Best Potential Matches On Day 1 Of Senior Nationals
Best Potential Matches On Day 1 Of Senior Nationals
Day 1 Senior National brackets have officially been released! Check out the best potential matches in these weights.
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Now that we have real brackets, we have real potential matches to think about. Today's women's freestyle and greco weight classes will all completed in one day, so we'll know our champs by tonight. Here are the matches we're looking forward to the most.
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50kg Women's Freestyle
Sarah Hildebrandt and Alyssa Lampe jump off the page in this bracket, but Amy Fearnside and Emily Shilson could have their opportunities to prove what improvements they've made since a year ago.
Quarterfinals
World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt should put up a whole lot of points against Aguirre in the round of 16 and Caldera in the quarters. Pencil here in for the semis where she should see Emily Shilson who will be the favorite against either Acosta or Jelacic.
Amy Fearnside was third at this event last year and should have no problem with Cochran which sets up a quarter with Charlotte Fowler. Fowler is down from 53kg last year and recently wrestled at Beat the Streets. Fowler appears to have improved, but Fearnside is the favorite here. Alyssa Lampe made a statement at Senior Nationals last year after taking a three year hiatus. She waits in the quarters for Rios or Chavez and should have no problem with either.
Potential Semis and Final
At the top, we should see Hildeebrandt vs Shilson. Hildebrandt has been the class of this weight for a while, but a lot of people believe Shilson could be the future. The question is if she's ready to make a jump like that today. Hildebrandt's a pretty big favorite, but Shilson has shown here ability to make rapid improvements.
Lampe and Fearnside should meet on the bottom side in a rematch of last year's Senior Nationals semis. It was all Lampe last year with a first period tech, so Fearnside will have her work cut out for her.
A Hildebrandt vs Lampe final is fascinating! Hildebrandt has owned the weight for this quad, but Lampe has been absent. Lampe looked outstanding at last year's Senior Nationals, and if anyone can challenge Hildebrandt, it just might be the veteran Lampe.
53kg Women's Freestyle
Seven 53kg women will compete for the crown here, and Katherine Shai is a pretty big favorite. The bottom side has #3 seed Alisha How and #2 seed Ronna Heaton on a collision course for the semis.
Shai beat both of these women at last year's senior nationals. Howk and Heaton also squared off in the quarterfinals. It was Howk there with a razor-thin 5-4 win. Circle the Howk vs Heaton semi as one of the most exciting of the session.
57kg Women's Freestyle
Alli Ragan is the top seed here and the only ranked 57kg woman in this field. She's currently #2 behind Helen Maroulis. The only other seeded wrestler in this bracket is Lauren Louive who has been a staple on the senior level for a couple of quads. Ragan is the heavy favorite in this bracket.
Her first match should will be in the quarters against Fargo champ Xochitl Mota-Pettis, and her semi will be against either Kairah Cantillo or Vayle Baker. Ragan's potent offense could mean two techs before the finals.
Louive's tournament will take her through Isabella Gonzalez, Jasmine Davis, and the winner of Deanna Prince and Ngao Shoua Whitehorn. Like Ragan, Louive should roll which sets up a final between former HWC teammates Ragan and Louive.
60kg Greco-Roman
The round of 16 could see some matches we'd expect to see in the NCAA season. Nebraska's Alex Thomsen could see App State's Codi Russell, and Northern Colorado's Mosha Schwartz will wrestle Arizona State's Nicky Raimo.
Potential Quarterfinals
Expect to see Utah Valley's Taylor LaMont take on the winner of Thomsen and Russell. LaMont is the heavy favorite there. High school stud Connor Knopick from Nebraska has the 5 seed and is seeded to face Liam Cronin.
On the bottom side, we could see an all Koontz matchup as the Ohio State greco studs Brady and Dylan have the 3 and 6 seeds. The Schwartz vs Raimo winner should see #2 seed Randon Miranda.
Potential Semis and Final
If everything plays out according to seed, we'll see Junior World bronze medalist Taylor LaMont against #4 seed Liam Cronin and U23 World Team qualifier Brady Koontz against #2 seed Randon Miranda. If all goes according to plan, it could be a high flying LaMont vs Miranda final.
67kg Greco-Roman
The always entertaining Nolan Baker is the top seed here and should provide highlights early and often. He's on a collision course with second seed Calvin Germinaro who has just as much big-move potential.
Round of 16
This bracket appears as if it could go according to chalk, but I am curious about how Army West Point assistant coach Anthony Abidin will stack up with #6 seed Logan Savvy. Justin Koethe has made a comeback at this weight and could ruin the party for Savvy although that would be unexpected based on his lack of matches recently.
Quarterfinals
Nebraska's Ridge Lovett made massive gains over the course of last year's NCAA season, but he'll have his hands full in a Greco match with Nolan Baker. I'm curious to see how his skills translate there. Jessy Williams and Ben Peak should also hit on the top side.
On the bottom side, Lenny Merkin will get the Abidin vs Savvy winner and is expected to cruise to the semis. According to seeds, Jasiah Williams should see Germinaro who is the heavy favorite.
Potential Semis and Final
We're supposed to see Germinaro vs Merkin on the bottom and Peak vs Baker on the top. I would be surprised if we don't get the high-flying Baker vs Germinaro final we're hoping for. that one could steal the show tonight.
77kg Greco-Roman
2019 US World Teamer Pat Smith sits atop this bracket, but he certainly could be tested. On the bottom side the #3 seed went to the beastly Kendrick Sanders while the #2 went to Burke Paddock. Whoever comes out of that will be an underdog to Smith but is capable of shaking things up.
Quarterfinals
If Nebraska 157-pounder Peyton Robb can take out Dracius McKee, he'll have his work cut out for him against top seeded Pat Smith. Robb's Greco age level success was impressive, but hanging with Smith could be another matter. Still, I can't wait to see how Robb stacks up. Ohio State's Fritz Schierl should see #4 seed Alec Ortiz.
On the bottom side, #3 seed Kendrick Sanders is expected to see #6 seed Tommy Bracket and Standford's Tyler Eischens is expected to see #2 seed Burke Paddock. Can the Stanford folkstyler hang with Paddock?
Potential Semis and Final
As I mentioned at the top, the Sanders vs Paddock semi will be telling, and Pat Smith should get the nod over Ortiz. I'm most curious in a Smith vs Sanders final. Pat's disciplined positioning and Sanders' ridiculous power could make for a very interesting final.
87kg Greco-Roman
We have 15 guys at 87kg, and the top two seeds are pretty big favorites to make the finals. Alan Vera, former Cuban wrestler earned the #1 seed after beating Joe Rau at the 2019 Dave Schultz. Vera is not yet eligible to represent the US at the Olympic Games, but he could be soon. He is eligible to represent the US at a World Championships should one be officially announced for 2020, so this match is an important for what it could mean for the US pecking order.
Quarterfinals
Vera's first match will be against Arizona State's Cade Belshay or former Iowa State All-American Lelund Weatherspoon. Expect Vera to cruise there. Zach Braunagel of Illinois has the #5 seed and should see #4 seed George Sikes of the NYAC.
On the bottom, Marcus Finau and Joe Rau should roll in their respective quarters.
Potential Semis and Final
Vera and Rau are big favorites in each of their semis. Vera is seeded to have Sikes while Rau is seeded to see Finau. I would be surprised if we don't get the Vera vs Rau rematch we're hoping for in the finals.
In 2019, it was all Vera in this matchup, but Rau should not be underestimated. Rau's key to victory is to keep Vera from getting to the top position. If Rau can do that and make it about conditioning, his chances go way up.
97kg Greco-Roman
This weight doesn't have the top level talent of 77kg or 87kg, so we could see a bit more variability in terms of results. Also interesting here are the NCAA athletes looking to make noise.
Quarterfinals
Chad Porter is the #9 ranked 97kg wrestler in the country and earned the top seed. He should cruise in the first round to face Denzel Mabry in the quarters. Nino Bonaccorsi, who is also registered for freestyle, was a late addition to the bracket. If he wins in the round of 16, he'll see West Point Wrestling Club's Jeremiah Imonode.
On the other side, Wisconsin true freshman Braxton Amos will look to get past Tyler Hannah to see the winner of #2 seed and #6 ranked Nicholas Boykin who should have no problem with Christian Rouleau.
Potential Semis and Final
Porter and Boykin are certainly supposed to square off in the finals here. Both are favorites to win in the semis with Porter being the bigger favorite. It will be interesting to see where Braxton Amos is in comparison to Boykin. By all accounts, Braxton has been focused on Greco training for this event. Can the youngster make a name for himself on the senior level?
130kg Greco-Roman
Colton Schultz is just a redshirt freshman, but he might be the biggest favorite of the whole Greco field. Still, there are a couple other ranked heavyweights in the bracket in #8 Donny Longendyke and #7 Wes Cathcart that could offer solid challenges to the Arizona State big man.
Quarterfinals
Regardless of opponent, Schultz should roll in the first two matches. I don't think he'll see the second period until the semis at the earliest. Longendyke has the #4 seed and should beat #5 seed Tanner Farmer.
Down low, #3 seed Luke Luffman should control Zach Schrader, an Wes Cathcart should roll as well.
Potential Semis and Final
The Schultz vs Longendyke semi would be a ranked vs ranked matchup, but the #2 ranked Schultz is a three-time age level World medalist and has separated himself from everyone at this weight besides Adam Coone. He should see Wes Cathcart in the finals. Cathcart is extremely solid, but even he will have a tough time with Schultz. The Arizona State freshman should be the top heavyweight tonight.