Chael Sonnen's NJCAA Preview
Chael Sonnen's NJCAA Preview
Chanel Sonnen, NJCAA Wrestling
Chael Sonnen is a passionate wrestling fan who follows the action at all levels. Below is his take on the 2016 NJCAA Wrestling Championships which will be LIVE on FloWrestling this Friday and Saturday Frebruary 26-27.
I'm like every other Division I coach in the country. I scout athletes for the future by keeping my eye on 3 tournaments: (1) FARGO, (2) FLO NATIONALS, and (3) the NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Junior College Nationals kick off this weekend, and I see several hungry wrestlers hoping to catch a scout’s attention and gain the opportunity to extend their careers to the next stage. Is there another T.J. Williams, Brock Lesnar, or Tyrell Fortune in this year’s field? Perhaps.
I think it's a four-team race: Iowa Central and Ellsworth from the central region, NE Oklahoma from the Midwest region, and Clackamas from the West. Iowa Western is a fringe team that could place very high. So could Nassau from New York.
I would say 141 is the toughest weight class this year. It includes the defending champ, except now he’s ranked #8 due to several losses earlier in the season. The current #1-ranked wrestler is from North Idaho, but unfortunately, he can’t compete in the tournament due to a suspension, so that opens things up a bit in terms of expectations. That weight class should be a great one to watch.
Scott Norton is the head coach at Highline and a former teammate of yours truly. He is very big on a relatively unknown kid at 133 named Andrew Ramirez, who was not ranked prior to the National Qualifiers, but should be in the rankings before Nationals commence. He is very good, and I would not be surprised to see him reach the semifinals, possibly even the finals.
In my opinion, the best guy in the NJCAA this year is Jacob Smith of NE Oklahoma. He won the tournament last year and is looking solid again this year. He's got speed and "go to" attacks when he needs to score. I’ve only seen him forced to come from behind once this season, and he always shows up on game day.
But the storyline to watch out for is the team race. I see several in the hunt and expect a competitive event with the top score changing hands multiple times throughout the first day and perhaps early in the morning session on Day 2. Can Ellsworth break through as a legitimate championship team? Can Iowa Central repeat? Can CCC turn its third straight national duals title into a team title rather than finishing 2nd or 3rd?
In full disclosure, I am not a writer who is confined to journalistic integrity. I'm a fan who calls it as I see it. You’d be wise to follow me blindly. With that said, GO COUGARS!
I'm like every other Division I coach in the country. I scout athletes for the future by keeping my eye on 3 tournaments: (1) FARGO, (2) FLO NATIONALS, and (3) the NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Junior College Nationals kick off this weekend, and I see several hungry wrestlers hoping to catch a scout’s attention and gain the opportunity to extend their careers to the next stage. Is there another T.J. Williams, Brock Lesnar, or Tyrell Fortune in this year’s field? Perhaps.
I think it's a four-team race: Iowa Central and Ellsworth from the central region, NE Oklahoma from the Midwest region, and Clackamas from the West. Iowa Western is a fringe team that could place very high. So could Nassau from New York.
I would say 141 is the toughest weight class this year. It includes the defending champ, except now he’s ranked #8 due to several losses earlier in the season. The current #1-ranked wrestler is from North Idaho, but unfortunately, he can’t compete in the tournament due to a suspension, so that opens things up a bit in terms of expectations. That weight class should be a great one to watch.
Scott Norton is the head coach at Highline and a former teammate of yours truly. He is very big on a relatively unknown kid at 133 named Andrew Ramirez, who was not ranked prior to the National Qualifiers, but should be in the rankings before Nationals commence. He is very good, and I would not be surprised to see him reach the semifinals, possibly even the finals.
In my opinion, the best guy in the NJCAA this year is Jacob Smith of NE Oklahoma. He won the tournament last year and is looking solid again this year. He's got speed and "go to" attacks when he needs to score. I’ve only seen him forced to come from behind once this season, and he always shows up on game day.
But the storyline to watch out for is the team race. I see several in the hunt and expect a competitive event with the top score changing hands multiple times throughout the first day and perhaps early in the morning session on Day 2. Can Ellsworth break through as a legitimate championship team? Can Iowa Central repeat? Can CCC turn its third straight national duals title into a team title rather than finishing 2nd or 3rd?
In full disclosure, I am not a writer who is confined to journalistic integrity. I'm a fan who calls it as I see it. You’d be wise to follow me blindly. With that said, GO COUGARS!