2016 FloNationals Preview
2016 FloNationals Preview
Oh man, this year's contenders have us reeling already. Every weight class is stacked with hammers that will be looking to take home some FloNational hardw
Oh man, this year's contenders have us reeling already. Every weight class is stacked with hammers that will be looking to take home some FloNational hardware. We've got a few returning champ with Dakota Geer at 182 and Paul Konrath at 120 returning this year accompanied by a boat load of returning players.
It's going to be a great tournament so let's check out the competition.
106
Contenders
Patrick Gould
Patrick Noonan
Beau Bayless
Jacob Dunlop
Jaret Lane
Ryan Chauvin
Brandon Betancourt
Joey Melendez
Commentary: Pretty good crop of contenders here. Overall, the contingent of wrestlers in this weight class are tough and pretty proven. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top of this one with. A great story line here is the 7th grader Carson Manville stepping into the high school division as well as the youth division on the final day. I don’t see him as a contender just yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he competes. But with the contenders named above, winning this title will not be easy at all.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Lane 2. Dunlop 3. Melendez 4. Bayless
113
Contenders
Andrew Alirez
Jet Taylor
Josh Saunders
Dominic LaJoie
Ian Timmins
Julian Chlebove
Jaxon Cole
Ryan O’Grady
Kyle Markus
Commentary: Recently crowned PA State Champ Julian Chlebove returns this year after being literally seconds away from making last year’s 106-pound finals as an 8th grader. He’s another year better so big things are expected from the freshman champ. Taking Chlebove’s place as the 8th grader looking to make his mark will be Josh Saunders. Saunders has taken out plenty of older competition and also wrestled in the high school division last year as a 7th grader so he’s got some experience here that could work out well for him. Making the trip all the way from Nevada, Ian Timmins will be bringing the heat (pun intended). Timmins showed that he has a new attitude on the mat at this year’s Doc B tournament and despite not winning it, he made a great impression. This might be the weight class to really keep an eye on with the number of high level competition here.
Holmes’ Pick: 1. Chlebove 2. Timmins 3. Alirez 4. Taylor
120
Contenders
Paul Konrath
Theo Powers
Nick Raimo
Justin Mejia
KJ Fenstermacher
Caleb Morris
Dan Moran
Brian Courtney
Commentary: Get your popcorn ready. This is going to be fun. The return 106-pound champ, Paul Konrath, is back and looking for another title. However, it’s not going to be easy. Konrath and Nick Raimo, a NJ state runner-up, had an incredible battle at Super 32 before the regular season that Raimo came out on top of in overtime. So you know that there will be some fireworks if they cross paths again. Making his return after taking last year off is 3x California state champ Justin Mejia. Mejia in my mind is the frontrunner here. It’s going to be tough to take him out. PA state ironman Brian Courtney will look to keep his train moving after putting on his impressive state title run. Dark horse KJ Fenstermacher has what it takes to upset a few people so keep your eye on him.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Mejia 2. Raimo 3. Konrath 4. Courtney
126
Contenders
Taylor LaMont
Brock Mauller
Jacori Teemer
DJ Lloren
Andrew Wert
Ian Parker
Austin Boone
Quinn Kinner
Zack Donathan
Justin Guzman
Commentary: Starting at the top, Taylor LaMont sticks out as the highly dangerous sore thumb. LaMont, a 4x Utah state champ, has what it takes to claim the belt when it’s all said and done. The biggest threats here will be Jacori Teemer and DJ Lloren from California. These two guys will be the ones challenging LaMont for the title. Also, be on the lookout for Ian Parker and Brock Mauller.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. LaMont 2. Lloren 3. Teemer 4. Parker
132
Contenders
Jarrett Degen
Corey Shie
Matt Kolonia
Will Lewan
Brayton Lee
Chase Anklam
Ben Freeman
Commentary: The competition keeps pouring in and this weight class is no different. This one is tough to pick, but I believe it’s going to be Brayton Lee at the top in the end. If Lee brings it the same way he did in the state finals, he may be unstoppable. He’s tough to score on and scores plenty himself. Degen, Lewan and Shie will be his top competition.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Lee 2. Degen 3. Lewan 4. Shie
138
Contenders
Eli King
Kanen Storr
Evan Fidelibus
Hunter Ladnier
Brock Wilson
Dallas Bulsak
Commentary: I really want to see Kanen Storr vs Hunter Ladnier. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like that match will be really entertaining. Ladnier and Storr are both fun to watch and they both have a pretty even edge here. However, with this cast of characters anything can happen. Fidelibus, Wilson, Bulsak and King will also be ready for battle so you really can’t look past anyone.
Holmes’ Pick: 1. Storr 2. Ladnier 3. Fidelibus 4. Bulsak
145
Contenders
TK Megonigal
Luke Weber
Jake Brindley
Robert Patrick
Jarod Verkleeren
Caleb Kuhn
Commentary: Pretty excited to see Jarod Verkleeren scrap after the unfavorable end to his season. The Cadet World Champ would really like to put a few more W under his belt so he will be pretty hard to stop. The guys who will be in the way will be Megonigal, Patrick and Brindley. But it would be tough to pick against an anxious Verkleeren.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Verkleeren 2. Megonigal 3. Patrick 4. Brindley
152
Contenders
Logan Moriarity
Hayden Hastings
Anthony Emig
Dale Tiongson
Hunter Bolen
Layne Van Anrooy
Wyatt Sheets
Travis Stefanik
Dom Demarco
Commentary: Wow this is going to be a tough weight class. There are some heavy hitters in this class. Van Anrooy, Tiongson, Bolen, Sheets, Stefanik and Mariarity. Those guys are tough and when they hit the mats it’s going to be awesome to watch.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Van Anrooy 2. Sheets 3. Bolen 4. Stefanik
160
Contenders
Garrett Tingen
Trent Hidlay
Cade Wilson
Anthony Mantanona
Elijah Hilliard
Patrick Deacon
Commentary: Trent Hidlay made his mark this year and will definitely have some eyeballs on him this weekend. Also looking to cause some problems will be Anthony Mantanona we all agree that we like what he brings to the mat.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Mantanona 2. Hidlay 3. Deacon 4. Tingen
170
Contenders
Kevin Parker
Jelani Embree
Ryan DeLoach
Andrew Berreyesa
Jonathan Kosar
Jake Shaffer
Frank Guida
Nino Bonaccorsi
Commentary: Jelani Embree is that dude. Last season he made the Jr. World Team but was sidelined by an injury and couldn’t compete, but this year he’s healed up and ready to contend for the FloNats belt. Fargo Greco runner-up Andrew Berreyesa will be making the trip with Timmins from Nevada and be looking to make some noise. The match to watch will be if Berreyesa meets state runner-up Nino Bonaccorsi. Something tells me that there will be some fireworks in that bout.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Embree 2. Bonaccorsi 3. Berreyesa 4. Parker
182
Contenders
Dakota Geer
Jake Woodley
Brandon Whitman
Nathan Traxler
Antonio Agee
Commentary: A lot of tough guys here who are hard to score on. Agee has some tough defense but also has some great attacks. Whitman is strong and powerful and the same can be said for Woodley and Traxler. These four guys should be the ones meeting in the two semis. But,last year's champ Dakota Geer is back and he is going to be a problem for everyone. He came up short at the state tournament so you know he's going to be out for blood and another title.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Geer 2. Whitman 3. Traxler 4. Agee
195
Contenders
Jay Aiello
Haydn Maley
Gavin Hoffman
Jacob Raschka
Francis Duggan
Colton Dean
Michael DiNardo
Commentary: Hey Askren, don’t worry I’m not overlooking your boy Raschka. Raschka is tough and will turn some heads like he did last year at Fargo. Also in the mix to raise some hell is Hoffman and Aiello. Duggan didn’t have that great of a season so elevating his status with a good showing this weekend will be good for him.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Hoffman 2. Raschka 3. Aiello 4. Duggan
220
Contenders
Max Darrah
Seth Janney
Ben Goldin
Josiah Jones
Commentary: Seth Janney is the guy to beat. He has a pretty good season with a Prep National and Escape The Rock title. Max Darrah should be the guy coming out to meet Janney in the finals here.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Janney 2. Darrah 3. Jones 4. Goldin
285
Contenders
Thomas Helton
Sammy Evans
Mansur Abdul-Malik
Vincenzo Pelusi
Andrew Gunning
Commentary: Andrew Gunning started the season off with a Super 32 title and finished it of with a state title and an undefeated record. Could he get his first lost this weekend at FloNats? It’s possible, but he odds of it happening aren’t very strong. Gunning’s top competition will be Evans and Abdul-Malik, they can match Gunning and even take out the PA heavyweight.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Gunning 2. Evans 3. Abdul-Malik 4. Pelusi
It's going to be a great tournament so let's check out the competition.
106
Contenders
Patrick Gould
Patrick Noonan
Beau Bayless
Jacob Dunlop
Jaret Lane
Ryan Chauvin
Brandon Betancourt
Joey Melendez
Commentary: Pretty good crop of contenders here. Overall, the contingent of wrestlers in this weight class are tough and pretty proven. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top of this one with. A great story line here is the 7th grader Carson Manville stepping into the high school division as well as the youth division on the final day. I don’t see him as a contender just yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he competes. But with the contenders named above, winning this title will not be easy at all.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Lane 2. Dunlop 3. Melendez 4. Bayless
113
Contenders
Andrew Alirez
Jet Taylor
Josh Saunders
Dominic LaJoie
Ian Timmins
Julian Chlebove
Jaxon Cole
Ryan O’Grady
Kyle Markus
Commentary: Recently crowned PA State Champ Julian Chlebove returns this year after being literally seconds away from making last year’s 106-pound finals as an 8th grader. He’s another year better so big things are expected from the freshman champ. Taking Chlebove’s place as the 8th grader looking to make his mark will be Josh Saunders. Saunders has taken out plenty of older competition and also wrestled in the high school division last year as a 7th grader so he’s got some experience here that could work out well for him. Making the trip all the way from Nevada, Ian Timmins will be bringing the heat (pun intended). Timmins showed that he has a new attitude on the mat at this year’s Doc B tournament and despite not winning it, he made a great impression. This might be the weight class to really keep an eye on with the number of high level competition here.
Holmes’ Pick: 1. Chlebove 2. Timmins 3. Alirez 4. Taylor
120
Contenders
Paul Konrath
Theo Powers
Nick Raimo
Justin Mejia
KJ Fenstermacher
Caleb Morris
Dan Moran
Brian Courtney
Commentary: Get your popcorn ready. This is going to be fun. The return 106-pound champ, Paul Konrath, is back and looking for another title. However, it’s not going to be easy. Konrath and Nick Raimo, a NJ state runner-up, had an incredible battle at Super 32 before the regular season that Raimo came out on top of in overtime. So you know that there will be some fireworks if they cross paths again. Making his return after taking last year off is 3x California state champ Justin Mejia. Mejia in my mind is the frontrunner here. It’s going to be tough to take him out. PA state ironman Brian Courtney will look to keep his train moving after putting on his impressive state title run. Dark horse KJ Fenstermacher has what it takes to upset a few people so keep your eye on him.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Mejia 2. Raimo 3. Konrath 4. Courtney
126
Contenders
Taylor LaMont
Brock Mauller
Jacori Teemer
DJ Lloren
Andrew Wert
Ian Parker
Austin Boone
Quinn Kinner
Zack Donathan
Justin Guzman
Commentary: Starting at the top, Taylor LaMont sticks out as the highly dangerous sore thumb. LaMont, a 4x Utah state champ, has what it takes to claim the belt when it’s all said and done. The biggest threats here will be Jacori Teemer and DJ Lloren from California. These two guys will be the ones challenging LaMont for the title. Also, be on the lookout for Ian Parker and Brock Mauller.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. LaMont 2. Lloren 3. Teemer 4. Parker
132
Contenders
Jarrett Degen
Corey Shie
Matt Kolonia
Will Lewan
Brayton Lee
Chase Anklam
Ben Freeman
Commentary: The competition keeps pouring in and this weight class is no different. This one is tough to pick, but I believe it’s going to be Brayton Lee at the top in the end. If Lee brings it the same way he did in the state finals, he may be unstoppable. He’s tough to score on and scores plenty himself. Degen, Lewan and Shie will be his top competition.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Lee 2. Degen 3. Lewan 4. Shie
138
Contenders
Eli King
Kanen Storr
Evan Fidelibus
Hunter Ladnier
Brock Wilson
Dallas Bulsak
Commentary: I really want to see Kanen Storr vs Hunter Ladnier. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like that match will be really entertaining. Ladnier and Storr are both fun to watch and they both have a pretty even edge here. However, with this cast of characters anything can happen. Fidelibus, Wilson, Bulsak and King will also be ready for battle so you really can’t look past anyone.
Holmes’ Pick: 1. Storr 2. Ladnier 3. Fidelibus 4. Bulsak
145
Contenders
TK Megonigal
Luke Weber
Jake Brindley
Robert Patrick
Jarod Verkleeren
Caleb Kuhn
Commentary: Pretty excited to see Jarod Verkleeren scrap after the unfavorable end to his season. The Cadet World Champ would really like to put a few more W under his belt so he will be pretty hard to stop. The guys who will be in the way will be Megonigal, Patrick and Brindley. But it would be tough to pick against an anxious Verkleeren.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Verkleeren 2. Megonigal 3. Patrick 4. Brindley
152
Contenders
Logan Moriarity
Hayden Hastings
Anthony Emig
Dale Tiongson
Hunter Bolen
Layne Van Anrooy
Wyatt Sheets
Travis Stefanik
Dom Demarco
Commentary: Wow this is going to be a tough weight class. There are some heavy hitters in this class. Van Anrooy, Tiongson, Bolen, Sheets, Stefanik and Mariarity. Those guys are tough and when they hit the mats it’s going to be awesome to watch.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Van Anrooy 2. Sheets 3. Bolen 4. Stefanik
160
Contenders
Garrett Tingen
Trent Hidlay
Cade Wilson
Anthony Mantanona
Elijah Hilliard
Patrick Deacon
Commentary: Trent Hidlay made his mark this year and will definitely have some eyeballs on him this weekend. Also looking to cause some problems will be Anthony Mantanona we all agree that we like what he brings to the mat.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Mantanona 2. Hidlay 3. Deacon 4. Tingen
170
Contenders
Kevin Parker
Jelani Embree
Ryan DeLoach
Andrew Berreyesa
Jonathan Kosar
Jake Shaffer
Frank Guida
Nino Bonaccorsi
Commentary: Jelani Embree is that dude. Last season he made the Jr. World Team but was sidelined by an injury and couldn’t compete, but this year he’s healed up and ready to contend for the FloNats belt. Fargo Greco runner-up Andrew Berreyesa will be making the trip with Timmins from Nevada and be looking to make some noise. The match to watch will be if Berreyesa meets state runner-up Nino Bonaccorsi. Something tells me that there will be some fireworks in that bout.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Embree 2. Bonaccorsi 3. Berreyesa 4. Parker
182
Contenders
Dakota Geer
Jake Woodley
Brandon Whitman
Nathan Traxler
Antonio Agee
Commentary: A lot of tough guys here who are hard to score on. Agee has some tough defense but also has some great attacks. Whitman is strong and powerful and the same can be said for Woodley and Traxler. These four guys should be the ones meeting in the two semis. But,last year's champ Dakota Geer is back and he is going to be a problem for everyone. He came up short at the state tournament so you know he's going to be out for blood and another title.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Geer 2. Whitman 3. Traxler 4. Agee
195
Contenders
Jay Aiello
Haydn Maley
Gavin Hoffman
Jacob Raschka
Francis Duggan
Colton Dean
Michael DiNardo
Commentary: Hey Askren, don’t worry I’m not overlooking your boy Raschka. Raschka is tough and will turn some heads like he did last year at Fargo. Also in the mix to raise some hell is Hoffman and Aiello. Duggan didn’t have that great of a season so elevating his status with a good showing this weekend will be good for him.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Hoffman 2. Raschka 3. Aiello 4. Duggan
220
Contenders
Max Darrah
Seth Janney
Ben Goldin
Josiah Jones
Commentary: Seth Janney is the guy to beat. He has a pretty good season with a Prep National and Escape The Rock title. Max Darrah should be the guy coming out to meet Janney in the finals here.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Janney 2. Darrah 3. Jones 4. Goldin
285
Contenders
Thomas Helton
Sammy Evans
Mansur Abdul-Malik
Vincenzo Pelusi
Andrew Gunning
Commentary: Andrew Gunning started the season off with a Super 32 title and finished it of with a state title and an undefeated record. Could he get his first lost this weekend at FloNats? It’s possible, but he odds of it happening aren’t very strong. Gunning’s top competition will be Evans and Abdul-Malik, they can match Gunning and even take out the PA heavyweight.
Holmes’ Picks: 1. Gunning 2. Evans 3. Abdul-Malik 4. Pelusi