EIWA Conference TournamentMar 5, 2014 by Christian Pyles
Fi: Ultimate EIWA Preview
Fi: Ultimate EIWA Preview
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EIWA Preview
Christian Pyles
If you aren’t headed to Philadelphia this weekend for EIWA’s make sure you are tuning in on Flo Pro live! The EIWA’s are sending the 2nd most qualifiers of any conference in wrestling with a whopping 47 automatic qualifiers!
In this preview I’ll try to paint a picture of the landscape for each weight with some information about many of the wrestlers to watch. At the end of it all, I’ll weigh in on how I see the weights playing out. I’ll also include my tiers which are a visual method I like to use to show the groups in which I view each weights. If you lose to someone outside of your tier, I’m surprised. Any combination of results within a tier, is something that wouldn’t surprise me.
As of Wednesday, Pre seeds had not been released, so these are a best guess at how I think the weights will be seeded.
125
Automatic Qualifiers- 6
Pre Seeds
1. Nahshon Garrett, Cornell
2. David Terao, American
3. Jamie Franco, Hofstra
4. Paul Petrov, Bucknell
5. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
6. David White, Binghamton
Nahshon Garrett enters this tournament not only as a favorite to win, but in all likelihood one of the biggest locks of the entire tournament! The top ranked wrestler in the country has no parallel in this tournament. He’s dynamic in all three phases and has a variety of ways he can beat you. TD’s, tilts and more, Nahshon will make you pay!
The real battle here is for 2nd place. American’s David Terao has been great all year with no bad losses on the season. He hasn’t lost since day 2 of the Scuffle and the only EIWA opponent he’s fallen to is Garrett. That being said, he’s been tested, beating White 3-2 and Richardson 4-3. He’s the favorite to make the finals, but only narrowly! Terao is quite unorthodox with some of the sickest throw by’s you’ll see anywhere. His style makes him one of the most exciting wrestlers in all the EIWA.
Jamie Franco, down from 133 pounds has been consistently tough for Hofstra. I don’t think he matches up well with the crafty and quick Terao. One guy who you can’t count out is Caleb Richardson from Penn. He had a nice Scuffle, and though he’s been inconsistent, he’s extremely solid and dangerous. With the right draw he could crash the semi’s.
CP’s 125 Predictions and Tiers
1. Nahshon Garrett-Cornell
2. David Terao-American
3. Jamie Franco-Hofstra
4. Caleb Richardson-Penn
5. Darian Cruz-Lehigh
6. David White-Binghamton
133
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Mason Beckman, Lehigh
2. Mark Grey, Cornell
3. Colton Rasche, Navy
4. Jamel Hudson, Hofstra
5. Vinnie Dellefave, Rutgers
6. Angelo Amenta, Columbia
Stoked for this one. I’ve been a bit surprised by Mark Grey’s season so far. I thought he’d emerge as a top 6-10 guy with a great shot at an All American. He’s wrestled tough, but injuries have seemed to hamper his progress.
Meanwhile, Lehigh’s moneymaker, Mason Beckman has been a rock all year. He announced himself right away with a win over AJ Schopp at the All Star. His sweep and tilts are absolutely lethal, and he’s a tough guy to score on. He’s the class of this weight, and I don’t see him challenged. However, I would be remiss to not include the fact that Grey TWICE beat Beckman a year ago. Beckman winning once. I just think Beckman is better this year.
Big fan of Jamel Hudson. I think he can be #3. He doesn’t have a big time “wow” win, but he’s been crazy steady all year, with losses only to Brewer, Grey and Soto. He’s got the attacks to stack up with most guys here. I think he’s got a great shot at the 3rd spot.
You can’t sleep on Rutgers Dellefave either, who knocked Grey off this year already. This is a very deep weight at EIWA’s, and I’m surprised to see it only got 3 bids. Rasche is a guy who gets some love, but I just haven’t seen enough good wins from him to get terribly excited.
CP’s 133 Predictions and Tiers
1. Mason Beckman-Lehigh
2. Mark Grey-Cornell
3. Jamel Hudson-Hofstra
4. Vinnie Dellefave-Rutgers
141
Automatic Qualifiers-5
Pre Seeds
1. Richard Durso, F&M
2. Mike Nevinger, Cornell
3. Luke Vaith, Hofstra
4. Laike Gardner, Lehigh
5. Todd Preston, Harvard
6. Tyson Dippery, Rutgers
Probably the toughest weight to predict at EIWA’s. What happened to Nevinger? Will he get back into All American form like he has been the last two years? I really like Vaith a lot, and think he may be the guy to beat here. He’s got a great style and I can’t wait to see a potential Vaith v. Durso match.
Durso has a lot of little tricks himself, with turns, slides and more. He turned heads at NCAA’s when he darn-near upset Hunter Stieber in the Quarters. Durso’s issue is he hasn’t been terribly tested and when he’s faced elite guys, he’s struggled. I think Vaith has been in the fire a bit more this year.
Todd Preston has been red hot of late, winning 12 of his last 13 this year. He’s had some weird losses, for sure, but he looks ready to go when it matters most.
Laike Gardner may have the best collection of wins of anyone here: Ashnault, Cruz, Bright, Spisak, Collica and Dziewa! The problem is he’s got some odd losses as well falling to Preston, Sabatello and Bystol. He’s funky as they come, but I’m not sure how much momentum he’s got coming into this one.
You’ll notice I only have 1 tier for my predictions here. That’s by design, this is a very, very even weight.
CP’s 141 Predictions and Tiers
1. Luke Vaith-Hofstra
2. Richard Durso-F & M
3. Laike Gardner-Lehigh
4. Mike Nevinger-Cornell
5. Todd Preston-Harvard
149
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Chris Villalonga, Cornell
2. Adam Krop, Princeton
3. Mitch Minotti, Lehigh
4. Cody Ruggirello, Hofstra
5. Ken Theobold, Rutgers
6. Victor Lopez, Bucknell
Better late than never they say, and Chris Villalonga is living those words right now. He’s always been extremely solid and formidable, but the Blair Academy product has gone from a gatekeeper to a legitimate title contender! He’s crazy hard to score on and like many Cornell guys darn tough to escape from.
Mitch Minotti is the guy I believe most capable of challenging Villalonga. He fell to Chris 3-0 earlier this year but has notched some nice wins: Dave Habat, Eric Grajales, Zach Beitz and Mike Racciato. I think his offense may struggle against someone like Villalonga who holds great position and provides few opportunities, but if it’s going to be anyone, it’ll be Mitch.
Krop was a guy I loved coming into this year when he was at 141. He made the jump up mid-year and has done a nice job since making the switch. He’s yet to notch a win that leads me to believe he’s on the level of Minotti or Villalonga.
The battle for the 4th and final spot will be tight between Theobold (who pinned MInotti this year), Lopez (pinned Nick Lester) and Ruggirelllo (pinned Theobold).
CP’s 149 Predictions and Tiers
1. Chris Villalonga-Cornell
2. Mitch Minotti-Lehigh
3. Adam Krop-Princeton
4. Cody Ruggirello-Hofstra
157
Automatic Qualifiers- 5
Pre Seeds
1. Nestor Taffur, Boston U
2. Brian Realbuto, Cornell
3. Joey Napoli, Lehigh
4. Ray Bethea, Penn
5. Kevin Moylan, Princeton
6. Marcus Scheidel, Columbia
Ridiculously excited for this weight. I have developed a real respect for Taffur’s game. He’s a brawler with some great wins. With wins over Vollrath, Realbuto and Pena and a remarkable 31-2 record, he’s a clear number 1 seed.
However, I cannot deny that I’ve developed into a huge fan of Brian Realbuto. The New York native just never stops coming. He’s got great leg attacks, especially his high crotch. He pushed James Green to the brink earlier this year, and is also a hammer on top. I know he fell to Taffur this year, but he’s my guy. I like him to win this weight.
Not sure how healthy Joey Napoli is, but the former NCAA 3 seed doesn’t seem to be the same guy. When he’s clicking, Napoli is darn tough to take down, and a punishing rider who is comfortable in scrambles. He unquestionably has the talent to win this weight, but does he have the health? I’m not sure.
Bethea, Hancock, Burg and Schiedel are the next three who will battle for the final automatic spot. Burg had a nice few weeks for a bit there but fell off. The same can be said for Bethea. I think Bethea has the best wins of this group (including one over Taffur). Hancock has been great lately winning his last 5 including one over Burg.
CP’s 157 Predictions and Tiers
1. Brian Realbuto-Cornell
2. Nestor Taffur-Boston
3. Joey Napoli-Lehigh
4. Ray Bethea-Penn
5. Paul Hancock-Army
165
Automatic Qualifiers- 5
Pre Seeds
1. Dylan Palacio, Cornell
2. Joe Booth, Hofstra
3. Casey Kent, Penn
4. Josh Houldsworth, Columbia
5. Peyton Walsh, Navy
6. Mitchell Wightman, Boston U
The Realest on the Rise! What a guy! Dylan Palacio has entered the national conversation not simply because of his on (and off the mat) swagger. He is getting it done on the mat. With a style as wild as his personality, you don’t know what’s coming next with Dylan. While passing legs may be on the way out, nobody does it better than Palacio. He’s a hammer on top, and has a variety of attacks from his feet.
He’ll be challenged by Joe Booth of Hofstra. Booth has always been a very fundamental and solid wrestler. His style really contrasts Palacio and these two have had some serious battles. Booth won the first meeting 6-5, and Palacio won the rematch 13-12! I think Palacio has only gotten better since then, so if Booth isn’t much improved himself, he’ll be in trouble against the Freshman.
Casey Kent is another solid guy for the Quakers of Penn. He fell twice to Palacio earlier this year and has never faced Booth. He’s had some odd losses to guys like Joe Brewster and Elliot Riddick, so he’ll need to avoid that letdown match to ensure qualification.
Peyton Walsh has some sick wins this year including one over All American Michael Moreno of Iowa State. He fell to Houldsworth earlier this year, but I do believe that’s a loss that can be avenged. The top 5 is fairly well defined, and I’d be somewhat surprised to see anyone else end up with the top 5 and snagging an AQ spot.
CP’s 165 Predictions and Tiers
1. Dylan Palacio-Cornell
2. Joe Booth-Hofstra
3. Casey Kent-Penn
4. Peyton Walsh-Navy
5. Josh Houldsworth-Columbia
174
Automatic Qualifiers-3
Pre Seeds
1. Shane Hughes, Columbia
2. Elliot Riddick, Lehigh
3. Mat Miller, Navy
4. Duke Pickett, Cornell
5. Brian Harvey, Army
6. Phil Bakuckas, Rutgers
“Who is Shane Hughes?” That was the common question when the Columbia Junior crashed the Midlands finals. He had a great tournament there, and has had a solid season overall wrestling very conistently.
Many knew Elliot Riddick coming into this year because of his lightning quick leg attacks and unique style. I think he’s the most talented guy here, but the question is if he can remain consistent for the entire tournament. He’s absolutely prone to a let down match, which is troubling considering the bracket size. All that being said, something continues to make me want to pick him to win the whole thing here!
It’s hard to know what we are getting with Miller here. He’s only wrestled 18 matches, and while he has zero bad losses, he has only beaten one ranked opponent all year (Bryce Hammond).
Potentially the most wide open weight of them all. Hughes has split with Riddick. Miller was a hammer last year. Hughes made the Midlands finals. Not trying to waver, but this could literally go to either of those 3 guys and I wouldn’t bat an eye!
CP’s 174 Predictions and Tiers
1. Elliot Riddick-Lehigh
2. Shane Hughes-Columbia
3. Mathew Miller-Navy
184
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Gabe Dean, Cornell
2. Lorenzo Thomas, Penn
3. Ophir Bernstein, Brown
4. Brett Harner, Princeton
5. Ryan Topkins, Army
6. Zach Hernandez, Columbia
Gabe Dean has quickly grown into one of the most talked about stars in our sport in just the early stages of his Freshman year. Regardless of how his season turns out, his win over Ed Ruth will go down as one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history. He is the clear favorite to win EIWA’s, but it won’t be by runaway. He has a 3-2 win over Bernstein and a 7-5 over Thomas of Penn. All 3 of these Ivy hammers will likely go deep into the NCAA tournament in OKC.
I just can’t see Dean faltering here. He’s been so consistent all season, I think he’s the guy. Thomas seemingly has Bernstein’s number having beaten him 10-6 and 8-5.
CP’s 184 Predictions and Tiers
1. Gabe Dean-Cornell
2. Lawrence Thomas-Penn
3. Ophir Bernstein-Brown
197
Automatic Qualifiers-7
Pre Seeds
1. Brandon Palik, Drexel
2. Jace Bennett, Cornell
3. Danny Mitchell, American
4. Cody Reed, Binghamton
5. Abe Ayala, Princeton
6. James Fox, Harvard
Holy Smokes, 7 spots!? That’s just 1 fewer than the Big 10 got at this weight. Drexel Senior Brandon Palik is in his first season in the EIWA and looks to be transitioning well. Palik has always been solid, but will struggle to put lots of points on the board. As a top seed, he’s vulnerable.
There’s tons of talent here which has yielded tons of inconsistent results. Bennett, Mattiace, MItchell, Reed, Fox and Ayala all are solid guys on a similar tier. Totally baffled by this weight. I think Mitchell is clearly the best guy from a talent standpoint, but he’s fallen apart a bit lately. If he gets back clicking, he’s the guy.
CP’s 197 Predictions and Tiers
1. Dan Mitchell-American
2. Brandon Palik-Drexel
3. Cody Reed-Binghamton
4. Jace Bennett-Cornell
5. Frank Mattiace-Penn
6. James Fox-Harvard
7. Abe Ayala-Princeton
285
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Billy Smith, Rutgers
2. Joe Stolfi, Bucknell
3. Tyler Deuel, Binghamton
4. Blake Herrin, American
5. Jacob Aiken-Phillips, Cornell
6. Max Wessell, Lehigh
Solid weight here. No world beaters, but a number of quality guys. Even your 6 seed Wessell has a win over JT Felix of Boise State! Stolfi is a bonus point machine and a hammer on top, but consistency has been an issue for him. Smith on the other hand hasn’t had the swings Stolfi has. However, I don’t think his upside is there.
The battle for the 3rd and 4th spot is wide open for these guys and any of these guys has a legitimate shot. I tend to err towards upside, and I think Herrin has shown more, as has Deuel. I like Stolfi to win, but really, you can’t feel but so confident in any of these guys!
CP’s 285 Predictions and Tiers
1. Joe Stolfi-Bucknell
2. Billy Smith-Rutgers
3. Blake Herrin-American
4. Tyler Deuel-Binghamton
Team Predictions and Tiers
1. Cornell
2. Lehigh
3. Hofstra
4. Columbia
5. Rutgers
Christian Pyles
If you aren’t headed to Philadelphia this weekend for EIWA’s make sure you are tuning in on Flo Pro live! The EIWA’s are sending the 2nd most qualifiers of any conference in wrestling with a whopping 47 automatic qualifiers!
In this preview I’ll try to paint a picture of the landscape for each weight with some information about many of the wrestlers to watch. At the end of it all, I’ll weigh in on how I see the weights playing out. I’ll also include my tiers which are a visual method I like to use to show the groups in which I view each weights. If you lose to someone outside of your tier, I’m surprised. Any combination of results within a tier, is something that wouldn’t surprise me.
As of Wednesday, Pre seeds had not been released, so these are a best guess at how I think the weights will be seeded.
125
Automatic Qualifiers- 6
Pre Seeds
1. Nahshon Garrett, Cornell
2. David Terao, American
3. Jamie Franco, Hofstra
4. Paul Petrov, Bucknell
5. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
6. David White, Binghamton
Nahshon Garrett enters this tournament not only as a favorite to win, but in all likelihood one of the biggest locks of the entire tournament! The top ranked wrestler in the country has no parallel in this tournament. He’s dynamic in all three phases and has a variety of ways he can beat you. TD’s, tilts and more, Nahshon will make you pay!
The real battle here is for 2nd place. American’s David Terao has been great all year with no bad losses on the season. He hasn’t lost since day 2 of the Scuffle and the only EIWA opponent he’s fallen to is Garrett. That being said, he’s been tested, beating White 3-2 and Richardson 4-3. He’s the favorite to make the finals, but only narrowly! Terao is quite unorthodox with some of the sickest throw by’s you’ll see anywhere. His style makes him one of the most exciting wrestlers in all the EIWA.
Jamie Franco, down from 133 pounds has been consistently tough for Hofstra. I don’t think he matches up well with the crafty and quick Terao. One guy who you can’t count out is Caleb Richardson from Penn. He had a nice Scuffle, and though he’s been inconsistent, he’s extremely solid and dangerous. With the right draw he could crash the semi’s.
CP’s 125 Predictions and Tiers
1. Nahshon Garrett-Cornell
2. David Terao-American
3. Jamie Franco-Hofstra
4. Caleb Richardson-Penn
5. Darian Cruz-Lehigh
6. David White-Binghamton
133
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Mason Beckman, Lehigh
2. Mark Grey, Cornell
3. Colton Rasche, Navy
4. Jamel Hudson, Hofstra
5. Vinnie Dellefave, Rutgers
6. Angelo Amenta, Columbia
Stoked for this one. I’ve been a bit surprised by Mark Grey’s season so far. I thought he’d emerge as a top 6-10 guy with a great shot at an All American. He’s wrestled tough, but injuries have seemed to hamper his progress.
Meanwhile, Lehigh’s moneymaker, Mason Beckman has been a rock all year. He announced himself right away with a win over AJ Schopp at the All Star. His sweep and tilts are absolutely lethal, and he’s a tough guy to score on. He’s the class of this weight, and I don’t see him challenged. However, I would be remiss to not include the fact that Grey TWICE beat Beckman a year ago. Beckman winning once. I just think Beckman is better this year.
Big fan of Jamel Hudson. I think he can be #3. He doesn’t have a big time “wow” win, but he’s been crazy steady all year, with losses only to Brewer, Grey and Soto. He’s got the attacks to stack up with most guys here. I think he’s got a great shot at the 3rd spot.
You can’t sleep on Rutgers Dellefave either, who knocked Grey off this year already. This is a very deep weight at EIWA’s, and I’m surprised to see it only got 3 bids. Rasche is a guy who gets some love, but I just haven’t seen enough good wins from him to get terribly excited.
CP’s 133 Predictions and Tiers
1. Mason Beckman-Lehigh
2. Mark Grey-Cornell
3. Jamel Hudson-Hofstra
4. Vinnie Dellefave-Rutgers
141
Automatic Qualifiers-5
Pre Seeds
1. Richard Durso, F&M
2. Mike Nevinger, Cornell
3. Luke Vaith, Hofstra
4. Laike Gardner, Lehigh
5. Todd Preston, Harvard
6. Tyson Dippery, Rutgers
Probably the toughest weight to predict at EIWA’s. What happened to Nevinger? Will he get back into All American form like he has been the last two years? I really like Vaith a lot, and think he may be the guy to beat here. He’s got a great style and I can’t wait to see a potential Vaith v. Durso match.
Durso has a lot of little tricks himself, with turns, slides and more. He turned heads at NCAA’s when he darn-near upset Hunter Stieber in the Quarters. Durso’s issue is he hasn’t been terribly tested and when he’s faced elite guys, he’s struggled. I think Vaith has been in the fire a bit more this year.
Todd Preston has been red hot of late, winning 12 of his last 13 this year. He’s had some weird losses, for sure, but he looks ready to go when it matters most.
Laike Gardner may have the best collection of wins of anyone here: Ashnault, Cruz, Bright, Spisak, Collica and Dziewa! The problem is he’s got some odd losses as well falling to Preston, Sabatello and Bystol. He’s funky as they come, but I’m not sure how much momentum he’s got coming into this one.
You’ll notice I only have 1 tier for my predictions here. That’s by design, this is a very, very even weight.
CP’s 141 Predictions and Tiers
1. Luke Vaith-Hofstra
2. Richard Durso-F & M
3. Laike Gardner-Lehigh
4. Mike Nevinger-Cornell
5. Todd Preston-Harvard
149
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Chris Villalonga, Cornell
2. Adam Krop, Princeton
3. Mitch Minotti, Lehigh
4. Cody Ruggirello, Hofstra
5. Ken Theobold, Rutgers
6. Victor Lopez, Bucknell
Better late than never they say, and Chris Villalonga is living those words right now. He’s always been extremely solid and formidable, but the Blair Academy product has gone from a gatekeeper to a legitimate title contender! He’s crazy hard to score on and like many Cornell guys darn tough to escape from.
Mitch Minotti is the guy I believe most capable of challenging Villalonga. He fell to Chris 3-0 earlier this year but has notched some nice wins: Dave Habat, Eric Grajales, Zach Beitz and Mike Racciato. I think his offense may struggle against someone like Villalonga who holds great position and provides few opportunities, but if it’s going to be anyone, it’ll be Mitch.
Krop was a guy I loved coming into this year when he was at 141. He made the jump up mid-year and has done a nice job since making the switch. He’s yet to notch a win that leads me to believe he’s on the level of Minotti or Villalonga.
The battle for the 4th and final spot will be tight between Theobold (who pinned MInotti this year), Lopez (pinned Nick Lester) and Ruggirelllo (pinned Theobold).
CP’s 149 Predictions and Tiers
1. Chris Villalonga-Cornell
2. Mitch Minotti-Lehigh
3. Adam Krop-Princeton
4. Cody Ruggirello-Hofstra
157
Automatic Qualifiers- 5
Pre Seeds
1. Nestor Taffur, Boston U
2. Brian Realbuto, Cornell
3. Joey Napoli, Lehigh
4. Ray Bethea, Penn
5. Kevin Moylan, Princeton
6. Marcus Scheidel, Columbia
Ridiculously excited for this weight. I have developed a real respect for Taffur’s game. He’s a brawler with some great wins. With wins over Vollrath, Realbuto and Pena and a remarkable 31-2 record, he’s a clear number 1 seed.
However, I cannot deny that I’ve developed into a huge fan of Brian Realbuto. The New York native just never stops coming. He’s got great leg attacks, especially his high crotch. He pushed James Green to the brink earlier this year, and is also a hammer on top. I know he fell to Taffur this year, but he’s my guy. I like him to win this weight.
Not sure how healthy Joey Napoli is, but the former NCAA 3 seed doesn’t seem to be the same guy. When he’s clicking, Napoli is darn tough to take down, and a punishing rider who is comfortable in scrambles. He unquestionably has the talent to win this weight, but does he have the health? I’m not sure.
Bethea, Hancock, Burg and Schiedel are the next three who will battle for the final automatic spot. Burg had a nice few weeks for a bit there but fell off. The same can be said for Bethea. I think Bethea has the best wins of this group (including one over Taffur). Hancock has been great lately winning his last 5 including one over Burg.
CP’s 157 Predictions and Tiers
1. Brian Realbuto-Cornell
2. Nestor Taffur-Boston
3. Joey Napoli-Lehigh
4. Ray Bethea-Penn
5. Paul Hancock-Army
165
Automatic Qualifiers- 5
Pre Seeds
1. Dylan Palacio, Cornell
2. Joe Booth, Hofstra
3. Casey Kent, Penn
4. Josh Houldsworth, Columbia
5. Peyton Walsh, Navy
6. Mitchell Wightman, Boston U
The Realest on the Rise! What a guy! Dylan Palacio has entered the national conversation not simply because of his on (and off the mat) swagger. He is getting it done on the mat. With a style as wild as his personality, you don’t know what’s coming next with Dylan. While passing legs may be on the way out, nobody does it better than Palacio. He’s a hammer on top, and has a variety of attacks from his feet.
He’ll be challenged by Joe Booth of Hofstra. Booth has always been a very fundamental and solid wrestler. His style really contrasts Palacio and these two have had some serious battles. Booth won the first meeting 6-5, and Palacio won the rematch 13-12! I think Palacio has only gotten better since then, so if Booth isn’t much improved himself, he’ll be in trouble against the Freshman.
Casey Kent is another solid guy for the Quakers of Penn. He fell twice to Palacio earlier this year and has never faced Booth. He’s had some odd losses to guys like Joe Brewster and Elliot Riddick, so he’ll need to avoid that letdown match to ensure qualification.
Peyton Walsh has some sick wins this year including one over All American Michael Moreno of Iowa State. He fell to Houldsworth earlier this year, but I do believe that’s a loss that can be avenged. The top 5 is fairly well defined, and I’d be somewhat surprised to see anyone else end up with the top 5 and snagging an AQ spot.
CP’s 165 Predictions and Tiers
1. Dylan Palacio-Cornell
2. Joe Booth-Hofstra
3. Casey Kent-Penn
4. Peyton Walsh-Navy
5. Josh Houldsworth-Columbia
174
Automatic Qualifiers-3
Pre Seeds
1. Shane Hughes, Columbia
2. Elliot Riddick, Lehigh
3. Mat Miller, Navy
4. Duke Pickett, Cornell
5. Brian Harvey, Army
6. Phil Bakuckas, Rutgers
“Who is Shane Hughes?” That was the common question when the Columbia Junior crashed the Midlands finals. He had a great tournament there, and has had a solid season overall wrestling very conistently.
Many knew Elliot Riddick coming into this year because of his lightning quick leg attacks and unique style. I think he’s the most talented guy here, but the question is if he can remain consistent for the entire tournament. He’s absolutely prone to a let down match, which is troubling considering the bracket size. All that being said, something continues to make me want to pick him to win the whole thing here!
It’s hard to know what we are getting with Miller here. He’s only wrestled 18 matches, and while he has zero bad losses, he has only beaten one ranked opponent all year (Bryce Hammond).
Potentially the most wide open weight of them all. Hughes has split with Riddick. Miller was a hammer last year. Hughes made the Midlands finals. Not trying to waver, but this could literally go to either of those 3 guys and I wouldn’t bat an eye!
CP’s 174 Predictions and Tiers
1. Elliot Riddick-Lehigh
2. Shane Hughes-Columbia
3. Mathew Miller-Navy
184
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Gabe Dean, Cornell
2. Lorenzo Thomas, Penn
3. Ophir Bernstein, Brown
4. Brett Harner, Princeton
5. Ryan Topkins, Army
6. Zach Hernandez, Columbia
Gabe Dean has quickly grown into one of the most talked about stars in our sport in just the early stages of his Freshman year. Regardless of how his season turns out, his win over Ed Ruth will go down as one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history. He is the clear favorite to win EIWA’s, but it won’t be by runaway. He has a 3-2 win over Bernstein and a 7-5 over Thomas of Penn. All 3 of these Ivy hammers will likely go deep into the NCAA tournament in OKC.
I just can’t see Dean faltering here. He’s been so consistent all season, I think he’s the guy. Thomas seemingly has Bernstein’s number having beaten him 10-6 and 8-5.
CP’s 184 Predictions and Tiers
1. Gabe Dean-Cornell
2. Lawrence Thomas-Penn
3. Ophir Bernstein-Brown
197
Automatic Qualifiers-7
Pre Seeds
1. Brandon Palik, Drexel
2. Jace Bennett, Cornell
3. Danny Mitchell, American
4. Cody Reed, Binghamton
5. Abe Ayala, Princeton
6. James Fox, Harvard
Holy Smokes, 7 spots!? That’s just 1 fewer than the Big 10 got at this weight. Drexel Senior Brandon Palik is in his first season in the EIWA and looks to be transitioning well. Palik has always been solid, but will struggle to put lots of points on the board. As a top seed, he’s vulnerable.
There’s tons of talent here which has yielded tons of inconsistent results. Bennett, Mattiace, MItchell, Reed, Fox and Ayala all are solid guys on a similar tier. Totally baffled by this weight. I think Mitchell is clearly the best guy from a talent standpoint, but he’s fallen apart a bit lately. If he gets back clicking, he’s the guy.
CP’s 197 Predictions and Tiers
1. Dan Mitchell-American
2. Brandon Palik-Drexel
3. Cody Reed-Binghamton
4. Jace Bennett-Cornell
5. Frank Mattiace-Penn
6. James Fox-Harvard
7. Abe Ayala-Princeton
285
Automatic Qualifiers-4
Pre Seeds
1. Billy Smith, Rutgers
2. Joe Stolfi, Bucknell
3. Tyler Deuel, Binghamton
4. Blake Herrin, American
5. Jacob Aiken-Phillips, Cornell
6. Max Wessell, Lehigh
Solid weight here. No world beaters, but a number of quality guys. Even your 6 seed Wessell has a win over JT Felix of Boise State! Stolfi is a bonus point machine and a hammer on top, but consistency has been an issue for him. Smith on the other hand hasn’t had the swings Stolfi has. However, I don’t think his upside is there.
The battle for the 3rd and 4th spot is wide open for these guys and any of these guys has a legitimate shot. I tend to err towards upside, and I think Herrin has shown more, as has Deuel. I like Stolfi to win, but really, you can’t feel but so confident in any of these guys!
CP’s 285 Predictions and Tiers
1. Joe Stolfi-Bucknell
2. Billy Smith-Rutgers
3. Blake Herrin-American
4. Tyler Deuel-Binghamton
Team Predictions and Tiers
1. Cornell
2. Lehigh
3. Hofstra
4. Columbia
5. Rutgers