Happy Akron to you!  The brackets are out on FloArena for the UWW U23 trails.  Here's a quick weight by weight run down of the paths to titles for these loaded weights!

57

Top

Could be Wahoo on Wahoo crime in the quarters if Louie Hayes can get by Kyle Norstrem to face All American Jack Mueller.  We could have a Paxton Rosen/Gabe Townsell match in round two, that will be fun if nothing else.
Bottom

Austin Assad vs Justin Mejia potentially in round two as well!  MSU starter Rayvon Foley could be the man Assad sees in the quarters at the top of the bottom bracket.  Down below the Petry/Puncke winner is looking like he’ll hit Travis Piotrowski in the quarters.  

Overall
Mueller will be tough to circumvent here.  He’s the most talented guy and has fantastic freestyle chops.

61

Top

Cadet World finalist Vito Arujau sits on top.  I don’t see anyone stopping him from making the quarters though Elijah Oliver and Michael McGee have both had moments.  Dalton Macri vs Jenz Lantz is a curious round 1 bout.  Micky Phillippi vs Nick PIccininni could happen in the round of 16, winner will likely see Dalton Macri.  

Nicky Pich vs Vito semi!? I’m down!

Bottom

Roman Bravo-Young sits as the three seed and I see nobody that will prevent him from making the quarters.  Sean Fausz looks like RBY’s likely quarterfinal bout.  A great measuring stick for the Arizona hammer.  Chaz Tucker could see Stephen Polakowsi in the round of 32.  I think the winner of that bout will see Paul Konrath for the spot in the quarters.  

Tariq “Freaking” Wilson should make the quarters no problem. Yes, I think we’ll have a Tariq vs RBY semi and I cannot wait!

Overall

Vito has the freestyle chops but Tariq’s arc is scary. Love the semi’s for this weight!

65

Top

Mitch McKee sits at the 1 spot.  Holy cow we’ve got Ian Parker vs Jaime Hernandez in round 1.  Salty!  McKee should cruise to the quarters.

Brock Zacherl is in the quarter below, Kaid Brock is all the way at the bottom, he’ll have Tyshawn Williams in round 1!  Winner gets Sammy Krivus.  Not a great draw for Kaid but he should be good.  He should hit Zacherl in the quarters, winner gets McKee in semi!

Kaid vs McKee once again!  You know you want it!

Bottom

Three-time AA Kevin Jack sits in the three spot, I think he’ll be seeing Luke Pletcher in the quarters.  Wowza!

Colton McCrystal, Jamel Morris, Luke Karam, Kaden Gfeller, Josh Finesilver LJ Bentley and Dom Demas all find themselves in this quarter.  Karam vs Gfeller early is awesome!  I think this has Demas vs Gfeller in the quarters written all over it!  Demas won last time.

Overall

Jack/Pletcher vs Gfeller/Demas, winner gets Brock/McKee winner for all the marbles.  Great freaking weight.

70

Top

Hayden Hidlay looks like the man in this weight.  I see no peer in the his group of 16.  I think he’ll see Denton Spencer in the quarters.  Shouldn’t be an issue for Hayden.

Paul Fox vs Josh Heil in round 1 is definitely tough.  Look for Mitch Finesilver to come out of this quarter for an all ACC quarter between Hayden and Finesilver.

Ok Iowa fans, you’ll get your first look at Pat Lugo in awhile.  He should cruise to round of 16 where he’ll get the Maruca/Moran/Bleise winner.  Waiting in the other round of 16 will likely be Matt Kolodzik, though Baby J Bannister and AC Headlee can’t be discounted.  Kolo vs Lugo, let’s do it!

Bottom

Nebraska AA Tyler Berger is in the three spot and should make it to the quarters with little issue.   Ke-Shawn Hayes vs Malik Amine r1!!! Do you remember their epic NCAA bout?  Boo Lewallen is another potential candidate to hit Berger in the quarters. 

In the other quarter, Matt Zovistoski, Ryan Blees and Ryan Deakin sit below.  Look for Deakin to emerge and make the semis.

Overall

So on paper this looks like Hidlay vs Lugo/Kolodzik semi and Berger vs Deakin.  Guys like Hayes and Maruca must be considered as well. 

74

Top

Evan Wick is the deserving top seed here.  I see nobody stopping his train to make the quarters where he’ll likely see someone like Justin Thomas or Austin Kraisser.  Who knows, that part is wide open.  Either way it’s Evan Wick.  

In the other quarter, Jon Van Brill, Larry Early III and Josh Shields look like the dudes to beat.  I see a Shields vs Wick semi in our future.

Bottom

Kennedy Monday, Fredy Stroker, Kaleb Young and Carson Brolsma are the names that stick out.  You tell me here guys.  

Overall

The Wick/Shields winner takes this thing.

79

Top

Reigning U23 champ Jordan Kutler is the top seed here.  Ohio States TeShan Campbell is in his round of 16 as well.  Anthony Mantanona and Cody Walter look to be Kutlers likely quarterfinal opposition.

This portion looks like Daniel Lewis’ property.  I see a Kutler/Lewis semi here.  That’s a goodun.

Bottom

Joe Smith is back baby!  I like his draw to the quarterfinals where I suppose he’ll see Kimball Bastian.  

Seldon Wright, Dylan Lydy and Bryce Rogers will look to take out David McFadden who’s up at 79 for right now.   I think we’ll see Joe Smith vs McFadden in the semi’s!  Legit. 

Overall

Kutler/Lewis vs Smith/McFadden is tasty.

86

Top

We’re lookin at a Myles Martin vs Cash Wilcke quarter and I’m all in! However, don’t discount Cory Hazel from Lock Haven in the mix. 

Max Dean vs Chip Ness looks like the other likely quarter and I will count Chip Ness out never again after NCAA’s (Though Max is probably the favorite, right?). 

So lookin like Myles vs Dean semi?

Bottom

Chandler Rogers up at 86 my goodness! I think he’ll be hitting Taylor Venz in the semi, but Nino Bonaccorsi, Mitch Bowman (Steve Bowman Chevy Dodge) and Sammy Colbray(!?) will be tough competition.  

Overall

Looks like Martin/Dean vs Rogers/Venz?   Lots of firepower here and a few guys I’m excited to watch!

92

Top

NCAA Champ Macch 5 is on top, I think Eric Schultz or Christian Brunner will be his biggest competition, but I dont see anyone keeping him from the finals.

Bottom

I like Jacob Woodley to emerge here on the bottom side but Hunter Ritter, Stephen Holloway and Kellan Stout are tough cookies. 

Overall

Michael Macchiavello

97

Top

Kollin Moore is the top seed here.  I’m excited for the Andre Lee vs Ben Honis match in round 1.  Inner there will likely see Moore in the quarters.  It looks like Malik McDonald is the best in his quarter, so expect a Moore/McDonald 

semi. 

Bottom

John Borst, Kobe Woods and Kyle Conel are the big names here.  I think this is all Kyle Conel based on what we saw at NCAA’s.

Overall

Kollin Moore vs Kyle Conel.  Giddy up.

125

Top 

A few names of note here including Garrett Ryan, Cory Daniel, Christian Colucci, Matt Stencel and David Jensen.  Ryan is the favorite but it’s really wide open.

Bottom

Youssif Hemida and Mike Hughes sit below.  These are the two best in the weight in my opinion.  Winner here takes the whole shabang.

So that's my initial, quick thoughts on these mega-brackets.  Watch live Saturday and Sunday to see who makes the U23 World Team.