eazee

Ok so I know this has been beaten to death on the other forum but who is this years best 160?

I just got to see Michael Chaires for the first time in his state finals match vs Bryan Bourne. I've seen the other two on quite a few occasions. Just going by my opinion and what I've seen w/o taking Fargo into account, I have to go w/

1. Jason Welch
2. Colt Sponseller
3. Michael Chaires

Flop The Nuts

I have to admit that I'm much more familiar with Welch, but he has been rolling through the California competition for some time now. He really has no competition in this state within about a +/- 15 lbs range.

JensenS

In terms of rankings, I've got to go with Chaires as the #1. I think you definitely have to take Fargo into account, and coming out of Fargo he was the highest placed guy at the weight. Through out the year he did nothing to lose it.

In terms of who the best would be should these three wrestle a round robin, that I have absolutely NO idea.

Dart Shark

Chaires was #1 in the pre-season according to one outlet and only went undefeated, won another NY state title, beating a Cadet FS champ in the process.

Kid did nothing to lose his #1 ranking. Just like JPO last year.

__________________

The Salad Monster would dominate the Cookie Monster.

eazee

Ok I agree with you and Jensen, Chaires deserves to be ranked #1.

What I'm asking is a personal feeling on who is the best. I think that either of those two guys beats him. I felt the exact same way last year with JPO and Bubba. JP was ranked higher after a better showing in Fargo and did nothing to show he was unworthty of it, especially the way Bubba's VA high school career ended. That being said I thought if they wrestled one match I would take Bubba. If I were to bet on one folkstyle match between Welch/Chaires, or Sponseller/Chaires, I'd take Welch and Sponseller in both instances.
Not questioning rankings, just looking for opinions.

LkwdSteve

Welsh was lucky to beat Sean Nemec. Thumbs down to the Eds coaches for refusing to let Nemec take down in the third period with the score 1-0.

Bourne took Chaires into overtime. The final evidence in favor of Sponseller was his dismantling of both Paddock and Smith. You can discount his Dapper Dan showing. The Fitzgerald Field House has gremlins (as everyone knows).

1. Sponseller
2. Chaires
3. Welsh
4. Nemec

sgallan

I "suspect" Sponsellor would win a tournament with all the players. But I "think" Chaires should be number one based on the results.

FWIW..... I am not a partisan (like a certain Ohio guy), and my personal favorite is Welch since I follow California and have seen a lot of Welch (camps and so forth) over the years. But I try to keep it real when I rank.

LkwdSteve

BTW, the only reason this list DOESN'T have Sean Nemec at the top, is because he wrestled the entire year with two arms that required surgery at year's end.
WAIT till college, you guys will see the TRUTH about Sean Nemec.