2017 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational

Top 13 CK Vegas Invitational Matches On Day 1

Top 13 CK Vegas Invitational Matches On Day 1

With pre-seeds released for the 2017 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the immediate rush to bracket breakdowns and potential great early matches begins.

Dec 1, 2017 by Ryan Holmes
Top 13 CK Vegas Invitational Matches On Day 1

With pre-seeds released for the 2017 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the immediate rush has begun to break down the brackets and the tournament's great early matches.  

Let’s take a look at the top day one matchups that we'll potentially see when the action gets going on Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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No. 18 Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) vs No. 12 Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley)

For the third time in around a month, Zeke Moisey will likely square off against Taylor Lamont. The UVU sophomore earned two close victories already, but Moisey’s upside is still through the roof.  

No. 18 Zeke Moisey (WVU) vs No. 3 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota)

A Moisey win will set up a great quarterfinal against Ethan Lizak, who Moisey beat at the 2016 Southern Scuffle. Lizak, and perhaps Moisey, are very different wrestlers now. Regardless, you have to mention this as a match of note given each guy's history. If LaMont edges Moisey once more, I’m still very much tuning in for the Lizak/LaMont quarter.

No. 16 Mike Longo (Oklahoma) vs No. 17 Kanen Storr (Iowa St.)

The round of 16 will feature an interesting rematch between Kanen Storr and Mike Longo.  I was bullish on Storr coming into the year, but I’m quietly pumping my breaks on the Cyclones freshman after a solid but not spectacular start.

No. 8 Javier Gasca (Michigan St.) vs No. 11 Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell)

Sign me up for anything Yianni. He’s the story of the tournament for me. Gasca is a supreme athlete but has had consistency issues during his time at MSU.

No. 7 Tommy Thorn (Minnesota) vs No. 12 Josh Alber (N. Iowa)

My partner in crime, Willie Saylor, is really high on Josh Alber. I think this is Thorn all the way, but every now and again Willie’s spidey sense is accurate.

No. 6 Chad Red (Nebraska) vs No. 13 Tyler Smith (Bucknell)

This is not a throwaway match. Tyler Smith has beaten some dudes. If Red’s not ready to go and locked in, we’ll have a not-so-major upset.

No. 8 Solomon Chishko (Virginia Tech) vs No. 9 Justin Oliver (Central Michigan)

What’s up with Chishko? Will he get it together for Vegas? I like him on paper here, but which Chishko shows up?

No. 6 Troy Heilmann (North Carolina) vs No. 11 Ke-Shawn Hayes (Ohio St.)

Lots of people are handing this match to Hayes already. Heilman is under the radar and has unreal strength according to UNC coaches. Could that play a factor against a true 141 in Ke-Shawn Hayes?

No. 5 Colton McCrystal (Nebraska) vs No. 14 Josh Maruca (Arizona St.)

This matchup has upset potential. Maruca is a dog. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit to see the ASU redshirt sophomore take this match.

No. 7 Te’Shan Campbell (Ohio St.) vs No. 11 Isaiah White (Nebraska)

I mentioned this match earlier this week. It’s going to happen it appears. If Isaiah White has bottom issues against Campbell, it will be a long match for the Huskers freshman. White has the goods on his feet to get out to a couple TD lead against Campbell and then wouldn’t have to go under (unless Campbell goes auto-top of course).

No. 7 Taylor Lujan (UNI) vs No 9 Jadaen Bernstein (Navy)

Every time these guys wrestle it’s basically a guaranteed 18ish points on the board. Let’s have it!  

No. 6 Zach Zavatsky (VT) vs No. 13 Max Dean (Cornell)

Dean took out then-No. 4 Drew Foster recently. I think Zavatsky will present some athletic difficulties for the Cornell freshman, but Dean's upside is still unknown. This is a must-watch quarter.

No. 5 Domenic Abounader (Michigan) vs No. 9 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin)

This one didn’t jump out to me, but everyone’s favorite wrestling nomad thinks this one has upset special written all over it.