Class of 2020 Junior High Big Board

Junior High Big Board

Some changes were made to the philosophy of the Junior High Big Board that you will notice from the last update. The two major changes are just 7th and 8th graders being considered for ranking on the Junior High Big Board. This eliminates 6th graders from from the pool. The other significant change is the Junior High Big Board will fall in line with the Freshman Big Board, ranking the top 50 wrestlers. At the end of the season the Freshman Big Board expands to 100 as the athletes become sophomores. 

At the junior high level there is no shortage of conflicting round robin results. Dig into the VAC Duals at each weight class and it is normal to find three or four wrestlers all with one loss as they knocked each other off in the dual meet format. 

At The Top:

Mason Gibson (PA) held on at #1 despite a loss. #22 Joseph Sealey (NC) knocked off Gibson, but the two split matches at the event. Gibson’s high school division Super32 title is enough to absorb a loss that was avenged at the same event. 

#4 Aden Valencia (CA) won Super32 and went undefeated at VAC Duals to move up the board. A win over #7 Bo Basset (PA) was part of the VAC Duals performance for Valencia.

Big Movers:

#14 Luke Lilledahl (MO) went from #87 to #14 with a runner-up performance at Super32 and a 9-1 showing at VAC Duals. The loss was to Basset as the two split matches in Virginia. 

#18 August Hibler (NJ) came from the honorable mention list all the way to the top 20 with dominating performances at Super32 and VAC Duals. Hibler pinned all five opponents at Super32 and pinned nine of ten at VAC Duals. 

#22 Joseph Sealey (NC) was mentioned earlier for his win over Mason Gibson, but he also took home a 3rd place finish at Super32. He just missed the top 20 going from honorable mention to #22.

New To The Board:

#48 Landon Robideau (MN) took some losses at the junior high level this fall, so it was difficult to justify him cracking into the top 50. However, the 7th grader took second at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament at 106lbs with wins over Freshman Big Boarder Greyson Clark (WI) and Minnesota state qualifier Zachary Silvis.

#26 Carter Neves (OH) won Super32 and had a clean sheet at the VAC Duals. The Super32 title was captured with a win over #28 Koy Hopke (WI). Neves defeated Hopke again at the VAC Duals en route to a 10-0 record at the duals.

Please email any feedback to Brock Hite at hitebrock@gmail.com or DM @rankingsbrock on Twitter.