It's no secret that wrestling is highly concentrated in the Northeast, and in fact Who's #1 takes place in one of the sport's most historically talented area. But instead of two guys from within 50 miles or so wrestling for the top spot in the country, it's a couple young men from West of the Mississippi.

Watch WNO LIVE | Buy WNO Tickets

Sunday, Oct. 7th | 2:00 pm Eastern

Andrew Alirez is from Greeley, CO, and attends Greeley Central high school. He'd had a typically strong high school career, working his way into the rankings, but nothing like what he did this spring and summer in frreestyle. After finishing third at the Junior Open and making the Junior Trials finals, he earned a gold medal at Pan Ams, vaulting him into the top spot in the country at 152 pounds.

So how'd he get there? What did he do to pick up wins over guys a couple years older than him, such as Nick Lee, Kaden Gfeller, Dom Demas, and Yahya Thomas? Earn takedowns with one of the best swing singles in the country. Now in freestyle Alirez turns each one into big points by immediately transitioning it into a lace or trap arm. In folkstyle, he more often gets the 2 on the edge and then plays catch-and-release to build his lead.

I'd liken his swing single to a pendulum. If you spliced a whole bunch of them together in a row, you'd see the same beats: low shot, creates an angle, comes back up to his feet, kicks their free leg out, takedown. He can shoot to both sides but winds up on his opponent's right leg far more often. Oh, and when he doesn't bring it up, he'll position his hips back inside and change direction on them.

That style of offense doesn't bode well for the challenger in this match, #2 Jace Luchau of Selma, CA. Take some of his folkstyle losses last year, such as to Vincent Andreano at Super 32 or Gabe Dinette at Doc B. Both saw him get taken down with swing singles that are not on the same level as Alirez's.

When the WNO lineup was first announced, both Willie and I discussed how Luchau had earned it, making hay from a traditional wrestling school in Selma. He made his way to the Snake Pit with wins over the likes of Connor Brady and Paddy Gallagher. But that doesn't erase the fact that he's got some defeats in folkstyle.

Sometimes Luchau doesn't always get a chance to pull guys into short offense and hit a mixer on them, or can't necessarily turn his chest wrap into points like he can in freestyle. It's doubtful that either of them will be able to get points from the top position.

Alirez's swing single is going to decide the match. Luchau's offense relies heavily on athleticism and counters, so if he can replicate what Max Murin did to Alirez at the Open, he'll be in position to win.

PURCHASE WHO'S #1 TICKETS | WATCH WHO'S #1 LIVE | 2018 WHO'S #1 CARD

Right now, I feel like it's going to be all Alirez, three takedowns to none. And honestly, Luchau probably likes it better that way. He made it to Who's #1 as an underdog, and if he wins on Sunday afternoon, he'd rather nobody believed in him except for his team and coaches.

Alirez will be heading to Northern Colorado after high school, having already committed back in January. However, Luchau's verbal is still up in the air. College coaches will have a much better idea of what they're getting in Luchau after getting to watch him at Who's #1.

Nomad's Pick

Alirez 7-3 over Luchau