2017 Big 12 ChampionshipMar 1, 2017 by Kyle Bratke
Who Will Make Big 12 History?
Who Will Make Big 12 History?
We take a look at what former Western Wrestling Conference wrestler could make history this weekend at the Big 12 Tournament.
In July 2015, the Big 12 announced it was absorbing six affiliate members from the Western Wrestling Conference for wrestling. The additions of Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, and Wyoming helped make the Big 12 one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
Last year was the first time the former WWC members competed at the Big 12 Championships. While five former WWC members made the finals, none were able to walk away with titles. So, that got us thinking: Which wrestler could break through in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday and win the first Big 12 Championship for a former WWC school? Watch the Big 12 Championship LIVE on Flo this weekend.
125: Josh Rodriguez, North Dakota State
Seventh-ranked Josh Rodriguez in my mind comes in as the favorite to break the streak. Rodriguez, who will go into the tournament as the top seed, has been outstanding this season. His only loss of the season came to No. 4 Joey Dance. Rodriguez will see Christian Moody in the semifinals and then likely No. 10 Nick Piccininni in the finals. Piccininni would probably be Rodriguez's toughest test of the season outside of Dance. Piccininni, an Oklahoma State freshman, is good on his feet and tough on top, but I still like Rodriguez to win the first Big 12 title for a former WWC team.
133: Seth Gross, South Dakota State
If Rodriguez can't break the streak during the first weight class of the tournament, Gross may be the man to snap it. The fifth-ranked Jackrabbit will also be the top seed and has already beaten No. 2 Kaid Brock. An OSU redshirt freshman, Brock will also face a much tougher semifinal, as he will have to beat two-time All-American Earl Hall for the second time just to get a rematch with Gross in the finals. While Gross won the first meeting in Gallagher-Iba, it could have easily gone Brock's way. This possible rematch is probably the most anticipated match of the Big 12 Championships. A year ago, Gross fell to eventual NCAA champion Dean Heil in the Big 12 finals.
Watch Brock and Gross' first meeting.
141: Bryce Meredith, Wyoming
The 141lb final will likely be another rematch of the NCAA finals between Dean Heil and Bryce Meredith. The three previous meetings were decided by a combined four points, so you can definitely expect another tight one this weekend. In their last meeting, won by Heil 7-5. Heil won the takedown battle by taking Meredith down twice, but Meredith was able to reverse the defending national champ two times. Expect another close one this weekend if the two meet for a fourth time.
157: Clay Ream, North Dakota State
Like teammate Josh Rodriguez, Ream has been outstanding this year and will likely meet up with an Oklahoma State Cowboy in the finals. Returning All-American and Big 12 champion Joe Smith is the favorite to emerge from the top side, while No. 11 Ream will have to square off with No. 15 Clark Glass in the semis to get a shot at Smith. On a 10-match win streak, Ream has been as hot as any wrestler in the country, with victories over No. 20 Sal Mastriani, No. 14 Josh Shields, Andrew Atkinson, and Archie Colgan. As we know, Smith hasn't been himself this year and could be vulnerable to the red-hot Ream.
174: David Kocer, South Dakota State
David Kocer will enter the Big 12 Championship as the top seed. Ranked 15th in the nation, Kocer put the conference on notice on the opening night of the season when took out returning All-American Lelund Weatherspoon. Kocer has followed that up with a solid season and has earned the top seed thanks to a win over All-American and No. 7 Kyle Crutchmer. However, Kocer did take a loss to No. 20 Kimball Bastian a few weeks ago, and Kocer will have to go through Bastian again to make the finals. Expect fireworks in the other semifinal as well, with All-Americans Crutchmer and Weatherspoon likely squaring off.
197: Nate Rotert, South Dakota State
After falling in the Big 12 finals last season, No. 8 Nate Rotert is back looking to pick up the title he missed out on a season ago. However, this is probably the toughest weight the Big 12 has to offer with three wrestlers ranked in the top 10. If seeds hold, Rotert would square off with No. 9 Preston Weigel, who beat him in the Big 12 finals a season ago, for the right to meet No. 5 Jake Smith in the finals. Rotert did just beat Weigel a little over a month ago but has never beaten Smith.
Watch Nate Rotert's overtime win over Preston Weigel.
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Last year was the first time the former WWC members competed at the Big 12 Championships. While five former WWC members made the finals, none were able to walk away with titles. So, that got us thinking: Which wrestler could break through in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday and win the first Big 12 Championship for a former WWC school? Watch the Big 12 Championship LIVE on Flo this weekend.
125: Josh Rodriguez, North Dakota State
Seventh-ranked Josh Rodriguez in my mind comes in as the favorite to break the streak. Rodriguez, who will go into the tournament as the top seed, has been outstanding this season. His only loss of the season came to No. 4 Joey Dance. Rodriguez will see Christian Moody in the semifinals and then likely No. 10 Nick Piccininni in the finals. Piccininni would probably be Rodriguez's toughest test of the season outside of Dance. Piccininni, an Oklahoma State freshman, is good on his feet and tough on top, but I still like Rodriguez to win the first Big 12 title for a former WWC team.133: Seth Gross, South Dakota State
If Rodriguez can't break the streak during the first weight class of the tournament, Gross may be the man to snap it. The fifth-ranked Jackrabbit will also be the top seed and has already beaten No. 2 Kaid Brock. An OSU redshirt freshman, Brock will also face a much tougher semifinal, as he will have to beat two-time All-American Earl Hall for the second time just to get a rematch with Gross in the finals. While Gross won the first meeting in Gallagher-Iba, it could have easily gone Brock's way. This possible rematch is probably the most anticipated match of the Big 12 Championships. A year ago, Gross fell to eventual NCAA champion Dean Heil in the Big 12 finals. Watch Brock and Gross' first meeting.
141: Bryce Meredith, Wyoming
The 141lb final will likely be another rematch of the NCAA finals between Dean Heil and Bryce Meredith. The three previous meetings were decided by a combined four points, so you can definitely expect another tight one this weekend. In their last meeting, won by Heil 7-5. Heil won the takedown battle by taking Meredith down twice, but Meredith was able to reverse the defending national champ two times. Expect another close one this weekend if the two meet for a fourth time. 157: Clay Ream, North Dakota State
Like teammate Josh Rodriguez, Ream has been outstanding this year and will likely meet up with an Oklahoma State Cowboy in the finals. Returning All-American and Big 12 champion Joe Smith is the favorite to emerge from the top side, while No. 11 Ream will have to square off with No. 15 Clark Glass in the semis to get a shot at Smith. On a 10-match win streak, Ream has been as hot as any wrestler in the country, with victories over No. 20 Sal Mastriani, No. 14 Josh Shields, Andrew Atkinson, and Archie Colgan. As we know, Smith hasn't been himself this year and could be vulnerable to the red-hot Ream.174: David Kocer, South Dakota State
David Kocer will enter the Big 12 Championship as the top seed. Ranked 15th in the nation, Kocer put the conference on notice on the opening night of the season when took out returning All-American Lelund Weatherspoon. Kocer has followed that up with a solid season and has earned the top seed thanks to a win over All-American and No. 7 Kyle Crutchmer. However, Kocer did take a loss to No. 20 Kimball Bastian a few weeks ago, and Kocer will have to go through Bastian again to make the finals. Expect fireworks in the other semifinal as well, with All-Americans Crutchmer and Weatherspoon likely squaring off.197: Nate Rotert, South Dakota State
After falling in the Big 12 finals last season, No. 8 Nate Rotert is back looking to pick up the title he missed out on a season ago. However, this is probably the toughest weight the Big 12 has to offer with three wrestlers ranked in the top 10. If seeds hold, Rotert would square off with No. 9 Preston Weigel, who beat him in the Big 12 finals a season ago, for the right to meet No. 5 Jake Smith in the finals. Rotert did just beat Weigel a little over a month ago but has never beaten Smith.Watch Nate Rotert's overtime win over Preston Weigel.
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