Who is going to end up as the top team at the beach this year?

In 2017, Team Kong won its second straight NHSCA Duals title with a one-point victory over Young Guns Black in the finals, 25-24, in Virginia Beach, VA. This year the returning champs have another tough squad, but they will face a stiff challenge to make it three straight. Let’s take a look at the top teams at the three-day tournament, which gets underway Saturday at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

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Team Shutt

If this was the NFL, then Team Shutt would have an A-plus grade for its draft class. At this year’s tournament, there will be five #1-ranked wrestlers and three of them will be repping Team Shutt. Registered to compete for this year's team this year are #1 Mason Parris, #1 Jacob Decatur, and #1 Malik Johnson. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the bullets in this extremely powerful gun. The addition of Jordan Decatur, Cole Matthews, Quincy Monday, Tyler Curd, and Kevon Freeman, among plenty others, is why this team shouldn’t lose one single dual. They are easily my pick to win it all this year. 

Team Kong United

The last two years Team Kong United has come out on top for the title over Young Guns Black with identical 25-24 scores. This year the reigning champs bring in a pretty tough lineup once again powered by New York studs Adam Busiello, Zac Redding, and Jacori Teemer. And they've gotten ever stronger after bringing in California state champ Nik Aguilar; tough Oklahoma youngster Dustin Plott, who put it on some college guys at the U.S. Open; and Brandon Kaylor, a Fargo champ. Kong obviously has the firepower to make it back to the finals again this year but has a big task in front of it with Team Shutt standing firmly in the way.

Young Guns Black

This could be the first time in a long time that they don’t make the finals. Like I said above, the last two years they’ve come up short in the finals with one-point losses to Team Kong. Even though the odds are against them this year, it’s not by a big margin. This team is filled with some of Pennsylvania’s best, led by four-time state champion Gavin Teasdale. The future Penn State Nittany Lion will be accompanied by fellow state champs Caleb Clymer, Isaac Reid, and Cody Mulligan. Also in the mix for the returning runners-up is two-timer Kyle Biscoglia, three-timer Jason Kraisser, and state second-placer Justin McCoy. Head coach Jody Strittmatter has another strong cast, and it will need to bring its A-game to get back on top.

Renegade Elite

Fresh off a dominant run to claim the 79kg spot on the Junior world team, Aaron Brooks will look to help a very large team in Renegade Elite make a splash at NHSCA Duals. Brooks, who just defeated former Bethlehem Catholic star Mikey Labriola in the finals at WTT, will be joining a team full of Becahi wrestlers which includes state champion Ryan Anderson. Heavy hitters on this team also include Cole Handlovic and Francis Duggan, along with Jarred Papcsy, an NC State commit. With over 30 wrestlers on this team, it seems to be more of a strength-in-numbers type movement and not a high-powered team of the top recruits like Team Shutt.

Dark Knights

Naturally, the top contender in this lineup is #1 Sammy Sasso. The Ohio State recruit will look to lead the Dark Knights along with a strong crop of guys that includes National Prep champion Drew Munch. Also of note is the presence of FloNational runner-up Sean Pierson, who was also third in the state, along with place-winners Nathan Stefanik, Tal-Reese Flemming, and Andrew Smith.

Other Contenders:

Scorpions Reunion 

T3 Wrestling Black

Team Nauman Red

Team Shutt Nation

South Florida Lightning/CFWA

Diesel