Ed Ruth, David Taylor, Quentin Wright and Jesse Delgado.  These guys all have 2 things in common: 1. They're NCAA Champions and 2) They competed at the National Collegiate Open. 

This season isn’t over yet, but if you want a preview for next year it starts at the National Collegiate Open. I’ve followed this tournament for years, and this could be the most loaded field yet. The best redshirts, non-starters, deferred enrollers in the country put it on the line in Virginia this Sunday!

There are a few absolutely LOADED weights. The first one that comes to mind for me is 165. Chance Marsteller, Ryan Blees, Garrett Peppelman and Chandler Rogers all are entered here! Marsteller looks to be the front runner. It’s interesting to remember that Marsteller, Blees and Rogers are all on the same team (Oklahoma State) as well as being some of the most coveted recruits last year. Blees and Peppelman had an EPIC Dapper Dan match that I can only HOPE we’d see a rematch of. Also, Peppelman and Marsteller met in the PA state finals a few years back! 165 is going to be a DOOZY!

Here's that Peppelman/Blees with the CLASSIC finish!

Watch more videos on Flowrestling

At 133 Campbell’s Nathan Kraisser will be the front runner here. The UNC transfer was once up big late against Jesse Delgado in the NCAA quarters before Jesse’s dramatic comeback. He had a rough season a year ago and now is looking for an NCO title. He’ll be challenged by Maryland’s Tyler Goodwin and Rutger’s Anthony Giraldo. Giraldo knocked off Caleb Richardson this year and Goodwin has knocked off Bloomsburg’s Chase Zemenak.

Do NOT sleep on 141: Brock Zacherl of Clarion, Maryland’s Baby J (AKA Alfred Bannister), Brock Ervin of Illinois, Oklahoma State’s Mike Magaldo and Cornell’s Nick Arujau. Zacherl made noise earlier this year when he pushed Mitchell Port. The Fargo Runner up will have his hands full here with Ervin who has notched wins this year over Chuck Zeisloft and Trevor Jauch. Beast of the East champ Bannister has been solid in his True Freshman campaign knocking off nationally ranked Kevin Jack. Nick Arujau has been known to slay a giant here and there, consistency and health have often been obstacles. He’ll be fun to watch here.

125 has one of my favorite guys to watch and someone I feel very confident will be a contender next year: Stevan Micic of Northwestern. Having knocked off David Terao, Kory Mines and Connor Youtsey, there’s little doubt he’s the man to beat here. He’ll face competition from Sean Russell of Edinboro and Will Mason of UVA.

I can’t wait for 149 either.  Solomon Chishko made some serious noise at the Edinboro Open when he knocked off Dippery, Pagdilao and Laike Gardner. He’ll be challenged by Joe Galasso, Tyson Dippery, Jake Ryan (Son of Ohio State HC Tom Ryan) and Beau Donahue! Donahue may be under the radar for you but he knocked off Mike DePalma and TJ Miller this season. He’s a definite X-Factor here.

I’m a man who knows his limitations and when to reach out for help. I felt this article needed a little bit more, so I reached out to the foremost authority on high school wrestling. Willie Saylor just watched many of these guys graduate just a year ago and is very well versed with who to watch out for. These are the guys I didn't hit on in my preview that Willie thinks can make some noise!  Without any further ado, here’s Willie’s watch list!  


Willie’s Watch List:
165 Kyle Bova Lock Haven: FloNationals Runner-Up
174 Brandon Womack-Cornell: Perhaps Alabama's best HS wrestler ever.
174 Dillon Artigliere-Cornell: 2xer from NJ.
184 Zack Zavatsky-Virginia Tech: Super 32 Champ
197 Anthony Cassar - Penn State: NJ State Champ
197 Chance McClure - Virginia: NHSCA Champ.
197 Jacob Taylor- Cornell: PA State Champ
285 Samuel Breese - Kent State: PA State Champ
285 Wesley Bernard - Rutgers: Top 4 at both Fargo and FloNats.
285 William Miller - Edinboro: Ohio State Champ.

So there it is.  You've got the inside scoop for the NCO.  Now all ya gotta do is tune in Sunday and enjoy seeing the FUTURE stars of the NCAA!