2020 Redshirt Report: 184 Pounds
2020 Redshirt Report: 184 Pounds
Another set of guys coming off redshirt who are ready make an impact on the 2019-20 NCAA wrestling.
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Like a Red Barchetta, cruising down the highway, a new NCAA season is coming barrelling at us, bringing a whole new set of wrestlers who missed last season due to deferred eligibility, injuries, or something else, but who are now ready to take their place in the varsity lineup.
Whether training at your uncle's country place that no one knows about or at a well established a known club, these wrestlers are hungry to get back into the action. Laughing our loud with fear and hope for their desperate plan to become NCAA champions.
Here is another set of guys coming off redshirt who are ready make an impact on the 2019-20 NCAA wrestling.
2020 Redshirt Reports: 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174
Trent Hidlay, North Carolina State, Freshman
The Mifflin County, PA native munched down innumerable hoagies as he bulked up to 184 over the course of his true freshman season. Hidlay also mowed down most of his opponents, winning 24 of 26 bouts, with all but two of those matches coming against D1 competition.
Trent's sole loses were to two-time All-American Joe Smith and three-time All-American David McFadden at the Southern Scuffle at 174 pounds. Hidlay balanced that against a victory over Cornell All-American, Brandon Womack, at the Jonathan Kalous Bearcat Open at 174.
Following the annual New Year's tournament in Chattanooga, Hidlay committed to his bulking, winning the Appalachian Open and National Collegiate Open up at 184.
Hidlay continued his competition and hoagie crushing ways in the summer freestyle season, winning the U.S. Open and Junior World Team Trials at 86kg (around 189 pounds). This means Hidlay will represent the USA in Estonia at the UWW Junior World Championships in less than two weeks from now before returning to Raleigh for his first varsity season with the Wolfpack.
Watch Hidlay make the world team over Victor Marcelli in the video below:
Hunter Bolen, Virginia Tech, Sophomore
Bolen was a surprise national qualifier his true freshman season in 2018 (at least to some, perhaps Bolen and the Virginia Tech program thought differently). Bolen was thrust into the lineup after two-time All-American Zach Epperly completed his undergraduate degree and declined to return to campus for his final season of eligibility. Last season, Bolen was able to take a redshirt as David McFadden bumped up and Mekhi Lewis took over 165.
Bolen wrestled up at 184 while redshirting, winning the Hokie and Wolfpack Opens, then placing second at the Southern Scuffle. Bolen's only loss of the season was to Shakur Rasheed in the Scuffle finals.
With the graduation of two-time All-American Zack Zavatsky, Bolen is poised for a breakout season for the Hokies at 184.
Watch Bolen make the Scuffle finals over Lou DePrez of Binghamton:
Gavin Hoffman, Ohio State, Freshman
Another member of Ohio State's monster 2019 recruiting class, aka the Cozy Boys, Hoffman recorded an impressive 25-3 record while deferring eligibility. But with Myles Martin's incredible career as a Buckeye complete, the 184-spot in the Tom Ryan's lineup is there for the taking.
Hoffman's three losses were to two All-Americans (Emery Parker and Drew Foster) and one national qualifier (Mason Reinhardt). The Buckeyes have been phenomenal at reloading during the Tom Ryan era, and Hoffman replacing MyMar is just another example of the puzzle pieces once again coming together in Columbus.
Watch Hoffman defeat three-time NCAA qualifier CJ LaFragola of Brown for fifth-place at the 56th Midlands:
Victor Marcelli, Virginia, Freshman
Marcelli had a very solid campaign for the Cavaliers, going 21-6 while winning the Hokie Open's freshman & sophomore 184-pound division. Marcelli also placed in five other tournaments.
Marcelli was also very successful on the junior freestyle circuit, finishing as runnerup at the World Team Trials. Trent Hidlay proved to be the bane of Marcelli's 2018-19 season, beating him twice in folkstyle and freestyle.
Watch Marcelli avenge a U.S. Open loss to Zach Braunagel in the WTT semifinals:
Aaron Brooks, Penn State, Freshman
Brooks spent last season at the Olympic Training Center to help hone his freestyle skills before matriculating at Penn State. The Maryland native has a Cadet World gold medal and a Junior silver medal from 2017 and 2018 respectively. He also won the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial.
Brooks has the option to take an official redshirt this season, which there is a good chance of happening as Shakur Rasheed is coming back for another season. But, Mark Hall does have the option of taking a redshirt, which would open up 174, at which point the next question becomes if Brooks can make it down to 174 for a full season. Aaron did wrestle two matches at the Midlands at 174, but had been at 184 for several matches before the holiday tournament. Whether or not we'll see Brooks on next year's redshirt report remains to be seen.
Anthony Montalvo, Oklahoma State, Freshman
California native Anthony Montalvo started out his true freshman year pistols firing, wrestling in 21 matches and winning 18 of them, all before Christmas. Montalvo shut it down after the Reno Tournament of Champions, but could, like classmate Travis Wittlake, figure into the Oklahoma State lineup as a redshirt freshman. A lot will depend on what Dakota Geer does, but losing All-Americans Jacobe Smith and Chandler Rogers to graduation opens up a lot of options for the next generation of Cowboys.
Zach Braunagel, Illinois, Freshman
Braunagel stopped his folkstyle season after going 1-2 at Midlands, but still amassed an impressive 12-5 record in 2018. The Fargo champ and native of Illinois picked things right back up when freestyle season rolled around, finishing as runner up at the U.S. Open junior 86kg bracket, and fifth at the World Team Trials.
Jack Jessen, Northwestern, Freshman
Like Braunagel, Jessen was a Fargo champ who stayed in-state to continue his academic and athletic career. Jessen had a solid redshirt season and is expected to be the 184-pound starter in a Wildcast lineup that features some very impressive firepower.
Peter Acciardi, Buffalo, Freshman
Acciardi was a New Jersey state champ at 220 but is expected to slim down to 184 for the Bulls by the start of the new season. Acciardi will have competition from his teammates but is the early favorite to emerge as the starter for head coach John Stutzman.
Billy Janzer, Rutgers, Freshman
With long-time Scarlet Knight stalwart Nick Gravina out of eligibility and senior Jordan Pagano rumored to be bumping up to 197, Billy Janzer is looking like the guy to man 184 for head coach Scott Goodale and company in New Brunswick. Janzer finished his true frosh season with a 15-4 record against mostly D1 opponents.
Cody Mulligan, Edinboro, Freshman
Two-time Pennsylvania state champ Cody Mulligan is ready to help lead the renaissance at Edinboro. Zach Ancewicz, the Fighting Scots' starting 184-pounders from last season, does return, but Mulligan has a good shot at claiming the job and helping Edinboro improve on last year's 2-9 dual meet record.
Jared Krattiger, Wisconsin, Freshman
Krattiger will have stiff competition from graduate transfer Johnn Sebastian, who was a two-time NCAA qualifier at Northwestern, for the starting gig in Madison. Head coach Chris Bono has a good problem on his hands with Sebastian and Wisconsin state champ Jared Krattiger on his roster.
Ben Cushman, Central Michigan, Freshman
Following the graduation of senior Jordan Atienza, Michigan high school state champ Ben Cushman is expected to win the starting job for the Chippewas at 184-pounds this upcoming season.
Riley Smucker, Cleveland State, Freshman
After a redshirt season at App State, Riley Smucker is returning to Northeast Ohio to continue his college career as a Viking. Smucker went 18-9 last season and while he will have competition for the job, figures to take up the 184-pound varsity role next season at Cleveland State.
If we missed anyone, it's because we're driving like the wind, straining the limits of machine and man, and got distracted. Let us know who should also be included!