WRESTLINGNCAADivision I USA MAGAZINE NCAA Division I Pre-Season FORECAST By Dan Fickel, National Editor 2007 NCAA Semi-Final - 197 lbs. Kurt Backes, Iowa State, trying to control the back ankle on Phil Davis, Penn State. Backes deci- sioned Davis, 5-4. Photo by Wyatt Schultz. he purpose of this forecast is two-fold in nature: (1) to techniques and incor- familiarize the reader with the possible participants in porates a sensational each weight class and (2) to stimulate discussion as to blend of power, quick- the outcome of the 2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling ness, and tenacity. He Championships to be held March 20-22 at the Scottrade earned a place at the pin- T in St. Louis, Missouri. nacle of New York wrestling history by becoming the first- 125 POUNDS ever five-time state high school This weight class features seven All-Americans and they are wrestling champion. A highly decorated highlighted by the defending NCAA champion Paul Donahoe. A Cadet and Junior National Championships whirlwind performer with excellent pin production, Donahoe performer, Nickerson possesses a superb work ethic and has possesses great determination and finds all kinds of ways to uncanny focus and desire. Gardner was triumphant at the PAC win. He enjoyed an exemplary career at Davison High School, 10 Conference Championships and is tough on his feet with the winning two Michigan state titles, two Junior National Freestyle ability to attack the legs or go upper body. He captured two Championships crowns, a National High School Seniors Kansas state titles for Shawnee Mission High School and was an Championships title, and compiling an overall win-loss record of impressive winner at the 2002 Junior National Greco-Roman 202-7 with 103 falls. Championships. Troy Nickerson and Tanner Gardner are tremendously talented All-Americans Angel Escobedo, Jayson Ness, Obe Blanc, and and experienced multiple All-Americans with NCAA champi- Charlie Falck finished fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth at last year’s onship intentions. Nickerson displays a variety of elite-level NCAA Championships. Escobedo had a sterling prep career at Griffith High School that included four Indiana state titles and an amazing overall 125 POUNDS win-loss record of 223-1 with 156 falls. He is FORECASTED CHAMP: PAUL DONAHOE (NEBRASKA) an intelligent wrestler with a myriad of excit- TOP CHALLENGERS: 17. Luke Smith (Central Michigan) ing takedown maneuvers. Ness, a former 2. Troy Nickerson (Cornell) 18. Steve Mytych (Drexel) two-time Minnesota state champion, is a 3. Angel Escobedo (Indiana) 19. Eric Hoffman (North Dakota State) sensational sophomore who possesses a 4. Jayson Ness (Minnesota) 20. Kyle Turnbull (West Virginia) complete enjoyment for the sport. He seized 5. Obe Blanc (Lock Haven) 21. Nikko Triggas (Ohio State) top honors at the Big 10 Conference 6. Tanner Gardner (Stanford) 22. Marcos Orozco (UC Davis) Championships and is an electrifying, thrill- 7. Charlie Falck (Iowa) 23. Brandon Kinney (Columbia) a-minute grappler with excellent pin produc- 8. Mike Sees (Bloomsburg) 24. Mark Kist (Iowa State) tion. Blanc has captured two straight 9. Gabe Flores (Illinois) 25. James Nicholson (Old Dominion) Eastern Wrestling League Tournament titles 10. David Tomasette (Hofstra) 26. Fernando Martinez (Army) and was the 2003 Florida state champion for 11. Brandon Precin (Northwestern) 27. Taylor Cummings (N.C. State) Lely High School. He can surprise oppo- 12. Ben Ashmore (Oklahoma State) 28. Tony Mustari (Northern Colorado) nents with his quickness and was an 13. Javier Maldonado (UT-Chattanooga) 29. Michael Watts (Michigan) impressive winner at the 2003 National High 14. Collin Cudd (Wisconsin) 30. Anthony Robles (Arizona State) School Seniors Championships. Falck placed second at the Big 10 Conference 15. Mark McKnight (Penn State) 31. Justin Staylor (Virginia Tech) Championships and is terrific on his feet 16. Pat Castillo (Northern Illinois) 32. Ben Kjar (Utah Valley State) with a smooth, flowing style. He had a leg- page 6 October 15, 2007 - Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine WRESTLINGNCAADivision I USA MAGAZINE utilizes a smooth, methodical style. He had an exceptional prep career at Bakersfield High School, claiming three California state titles, a Cadet National Freestyle Championships crown, a runner- up performance at the Junior National Freestyle Championships, and compiling an overall win-loss record of 167-6. Fisch took second at the Colonial Athletic Association and was a two-time New Jersey state champion for Delsea High School. He is enor- mously strong and explosive. Four other All-Americans are Brandon Rader, Jake Strayer, J. Jaggers, and Alex Tsirtsis. Rader is a dynam- ic performer capable of pinning anyone he faces. He 2007 NCAA Semi-Final - 125 lbs. has prolific point scoring skills and is the two-time Sam Hazewinkel, Oklahoma, looking for back points against defending Eastern Wrestling League champion. A two- Jayson Ness, Minnesota. Hazewinkel major decisioned Ness, 10-0. Photo by time All-American, Rader had an exemplary prep career at Wyatt Schultz. Parkersburg South High School, winning four West Virginia state California state champion Joe Baker, Big 10 Conference placer titles, a National High School Seniors Championships crown, and Zach Tanelli, 2004 Pennsylvania state runner-up Seth Ciasulli, an overall win-loss record of 165-12 with 107 falls. Strayer is a ver- EIWA Championships placer Dave Marble, 2004 California state satile athlete who wears down his opposition with outstanding runner-up T.J. Dillashaw, Eastern Wrestling League placer Ricky stamina and aggressiveness. A runner-up at the 2004 PIAA Track Donald, Mid-American Conference placer Conor Beebe, 2006 and Field Championships, Strayer enjoyed a sterling prep career NCAA qualifier David Armstrong, 2007 National Junior College at Forest Hills High School, claiming two Pennsylvania state titles runner-up Josh Baldridge, former two-time Wisconsin state and compiling an overall win-loss record of 160-7. Jaggers is an champion Erick Metzler, Eastern Wrestling League runner-up exciting, thrill-a-minute grappler with amazing explosiveness Mark Anderson, West Regional runner-up Cory VomBaur, East and a variety of precision-like techniques. He had a phenomenal Regional champion Christian Smith (Liberty), previous two-time prep career at St. Peter Chanel High School, winning four Ohio Illinois state runner-up Daniel Dennis (Iowa), and 2006 state titles, a National High School Seniors Championships Pennsylvania state placer Austin Reed (Franklin & Marshall). crown, a Junior National Freestyle Championships title, and amassing an overall win-loss record of 166-3. Tsirtsis had one of 141 POUNDS the most dominating prep careers in the history of the sport, win- Eight formidable All-Americans return and they are led by the ning four Indiana state championships and compiling an unbe- defending NCAA runner-up Ryan Lang. A two-time All- lievable overall win-loss record of 236-0 with 144 falls. He is a American, Lang is a big-time point producer with immense phys- tough, hard-working competitor with a good array of offensive ical talents. He was triumphant at the Big 10 Conference and defensive moves. Championships and is a confident individual who can end Adam Frey, Nick Gallick, Manuel Rivera, Kyle Ruschell, Robbie matches in a hurry. He enjoyed a highly-decorated prep career at Preston, Josh Wagner, Troy Tirapelle, Ken Hashimoto, C.J. St. Edward High School, winning four Ohio state titles, a first- Ettelson, Kyle Terry, Joe Caramanica, Darren Kern, and Mike place performance at the National High School Seniors Hurley are sensational wrestlers looking to make an impact at this Championships, a Junior National Freestyle Championships classification. Frey is a superbly conditioned performer who com- crown, and an overall win-loss record of 153-17. All-Americans Charles Griffin, 141 POUNDS Nathan Morgan, and Don Fisch finished FORECASTED CHAMP: RYAN LANG (NORTHWESTERN) third, fourth, and fifth respectively at TOP CHALLENGERS: 17. C.J. Ettelson (Northern Iowa) last year’s NCAA Championships and 2. Charles Griffin (Hofstra) 18. Kyle Terry (Oklahoma) will provide quality competition to 3. Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State) 19. Darren Kern (Bloomsburg) Lang. Griffin has won three consecutive 4. Don Fisch (Rider) 20. Ryan Cubberly (Central Michigan) Colonial Athletic Association crowns 5. Brandon Rader (West Virginia) 21. Joe Caramanica (N.C. State) and is a gifted athlete capable of huge 6. Jake Strayer (Penn State) 22. Elijah Nacita (Bakersfield) offensive outbursts. He won a 7. J. Jaggers (Ohio State) 23. Tim Harner (Liberty) Pennsylvania state title while in high 8. Adam Frey (Cornell) 24. Matt Kyler (Army) school and was victorious at the 2004 9. Nick Gallick (Iowa State) 25. Charlie Pinto (Maryland) 10. Manuel Rivera (Minnesota) National High School Seniors 26. Kellon Balum (Virginia) 11. Alex Tsirtsis (Iowa) Championships. Morgan has captured 27. Mike Hurley (Cleveland State) 12. Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin) three straight Big 12 Conference 28. Pat McLemore (Northern Illinois) 13. Robbie Preston (Harvard) Championships titles and is the son of 29. Eli Hutchison (Boise State) 14. Josh Wagner (Missouri) Cal Poly 1973 NCAA Division II 30. Zack Kemmerer (Penn) 15. Troy Tirapelle (Illinois) National Champion Larry Morgan. A 31. Kevin Lipp (Purdue) 16. Ken Hashimoto (Northern Colorado) crafty wrestler with tremendous knowl- 32. Mike Rappo (North Carolina) edge of all phases of the sport, Morgan page 10 October 15, 2007 - Wrestling U.S.A.