyond the highest wrestling ability that the participants demonstrate, is the character and conscientiousness of the athletes at the Dapper Dan. They're fine young men, with good grades, personality, and conduct. But what else would you expect from a sport that demands such self discipline and work ethic to get to the top?
And the committee gives them a first-class experience, complete with a tour and a banquet, the Dapper Dan truly is an experience. As the event likes to proclaim, "A Rosebowl for Wrestling."
We at FLO can't wait!
Flo will be streaming the matches live starting with the undercard of Pa's District 7 (WPIAL) vs. Viriginia's All Star Seniors. That dual begins at 4PM Eastern, followed by the main event at 6PM, live from the University of Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. If you can make it to the event, it's a fabulous evening of wrestling you won't want to miss. If not, watch live on Tech Wave as the top wrestlers in the country tangle.
Below are the match-ups with credentials and match breakdowns and predictions. And a disclaimer certainly has to be issued with these predictions. These guys are at the highest level and very evenly matched. Every year at the Dapper Dan there are results, sometimes individual, sometimes across the board, that go completely against the conventional thinking coming in. The year PA had their best team (with the Alton's, etc), and everyone thought it would be the best chance for a PA win, they got slaughtered. Another year, they looked to have no shot, but Nicky Hodgkins, Travis Shaffer, and Mike Ottinger upset Alex Dieringer, Hunter Stieber, and Destin McCauley for an unlikely PA win.
USA - PA Match-Ups with FloRanking
113: #5-Paul Mascarenas, Cleveland, NM 175-3, South Dakota State
4x State Champ
Fargo Champ
USAW Preseason Nationals Champ
vs.
#13-Zach Fuentes, Norristown 181-36
State Runner-Up, State 5th
Ironman, Beast of the East, Powerade Placer
The Match-Up: Mascarenas is a slickish wrestler. Fuentes is a scrapper that's really come on in the last calendar year. Both wrestlers are mat savvy with a high wrestling I.Q. I see Fuentes forcing the action and Mascarenas looking for options to counter.
I think the world of Mascarenas, and it's a slim margin, but I think the tougher PA schedule and proximity to the state tournament will benefit Fuentes here.
Willie's Prediction: Fuentes dec. Mascarenas, 4-3
120: #1-Nathan Tomasello, CVCA, OH 178-5, Ohio State
4x State Champ
3x Ironman Champ
2x Fargo Champ
2x Super 32 Runner-Up
vs.
#3-Darian Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic 153-8, Lehigh
2x State Champ
Super 32 Champ
Fargo Champ
Ironman Runner-Up
2x Beast Champ
The Match-Up: Everyone knows the style difference between these two: Tomasello the bull, and Darian the technician. These two are both hungry for different reasons. Tomasello, because he wakes up focused. Cruz, because he wants the #1 spot.
Darian is quicker and more athletic. But Tomasello is much bigger and stronger. The key will come in the tie ups. Tomasello will want to control ties and pass the elbow to a high crotch. Darian will want to avoid ties altogether where he's at a physical disadvantage. He'll want to create space and use motion.
In the end, I'm going with the hot hand. Darian looked ridiculous at the state tournament.
Willie's Prediction: Cruz dec. Tomasello, 5-3
126: #1-Joey Dance, Christiansburg, VA 186-14, Virginia Tech
4x State Champ
4x Super 32 Finalist, 2x Champ
Flonationals Champ
JR World Team Member
Ironman Champ
Beast Champ
Fargo Champ
vs.
#3-Connor Schram, Canon McMillan 159-11, Stanford
4x State Finalist, 2x Champ
Powerade Champ
Fargo 4th
The Match-Up: Dance is among the most sophisticated, savvy, and college-ready wrestlers in the country. He was the only High Schooler in the country to make a JR World team last year. That being said, Schram presents an interesting test for Dance. Schram stays in impeccable position and is incredibly difficult to score on. Lately he's picked his spots to hit a beautifully timed blast double, which he did to Kemerer in both Powerade and State finals.
Willie's Prediction: Dance dec. Schram 5-4
132: #3-Dean Heil, St. Edward, OH 126-6, Oklahoma State
4x State Champ
Super 32 Champ
Ironman Champ
FloNationals Champ
vs.
#4 (at 126) Ryan Diehl, Trinity
4x State Champ
Super 32 Champ, 3x Placer
FloNationals 3rd
The Match-Up: Diehl is coming up a weight to face Heil, but I think he'll be fine in that regard. He's a gamer that pushes himself. What the match will come down to is if he's able to defend when Heil picks his spots. Heil will hang out, hang out, hang out, and than blast through you. Will Diehl be ready for it?
Willie's Prediction: Heil dec. Diehl, 7-4
138: #3-Anthony Ashnault, South Plainfield, NJ 170-0, Rutgers
4x State Champ
2x Super 32 Champ
6x Fargo All American
vs.
#1-Zain Retherford, Benton 130-3, Penn State
2x State Champ
Fila Cadet World Champ
Super 32 Champ
Powerade Champ
Ironman Champ
Fargo Champ
The Match-Up: One of the most anticipated bouts on the docket. Ash owns two wins over Zain at Super 32 and one in Freestyle last summer. Zain beat Ash twice in FS last summer as well.
The bout will be as 'college-like' as you find here: positioning, grinding, and scrapping. It will all come down to winning the details and the critical situations.
As a sidenote: these two know each other very well. In addition to facing each other numerous times, they often work out together.
Willie's Prediction: Retherford dec. Ashnault, 4-2
145: #2-Ben Whitford, St. Johns, MI 167-1, Michigan
4x State Champ
5x Fargo Champ
Super 32 Champ
vs.
#3-Mikey Racciato, Pen Argyl 186-8, Pitt
3x State Champ, 3rd
Hurricane Champ
King of the Mountain Champ
The Match-Up: Retherford-Ashnault is the most highly anticipated, but this is the bout I'm most intrigued with. Racciato is an unconventional 'feel' type of wrestler. He does things you just can't teach, blending superior athleticism with uncanny instincts.
That being said, he's never wrestled anything close to what he'll see on Sunday. When Whitford's on, he on the Chance Marsteller-Kyle Snyder echelon. He's not only dominant, he's a crowd pleaser; he's always on the attack.
I really don't know what to expect here, other than fireworks.
Willie's Prediction: Whitford dec. Racciato, 17-15
152: #1-Jake Short, Simley, MN 237-20, Minnesota
4x State Champ
2x Cheesehead Champ
Fargo Champ
vs.
#7-Austin Mathews, Reynolds 184-17, Clarion
State Champ, 2x Runner-Up
Ironman Runner-Up
Super 32 Runner-Up
The Match-Up: Short is about as defensive as they come. He rarely gets out of position or takes any offensive risk. Mathews on the other hand is wildly offensive, which means it's going to come down to who wins the scrambles. I think Mathews does.
Willie's Prediction: Mathews dec. Short 8-5
160: #3-Isaiah Martinez, Lemoore, CA 207-7, Illinois
3x State Champ
2x Fargo Champ
Flonationals Champ
Super 32 Champ
vs.
#9-Cody Law, Forest Hills 112-26, Penn State
State Champ, Runner-Up
Flonationals Placer
Super 32 Placer
Fargo AA
The Match-Up: Martinez is one of the most gifted wrestlers in the class of 2013. He has a high wrestling IQ, good sense of pressure and ability to improvise mid-move. He has fun out on the mat, which makes for a fun bout to watch. Law is more bread-and-butter. And he's strong as a bull. I think he'll give Martinez a better go than most think, but shouldn't be an upset threat.
Willie's Prediction: Martinez dec. Law, 8-3
170: #2-Zach Beard, Tuttle, OK 163-9, Wyoming
4x State Champ
Fargo Champ
Fila Runner-Up
vs.
#1-Cody Wiercioch, Canon McMillan 167-5, Pitt
3x State Champ, Runner-Up
2x Super 32 Champ
Ironman Champ
The Match-Up: Beard is one of the best kids in America that doesn't get as much credit as he should. His only loss at Fila's was to Marsteller, albeit in a lopsided bout. He'll give Wiercioch a real battle. But Wiercioch's defense should be the difference maker.
Willie's Prediction: Wiercioch dec. Beard, 5-3
182: #2-Domenic Abounader, St. Edward 135-8, Michigan
3x State Champ
Fargo AA
Fila AA
Ironman Runner-Up
vs.
#1-Eric Morris, Wyoming Seminary 171-15, Harvard
2x Prep Champ, 2x Runner-Up
Ironman Champ
Beast Champ
Fargo Champ
The Match-Up: Abounader is a freak athlete, also starring on the gridiron for the Eagles, who were among the nation's best football teams throughout his career. Morris is strong as a bull and asa defensively sound as they come. Both were wrestling as best as I've ever seen them at their season-ending tournaments. This should be a real war. If Morris picks his spots offensively, I think he gets the job done. If he's conservative, we might be looking at overtime.
Willie's Prediction: Morris dec. Abounader, 3-1
195: #10-Broc Berge, Kasson-Mantorville, MN 177-9, Iowa
2x State Champ
Fargo Runner-Up
vs.
#4-Jake Hart, Hampton 143-20, Edinboro
State Champ, Runner-Up
Powerade Runner-Up
Super 32 Placer
The Match-Up: Hart came on strong at the end of the year. He had a tight loss to Mattiace in the Powerade final and beat Matt McCutcheon twice down the stretch. Berge took a couple unexpected losses, including in the state finals. But to put Berge's ability in perspective, he gave #1-Solomon his only loss last summer in Fargo. He can beat anyone. I'll go with momentum here though.
Willie's Prediction: Hart dec. Berge, 3-1
220: #2 (at 195) Frank Mattiace, Blair Academy, NJ 160-16, Penn
2x Prep Champ
Ironman Champ
Powerade Champ
Beast Champ
vs.
#1 (at 195) Ryan Solomon, Milton 142-14, Pitt
2x State Champ, Runner-Up
Beast of the East Champ
6x Fargo All American
The Match-Up: I think we're looking at one of the best matches of the night, which is saying a lot, considering its the best HS dual you can put on a mat. Both possess offensive weapons and a good ability to ride. I think Solomon's fine positioning and forward movement ultimately win out.
Willie's Prediction: Solomon dec. Mattiace, 5-3
HWT: #1-Brooks Black, Blair Academy, NJ 145-8, Illinois
3x Prep Champ, Runner-Up
3x Beast Champ
3x Ironman Champ
2x Powerade Champ
2x Fargo Champ
2x Fila Champ
vs.
#6-Aaron Bradley, Nazareth 113-19
State Champ, State Runner-Up
Beast Runner-Up
The Match-Up: A rematch of this year's Beast finals won by Black in overtime. I think this will be a fantastic bout. Bradley was really impressive in Hershey, particularly in his ability to wrestle through positions when most wrestlers stop. That being said, Black is the most tried and true wrestlers at any weight in the country. I think he finds a way to get it done against Bradley again. There isn't anything, offensively, Bradley can throw at Black that he hasn't seen before. And Black is superior on the mat.
Willie's Prediction: Black dec. Bradley, 3-1.
Team Score: Last year, it was Murphy's Law for PA. Everything that could go wrong did. They got off on the wrong foot and it carried over to nearly every bout.
Now I'll risk saying something silly, but I wholly believe it to be true: a lot of the success that PA has (or does not have) in this event has to do with the approach the kids, collectively and individually, take in to the Dapper Dan. This is a group of fighters. Guys like Solomon and Diehl and Hart are proud and hungry.
In short, if PA wrestles angry instead of like it's an exhibition, they have a chance.
I have it 24-15 PA above. That's with Cruz, Mathews, and Hart, all considered heavy underdogs, winning. Those, along with Fuentes-Mascarenas, should be key bouts.
That being said, PA has a knack, outside of last year, of picking up an upset or two. I think they have a real shot here.
Also notice I have no bonus points. Every bout should be ultra tight. Solomon-Mattiace, Morris-Abounader, Retherford-Ashnault and on down the line. You could come up with a hypothetical for a blow-out from either side. We'll see if momentum plays a factor.
2012 Results:
USA 34 Pennsylvania 9
132 Zane Richards Carbondale Illinois DEC Mackenzie McGuire Upper St. Clair 3-1
152 Brian Realbuto Sommers New York DEC Cody Copeland Greenville 6-1
170 Kyle Crutchmer Tulsa Union Oklahoma DEC Elliot Riddick Bethlehem Catholic 2-1 2OT
285 Doug Vollaro Pine Castle Christian Florida DEC Averee Robinson Susquehanna Township 5-1OT
182 Jordan Rogers Mead Washington FALL Wesley Phipps Grove City 4:44
195 Gage Harrah Crystal Lake Central Illinois DEC Perry Hills Central Catholic 5-3
220 John Rizzo Richland DEC Josh Marchok Schaumburg Illinois 3-2
138 John Meeks Roosevelt Ia DEC Steve Spearman Erie McDell 3-2 UTB
145 Jason Tsirtsis Crn Point Indiana MD Zach Beitz Juniata 13-4
160 Brian Brill Central Mountain DEC Zachary Brunson Churchill Oregon 7-5
113 Jarred Brooks Warsaw Indiana DEC Billy Rappo Council Rock South 8-5
120 George DiCamillo St. Ignatius Ohio DEC Nick Roberts North Star 10-5
126 Jimmy Gulibon Derry DEC Cory Clark Southeast Polk Ia 10-3
All-Time Dapper Dan Results
USA - 20, PA - 18