That leaves us with a field of dark horses and super sneakers all trying to claim their first big crown. McDougald is also a past state champ, and as you might have guessed, the McDougald’s as a family mean business when they come to Eastern States. War at the Shore Wrestling Tournament: Complete results of every championship match (PHOTOS) ... dec. Savier Ortega, Howell, 2-0 93 pounds Joseph Manfredi… Last year Smith was fourth at 113 and third in New York, Camillaci was fourth at 106, Roes was seventh at 113 and a state finalist last year, Garcia was fourth in New York and Patterson is always trouble.I know everyone will be clamoring for Ryder to become a local legend and national superstar, but his loss last week to Pierson Manville was a good reminder that he is still young and developing. Unfortunately, he has also dropped one to Araneo, hinting at the parity madness that might overtake this bracket. With two of the four ahead of him already committed, Williams is one of the biggest recruits still available in the junior class.Mustang Oklahoma's Tate Picklo is new to 195, and he already has the chance to earn the top spot in the rankings, but it won't be easy.
DeCapua was eighth at 195 and 3rd in New York last year. Lots of bruisers fill it out, but no scary monsters.This should be a good chance for Franklin to take care of business and practice collecting his trophies without getting pulled into slugfests or carrying dead weight for three periods. Kicking off the year with a Super 32 title he has been unstoppable, even racking up a sudden victory win over Sem’s Brandon Cannon, who just won Beast of the East against a loaded 106 field. He is a lacrosse star who will be playing that in college but can be all or nothing on the mat, usually coming out ahead. Touted in middle school as the possible future of the high school heavies, he has shown that he is still growing into his body and developing his skill set. As I had mentioned in my past writing on Lachlan, one of the great things about covering this sport at this level is when you get to watch a kid put all of the pieces together and truly start to realize their potential. The Fargo champ has proven that he can hang with the big boys nationally at the upperweights, grinding his way to a fourth-place finish at Ironman, and making the final at Powerade. The Carmel product became the first seventh-grader to ever win a state wrestling championship, beating Joseph Manfredi of Herricks in the finals. Add in the pressure of wrestling in front of a crowd that adored his Father and his three New York state championships, and it will be a lot to manage.Looking over the field one would think it is a good place to settle in and get things straighten out this weekend, but there is a landmine waiting out there for him. Has he recovered from his early bumps and bruises this season and can he crash the party? If he isn’t totally on his game, there are guys here that will make this a long weekend for him, but I expect a professional run to the top of the podium.I cannot tell a lie — this is the third preview I have written that states how I am looking forward to the heavyweight debut of Jake Kaminski, and it is the third one that laments how I will have to delay that just a little bit longer. I have a gut feeling it might be Centrone.If you do nothing else, circle this 120-pound bracket right NOW! Highly regarded, he took a bit to get in the groove this season, but that switch has definitely been flicked - so look out!Jace Schafer is a returning fourth-place finisher here and also king of the D2 mountain in New York last year. Lindner and Brault are just below the elite in Connecticut, but know their way around a big tournament, tons of New York mat specialists abound, and Sem has also dropped in middle schooler Dom Federici. I am a little disappointed that Gabe Arnold didn’t make the trip as this might have been the perfect chance for him to roll up some wins, but the rest of the wrestlers will be happy the freshman phenom isn’t staring at them from across the mat. Null is the returning fifth and was a state finalist and is having a stellar season. The tournament has long had entertaining finishes from the heavies and this year we get to see half of the placers return and battle it out.The spotlight turns to Tyler Rice who finished third last year and is absolutely no fun to wrestle. Araneo has been tearing it up and has a win over Nate Ross, who is from a large family that certainly knows how to win around these parts and should be watched at all times. and Erick Velasquez, along with freshman Jacob Joyce, Jordan Brown, and Clayton O’Connor.At Wrangle on the Plains Duke managed to navigate back to back Sem hurdles, winning tight contests with Dailey and Cannon.