Zapp's Dueling 2011/2012 Summer All American Picks All Weights Posted

[Zapp Brannigan]

125:

1. Matt McDonough, Iowa
2. Jon Morrison, Oklahoma State
3. Zach Sanders, Minnesota
4. Jarrod Patterson, Oklahoma
5. Alan Waters, Missori
6. Nikko Triggas, Ohio State
7. Ryan Mango, Stanford
8. Levi Wolfensperger, Northern Iowa

R12: Jarrod Garnett, Virginia Tech; Jason Lara, Oregon State; Sean Boyle, Michigan; Garrett Frey, Princeton

Matt McDonough is an obvious choice, provided he's here. There were no obvious challengers when I looked over the guys, but he's easily the most complete wrestler in the weight, and he's easily the biggest dominator.

I liked what I saw from Morrison, and think his ceiling is just below McDonoughs. Provided he stays healthy, I think he's McDonough's primary challenger, and the only guy who has a real shot at beating him.

Zach Sanders is someone that I, like many others, predicted multiple titles from once Nickerson and Escobedo graduated. Who could have seen McDonough (and Long) being that good that fast? His skill set is the same as it's ever been, which makes him more impressive in a lot of ways that he keeps beating guys with it, since we know now it's not truly "elite."

I'm hoping for more offensive development from Patterson than we saw last year, but obviously he's just good and tough. Strong from neutral (though not terribly dynamic), and a bear on top, he's a tough guy to beat, and I don't think many guys will.

Alan Waters came out of nowhere to non-Mizzou fans, but I was very impressed very fast. I had him making a mid AA in my NCAA predictions, but he lost first round. Easy to understand, honestly, true frosh at his first NCAAs. I put him below Patterson because I think they're very similar, Patterson is just better. That said, I think Waters ceiling is higher, and I could conceive him all the way up to 2nd.

Triggas is an interesting case. Returning AA, but with the kind of results that were not common from the rest of his career. I think the confidence from making it on the podium, and his International Style success, will lead him onto the podium again...provided he's at 125. Lots of rumors of him at 133, but I think Stieber's International weight signals it will be him up at 133.

Ryan Mango is solid, but not spectacular. From my viewing, his greatest strength is his physical strength. I think the guys I have over him can either match his strength, or their skill will develop (thanks to experience) enough to overcome him.

Levi is my flier pick and a bit of Iowa homerism and belief in the ability of Doug Schwab (just wait until I predict Ryan Loder's NCAA championship! Kidding...or am I?) Very talented, and seems like a kid who will jst get better and better once he starts hitting D1 competition, kind of like Loder and Bonin last year, only Levi is at an easier weight class. I say he sneaks in here over Garnett because I hate Garnett for screwing me last year in fantasy with his flakiness.

[JensenS]

Jarrod Patterson is going to be really busy this year, wrestling for both Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

[Snackem]

I'd guess that he probably goes fairly quickly in the fantasy draft too then, that could be a lot of matches and he could put up HUGE numbers come conference week.

[Herkey#1]

Will Joe Colon be at 133 for UNI this year? I think he wrestled 125 for ICCC two seasons ago when he won his title. He may have something to say about Levi making the lineup for UNI at 125. Whichever guy gets the nod will be solid. Maybe Joe is going 133. IDK.

[vaisforlovers]

I say he sneaks in here over Garnett because I hate Garnett for screwing me last year in fantasy with his flakiness.

As if Garnetts flakiness wasn't known prior to last year??

[Zapp Brannigan]

WHY DON'T PEOPLE LOVE MY THREAD LIKE JENSEN'S?!?!?!?! d

[vaisforlovers]

I love it.

There's just not a huge difference right now between you and Jensens picks. Mcd is the best and a lot of guys about the same. Nothing to really get anyones ire up. When you have more weights up and there are glaring differences it will get more chatty.(Like last year when you made fun of me for thinking Quentin Wright was a potential title contender and would do better than Chris Perry)

[Gold]

Falling behind, Zapp.

[Zapp Brannigan]

133

1. Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State
2. Logan Stieber, Ohio State
3. Scotti Sentes, Central Michigan
4. Andrew Long, Penn State
5. Tony Ramos, Iowa
6. Tyler Graff, Wisconsin
7. BJ Futrell, Illinois
8. Cashe Quiroga, Purdue

Round of 12: Devin Carter, Virginia Tech; Colin Johnston, West Virginia; Flint Ray, Utah Valley; David Thorn, Minnesota

There's really not much to say about Jordan Oliver. He's probably the most complete wrestler in the country and the preseason favorite for the Hodge. He can be dominant from all positions, and he consistently puts up bonus points. He has no real weaknesses as long as he manages weight. Last season a superb defensive wrestler in Tyler Clark spent the first 6 minutes of the match basically doing nothing but attempting to not be scored on, and Oliver still nearly majored him. I don't see anybody really touching him except for Stieber.

Speaking of Stieber, I know I've got him higher than most would expect, but I believe in this kid. Tough break last year with the injury, but his Freestyle results, especially being undersized for International 132, really impressed me. He's probably the second most technically sound kid at this weight after Oliver (BTW, I would rank it Oliver, Stieber, Graff, and Ramos in terms of pure technical skill). I think he might take some lumps from some of the more experienced guys, but in the end, I say it's him taking a beating from Oliver in the Finals.

Scotti Sentes surprised many people, myself included, when he came seemingly out of nowhere to take a dazzling 4th at NCAA's. The kid just presents all kinds of match up problems from a physical standpoint, and if he gets on top of you, it may be game over. He's like an octopus on top, or maybe a boa constrictor is a better analogy. Most times, if he gets a good grip, you aren't getting out from him until he decides to let you. He had Long beat twice, and twice gave up silly pins. I say that Sentes has a renewed confidence from his great showing at NCAA's, and that leads him to a great season with under 5 losses.

Andrew Long is a gamer. I believe in this theory more than most, but some guys are just better on the big stages. Mark Perry and Kyle Dake both immediately spring to mind as "gamers", guys who look eminently beatable during the season, and then show up huge at the Big Dance. As a midseason transfer, it was hard to know what Penn State would get out of a kid with the baggage Long was dragging with him, but the Nittany Lions couldn't have hoped for more than they got from him. This season, I say they get the similar output, although 4th may be viewed as "disappointing" for Long given what we've seen from him already.

Tony Ramos is a guy (JensenS TM) who really showed me something last year. Clearly undersized for the weight, he was tough as nails and gave everybody who stepped on the mat with him everything they wanted. From neutral, there's not many people who can penetrate his defense or have his technique. His mat wrestling is his biggest weakness, especially from top. He struggled a couple of times at NCAA's from bottom, but that was against Sentes and Ruggirello, arguably the two best riders at the weight. With a full summer knowing that he's going 133 (I think?), he'll be able to put on a little more muscle to shore up his strength deficiency, and I say he passes Graff (who he nearly beat last year) and is right there with Long and Sentes.

Tyler Graff is a disappointment to me. I know that's not fair, especially when talking about a college kid, but it just is what it is. Jensen says he saw no growth from Graff, but I'm going to take it further: I thought he was worse as a sophomore than as a freshman. As a freshman, he was a buzzsaw, especially from neutral, where he would just put on TD clinics. I compared him to Metcalf, and I meant it. Last year he seemed WAY slowed down, and hadn't improved his biggest weakness (mat wrestling) at all. I hope he takes the step I thought he would, but for now, I feel that everyone above him is primed for more growth. Another factor to consider is the turmoil at Wisconsin right now, and apparently Graff's main coach, Frayer, is leaving.

BJ Futrell was one of those pleasant surprises last year. I mean, there were a few of us who were high on him coming to college, and then he was ok as a frosh, and just kind of went off the grid. Then BAM, he's there last year. And not to play into the tired stereotype, but Futrell is just super athletic, and uses it to win most of his matches, and that would be true if he were white. His strongest area by far is from neutral, where he uses his superior quickness to win. If he can refine his technique, he could shoot up the standings, but as of now, he's way behind everybody I have in front of him on this list, and they are close enough to his athleticism to where they will typically beat him.

Cashe Quiroga! First of all, just an awesome name. Cashe came out of seemingly nowhere to AA as a true freshman at a stacked 125 weight. A corollary to my "gamer" theory is the "true frosh AA's are very talented and will continue to be talented" theory. If a guy makes AA as a true freshman, count me in.