Re: 2010 Midseason All American Predictions: 184 Posted

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 06:28 PM

lol thanks grapplefan but I really don't care. I'm just a big fan but don't have the credibility that Shane has.

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Gold

His highest finish is 4th.

Thought he got 3rd 2 yrs ago. forgive me.

**JensenS** · 01-24-2010, 06:33 PM

You flatter me...

I'm the same guy that picked and then defended the pick of Mike Letts as the 174 pound National Champion both during the summer and in the fall.

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by JensenS

You flatter me...

I'm the same guy that picked and then defended the pick of Mike Letts as the 174 pound National Champion both during the summer and in the fall.

yeah...well can you imagine if he was tearing it up now? I'd be like, "daggone Jensens is a freakin GENIUS!"

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 07:00 PM

165

1. Andrew Howe
2. Nick Marable
3. Jarrod King
4. Dustin Schlatter
5. Ryan Morningstar
6. Jon Reader
7. Colt Sponseller
8. Chris Brown
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R12-Dan Vallimont, Andy Rendos, Alex Meade, Ricky Schmelyun

I wrestled with this one for awhile and I?m not completely sold on him not winning but all the reasons Andrew Howe is great lead me to believe he finishes 1st this year. His handfighting is beyond phenomenal and he?s so hard to score on(like so many in this class)
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Marable is a tough nut. Had a disappointing finish to last year where he was apparently injured. I like him to get to the finals this year as he appears to be healthy and better than ever. He has put up WAY more bonus than I?ve ever seen him and I?ve been pretty impressed
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I originially had Jarrod as repeating but talked myself out of it. Jarrod is very difficult to score on and will give fits for the top level guys. His splits are scary good. And he body locks with the best even though you know it?s coming. However I feel like he puts himself into precarious positions too often. A 3rd place finish will end his senior campaign wonderfully.
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This is all predicated on DS staying at 65 obviously but I think this is about the worst DS can finish if you want my honest opinion. He could end up 1st but I see him finishing around 4th. Many thought he?d ride the momentum of making a world team to a more wide open arsenal especially with the weight cut no longer being an issue. I didn?t particularly buy into that but I do think he?ll do quite well. He?s like many of the other 65?s: Good handfighting, great defense, and a decent offensive arsenal. I think the thing that keeps him from winning it all is an aggression issue.
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I?ll say it right now: The best that Ryan Morningstar could ever finish at NCAA?s ever is 3rd and he won?t match or improve on that this year. I felt at the end of last year if he rode that momentum and got more motivated to work on a few leg attacks he could put himself in the title discussion. This hasn?t really been the case. He gets taken down in lots of his matches and I think that separates him from the guys above honestly. Last year he was riding a lot better but he?s been basically figured out and isn?t getting the RT like he had. He still finds a way to win a lot of matches and has a great heart and gas tank. He never gives up and I hope the guy proves me wrong as he became a hero of mine last year when the rest of the hawks were trying to hand OSU the title.
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This is a pretty low finish for Reader considering the way he?s been wrestling but it?s a finish I think is more likely than him improving on it. I think that Marable has his number, King and Howe outclass him, DS is a bad matchup and Morningstar just beats him for the most part. Reader is probably one of the best TD artists going at 165 right now but he has a tendency to give a few dumb points up a match and I think at NCAA?s that drops him back to 6th. He could very well do better but I don?t see it coming.
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I like Spons a lot and really felt for the kid not AAing last year. He?s pretty aggressive but is a notch below in my opinion the previous 6 in terms of pedigree. I don?t foresee him having any trouble AAing this year.
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This is a bit of an indulgent pick, yet it can be easily justified in my opinion. This guy has beaten Perry, marable and Rendos. So he obviously belongs at this level and can compete with the best. So what if I went to ODU and he?s on my fantasy if you say I?m biased you?re a LIAR!
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I definitely spent more time figuring this weight out than many of the others. I?m not confident in the order but I?m quite confident in my top 8 and feel that I have them pretty close to how they?ll wind up. If DS goes down put Alex Meade in there as the final AA.

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 07:35 PM

174
1. Mack lewnes
2. Jay Borshel
3. Chris Henrich
4. Stephen Dwyer
5. Mike Letts
6. Ben Bennett
7. Mike Benefiel
8. Scott Glasser

R12-Jordan Blanton, Robert Hamlin, Colby Covington,Nate Lee

Mack Truck has been the class of 74 this entire season. He’s beyond good and I cant believe I was able to get him in the 2nd round in fantasy. He is a great scrambler, has a WIDE variety of takedowns, can ride well and doesn’t get ridden. He hasn’t had an offensive point scored on him. Even though J-Bo has looked as good as ever I think Mack has a few more TD’s a little better scrambling will be the difference in a very anticipated finals.
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Jay is a character and a great guy to watch and not your prototypical Iowa guy but still someone who can put points up on the board. He’s not the most athletic guy but he always knows where he is in a scramble and is an underrated rider. I like him to give Mack the challenge of his life for his national title. He’s really put himself in hodge consideration with the amount of bonus he has put up but I think Mack squelches his chance.
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Now we drop off…big time. Honestly I picked Henrich mainly because I felt between him and Dwyer it was a toss up and Jensens picked Dwyer. Henrich has wins this year over Bennet, Jeff James, and Patrovich x2. Not ridiculous wins but given this weight somewhat impressive. He finished last year pretty strong and I see him improving on his finish.
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As I said before Dwyer could easily get 3rd and has earned his 3rd place ranking. He’s a really solid guy who can beat lots of good wrestlers but probably no great ones. He’s beaten Manuel, Glasser and Bennett so far this year. Nebraska needs some joy and I hope Brester, Dwyer and Lane can turn their season into something decent.
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Letts has only lost to Mack Lewnes and Ben Bennett but woo doggy were the lewnes losses doozies. He’s been a pretty solid guy this year, not quite meeting expectations, but honestly he hasn’t wrestled anybody of note other than Lewnes. Maryland has a tough schedule but he’s avoided some top tier competition so I put him this high with serious reluctance. However, as I’ve stated this weight is not strong and I like his chances at AAing riding the momentum of JensenS preseason vote of confidence all the way to a 5th place finish
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Ben Bennett unseated Mike Miller(two guys with alliterative names for CMU..weird) as the guy at 174 and a finalist is not easily removed from their spot(See Mark Ellis) So I figure this kid is going to be pretty tough. I envision him hitting his stride towards conferences and having some momentum as he goes to NCAAs and finishes a strong freshmen campaign.
Fireman to back! Benefiel has a great move and I see him AAing this year with it’s help. I don’t see him beating many top level guys but he’s good enough to outclass this field. He’s a big time bonus guy and can pin people in lots of different ways.
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Scott Glasser-This may be a stretch but most of this weight is, so whatever. He’s beaten Rella, Bennet, Burk, Henderson, etc. I think he manages to work his way up to the podium, though I’m not terribly confident in this pick. Much like I’m not confident in many gophers this year, but I’ll throw them a bone in this one.
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This weight is so disappointingly weak I don’t know what to do with myself. The R12 was very painful. Let me also say I took Manuel out because of his injury. If he’s healthy I slate him around 5th or so. The consolation of this weight is that we should have a GREAT final

**vaisforlovers** · 01-24-2010, 08:12 PM

184

1. Phil Keddy
2. Max Askren
3. Michael Cannon
4. Kirk Smith
5. John Dergo
6. Dustin Kilgore
7. Mike Pucillo
8. Louis Caputo
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R12 Joe Leblanc, David Craig, Clayton Foster, Jerome Ward
, Mike Miller
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Phil did not look himself earlier this year losing quite a few matches to guys I would not have seen him losing too. It’s a homer pick, but I feel he’s beginning to turn it around and will find himself on top when it’s all said and done. He’s working on controlling his aggression and not getting sloppy. If he can keep his position I see him getting it done.
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Not 100% sure about this one. Max seems to be injured and that always gives me pause, especially in a meat grinder like 184 is this year. I think he’s due for a finals trip. Max has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and we all know he can scramble very well for his size.
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Mike Cannon may well be the class of this weight and I wrestled with putting him on top for a bit. He’s got a big fame and 184 seems to suit him better. I like him to use his leverage and scrambling all the way to a 3rd place finish.
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Kirk Smith has represented his school very well this year. He’s got quite a few solid wins over good competition. He is ranked 1st now but I feel he may be a guy peaking a bit early and I feel the guys ahead of him have a few more weapons. He didn’t AA last year but he should this year.

Dergo surprised THE HECK out of me this year. If only he had beaten a few more good guys, his wins include: Pucillo, Cannon, Askren, Caputo, Ward, Erwin and Bosak to name a few. I am not putting him up higher as I see him as a guy who has just surprised people and after a little more film is viewed he will settle in at this 5 spot.
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Dustin Kilgore is just MEAN. Watching him crossface guys gives me slight bruising to MY face so I cant imagine what happens to his opponent. He’s great on top, relentless from all positions. I think he is a tough challenge for anyone but I think he gives up a few too many points to hang with the big dogs. 6th is a great finish for the lad.
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Pucillo has not been close to himself this year. Not sure how bad a cut hand effects you in wrestling but apparently a lot. He won’t be himself by NCAA’s it would seem either but he’s just too tough and good to not finish on the stand for the 4th time.
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Caputo looks to be about the same guy he’s always been. Good wrestler not a world beater but he’s not a 2 time AA for nothing. I think he becomes the most quiet 3xaa I know of this year. I think he’ll use his strategy and smarts to navigate a brutal field.
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I couldn’t have been more wrong about Jerome Ward. This guy is pretty daggone good. He pushes pace better now and you can tell that Chris Bono has been working with him because that Snatch single is just nasty. I think he continues to improve and get’s 8th this year.
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This was another really tough weight to place but once again I feel that I got the right 8 in there. You know it’s a tough weight when you have a finalist in the R12 and that would require him outwrestling his current ranking. I’m not supremely confident but a lot of it is gut and this was my gut. I like the guys I've picked and think they'll be close to where I've put them.

**JensenS** · 01-24-2010, 08:38 PM

197

Preseason
1. Jake Varner (Iowa State)
2. Craig Brester (Nebraska)
3. Hudson Taylor (Maryland)
4. Cam Simaz (Cornell)
5. Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)
6. Cayle Byers (George Mason)
7. Alan Gelogaev (Oklahoma State)
8. Brent Jones (Virginia)
R12. Chad Beatty (Iowa), Eric Lapotsky (Oklahoma), Richard Starks (Army), Jesse Strawn (Old Dominion)

Mid Season
1. Jake Varner (Iowa State)
2. Craig Brester (Nebraska)
3. Hudson Taylor (Maryland)
4. Cam Simaz (Cornell)
5. Eric Lapotsky (Oklahoma)
6. Alan Gelogaev (Oklahoma State)
7. Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)
8. Logan Brown (Purdue)
R12. Chad Beatty (Iowa), Anthony Biondo (Michigan), Sonny Yohn (Minnesota), Dennis Drury (North Carolina)

Love him or hate him coming back off making the World Team this off season Jake Varner just continues to get things done. He's not the prettiest guy from the feet in the world and in all likelihood he never will be, but he has the stuff that works for him. His little shuck by, and the throw that he likes to hit from his whizzer position are probably his go to moves then he has an ever gradually improving ankle pick as well. His best attributes overall are still his defense from neutral and his top wrestling. His top wrestling being put on display in his fall over Gelogaev today. Other than his win today he's got two wins over Sorenson (major and a fall), two pins over Bond, two wins over Beatty (one by major), a major over Wilps, a win over Michalak, a fall over Yohn, a win over Lapotsky and then most importantly wins over Brester and Taylor. He has not lost yet and doesn't appear to be on his way to doing so unless Brester gets him.

While none of the five matches that they've wrestled so far have been particularly exciting to watch all of the matches except for the first one between Brester and Varner have been very, very close. Brester got him last year in the Big 12 finals and at the moment he's the only guy left in college who has beaten Varner. Brester is just a goer, he's tough both on his feet and on top and that carries him to big scores against a lot of the guys at the weight not named Jake Varner. So far this year he's beaten Kennedy, Bond, Brown (fall), Lapotsky, and Sorenson. His only loss came to who else, but Jake Varner in the All Star match.

Taylor has come out this year and been much, much more consistent than he was during the early part of last year where he dropped some bad matches and wound up getting pinned five or six times over the course of the year. He started the year off big with a pin over Simaz in one of his first matches and then has really kept things rolling. He's got other pins over Drury, Jones, and Bond. Then he's got two wins over Brown including one by major, a win over Wilps, and then another win over Simaz. He's got losses to Michalak who isn't in college anymore, Brandvold, and a close one to Varner.

Its kind of interesting how the top 4 at this weight have almost seemingly set up into 4 unique tiers. Unfortunately for Simaz at least this year he's the guy stuck down on that fourth tier without seemingly much shot at beating any of the 3 guys above him. So far this year he's got a tech over Hanke, and then majors over Drury and Schuth en route to a title at the Southern Scuffle. He's also beaten Brown, Brandvold, and Haynes. In terms of losses he's got the two already mentioned losses to Hudson Taylor, a loss to Biondo, and then a tough loss last night to Joe Kennedy. He's seemingly done a nice job putting some size on this year, and still does a nice job wrestling a really tough, aggressive style.

Lapotsky is a guy who has just had a very quiet but still very solid year. He's been overshadowed by the bigger names in his conference but just keeps chugging along sitting in the Top 5 nationally. His biggest win this year was a 10-4 domination of Gelogaev where he got a few TD's and then most impressively rode him for about 5 minutes with legs. He's lost to Brester and Varner, and then he had kind of a rough go at the Virginia Duals where he dropped matches to Brent Jones by fall, and to Kennedy.

I said love him or hate him when talking about Varner but it may be a setting that is even better applied to Gelogaev. Personally I still enjoy watching him wrestle. The possibility that we see him hit his leg lace throw will have me paying attention each time he steps out there. I think there are some people who kind of resent the hype that he wound up coming in with and are turning against him a little now that its obvious that while he's still very good he's not the terror that he was being made out to be by some people. So far this year he's got wins over Haynes, Orozco, and then a 14-5 major over Drury in the Reno finals where he hit the aforementioned nasty leg lace throw. His only losses have been to conference opponents Lapotsky, and Varner. I don't see his match up in a few weeks with Brester going any better than those previous two have. Still think he makes it on the podium though.

I came into the season thinking that Brandvold was a guy who was really going to emerge en route to being the best 197 pounder in the Big 10 but unfortunately as a result of injury we haven't seen much of him so he hasn't really been able to do that yet. So far this year he has a big win over Taylor (for the second year in a row) then he's also beaten Hanke, Wilps, and Kennedy. He's also lost to Kennedy then also has losses to Beatty, and Simaz.

Brown is a guy who has spent most of the last two years ranked in the bottom part of the Top 10 or in the upper teens putting up solid but not super spectacular results. So far this year he's got two wins over Strawn, and then wins over Haynes, Hanke, and Biondo. He's lost twice to Taylor, been pinned by Brester, and then also lost to Haynes, Simaz, and Bond.

**Gold** · 01-24-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by vaisforlovers

I think the thing that keeps him from winning it all is an aggression issue.

I'll agree that if he would push the action more he would be damn near impossible to stop. It seems like he can get a takedown about as easy as anyone when he wants to, he just doesn't always look to do it. He's still the favorite to win it, IMO. I can't wait to see him vs. Howe.

Originally Posted by vaisforlovers

Letts has only lost to Mack Lewnes but woo doggy were they doozies. He’s been a pretty solid guy this year, not quite meeting expectations, but honestly he hasn’t wrestled anybody of note other than Lewnes. Maryland has a tough schedule but he’s avoided some top tier competition so I put him this high with serious reluctance. However, as I’ve stated this weight is not strong and I like his chances at AAing riding the momentum of JensenS preseason vote of confidence all the way to a 5th place finish

Didn't Letts lose to Bennett?

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