NSWCA Class A Rankings 2-7-19

NSWCA Class A Rankings 2-7-19

Top 10 Teams Meets

1. Millard South
2. Omaha Burke
3. Kearney
4. Lincoln East
5. Columbus
6. Papillion LaVista
7. Grand Island
8. Papillion LaVista South
9. Bellevue East
10. Norfolk

COMMENTS:  Here is my final Top 10 before Districts/State.  I think the top 3, maybe 4/5, could all compete for the title, although I think Millard South and Omaha Burke are the most likely 2 to battle it out down the wire on Final Saturday in Omaha in mid-February.  They are very deep squads, and both have several definitive #1 picks to win State titles, plus some #2s!  More firepower than the other Top 10 squads have, in my veteran opinion!

 

Top 10 Teams Duals

1. Millard South
2. Lincoln East
3. Kearney
4. Omaha Burke
5. Grand Island
6. Columbus
7. Papillion LaVista
8. Papillion LaVista South
9. Fremont
10. Norfolk

COMMENTS: Well, since Millard South won the Class A State Dual Meet last Saturday, they finish #1 in Duals, naturally.  I went with the top 8 being the 8 State Duals Qualifiers, in the order they finished.  Makes sense to me!  I looked hard at the 9/10 slots, and placed Fremont #9, and Norfolk #10.  My squad beat the #9 State Duals team, Lincoln Pius X last Friday, so I felt Fremont and Norfolk warranted the last couple spots, as we were only 11 – 10.   2018-19 was definitely a very good dual competition year in Class A, with MANY close duals, and teams winning, then losing sometimes, to teams they competed twice against!  I think my squad’s average dual score was probably 40-36, and I saw many

Top 6 Individuals

106

1. Gabe Grice Bellevue East
2. Archie Heelen Kearney
3. Brandon Baustert Lincoln East
4. Caleb Coyle Millard South
5. Juan Pedro Grand Island
6. Nate Rubino Omaha Burke

COMMENTS:  Grice sits at number one – returned for last dual of the season last week, and is ready to go Saturday.  Heelen looks really tough, and so does Baustert.  Coyle has given Grice a 3 – 2 match this season…soo…this is a weight that should see some very competitive matches in Omaha.

 

113

1. Garrett Grice Bellevue East
2. Emileo Haynes Omaha Central
3. Blake Jackson Millard South
4. Blake Cushing Grand Island
5. Quentin Donald Omaha Benson
6. Hunter Nagatani Kearney

COMMENTS: The 2nd half of the Bellevue East dynamic duo of Grice boys sit atop 113 at the end of the regular season.  Garrett is a very special young man, on and off the mat, and this rater has had the privilege of watching every match up close.  Haynes and he were like a college match in the 1 – 0 Grice win in the Metro Finals.  Jackson is also dangerous, and comes out of Grice’s district.  The 113 final in Omaha should be as good of a Final as there is in Class A this year.

 

120

1. Jakason Burks Omaha Burke
2. Nathan Rizek Lincoln East
3. Arman Erickson LSE
4. Rylie Steele Kearney
5. Wyatt May Millard West
6. Solomon Allerheiligen Millard North

COMMENTS: Burks is the dominant favorite – probably as big a favorite as Class A has at any weight…closest thing to a State title lock as I can see, barring illness or injury.  Should be good battles to see who he meets in the Finals!

 

126

1. Conor Knopick Millard South
2. Ladamien Sturdivant Omaha Bryan
3. Cody Niemic Papillion LaVista
4. Cody Carlson
5. Camden Russell Millard West
6. Daniel DeRosier Bellevue East

COMMENTS:  I still believe this is the absolute toughest, deepest weight in Class A this season.  Kinda knew wrestlers would try to avoid Burks at 120, and Moomey at 132…BUT…wow! Lots of talent here, and likely somebody not listed above cracks the podium in Omaha…great weight!

 

132

1. Phillip Moomey Kearney
2. Antrell Taylor Millard South
3. Nolan Niemic Papillion LaVista
4. Carter Kucera Columbus
5. Jeromy Nielsen Omaha Burke
6. Caelan Hester Bellevue East

COMMENTS:  Moomey still looks near unbeatable at 132, after going up and losing to Mayfield at the State Duals 12 – 5 last weekend. A very competitive weight class as well!

 

138

1. Maxx Mayfield Lincoln East
2. Tyler Antoniak Millard South
3. Gage McBride Kearney
4. Peyton Meink Millard North
5. Preston Mort Lincoln NE
6. Blaine Miller Omaha Burke

COMMENTS: Mayfield is a major stud…no two ways about it…only a JR, I don’t see anybody beating him at State, as he goes for his 2^nd State title.  Definitely some kids not listed here who could compete and earn a State medal.

 

145

1. Nick James Kearney
2. Levi May Millard West
3. Creighton Baughman Papillion LaVista
4. Trey Nielsen Omaha Burke
5. Deon Davis Omaha Central
6. Caleb Conner Papillion LaVista South

COMMENTS:  James is a solid #1, with May a late season charger, surprising Baughman in the Metro Finals.  Super close and competitive after Mayfield!

 

152

1. Chance Fry Lincoln East
2. Deson Stapleton Omaha Burke
3. Josh Licking Norfolk
4. Cole Price Papillion LaVista
5. Alex Irizarry Papillion LaVista South
6. Colton Kowalek Kearney

COMMENTS:  Fry has been a machine since returning in January, pinning nearly every kid, usually in under a minute!  He seems destined to win his 3^rd State title.  A deep weight with some great competition below him though!

 

160

1. James Burks Omaha Burke
2. Liam Kirk Elkhorn South
3. Avery McMeekin Columbus
4. Brayden Splatter Norfolk
5. Nolan Miller-Johnston Omaha Westside
6. Jack McDonnell Bellevue West

COMMENTS:  The Man – James Burks.  Seems like he gets lost in the shuffle sometimes this year, with his younger brother’s summer success (James went to Europe to wrestle too you recall!)  Yet…he definitely IS THE MAN…gong for his 4^th State title, 160 I imagine is the last weight in Omaha at the Finals.  Any discussion of Nebraska’s best pound for pound wrestler has to include Mr. Burks, and deservedly so.  If you had one kid to wrestle one match for all the marbles…you’d feel pretty confident if James was your guy.  Great kid, great wrestler….what a legacy!  The rest will be great too, as many good kids are at 160….just 1 James Burks!

 

170

1. Isaiah Alford Lincoln High
2. Cole Huss Gretna
3. Grant Lyman Lincoln East
4. Gus Franzen Kearney
5. Blaze Standley Columbus
6. Jackson Kelley Omaha Burke

COMMENTS: Alford ahs rolled all year undefeated, and largely unchallenged.   I don’t see that changing in Omaha…..this weight will be interesting…some kids not listed here could definitely be on the podium in Omaha!

 

182

1. Isaac Trumble Millard South
2. Carson Zwingman Columbus
3. AJ Muthersbaugh Lincoln East
4. Trajan Linear Papillion LaVista South
5. CJ Relford Elkhorn
6. Oscar Richter Grand Island

COMMENTS:  Isaac Trumble is a beast (or “Punisher”, perhaps – his MS nickname:)…but a great kid who treats opponents with respect – does things the right way, and deserves everything he gets, which should be his 1^st State title in a week and a half!  Muthersbaugh finally returns for Lincoln East, and he certainly could be a key for them at State, after finishing 2^nd @ 182 at State last season.  Solid, deep weight class….BUT Trumble is a head above the rest.

 

195

1. Dillyn Miller Omaha Burke
2. Anthony DeAnda Columbus
3. Josh Trumble Millard South
4. TJ Huber Gretna
5. Jacob Hilding Omaha Central
6. Daylon Keolavone Grand Island

COMMENTS:  Miller is rock solid, and has beaten back virtually every challenger at 195 already this season.  Who meets him in the finals is anybody’s guess, with DeAnda and Trumble each beating the other this season already.  Should be a very good weight in Omaha!

 

220

1. Kasten Grape Columbus
2. Tony Pray Creighton Prep
3. Gavin Peitzmier Millard South
4. Jaylon Walker Omaha Bryan
5. Dylan Sales Omaha Burke
6. Mike Cisneros Lincoln Pius X

COMMENTS:  This could be one of the most unpredictable weights in Class A at State, with possibly all 4 of the top guys having a shot at a State title.  Walker has certainly opened many eyes since Metro, and Grape is a tough Columbus kid…soo….LOOK OUT!  220 is must watch wrestling in Omaha!

 

Hwt.

1. Connor Cowling Norfolk
2. Jack Hasz Creighton Prep
3. Cade Haberman Omaha Westside
4. Ethan McPhillips Grand Island
5. Deangelo Stapleton Omaha Burke
6. Jacob Frezell-McClinton Omaha Central

COMMENTS:  Heavyweight is a nice, deep weight class, with undefeated Cowling #1 all season. Hasz is a hammer, along with the rest of the top 6…should be some great matches at this weight in Omaha as well!