Journeymen Fall ClassicSep 27, 2016 by Nomad Lobdell
Who To Watch At The 2016 Journeymen Fall Classic
Who To Watch At The 2016 Journeymen Fall Classic
The first weekend in October has become one of the biggest for the folkstyle wrestling preseason in America. This Sunday is the sixth annual Journeymen Fall
The first weekend in October has become one of the biggest for the folkstyle wrestling preseason in America. This Sunday is the sixth annual Journeymen Fall Classic in Schenectady, NY, at Union College, and will be broadcast LIVE on FloWrestling.
Since we've had an incredible run of international wrestling, this will be a great event to get back into the folkstyle grind. Let's get you up to speed on some of the best who will be attending this year's Journeymen. We'll start with the guys who are ranked top five in the country and then get into the rest of the studs.
Fresh off wrestling in Cadet Worlds, it will be interesting to see Woods' transition back into folkstyle. His only loss last year at Montini Catholic was in the 113-pound state finals, and he trains with one of the best coaches in the country in Israel Martinez. Woods enters this weekend ranked third at 120 and 14th on the junior big board.
Real Woods rides out Drew Mattin to win an Ironman title.
Woods isn't the only Illinois hammer coming to Journeymen. In fact, there will be a bunch there. Included in that group is Renteria, who could very well end up being the best kid in the gym on Sunday. He'll be in the toughest weight of the event, giving him a chance to prove his No. 19 ranking on the senior big board. Renteria finally got his state title last season and is currently third at 132 pounds.
Renteria is tough on top at Night of Conflict.
Deprez is a two-time state champ committed to wrestle for Binghamton. He walks into the event ranked third at 170 and 22nd on the senior big board. A Journeymen title would be another notch on his resume, as he was runner-up at Super 32 last year and has twice placed at FloNationals.
Deprez is too much for Trent Hidlay at the Pinning Down Autism event.
The land of Lincoln is going all in for Journeymen. Hernandez is fourth at 138 after making the Akron finals back in May. He's back to get his Journeymen title after falling in last year's finals. The UNC commit is No. 32 on the big board and hoping to kick off a dominant senior season before heading to Chapel Hill. Hernandez will also be wrestling in Night of Conflict 2.
Hernandez grinds out a win at last year's Journeymen Fall Classic.
Silva's folkstyle resume is impeccable. Last season, he won Super 32, Dvorak, Florida State and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. This is a business trip for him and Woods; neither of them will want to travel all the way to New York to get second. Silva has the potential to be a huge blue-chip recruit, and he could very well move up from his current spots of 37 on the junior big board and seventh at 126.
It is extremely difficult to ignore the output of these Illinois kids. Lewan's lone loss in Fargo was to Brock Hardy, which only adds to the fact that he went undefeated at Cadet Duals and was runner-up at Ironman. He is sixth at 145 and 30th on the junior board.
One of the few Ohio kids making the trip, Mattox is an Ironman placer who we have as 27th on the junior big board.
Trent Hidlay, Bison Legend (160)
Hidlay broke out in a big way this year, making the state finals for Mifflin County. He got the same place at FloNationals and third in Akron. He is poised to follow in the footsteps of his brother and have a great senior year.
Travis Ford-Melton, Marian Catholic (113)
What a surprise, another Illinois stud. Ford-Melton has been in the Fargo finals each of the past two years and was the Illinois 2A champ this year at 106.
One of only two returning champs in the field, Heilmann is a New Jersey state placer who had a solid showing at Fargo by placing sixth as a 106-pound cadet.
Ragusin may not be a household name yet, but he placed in both styles in Akron at 42kg. Then he proceeded to win Greco in Fargo and get third in freestyle as a 94-pound cadet. You know any kid who wrestles for Izzy Style will be hard-nosed, and this could be Ragusin's breakout onto the national scene as he begins his high school folkstyle career.
Falbo is the defending champ here and is a top-50 big board guy.
Abdul-Malik is a Beast of the East champ and National Prep placer who is competing for Wyoming Seminary in his senior year after spending three years at St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland.
Since we've had an incredible run of international wrestling, this will be a great event to get back into the folkstyle grind. Let's get you up to speed on some of the best who will be attending this year's Journeymen. We'll start with the guys who are ranked top five in the country and then get into the rest of the studs.
Real Woods, Izzy Style (125)
Fresh off wrestling in Cadet Worlds, it will be interesting to see Woods' transition back into folkstyle. His only loss last year at Montini Catholic was in the 113-pound state finals, and he trains with one of the best coaches in the country in Israel Martinez. Woods enters this weekend ranked third at 120 and 14th on the junior big board.
Real Woods rides out Drew Mattin to win an Ironman title.
Jason Renteria, OPRF (135)
Woods isn't the only Illinois hammer coming to Journeymen. In fact, there will be a bunch there. Included in that group is Renteria, who could very well end up being the best kid in the gym on Sunday. He'll be in the toughest weight of the event, giving him a chance to prove his No. 19 ranking on the senior big board. Renteria finally got his state title last season and is currently third at 132 pounds.
Renteria is tough on top at Night of Conflict.
Louie Deprez, Hilton (182)
Deprez is a two-time state champ committed to wrestle for Binghamton. He walks into the event ranked third at 170 and 22nd on the senior big board. A Journeymen title would be another notch on his resume, as he was runner-up at Super 32 last year and has twice placed at FloNationals.
Deprez is too much for Trent Hidlay at the Pinning Down Autism event.
Jaime Hernandez, OPRF (140)
The land of Lincoln is going all in for Journeymen. Hernandez is fourth at 138 after making the Akron finals back in May. He's back to get his Journeymen title after falling in last year's finals. The UNC commit is No. 32 on the big board and hoping to kick off a dominant senior season before heading to Chapel Hill. Hernandez will also be wrestling in Night of Conflict 2.
Hernandez grinds out a win at last year's Journeymen Fall Classic.
Joey Silva, CFWA/LHP (125)
Silva's folkstyle resume is impeccable. Last season, he won Super 32, Dvorak, Florida State and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. This is a business trip for him and Woods; neither of them will want to travel all the way to New York to get second. Silva has the potential to be a huge blue-chip recruit, and he could very well move up from his current spots of 37 on the junior big board and seventh at 126.
Will Lewan, Izzy Style (145)
It is extremely difficult to ignore the output of these Illinois kids. Lewan's lone loss in Fargo was to Brock Hardy, which only adds to the fact that he went undefeated at Cadet Duals and was runner-up at Ironman. He is sixth at 145 and 30th on the junior board.
Jaden Mattox, Olentangy (140)
One of the few Ohio kids making the trip, Mattox is an Ironman placer who we have as 27th on the junior big board.
Trent Hidlay, Bison Legend (160)
Hidlay broke out in a big way this year, making the state finals for Mifflin County. He got the same place at FloNationals and third in Akron. He is poised to follow in the footsteps of his brother and have a great senior year.Travis Ford-Melton, Marian Catholic (113)
What a surprise, another Illinois stud. Ford-Melton has been in the Fargo finals each of the past two years and was the Illinois 2A champ this year at 106. Joseph Heilmann, South Plainfield (120)
One of only two returning champs in the field, Heilmann is a New Jersey state placer who had a solid showing at Fargo by placing sixth as a 106-pound cadet.
Dylan Ragusin, Izzy Style (106)
Ragusin may not be a household name yet, but he placed in both styles in Akron at 42kg. Then he proceeded to win Greco in Fargo and get third in freestyle as a 94-pound cadet. You know any kid who wrestles for Izzy Style will be hard-nosed, and this could be Ragusin's breakout onto the national scene as he begins his high school folkstyle career.
Anthony Falbo, Newtown HS
Falbo is the defending champ here and is a top-50 big board guy.
Mansur Abdul-Malik, Wyoming Seminary
Abdul-Malik is a Beast of the East champ and National Prep placer who is competing for Wyoming Seminary in his senior year after spending three years at St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland.