2020 National Preps Lightweight Preview: 106-145
2020 National Preps Lightweight Preview: 106-145
Nomad previews the seven lightest weights at the upcoming 2020 National Prep tournament this weekend at Lehigh.
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The 85th edition of the National Prep tournament commences this weekend at Stabler Arena on the campus of Lehigh University.
Watch the 2020 National Prep Championships LIVE on Flo
February 21-22 | 9:00 AM Eastern
We will be doing two previews for the illustrious event, starting here with the first seven weights and Big John Foster handling the last seven weights. Wyoming Seminary enters as the favorites over Blair Academy, with Malvern Prep nipping at their heels and McDonogh and Mount Saint Joseph out of Maryland fighting for the final top five spots.
The lower weights have star power in the form of four #1-ranked wrestlers: Marc-Anthony McGowan at 106, Shayne Van Ness at 132, Beau Bartlett at 138, and Lachlan McNeil at 145. Bartlett is looking to join elite company and become just the 12th wrestler to win four Prep titles.
Previous National Prep Brackets: 2017 | 2018 | 2019
The numbers listed next to the weights are the official seeds, along with a national ranking for those who have one.
106 Pounds
- #1 - Marc-Anthony McGowan (Blair Academy) FR
- Daniel Sheen (Wyoming Seminary) SO
- Tommy Link (Malvern Prep) FR
- Coleman Nogle (Mt. St. Joe) FR
- Kade Davidheiser (Hill School) FR
- Eli Spencer (Western Reserve) FR
- Caleb Seyfried (Green Farms Academy) SR
- Freddie Pimental (Belmont Hill) FR
- Christian Petry (Phillips Exeter) JR
- Mason Buckler (St. Mary's Ryken) JR
- Cristian DiBlasi (Governor's Academy) SO
- Keegan McMahon (Paul VI) FR
The top four seeds in the National Prep Rankings held serve at their respective qualifiers. McGowan is a heavy favorite and has been #1 since he won the Walsh Ironman and Cory Land moved up in weight. He has just one loss on the year but has otherwise looked incredible in winning FloNationals, Akron, a Cadet world title and Ironman.
Like with several weights, the top three teams also are represented by the top three seeds. Danny Sheen beat Tommy Link in the PAISWT finals. A third-period reversal was the difference in their 6-5 match, just like it was in the seventh-place bout at Ironman. That gave Sheen the 4-3 lead, which he extended to seven as he reversed Link to his back. Sheen is originally from Illinois where he transferred from Montini Catholic, while Link was a PJW runner-up last year for Upper Darby.
Coleman Nogle was a state champ for Mount Saint Joseph, who won the MIS title over McDonogh. He won Mount Mat Madness this year, the toughest tournament in Maryland, and was a double Fargo All-American this summer. He’ll be looking at Kade Davidheiser of The Hill School in the quarters. Led by David Hoffman, Hill should be a top-10 team this year, and Davidheiser improved his seed by defeating Eli Spencer in the third-place match of the Pennsylvania qualifier, giving PA four of the top six seeds.
Senior Caleb Seyfried won the New England qualifier. He was the nine seed last year, but lost in the first round and went 1-2 overall, so he will be searching for his first Prep placement. There were some shakeups at eight and below in the rankings, as unranked Freddy Pimental of Belmont Hill beat #8 Christian Petry in the NEISWA semis. Petry of Phillips Exeter Academy went on to get third, beating #9 Cristian DiBlasi of Governor’s Academy. St. Mary’s Ryken freshman Mason Buckler made the Maryland finals, so he may move up from his 10 spot.
Ultimately, it’s McGowan’s world and everyone else is fighting for second and to be on the podium. He beat Sheen in April in the FloNats finals, though that was in freestyle. For me, the big question is if Link can stop Sheen from making it to the first-place match.
Nomad's Picks: 1. McGowan, Blair 2. Link, Malvern 3. Sheen, Sem 4. Nogle, MSJ
113 Pounds
- #12 - Brennan Cernus (Wyoming Seminary) SO
- Luke Kowalski (St. John’s-DC) SR
- #13 - Erik Roggie (St. Christopher's) JR
- Brady Pruett (Spalding) SO
- Joe Couch (Mt. St. Joe) SO
- Keveyon Roller (Lakeway Christian Academy) SO
- Mason Stefanelli (Blair Academy) SO
- Tyler Knox (NMH) FR
- Spenser Barnhart (Malvern Prep) FR
- Joel Brown (McDonogh) FR
- Pearce Phillips (Providence Day) FR
- Sam Cartella (Western Reserve) FR
The top three seeds took care of business at their qualifiers, but Jacob Craig was upset in PA semis, injury-defaulted out of the consi semis after 50 seconds, and medical-forfeited for sixth. Here’s hoping he’s OK, as he was expected to be an important piece for Hill this weekend.
Brady Pruett beat Joe Couch for the second time this season, winning both the MIS and MMM finals over Couch. He also beat Couch in last year’s MIAA and MIS semis. In the NY/NJ qualifier, #12 in the Prep rankings Keveyon Roller defeated Blair’s Mason Stefanelli, who came in ranked seventh. It’s possible Stefanelli doesn’t place at a weight where Wyoming Seminary is expected to win, just increasing the likely gap between the two powerhouse programs.
Just like at 106, Pennsylvania appears to have the most depth, with four in the top nine before PAISWT and now freshman Suleyman Bakh of The Kiski School has entered the conversation. But we’re looking at an excellent final featuring two nationally ranked wrestlers: #12 Brennen Cernus and #16 Erik Roggie. Cernus is a stud sophomore from Ohio, while Roggie has clearly thrust himself onto the national level over the past year, starting with him making the Prep finals at 106 last time around.
Kowalski is a three-time Prep placer, finishing 6/7/6 with the first two at 106 and the last one at 113. Pruett and Couch both finished on the podium last year at 106, with Couch finishing fifth and Pruett seventh.
Cernus and Roggie split at Ironman, with Roggie winning on two stall calls and a late stack in the quarters. It was Roggie getting hit for stalling in the fifth-place match to force overtime, with Cernus getting the takedown halfway through sudden victory.
Nomad's Picks: 1. Roggie, St. Chris 2. Cernus, Sem 3. Kowalski, St. Johns 4. Pruett, Spalding
120 Pounds
- #5 - Cooper Flynn (McDonogh) JR
- #6 - Ryan Miller (Blair Academy) SR
- #18 - Nico Provo (Green Farms Academy) JR
- Dayton Delviscio (Malvern Prep) SR
- Gregor McNeil (Wyoming Seminary)
- Chris Kim (Germantown) SR
- Brendan Barnes (Benedictine) JR
- NaSir Wilkinson (Bullis) JR
- Jacob Wright (Mt. St. Joe) SO
- Tyriel Jefferson (St. Mary's Ryken) JR
- Matty Walsh (Loyola) SO
- Conor Lozupone (Good Counsel) SR
Here we come to what is probably our deepest weight thus far. This bracket goes six deep in terms of national caliber guys, and then 7-10 have quality wins against Prep opponents. Cooper Flynn and Ryan Miller have one of the best rivalries in high school wrestling, and it closes out this weekend (in folkstyle at least, freestyle season will soon be upon us!). Nico Provo made both the Fargo and Super 32 finals, and McNeil has been a breakout for the best team at Preps.
Dayton Delviscio and Chris Kim are both among the honorable mentions nationally in the field, though they have not wrestled this year. Delviscio took the crown at PAISWT and is a good reminder that Malvern Prep is going to be closer to the top two teams than we’ve seen in a long time.
Barnes won VISAA and Wilkinson was runner-up to Flynn in Maryland; he was one of the big group that transferred from St. Paul's to Bullis over the summer. Jacob Wright beat Walsh in the consi semis at MIS, with Jefferson getting fourth behind Wright and Lozupone picking up the sixth and final qualifier spot in Maryland.
Flynn took down Miller in their only meeting this season as they did not hit at Beast. I believe that one got Flynn over the hump, as Miller had gotten the best of him in the finals here in 2018 and in the semis here last year, snaking the final takedown with under 10 seconds remaining.
Nomad's Picks: 1. Flynn, McD 2. Miller, Blair 3. Provo, GFA 4. Delviscio, Malvern
126 Pounds
- #1 - Nic Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary) SO
- #19 - Meyer Shapiro (Bullis) FR
- #17 - Chris Barnabae (Mt. St. Joe) SR
- Kelvin Griffin (The Hill School) SO
- Danny Wask (Blair Academy) SO
- Jimmy Harrington (Belmont Hill) SO
- Jake Rocha (St. John’s-DC) JR
- Alan Fandrich (Trinity Christian-TX) SR
- Reed Fullmer (Malvern Prep) FR
- Jake Keeling (St. Christopher’s) JR
- Aiden Herbert (Green Farms Academy) JR
- Colin Nugent (Phillips Andover) FR
We have to start this off by acknowledging Trevor Matrogiovanni will not be there, missing out on an opportunity to win a fourth Prep title. That elite group currently only has 11 members, but we are wishing Trevor a healthy and successful college career at Oklahoma State.
In his stead we’ll get Ironman champ Nic Bouzakis. Meyer Shapiro pinned Chris Barnabae in the Maryland state finals, while Christian Colman is up at 132. Kelvin Griffin placed eighth at 113 last year for Brooks School, but is now at Hill and made the PA state finals. Evan Eldridge didn’t wrestle at MIS while Jimmy Harrington dominated his way through New England.
Alan Fandrich was the 10 seed last year at 120, going 2-2 and getting knocked out by Jake Rocha; both won their respective qualifiers. Aside from his loss to Griffin, Malvern Prep freshman Reed Fullmer bonused in all of his matches at the PA qualifier.
Nomad's Picks: 1. Bouzakis, Sem 2. Shapiro, Bullis 3. Barnabae, MSJ 4. Fullmer, Malvern
132 Pounds
- #1 - Shayne Van Ness (Blair Academy) SO
- #12 - Skylar Smith (Liberty Christian-TX) JR
- #9 - Drew Munch (Wyoming Seminary) SR
- Tyler Morris (Phillips Exeter) SR
- Nathan Porter (Mt. St. Joe) SR
- Clayton Gabrielson (McDonogh) FR
- Christian Colman (Germantown) JR
- Lorenzo Lopez (Landon) SR
- Thomas Fierro (St. Benedict’s) PG
- JT Chance (Western Reserve) FR
- Brennan McBride (Fishburne) SR
- Adam Figler (Belmont Hill) SO
While Blair may be the underdog with both Mastrogiovannis and Dom Mata out, don't tell that to top-ranked Shayne Van Ness. The Blair junior is one of the most elite hand fighters in the country, has a remarkable pace, and is a highly coveted prospect in the junior class. The offensive dynamo notched three pins and a major last year and put up 13 points in his finals loss to Bartlett. After this weekend he'll begin narrowing down his college choices and setting up his official visits as well.
NC State commit Skylar Smith was a finalist last year at 126 as an 11 seed, but will have to knock off Ironman champ Drew Munch in the semis. Smith finished seventh at Super 32, and Munch was a Prep champ as a 106lb freshman.
Morris had three pins and a shutout decision to win the New England qualifier. Maryland commit Nathan Porter beat both Lorenzo Lopez and freshman phenom Clayton Gabrielson in a row at Maryland Independent States and should now get Morris in the quarters. Jury got injured there so hopefully he's back to full health as he could wind up on the podium.
Nomad's Picks: 1. Van Ness, Blair 2. Munch, Sem 3. Smith, LCA 4. Porter, MSJ
138 Pounds
- #1 - Beau Bartlett (Wyoming Seminary) SR
- #7 - Cody Chittum (Blair) SO
- Luca Errico (Brunswick) SR
- Clement Woods (Mt. St. Joe) JR
- Joe Fisk (Spalding) SO
- Matthew Ryan (St. Benedict's) PG
- Damon McGee (Bullis) JR
- Caleb Campos (Cannon School) SO
- Trevor Nugent (Governor's Academy) JR
- Matt Lawrence (McDonogh) JR
- Jaron Powell (Liberty Christian) JR
- David Barrett (NMH) FR
It's been quite a high school career for Beau Bartlett. His father Andre, who wrestled for Fresno State, brought him over to the east coast from Arizona in middle school and he wound up at Wyoming Seminary. Bartlett has played a huge part in Seminary's rise, with Scott Green overseeing the young man who was beating nationally ranked high schoolers while in eighth grade. Now the Penn State commit is wrestling in his final high school tournament, looking to win his fourth Prep title.
Meanwhile Cody Chittum is still early in his high school career, leaving Tennessee for Blairstown and is now the seventh-ranked guy in the country after winning Beast of the East in December. Along with a third-place finish in Fargo, a National Prep finals appearance cements him as what we already believe he is: one of the best freshmen in the country.
Returning placer Luca Errico is one of about five guys in position to be on the podium for Brunswick in what may be their best team in over a decade. He majored Trevor Nugent in the New England finals.
Clement Woods won the rubber match over Joe Fisk at MIS: he pinned him at Mount Mat Madness, lost 6-5 in the MIAA finals, and then beat Fisk 19-12 in the Maryland state finals. Woods also took out Damon McGee 8-4 in the semis.
Not sure what happened to Mason DuBois, who was ninth in the Prep rankings, but it was David Smith in his place winning VISAA for St. Christopher's.
Nomad's Picks: 1. Bartlett, Sem 2. Chittum, Blair 3. Woods, MSJ 4. Errico, Brunswick
145 Pounds
- #3 - Manzona Bryant (Western Reserve) SR
- #1 - Lachlan McNeil (Wyoming Seminary) SR
- Peter Kane (Green Farms Academy) SO
- Chris Perry (Brunswick) JR
- Sam Beckett (Hill School) SO
- Dominic Rossetti (Loomis Chaffee) JR
- Owen Finn (NMH) SR
- Lorenzo Norman (Blair) FR
- Gene Quodala (Bullis) JR
- Tyler Miller (St. Thomas Moore) SR
- Nick Paolucci (Spalding) SR
- Landon Kissell (Peninsula Catholic) JR
Lachlan McNeil forfeited to Manzona Bryant in the PAISWT finals so I’m curious to see if that switches their seeds at all. Peter Kane, who was ranked fifth at 138, bumped up and won 145 at the New England Qualifier. The sophomore was seeded ninth last year at 132, falling in the bloodround; both of his losses were to Tennessee wrestlers, who as we mentioned earlier will unfortunately not be there this year.
Perry, Finn, and Rossetti finished 2-3-4 in order behind Kane at NEISWA. Perry was fifth last year at 120 for Brunswick. Blair freshman Lorenzo Norman looks like a potential bracket buster. Gene Quodala is up from 126 last year where he made it the bloodround for St. Pauls, losing to Drew Munch. Tyler Miller was fifth in New England, showing that region’s depth at this weight. Paolucci was second behind Quodala in Maryland and Kissell took care of business at the Virginia qualifier.
Our national rankings have McNeil #1 and Bryant #3 at this weight. Even though McNeil didn't wrestle in the finals last week, he had two takedowns to none against Bryant in the Ironman semis. He's also won Super 32, Powerade, and Escape the Rock. While Bryant will be on the campus of his future home at Lehigh and has an incredible upside, it's been McNeil's year all along.
Nomad's Picks: 1. McNeil, Sem 2. Bryant, WRA 3. Perry, Brunswick 4. Norman, Blair
