2018 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational

Darkhorses for Cliff Keen Las Vegas

Darkhorses for Cliff Keen Las Vegas

We identify some under the radar wrestlers at each weight for Cliff Keen Las Vegas.

Nov 29, 2018 by Willie Saylor
Darkhorses for Cliff Keen Las Vegas
This year's Cliff Keen Las Vegas is a bona fide NCAA preview. Over half the nation's ranked wrestlers will be in action and while we've been churning out content with previews and odds we haven't hit on the numerous guys that could disrupt the brackets.

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This year's Cliff Keen Las Vegas is a bona fide NCAA preview. Over half the nation's ranked wrestlers will be in action and while we've been churning out content with previews and odds we haven't hit on the numerous guys that could disrupt the brackets.

Here we'll take a look at the 'sleepers' in Vegas with potential to knock off ranked guys. My only self-imposed rule is that I stick to unranked guys. 


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Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 | 12PM Eastern


125: Weight Preview

Brent Fleetwood, NDSU - A 2x NCAA qualifier for Central Michigan, Fleetwood is a name known by most wrestling fans. However, after transferring to NDSU last year and only wrestling in three matches as a redshirt, he might be off your radar. He's 2-0 in his career vs. Sebastian.

Colby Smith, MIZZ - He once famously pinned Jaydin Eierman while wrestling as a Freshman for Appalachian State. Having spent the majority of his career at 133 and 141, you figure Smith is going to be big for the weight. He's just 2-0 on the year, but both have been by bonus. If he's able to handle a two-day weigh in for the first time down at 125, he'll be an interesting out.

Christian Moody, OU - Like Fleetwood, he's a 2x NCAA qualifier. He didn't have a strong finish to the year last season, but he's a tough out, especially if he's unseeded and could surprise someone early.

Tyshawn White, Clarion - Here's a deep sleeper. White greyshirted after a very solid HS career at Central Dauphin that saw him place at S32 and state finals. He went just 3-4 as a R-Fr. at Lock Haven last year and is 6-1 for the Golden Eagles. I'm very interested to see how he does against top competition at 125. 


133: Weight Preview

Chaz Tucker, Cornell - This is cheating. I cheated. I'm sorry. Tucker is only unranked because he wrestled last week at 141. He's 6-0 on the year and has some significant wins. He'll be a factor in this bracket. 

Brian Courtney, UVA - A very intriguing prospect coming out of high school, Courtney wrestled 141 last year as a redshirt, going 21-9 and winning his last eight bouts. Now down at 133, he's 6-1 on the year with his only loss coming 7-5 to Montorie Bridges. 

Casey Cobb, Navy - Just two close losses on the year for the Soph. 7-4 in the opener against Luke Pletcher and 9-5 to Vito Arajau. 

Ty Smith, Drexel - A former Fargo Champ, Smith is a true freshman at Drexel. He's 4-0 on the year. I think he has a bright future, but is CKLV too much, too soon?


141: Weight Preview

Gavin Sutton, NDSU - A R-Fr., Sutton is 6-1 on the year with his lone loss coming to Yahya Thomas. 

Josh Finesilver, Duke - An NCAA qualifier last year at 133, Finesilver has two losses on the year - to All American Nick Lee, and to Rustam Ampar - a Russian and form Yarygin Champ.

Sam Turner, WYO - Although just 6-5 on the year, Turner's record is a misleading. His last four bouts have all been against ranked guys. He has the ability to knock off people.

Sam Kriuvs, UVA - Now down at 141 after being at 149, Krivus is 4-1 on the year with a win over Turner.


149: Weight Preview

Hunter Richard, Cornell - A solid 16-7 freshman campaign saw Richard take 3rd at National Collegiate Open. He did just take an unranked loss but he's unblemished otherwise at  6-1 on the year. 

Davion Jeffries, OU - A 3x qualifier, Jeffries certainly has the ability to beat some ranked guys. 

Khristian Olivas, Fresno St. - An NCAA qualifier last year with a record of 23-8, Olivas has wins over Jeffries, Turner, and Krivus.


157: Weight Preview

Jarrett Jacques, MIZZ - A true Freshman, Jacques lost his first official match (to BC LaPrade, who's also in the field), but he has the talent. Let's see if he rebounds. 

Hunter Ladnier, Harvard - From powerhouse St. Edward (OH), Ladnier was 3rd at Binghamton and 2nd at Keystone Classic this year with a 9-2 record. 

Evan Barczak, Drexel - A runner-up at Keystone Classic to Jason Nolf, Barczak is 7-2 on the year with a win over Ladnier. His only other loss is to Tyler Berger. 


165: Weight Preview

Carson Brolsma, MINN - Although he doesn't have a signature win, Brolsma has been very solid. Since moving up to 165 midway through the season last year, his record is 13-1 with the only loss coming to Chandler Rogers.

Josh Kim, Harvard - Much like Jacques at 157, Kim is a true freshman. He's 7-3 on the year and was a Super 32 finalist last year. Lots of promise. 

Stephan Glasgow, Rutgers - A highly ranked prospect coming out in 2017, Glasgow greyshirted last year and is 5-1 this season. His only loss is to #13-Demetrius Romero.


174: Weight Preview

Anthony Mantanona, OU - His season hasn't been great (3-4), with two unranked losses. But wild inconsistencies are well, consistent for Mantanona. He came out two years ago as a top prospect and his style is must-watch. He's a walking upset-waiting-to-happen.

Devin Kane, UNC - Kane has been sneaky good posting 20 wins in each of his first two seasons. He's 5-1 this year with a loss only to Duke's #18-Matt Finesilver. 

Devin Skatzka, MINN - New to the Gopher's line-up after transferring from Indiana this year, Skatzka has been on the cusp for a while. He started 21-8 last year before going to Big Ten's and NCAA's where he went a combined 1-5. He's 6-2 this year with losses to Labriola and Jacobe Smith. 

Hayden Hastings, WYO - A FloNationals finalist, Hastings is off to a promising start to his career. His losses are to Mantanona and three ranked guys. His last performance was a nail-biter with Jacobe Smith. He's close.


184: Weight Preview

Jackson Hemauer, Fresno St. - 6-1 on the year with his only loss to Rutgers Senior Jordan Pagano in the first match of the year. 

Will Sumner, UVU - A Senior with a mark just over .500, Sumner is quietly having a good season. He has wins over both Pagano and Purdue's Max Lyon. 

Jelani Embree, MICH - A highly prized recruit in the 2017 Class, Embree is an impressive 19-3. His losses are to Nick Reenan and Dakota Geer last year, and to Kayne McCallum this year in the finals of the MSU Open.

Kayne McCallum, OU - An NCAA qualifier last year for Eastern Michigan, McCallum is now at Oklahoma and is off to a so-so, 4-3 start. 


197: Weight Preview

Ben Honis, Cornell - Before last year when he was beaten out by Ben Darmstadt, Honis posted 29 wins for the Big Red including some over All Americans. He's a true contender to place here.


285: Weight Preview

Brian Andrews, WYO - 3rd at JUCO's last year for Northeaster Oklahoma, Andrews is 9-2 this year against solid competition. His only losses are to Derek White and DIII AA Jarrod Hinrichs. 

Chase Singletary, Ohio St. - One of the top recruits in the country a couple years ago, there's been mixed reviews on Singletary. He didn't look particularly sharp in losing his wrestle off but he's 10-0 on the year including some big spots - a dominant win over uber recruit Mason Parris, and a win with the dual on the line vs. ASU. 

Demetrius Thomas, PITT - An NAIA Runner-Up at Williams Baptist last year, Thomas is off to a 7-0 start that includes wins over Seth Nevills and Carter Isley. 

AJ Nevills, Fresno St. - Undefeated on the year, Nevills has wins over several in the field - Maley, Metz, Winters, and Colucci. 

Zach Elam, MIZZ - Gotta love his upside. A big recruit coming out, his stock grew even after graduation with strong performances in Freestyle including a Junior World medal. Elam is 3-0 on the year as a true frosh.