link CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals are set to begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. CST at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. InterMat has put together a fan's guide to the Division I portion of the event with a listing of potential Day 1 individual matchups involving ranked wrestlers ... and wrestlers to watch.
Potential First Round Matchups Involving Ranked Wrestlers
9 a.m. CST
125: No. 6 Zach Sanders (Minnesota) vs. No. 18 Bradley Wisdom (Missouri)
133: No. 3 Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) vs. No. 20 Kevin Smith (Buffalo)
141: No. 7 Mike Thorn (Minnesota) vs. No. 20 Todd Schavrien (Missouri)
149: No. 6 Jason Chamberlain (Boise State) vs. No. 20 Desi Green (Buffalo)
149: No. 11 Tony D'Alie (Central Michigan) vs. No. 17 Andrew Nadhir (Northwestern)
165: No. 2 Dustin Schlatter (Missouri) vs. No. 6 Nick Marable (Missouri)
174: No. 2 Jay Borschel (Iowa) vs. No. 3 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)
174: No. 9 Dorian Henderson (Missouri) vs. No. 13 Scott Glasser (Minnesota)
197: No. 11 Brent Haynes (Missouri) vs. No. 15 Sonny Yohn (Minnesota)
11 a.m. CST
133: No. 6 Tyler Graff (Wisconsin) vs. No. 12 Mike Grey (Cornell)
149: No. 3 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) vs. No. 17 Chris Drouin (Arizona State)
165: No. 1 Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) vs. No. 12 Justin Kerber (Cornell)
165: No. 3 Jon Reader (Iowa State) vs. No. 11 Rick Schmelyun (Bloomsburg)
197: No. 6 Cam Simaz (Cornell) vs. No. 7 Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)
Potential Quarterfinal Matchups Involving Ranked Wrestlers
The following potential matchups for the quarterfinal round are based on the assumption that all eight seeded teams will win in the opening round and advance to the quarterfinals.
1 p.m. CST
125: No. 4 Matt McDonough (Iowa) vs. No. 14 Alan Bartelli (Boise State)
125: No. 6 Zach Sanders (Minnesota) vs. No. 10 Matt Steintrager (Central Michigan)
133: No. 2 Jayson Ness (Minnesota) vs. No. 9 Scotti Sentes (Central Michigan)
149: No. 1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Jason Chamberlain (Boise State)
149: No. 11 Tony D'Alie (Central Michigan) vs. No. 18 Mario Mason (Minnesota)
165: No. 2 Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota) vs. No. 19 Tyler Grayson (Central Michigan)
174: No. 2 Jay Borschel (Iowa) vs. No. 16 Nate Lee (Boise State)
174: No. 5 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan) vs. No. 13 Scott Glasser (Minnesota)
184: No. 1 Kirk Smith (Boise State) vs. No. 6 Phil Keddy (Iowa)
3 p.m. CST
133: No. 8 Nick Fanthorpe (Iowa State) vs. No. 10 Steve Bell (Maryland)
141: No. 1 Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) vs. No. 6 Kyle Dake (Cornell)
141: No. 2 Nick Gallick (Iowa State) vs. No. 8 Alex Krom (Maryland)
165: No. 3 Jon Reader (Iowa State) vs. No. 17 Josh Asper (Maryland)
165: No. 7 Colt Sponseller (Ohio State) vs. No. 12 Justin Kerber (Cornell)
174: No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) vs. No. 19 Dave Rella (Ohio State)
174: No. 6 Mike Letts (Maryland) vs. No. 14 Duke Burk (Iowa State)
184: No. 8 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) vs. No. 17 Steve Bosak (Cornell)
197: No. 1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. No. 4 Hudson Taylor (Maryland)
No. 1-Ranked Wrestlers Competing
No. 1 Reece Humphrey (Ohio State, 141)
Humphrey, an NCAA runner-up last season at 133 pounds, is 18-0 this season. He won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, which included victories over No. 3 Filip Novachkov of Cal Poly and No. 6 Kyle Dake of Cornell. Humphrey will likely see Dake again in the quarterfinals ... assuming both Ohio State and Cornell win their opening round dual meets. If Ohio State meets Iowa State in the semifinals, Humphrey could face No. 2 Nick Gallick of Iowa State, who missed the Midlands due to injury but might compete this weekend.
No. 1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa, 149)
Metcalf has dominated his competition this season. The 2008 NCAA champion is 15-0 this season and has earned bonus points in 13 of those matches (10 pins, two technical falls, one major decision). Metcalf was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Midlands Championships after going 6-0 with a 9-2 victory in the finals over No. 2 Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin.
No. 1 Andrew Howe (Wisconsin, 165)
Howe, an NCAA runner-up last season as a true freshman, began the season ranked No. 3, but has steadily climbed in the rankings after past NCAA champions Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota and Jarrod King of Edinboro suffered losses in the first half of the season. Howe recently won a Midlands title, which included victories over No. 3 Jon Reader of Iowa State and No. 6 Nick Marable of Missouri. He's currently 15-0 on the season.
No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell, 174)
Lewnes has bounced back in a big way this season after a disappointing NCAA performance last season when he went 0-2 and failed to place. Lewnes, who moved up a weight class from 165 pounds to 174 pounds, is undefeated on the season and has won tournament titles at the Binghamton Open, Body Bar Invitational, Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, and Southern Scuffle. He has wins over No. 3 Stephen Dwyer of Nebraska, No. 4 Chris Henrich of Virginia, No. 6 Mike Letts of Maryland, No. 8 Jeff James, and No. 11 Luke Rebertus of Navy.
No. 1 Kirk Smith (Boise State, 184)
Smith, an All-American as a freshman in 2008, came up one win shy of All-American honors last season as a sophomore. But Smith has quietly climbed his way to No. 1 in the rankings ... after beginning the season ranked No. 7. He won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, which included victories over No. 2 John Dergo of Illinois and No. 7 Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming.
No. 1 Jake Varner (Iowa State, 197)
At a press conference this week, Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson made it clear that he believes Varner is the best wrestler in the NCAA this season. "Hands down, Jake Varner is the best college wrestler in the country," Jackson said. "There is no doubt he should win the Dan Hodge Trophy this year. He is the very best, by a lot, over any other college wrestler in the country." Varner, who made his first U.S. World Team in freestyle this past summer, is 13-0 this season and has earned bonus points in 12 matches. He also has wins over No. 2 Craig Brester of Nebraska and Wynn Michalak, an NCAA runner-up for Central Michigan in 2008.
Nationally-Ranked Freshmen Competing
No. 4 Matt McDonough (Iowa, 125)
McDonough was a Midlands champion and is currently undefeated at 15-0.
No. 5 Andrew Long (Iowa State, 125)
Long is coming off the biggest win of his young career, an 8-4 decision over returning All-American Zach Sanders of Minnesota on Sunday. He is 15-2 this season with both losses coming to McDonough.
No. 5 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan, 174)
Bennett sent shockwaves through the wrestling world when he beat out returning NCAA runner-up and previously No. 1-ranked Mike Miller for the starting spot at 174 pounds in the Central Michigan lineup (Miller has moved up to 184 pounds.) Bennett was a Midlands runner-up and is 8-4 this season.
No. 6 Tyler Graff (Wisconsin, 133)
Expectations were high for Graff entering this season, but the four-time state champion from Colorado has lived up those expectations. He recently won a Midlands title with a dominating 18-5 victory in the finals over returning All-American Steve Bell of Maryland. Graff placed third at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, losing in the semifinals to No. 5 Boris Novachkov of Cal Poly.
No. 6 Kyle Dake (Cornell, 141)
Dake, a true freshman, has been phenomenal this season for the Cornell Big Red. He recently won the Southern Scuffle. He took No. 1-ranked Reece Humphrey of Ohio State into overtime in the semifinals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, before losing 4-2.
No. 11 Brent Haynes (Missouri, 197)
Haynes, a two-time Missouri state champion from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, is 19-5 this season and placed seventh at the Midlands. He is expected to face No. 15 Sonny Yohn of Minnesota in his first match this weekend.
No. 17 Josh Asper (Maryland, 165)
Asper, a four-time Maryland state champion, is 17-4 this season. He won the Body Bar Invitational on November 21.
No. 18 Mario Mason (Minnesota, 149)
Mason, who wrestled for Blair Academy in high school, was the prized recruit from Minnesota No. 1 recruiting class in 2008. Mason started the season 7-0, but went 2-2 at the Midlands and failed to place.
No. 18 Bradley Wisdom (Missouri, 125)
Wisdom, a three-time Missouri state champion, is a true freshman with an 11-1 record. The only blemish on his record is an 8-4 loss to No. 12 Brad Pataky of Penn State at the Nittany Lion Open on December 6.
