We’re just four days away from my favorite sports weekend of the year. The first weekend of March Madness and more importantly the NCAA Wrestling Championships. I’ve done out all the brackets (Championship and Consolation), and I am going to share my top 8 in each weight class. I’ll also post my semifinal and blood round matchups, along with some early tournament upsets. Big scratches at 133 and 149 meant I had to do some shuffling, but I made it work. This tournament is impossible to predict, and I’m sure these picks won’t age well, but there’s no fun in not speculating. So, without further ado let’s get into it.
125
All Americans
- (1) Spencer Lee, Iowa
- (2) Pat Glory, Princeton
- (3) Liam Cronin, Nebraska
- (11) Patrick McKee, Minnesota
- (12) Michael DeAugustino, Northwestern
- (4) Matt Ramos, Purdue
- (10) Brandon Courtney, Arizona St.
- (8) Anthony Noto, Lock Haven
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Spencer Lee over (12) Michael DeAugustino
- (2) Pat Glory over (3) Liam Cronin
Blood Round Matchups
- (4) Matt Ramos over (7) Brandon Kaylor
- (8) Anthony Noto over (5) Caleb Smith
- (10) Brandon Courtney over (28) Killian Cardinale
- (11) Patrick McKee over (9) Eric Barnett
Even with one leg this is still Spencer Lee’s weight to lose. Him and Glory seem to be leaps and bounds better than everyone else in this weight and I don’t think I’ll shock anyone to say that is the finals. I have DeAugustino making a run to semi’s after a little help from Killian Cardinale beating Caleb Smith on Thursday afternoon. Patrick McKee finds himself in an unfamiliar position advancing on the top of the bracket at an NCAA tournament making the quarters, before falling to Cronin and battling back for 4th. I like Courtney in his rematch with Kaylor in the round of 16, and I think the winner of that match breaks through in the blood round after falling to Glory in the quarters. Ultimately, I have five Big 10 guys placing in this weight which goes to show how deep that weight was two weeks ago.
133
All Americans
- (1) Roman Bravo-Young, Penn St.
- (2) Daton Fix, Oklahoma St.
- (3) Vito Arujau, Cornell
- (4) Michael McGee, Arizona St.
- (10) Lucas Byrd, Illinois
- (7) Michael Colaiocco, Penn
- (9) Micky Phillippi, Pittsburgh
- (8) Aaron Nagao, Minnesota
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Roman Bravo-Young over (4) Michael McGee
- (2) Daton Fix over (3) Vito Arujau
Blood Round Matchups
- (7) Michael Colaiocco over (12) Chris Cannon
- (9) Micky Phillippi over (6) Sam Latona
- (10) Lucas Byrd over (5) Kai Orine
- (8) Aaron Nagao over (11) Dylan Ragusin
Admittedly I went a little chalky with the top half of this bracket. RBY should win this weight again and Fix looks to be the casualty for the third straight year. I think the next tier of Vito and McGee have also separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Below that is where it get’s interesting. I had to scrap my bracket and redo it because of the Connor Mcgonagle injury. I had him getting 7th and now Phillippi slots into that placement. I have Orine losing to Cannon up top and Byrd in the blood round. I also have Byrd beating Colaiocco in the round of 16 with Colaiocco battling back and taking out Cannon in the blood round. I see Ragusin beating Latona in the round of 16 with both falling a match shy of AA status.
141
All Americans
- (2) Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado
- (1) Real Woods, Iowa
- (4) Brock Hardy, Nebraska
- (3) Cole Matthews, Pittsburgh
- (5) Ryan Jack, NC State
- (11) Clay Carlson, SDSU
- (6) Beau Bartlett, Penn St.
- (12) Parker Filius, Purdue
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Real Woods over (4) Brock Hardy
- (2) Andrew Alirez over (3) Cole Matthews
Blood Round Matchups
- (5) Ryan Jack over (16) Josh Koderhandt
- (6) Beau Bartlett over (8) Allen Hart
- (12) Parker Filius over (7) Vince Cornella
- (11) Clay Carlson over (17) Dylan D’emilio
Another moderately chalky top four, but I do like Alirez to win this weight. I almost went with Hardy in the top semi. He’s so close with Woods, but just hasn’t been able to get it done yet so, I can’t roll with it on the big stage. Beyond that I’m giving some love to New England with Ryan Jack taking 5th. I have Carlson taking out Bartlett in the round of 16 with both guys coming back to AA. I have Bartlett over Allen Hart in the blood round making Hart a 4x qualifier without finding the podium. I also have Parker Filius spoiling the party for 7 seed Cornella.
149
All Americans
- (1) Yianni Diakomihalis, Cornell
- (2) Sammy Sasso, Ohio St.
- (5) Paniro Johnson, Iowa St.
- (6) Brock Mauller, Missouri
- (3) Kyle Parco, Arizona St.
- (14) Austin Gomez, Wisconsin
- (7) Yahya Thomas, Northwestern
- (10) Michael Blockhus, Minnesota
Semi Final Matchups
- Yianni Diakomihalis over Paniro Johnson
- Sammy Sasso over Brock Mauller
Blood Round Matchups
- (14) Austin Gomez over (8) Max Murin
- (10) Michael Blockhus over (4) Caleb Henson
- (7) Yahya Thomas over (12) Shayne Van Ness
- (3) Kyle Parco over (9) Jaden Abas
149 has been all over the place this year, but Yianni becoming a 4xer just makes sense. Sasso had a pretty brutal road to make the finals before Millner pulled out, but now Gomez moves to the 14 and sees Parco in the round of 16 instead. I like his road a little better now and see him taking on Yianni Saturday night. Paniro Johnson looked great at Big 12’s and I think he keeps it going and wins the rubber match with Mauller for 3rd. Parco and Gomez find the podium again to finish 5th and 6th. I like the way Blockhus wrestled at Big 10s and I think he beats Henson in the blood round and falls to Thomas for 7th.
157
All Americans
- (1) Austin O’Connor, UNC
- (7) Bryce Andonian, Virginia Tech
- (3) Peyton Robb, Nebraska
- (2) Levi Haines, Penn St.
- (5) Josh Humphreys, Lehigh
- (4) Jared Franek, NDSU
- (9) Will Lewan, Michigan
- (8) Ed Scott, NC State
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Austin O’Connor over (5) Josh Humphreys
- (7) Bryce Andonian over (3) Peyton Robb
Blood Round Matchups
- (4) Jared Franek over (10) Kaden Gfeller
- (9) Will Lewan over (6) Daniel Cardenas
- (2) Levi Haines over (12) Kendall Coleman
- (8) Ed Scott over (11) Chase Saldate
Finally we have a break in the norm with Andonian making a run to the finals from the 7 seed. To be honest I don’t love O’Connor to win, but the way I had the bottom play out I had to have him win it. He’s 6-0 in his career against Andonian. O’Connor should be able to navigate the top side of the bracket, but if Robb or Haines ends up in the finals I’m much less confident in him winning, especially if it’s Robb. The potential Andonian/Haines match in the quarters could be one of the best matches of the tournament too. Haines looked great in winning Big 10’s, and Andonian is a fire cracker who’s shown up big at NCAA’s in the past. I think he does it again this year. I have all four quarters losers pulling through in the blood round. I think Robb wins the rematch with Haines and if that turns out to be the semi’s I feel the same way. This weight isn’t super deep overall so don’t be surprised to see most of the top guys wrestling on Friday night and Saturday.
165
All Americans
- (1) David Carr, Iowa St.
- (2) Keegan O’Toole, Missouri
- (9) Shane Griffith, Stanford
- (10) Carson Kharchla, Ohio St.
- (3) Dean Hamiti, Wisconsin
- (5) Quincy Monday, Princeton
- (13) Alex Facundo, Penn St.
- (11) Cameron Amine, Michigan
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) David Carr over (5) Quincy Monday
- (2) Keegan O’Toole over (3) Dean Hamiti
Blood Round Matchups
- (13) Alex Facundo over (7) Michael Caliendo
- (9) Shane Griffith over (14) Peyton Hall
- (10) Carson Kharchla over (4) Julian Ramirez
- (11) Cameron Amine over (8) Matthew Olguin
Carr has been rock solid all year and I think he caps off the year with his second National Title. Before they wrestled in the dual I liked O’Toole to win and I even liked him at Big 12’s, but after watching that match I don’t see how Carr loses. Keegan’s single leg defense was ridiculous in the rematch, but Carr is just so relentless and was able to finish twice to win the match. After that I like the other national champ in the bracket Shane Griffith to find his way to 3rd place after falling to Carr in the quarters. Kharchla finishes ahead of Hamiti based on consi semi matchups or else I’d have Hamiti in 4th. I have Facundo beating Ramirez in the round of 16 and taking out Caliendo in the blood round. I also have Amine over Kennedy in the round of 16 as well.
174
All Americans
- (1) Carter Starocci, Penn St.
- (3) Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech
- (2) Mikey Labriola, Nebraska
- (6) Ethan Smith, Ohio St.
- (5) Dustin Plott, Oklahoma St.
- (4) Chris Foca, Cornell
- (11) Nelson Brands, Iowa
- (10) Rocky Jordan, Chattanooga
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Carter Starocci over (5) Dustin Plott
- (3) Mekhi Lewis over (2) Mikey Labriola
Blood Round Matchups
- (4) Chris Foca over (7) Peyton Mocco
- (11) Nelson Brands over (8) Bailey O’Reilly
- (10) Rocky Jordan over (19) Troy Fisher
- (6) Ethan Smith over (9) Edmond Ruth
This is Starocci’s weight until proven otherwise. I don’t see any issues for him on the top side and I think the only one’s that can give him a real run for his money are Lewis and Labriola. I like Lewis to get it done in the rematch and avenge his loss to Labriola from earlier this year. Ethan Smith has a pretty favorable path after losing in the quarters to Lewis to run it back to the 3rd place match where he’ll face Labriola. I also have Rocky Jordan finding the podium after beating Mocco in the round of 16 as well as Nelson Brands taking out Bailey O’Reilly to place.
184
All Americans
- (3) Aaron Brooks, Penn St.
- (1) Parker Keckeisen, UNI
- (2) Trent Hidlay, NC State
- (6) Kaleb Romero, Ohio St.
- (5) Marcus Coleman, Iowa St.
- (13) Lenny Pinto, Nebraska
- (4) Trey Munoz, Oregon St.
- (8) Matt Finesilver, Michigan
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Parker Keckeisen over (13) Lenny Pinto
- (3) Aaron Brooks over (2) Trent Hidlay
Blood Round Matchups
- (5) Marcus Coleman over (10) Travis Wittlake
- (8) Matt Finesilver over (14) Will Feldkamp
- (4) Trey Munoz over (7) Hunter Bolen
- (6) Kaleb Romero over (9) Isaiah Salazar
Another weight, another Penn St. guy looking to be a 3xer. I know Brooks finally took a loss this year, but he is absolutely still the guy to beat here. Parker Keckeisen is as solid as they come and I think he has no problem taking care of the top half of this bracket, but Brooks is a different animal. I like Lenny Pinto to make a run to the semis beating Coleman in the quarters, and then falling to him for 5th. I think this could be a classic case of a lower seeded guy going on a run to the semis before running out of steam on the backside. Hidlay takes 3rd after falling to Brooks in the semis and Romero makes a little run to the third place match after falling to Brooks as well in the quarters. Munoz battles back to the podium after falling to Pinto Thursday night and takes out 25th year senior Matt Finesilver for 7th.
197
All Americans
- (3) Rocky Elam, Missouri
- (5) Michael Beard, Lehigh
- (8) Silas Allred, Nebraska
- (1) Nino Bonaccorsi, Pittsburgh
- (2) Bernie Truax, Cal Poly
- (9) Max Dean, Penn St.
- (13) Yonger Bastida, Iowa St.
- (10) Jacob Cardenas, Cornell
Semi Final Matchups
- (5) Michael Beard over (8) Silas Allred
- (3) Rocky Elam over (2) Bernie Truax
Blood Round Matchups
- (13) Yonger Bastida over (26) Gavin Hoffman
- (1) Nino Bonaccorsi over (14) Jacob Warner
- (10) Jacob Cardenas over (19) Cameron Caffey
- (9) Max Dean over (6) Isaac Trumble
If there’s any weight that’s going to completely blow up this year it’s this one. Every year it seems like one of the 1 seeds goes down before the semis and I like Allred to take out Dean again and then top seeded Bonaccorsi in the quarters. There he runs into Michael Beard who I have making his first final. On the bottom side I like Elam over Truax with Elam winning the whole thing Saturday night. Elsewhere I like Dean to battle back to the podium and Bastida to beat Laird on the top side leading to a 7th place finish. I have Gavin Hoffman upsetting Tanner Sloan for the second year in a row in round 1, but going down to Bastida in the blood round. Cardenas rounds out the podium beating Caffey in the blood round.
285
All Americans
- (3) Greg Kerkvliet, Penn St.
- (1) Mason Parris, Michigan
- (5) Colton Schultz, Arizona St.
- (4) Tony Cassioppi, Iowa
- (2) Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force
- (6) Yaralau Slavikouski, Harvard
- (9) Lucas Davison, Northwestern
- (10) Zach Elam, Missouri
Semi Final Matchups
- (1) Mason Parris over (5) Colton Schultz
- (3) Greg Kerkvliet over (2) Wyatt Hendrickson
Blood Round Matchups
- (4) Tony Cassioppi over (7) Owen Trephan
- (9) Lucas Davison over (11) Trent Hillger
- (10) Zach Elam over (19) Jonah Niesenbaum
- (6) Yaraslau Slavikouski over (8) Sam Schuyler
Every year Penn St. guys show up big time at NCAAs and this year will be no different. Yes, I know Parris has beaten Kerkvliet twice this year, but they’ve both been close and I think Kerk gets it done when it matters most. The Schultz/Cassioppi quarter also looks like the 3rd place match to me. I think Schultz wins both and Cassioppi takes out 2 seed Hendrickson in the consi semis. I like Slavikouski to find the podium for the first time nabbing 6th. I think the top of the pack here has separated themselves from the rest of the field and I don’t foresee a ton of bracket busters at this weight.
Jake's Takes 