Who's #1 Dual Breakdown
Willie Saylor, Editor
Watch Who's #1 LIVE here!
As with all major events, I'll be breaking down the match-ups and making my picks. But this is by far the least confident I've ever been in making predictions.
In a dual that's predicated on such high-level athletes, there isn't much differentiation in ability level. 19 out of the 20 wrestlers at the inaugural Who's #1 has been a finalist at Fargo, Super 32, or FloNationals!
While it makes for an unprecedented dual, it makes my job of handicapping it a nightmare.
Before I make my picks, let me give a tip of the cap to the kids.
Joey Galasso (145), Tyler Berger (145), Mark Hall (160), and Garrett Peppelman (160) were all injured in recent weeks. Galasso suffered a partially torn AC joint while training. Berger was in a car accident Tuesday night. Hall rolled an ankle in his Freak Show final. And Peppelman broke his elbow in the quarterfinals en route to his Super 32 title. I was on the call for Peppelman's match, and it wasn't pretty.
The FLO team wishes you all well, a speedy recovery, and fantastic regular seasons.
Often times, there are kids that worry about match-ups, rankings, competition, etc. So my heart dropped each time I had to find a replacement for each of these studs. Thankfully, I was really lucky.
Zach Kelly and Grant Leeth, both Super 32 finalists, jumped at the opportunity to compete. Nicky Reenan didn't hesitate. And you know Mason Manville has never turned down a match in his life.
And finally, Blees, who's match-up, team, and weight I was forced to switch half a dozen times. It's all good to him. He just wants to compete.
A truly great group that deserves a round of applause for their unflinching commitment to high level competition and challenging oneself. The reason they're here is because they're good. And the reason they're good is why they're here: they're warriors that rise to the challenge.
Now, I can't delay it any longer. Here are my picks...
132A: #1-Seth Gross, MN (JO) vs. #3-*Fredy Stroker, IA (Bubba)
Commentary: This was an ultra close (4-2) match in Fargo. Stroker was in on shots pretty often. Word out of the OPRF training camp was that Stroker looked nails. That being said, everyone always seems to doubt Gross. He's a gamer and a winner. Nothing really jumps out at you and says he does any particular things exemplary. The kid just wins. In the end, I see Stroker taking many shots. The match will come down to this: can Stroker finish his shots, or will Gross counter.
The Pick: Stroker dec. Gross, 5-3
132B: #2-Zac Hall, MI (JO) vs. #4-Michael Kemerer, PA (Bubba)
Commentary: I've long been a fan of Hall's quickness and low-single game. But Kemerer is one of the most soundly defensive wrestlers going. The problem here (at least for me) is that I know how Hall will score, if he scores. I don't know how Kemerer will. His lack of offensive diversity hurt him in the Super 32 finals against Krivus. That being said, I'm going with Kemerer to find a way to win. I don't make much sense, do I? Just a hunch. I've seen him do it so often.
The Pick: Kemerer dec. Hall, 3-2
120: #1-Sean Russell, GA (JO) vs. #3-Nathan Boston, KY (Bubba)
Commentary: I've been a fan of Russell his entire career. He's like a one-cut runner in football; he sees an opening and blasts through it. Boston is a slow-paced wrestler, reliant on controlling ties and pace and using exceptional riding ability. I'm pretty convinced this match comes down to one takedown.
The Pick: Boston dec. Russell, 3-2
145: #9-Mason Manville, NJ (JO) vs. #8-Grant Leeth, MO (Bubba)
Commentary: Manville makes you pay for mistakes. I just don't think Leeth will make any. Leeth was incredibly offensive in Greensboro, taking more shots (and getting in on them) than perhaps anyone outside of Nolf and Marsteller.
The Pick: Leeth dec. Manville, 6-3
152: #5-Fox Baldwin, FL (JO) vs. #10-Nicky Reenan, TX (Bubba)
Commentary: This match-up was a blessing in diguise. If you would have told me two months ago that Baldwin and Reenan, the last two Fargo Cadet Champions, would tangle, I would have jumped out of my seat.
Baldwin is a goer. He's active and offensive and a hammer on top. Reenan is a bit more cerebral and calculating. He picks his spots and executes on them. Both display off-the-charts athleticism. We're going to see a lot of points in this one, folks. I got Baldwin by a takedown.
The Pick: Baldwin dec. Reenan, 11-9
126: #1-Jered Cortez, IL (Bubba) vs. #4-Ryan Millhof, GA (JO)
Commentary: There aren't too many that have two Super 32 belts. But Millhof does. What's most impressive is that Millhof adapts to any style. He can win in a multitude of ways. But Cortez is perhaps the most technically polished and technically diverse kids in this class. He's special. I think Millhof will compete well, but Cortez does something dirty to get the job done.
The Pick: Cortez dec. Millhof, 4-3
138: #1-Jason Nolf, PA (Bubba) vs. #2-Joey McKenna (JO)
Commentary: Listen people, Aaron Pico is going up to 145. This is for top dog status in the country at 138.
Nolf has developed into an offensive juggernaut. Ever since his loss to Tyler Berger in FloNational finals last spring, he's been on another level, seemingly racking up points at will.
But on the flip side, you're talking about one of the most experienced (he's been to a World Champioships) wrestler in the U.S. McKenna can go with college level guys now. He can ride, mat return, and score from either counters or putting shots together. You're looking at fairly high scoring match. Probably back and forth, where the last point scored wins.
The Pick: McKenna dec. Nolf, 8-7
132: #3-Fredy Stroker, IA (Bubba) vs. #4-Michael Kemerer, PA (JO)
Commentary: This matchup will comes down to this: Stroker will take a high volume of shots. Kemerer will try to counter from front head or club and move down to a shot. Whoever is successful in those sequences will win the match.
The Pick: Kemerer dec. Stroker, 5-4
160: #2-Ryan Blees (JO) vs. #4-Zach Kelly (Bubba)
Commentary: This is a tale of two wrestlers hitting their stride as Seniors. 152 was the deepest weight in Fargo. In my preview before that tournament, I picked Blees and most people thought I was nuts with all the ranked guys ahead of him.
And then there's Kelly. A couple months ago I was talking to Jody Strittmatter, and he said, "Kelly's getting really good." I guess he is. He lost just one match in the Fargo bracket won by Blees, and had a Super 32 belt in his grasp until being taken down with eight seconds left.
The book on Blees: He has a gas tank from hell. He sometimes gives up points early, but he keeps coming at you, keeps getting you out of position, and keeps finding angles.
The book on Kelly: he's gotten very good at knowing when to 'go'. You shoot, be ready to get countered if it isn't extremely clean. He's incredible at turning the corner from front head.
Here's my deal: I think Kelly has the skills to go with Blees. But until proven otherwise, I'm not picking against Blees to win the last 2 minutes of a match.
The Pick: Blees dec. Kelly, 11-8
182: #1-Johnny Sebastian, NJ (JO) vs. #2-Michael Pixley (Bubba)
Commentary: And then the crescendo! Credit these two guys (and their fan bases) for creating this. The Sebastian-Pixley debate has been one of the most fun arguements when it comes to rankings, and it will be settled here.
Sebastian is strong, powerful, and athletic. Pixley is long and rangy. The best part for the fans - they're both extremely offensive-minded. Sebastian will look for high crotches and doubles. Pixley is more of an up top guy. He'll go to front head and tie ups to move you out of position. And everything he does is done forcefully and with purpose. It's gonna be a wild one, but I'm sticky to my guns.
The Pick: Sebastian dec. Pixley, 8-6
155: Jordan Oliver, PA/OK State vs. Bubba Jenkins, VA/PSU/ASU
Commentary: I'll leave this breakdown to my man CP.
The Pick: Seriously, I'm from Easton. JO All day.
Willie Saylor, Editor
Watch Who's #1 LIVE here!
As with all major events, I'll be breaking down the match-ups and making my picks. But this is by far the least confident I've ever been in making predictions.
In a dual that's predicated on such high-level athletes, there isn't much differentiation in ability level. 19 out of the 20 wrestlers at the inaugural Who's #1 has been a finalist at Fargo, Super 32, or FloNationals!
While it makes for an unprecedented dual, it makes my job of handicapping it a nightmare.
Before I make my picks, let me give a tip of the cap to the kids.
Joey Galasso (145), Tyler Berger (145), Mark Hall (160), and Garrett Peppelman (160) were all injured in recent weeks. Galasso suffered a partially torn AC joint while training. Berger was in a car accident Tuesday night. Hall rolled an ankle in his Freak Show final. And Peppelman broke his elbow in the quarterfinals en route to his Super 32 title. I was on the call for Peppelman's match, and it wasn't pretty.
The FLO team wishes you all well, a speedy recovery, and fantastic regular seasons.
Often times, there are kids that worry about match-ups, rankings, competition, etc. So my heart dropped each time I had to find a replacement for each of these studs. Thankfully, I was really lucky.
Zach Kelly and Grant Leeth, both Super 32 finalists, jumped at the opportunity to compete. Nicky Reenan didn't hesitate. And you know Mason Manville has never turned down a match in his life.
And finally, Blees, who's match-up, team, and weight I was forced to switch half a dozen times. It's all good to him. He just wants to compete.
A truly great group that deserves a round of applause for their unflinching commitment to high level competition and challenging oneself. The reason they're here is because they're good. And the reason they're good is why they're here: they're warriors that rise to the challenge.
Now, I can't delay it any longer. Here are my picks...
132A: #1-Seth Gross, MN (JO) vs. #3-*Fredy Stroker, IA (Bubba)
Commentary: This was an ultra close (4-2) match in Fargo. Stroker was in on shots pretty often. Word out of the OPRF training camp was that Stroker looked nails. That being said, everyone always seems to doubt Gross. He's a gamer and a winner. Nothing really jumps out at you and says he does any particular things exemplary. The kid just wins. In the end, I see Stroker taking many shots. The match will come down to this: can Stroker finish his shots, or will Gross counter.
The Pick: Stroker dec. Gross, 5-3
132B: #2-Zac Hall, MI (JO) vs. #4-Michael Kemerer, PA (Bubba)
Commentary: I've long been a fan of Hall's quickness and low-single game. But Kemerer is one of the most soundly defensive wrestlers going. The problem here (at least for me) is that I know how Hall will score, if he scores. I don't know how Kemerer will. His lack of offensive diversity hurt him in the Super 32 finals against Krivus. That being said, I'm going with Kemerer to find a way to win. I don't make much sense, do I? Just a hunch. I've seen him do it so often.
The Pick: Kemerer dec. Hall, 3-2
120: #1-Sean Russell, GA (JO) vs. #3-Nathan Boston, KY (Bubba)
Commentary: I've been a fan of Russell his entire career. He's like a one-cut runner in football; he sees an opening and blasts through it. Boston is a slow-paced wrestler, reliant on controlling ties and pace and using exceptional riding ability. I'm pretty convinced this match comes down to one takedown.
The Pick: Boston dec. Russell, 3-2
145: #9-Mason Manville, NJ (JO) vs. #8-Grant Leeth, MO (Bubba)
Commentary: Manville makes you pay for mistakes. I just don't think Leeth will make any. Leeth was incredibly offensive in Greensboro, taking more shots (and getting in on them) than perhaps anyone outside of Nolf and Marsteller.
The Pick: Leeth dec. Manville, 6-3
152: #5-Fox Baldwin, FL (JO) vs. #10-Nicky Reenan, TX (Bubba)
Commentary: This match-up was a blessing in diguise. If you would have told me two months ago that Baldwin and Reenan, the last two Fargo Cadet Champions, would tangle, I would have jumped out of my seat.
Baldwin is a goer. He's active and offensive and a hammer on top. Reenan is a bit more cerebral and calculating. He picks his spots and executes on them. Both display off-the-charts athleticism. We're going to see a lot of points in this one, folks. I got Baldwin by a takedown.
The Pick: Baldwin dec. Reenan, 11-9
126: #1-Jered Cortez, IL (Bubba) vs. #4-Ryan Millhof, GA (JO)
Commentary: There aren't too many that have two Super 32 belts. But Millhof does. What's most impressive is that Millhof adapts to any style. He can win in a multitude of ways. But Cortez is perhaps the most technically polished and technically diverse kids in this class. He's special. I think Millhof will compete well, but Cortez does something dirty to get the job done.
The Pick: Cortez dec. Millhof, 4-3
138: #1-Jason Nolf, PA (Bubba) vs. #2-Joey McKenna (JO)
Commentary: Listen people, Aaron Pico is going up to 145. This is for top dog status in the country at 138.
Nolf has developed into an offensive juggernaut. Ever since his loss to Tyler Berger in FloNational finals last spring, he's been on another level, seemingly racking up points at will.
But on the flip side, you're talking about one of the most experienced (he's been to a World Champioships) wrestler in the U.S. McKenna can go with college level guys now. He can ride, mat return, and score from either counters or putting shots together. You're looking at fairly high scoring match. Probably back and forth, where the last point scored wins.
The Pick: McKenna dec. Nolf, 8-7
132: #3-Fredy Stroker, IA (Bubba) vs. #4-Michael Kemerer, PA (JO)
Commentary: This matchup will comes down to this: Stroker will take a high volume of shots. Kemerer will try to counter from front head or club and move down to a shot. Whoever is successful in those sequences will win the match.
The Pick: Kemerer dec. Stroker, 5-4
160: #2-Ryan Blees (JO) vs. #4-Zach Kelly (Bubba)
Commentary: This is a tale of two wrestlers hitting their stride as Seniors. 152 was the deepest weight in Fargo. In my preview before that tournament, I picked Blees and most people thought I was nuts with all the ranked guys ahead of him.
And then there's Kelly. A couple months ago I was talking to Jody Strittmatter, and he said, "Kelly's getting really good." I guess he is. He lost just one match in the Fargo bracket won by Blees, and had a Super 32 belt in his grasp until being taken down with eight seconds left.
The book on Blees: He has a gas tank from hell. He sometimes gives up points early, but he keeps coming at you, keeps getting you out of position, and keeps finding angles.
The book on Kelly: he's gotten very good at knowing when to 'go'. You shoot, be ready to get countered if it isn't extremely clean. He's incredible at turning the corner from front head.
Here's my deal: I think Kelly has the skills to go with Blees. But until proven otherwise, I'm not picking against Blees to win the last 2 minutes of a match.
The Pick: Blees dec. Kelly, 11-8
182: #1-Johnny Sebastian, NJ (JO) vs. #2-Michael Pixley (Bubba)
Commentary: And then the crescendo! Credit these two guys (and their fan bases) for creating this. The Sebastian-Pixley debate has been one of the most fun arguements when it comes to rankings, and it will be settled here.
Sebastian is strong, powerful, and athletic. Pixley is long and rangy. The best part for the fans - they're both extremely offensive-minded. Sebastian will look for high crotches and doubles. Pixley is more of an up top guy. He'll go to front head and tie ups to move you out of position. And everything he does is done forcefully and with purpose. It's gonna be a wild one, but I'm sticky to my guns.
The Pick: Sebastian dec. Pixley, 8-6
155: Jordan Oliver, PA/OK State vs. Bubba Jenkins, VA/PSU/ASU
Commentary: I'll leave this breakdown to my man CP.
The Pick: Seriously, I'm from Easton. JO All day.