What You Can't Miss At Super 32
What You Can't Miss At Super 32
This year's Super 32 is going to have some of the heaviest of the hitter locking horns.
As you see on the list of every ranked wrestler coming to Super 32, the tradition of bringing the most talented high schoolers from around the country together for one tournament is once again in full effect at this year's event.
From weight class to weight class, the most highly ranked wrestlers are set to hit from Oct. 27-29 in Greensboro, NC. But there are certainly some things that have us anxiously awaiting the first whistle. So let's take a look at some of the biggest potential matchups that we hopefully get to see and the weight classes you should keep an eye on throughout the tournament.
No. 3 Braxton Amos vs. The Field At 200
Braxton Amos has proved that he is one of the most talented big guys.
Amos has a skill set that has showed that he belongs among the elite. Coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for his entire freshman year, he made his return this summer in Fargo with a bang as he threw just about everyone over the top for big points. But what separates him from the competition are his low-level attacks. He has an incredible arsenal with a nice high crotch and a low single that he finishes with ease.
In his way will be a pretty talented field that features No. 8 Josiah Jones, No. 13 Peter Acciardi, No. 14 Ben Goldin and No. 16 Max Darrah. Jones gave fellow West Virginian Noah Adams some fits in the Powerade finals two years ago where they needed overtime. He has the capability to go with anyone and could be the one to give Amos the biggest problems should they meet.
A Loaded 120-Pound Field
With 13 ranked wrestlers and a host of talented guys looking to crack the top 20, this weight class is the No. 1 battle to watch throughout the tournament. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing 11th-ranked Ryan Sokol against some higher level competition. In the Fargo finals, he may have gotten the tech, but he seemed pretty dependent on his hip toss. At some points it put him in trouble, and he will have to open up with some different attacks against the likes of Brody Teske, Tommy Hoskins, Patrick McKee, and certainly Adam Busiello.
Speaking of Busiello, the last time we saw him he had taken some losses at NHSCA duals. But this has proved to be his tournament. In two years in two different weight classes, Busiello has taken home the belt. Once again he's up a weight and looking to repeat as champion. Antonio Mininno has a little to prove after a not-so-good outing in Fargo. He had a high point at FloNationals that really put him on the radar as he came away with the title, but then not placing in Fargo knocked him down a peg. Last year he placed fourth, losing to McKee 4-3 in the third-place match. But he's proven to be a gamer. In the match with McKee, Busiello was in on so many shots but was only able to finish once. He's got nice attacks, but if he can't finish his shots it's going to make for a tough tournament for him.
Anyway, no matter what, keep an eye on this bracket. There will be tons of fireworks with all the talent registered here.
At this time last year, Pat Glory was unranked. All that changed pretty quickly after he took home the Super 32 belt at 120 with a 4-2 win over Andrew Alirez in the finals. But can he do it again? Alirez will once again be in the mix looking to get some revenge, but Ryan Anderson, Beau Bartlett, and Josh Saunders will also challenge Glory for title.
I consider Anderson to be Glory's biggest threat to repeat. Anderson is a hammer on top with constant pressure. Last year, he gave Julian Chlebove fits when they met in the consolation round, with Chlebove getting the 1-0 win. Anderson's relentless forward movement could be a problem for Glory who likes to use pressure from the outside and fakes to create scoring opportunities.
The on-mat disrespect between Carson Manville and Nick Raimo is real. It's not the most heated "rivalry," but where there is smoke there is fire. That holds true when these guys meet. Over the summer, each of them getting the better of one another in freestyle and Greco battles at the Cadet Trials in Akron. Raimo flexed on Manville in Greco, with Manville coming up clutch late in freestyle.
The proven game changer here is Manville's positioning. It makes for an almost impenetrable defense and an opportunistic offense, especially against a guy like Raimo, who does not fire off a lot of leg attacks. More times than most, Raimo will sit back against his opponents and allow them to make mistakes, like when they shoot with their elbows out and give him the chance to pancake them to their backs. But like I said, that's not really Manville's style. He comes forward a lot to force the issue, leaving Raimo circling with his patient mistake-allowing style.
Note: Nick Raimo, we've seen you shoot before and it is great. More of that please.
Watch Raimo and Manville's wild match at the Cadet World Team Trials.
From weight class to weight class, the most highly ranked wrestlers are set to hit from Oct. 27-29 in Greensboro, NC. But there are certainly some things that have us anxiously awaiting the first whistle. So let's take a look at some of the biggest potential matchups that we hopefully get to see and the weight classes you should keep an eye on throughout the tournament.
No. 3 Braxton Amos vs. The Field At 200
Braxton Amos has proved that he is one of the most talented big guys.
Amos has a skill set that has showed that he belongs among the elite. Coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for his entire freshman year, he made his return this summer in Fargo with a bang as he threw just about everyone over the top for big points. But what separates him from the competition are his low-level attacks. He has an incredible arsenal with a nice high crotch and a low single that he finishes with ease.
In his way will be a pretty talented field that features No. 8 Josiah Jones, No. 13 Peter Acciardi, No. 14 Ben Goldin and No. 16 Max Darrah. Jones gave fellow West Virginian Noah Adams some fits in the Powerade finals two years ago where they needed overtime. He has the capability to go with anyone and could be the one to give Amos the biggest problems should they meet.
A Loaded 120-Pound Field
With 13 ranked wrestlers and a host of talented guys looking to crack the top 20, this weight class is the No. 1 battle to watch throughout the tournament. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing 11th-ranked Ryan Sokol against some higher level competition. In the Fargo finals, he may have gotten the tech, but he seemed pretty dependent on his hip toss. At some points it put him in trouble, and he will have to open up with some different attacks against the likes of Brody Teske, Tommy Hoskins, Patrick McKee, and certainly Adam Busiello.
Speaking of Busiello, the last time we saw him he had taken some losses at NHSCA duals. But this has proved to be his tournament. In two years in two different weight classes, Busiello has taken home the belt. Once again he's up a weight and looking to repeat as champion. Antonio Mininno has a little to prove after a not-so-good outing in Fargo. He had a high point at FloNationals that really put him on the radar as he came away with the title, but then not placing in Fargo knocked him down a peg. Last year he placed fourth, losing to McKee 4-3 in the third-place match. But he's proven to be a gamer. In the match with McKee, Busiello was in on so many shots but was only able to finish once. He's got nice attacks, but if he can't finish his shots it's going to make for a tough tournament for him.
Anyway, no matter what, keep an eye on this bracket. There will be tons of fireworks with all the talent registered here.
Can Pat Glory Repeat?
At this time last year, Pat Glory was unranked. All that changed pretty quickly after he took home the Super 32 belt at 120 with a 4-2 win over Andrew Alirez in the finals. But can he do it again? Alirez will once again be in the mix looking to get some revenge, but Ryan Anderson, Beau Bartlett, and Josh Saunders will also challenge Glory for title.
I consider Anderson to be Glory's biggest threat to repeat. Anderson is a hammer on top with constant pressure. Last year, he gave Julian Chlebove fits when they met in the consolation round, with Chlebove getting the 1-0 win. Anderson's relentless forward movement could be a problem for Glory who likes to use pressure from the outside and fakes to create scoring opportunities.
Manville vs. Raimo Continues
The on-mat disrespect between Carson Manville and Nick Raimo is real. It's not the most heated "rivalry," but where there is smoke there is fire. That holds true when these guys meet. Over the summer, each of them getting the better of one another in freestyle and Greco battles at the Cadet Trials in Akron. Raimo flexed on Manville in Greco, with Manville coming up clutch late in freestyle.
The proven game changer here is Manville's positioning. It makes for an almost impenetrable defense and an opportunistic offense, especially against a guy like Raimo, who does not fire off a lot of leg attacks. More times than most, Raimo will sit back against his opponents and allow them to make mistakes, like when they shoot with their elbows out and give him the chance to pancake them to their backs. But like I said, that's not really Manville's style. He comes forward a lot to force the issue, leaving Raimo circling with his patient mistake-allowing style.
Note: Nick Raimo, we've seen you shoot before and it is great. More of that please.
Watch Raimo and Manville's wild match at the Cadet World Team Trials.