Nothing quite says "the high school season is here" like Walsh Ironman. For 25 years, the best talent has gone to Akron, Ohio, in early December. It is the original and best "power team" tournament in the land.

This year is no different as 16 of the top 25 teams in the country and eight individual #1 wrestlers are present.

We'll break down all the weight classes and make our picks here. Of course, you can watch it all on Flo live. And it should be noted - especially for veteran Ironman fans, that the schedule is a bit different this year. Quarterfinals will now be wrestled on Friday night.

Here is the full schedule:

FRIDAY – DEC. 7, 2018
10 a.m. – First Whistle – Championship and consolation brackets wrestled simultaneously each day.

**We will wrestle the CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS on FRIDAY EVENING – Approximately 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY – Dec. 8, 2018
10 a.m. - All consolations
11:15 a.m. - Championship semifinals and consolations (11 mats until approx. 1 p.m.)
1 p.m. - Consolation & quarterfinals (4 mats only dome)
3:45 - 5:45 p.m. - Championship finals and 3rd/5th-place bouts on 3 mats

WATCH WALSH JESUIT IRONMAN LIVE

106: 2008 Final - Nick Brascetta (St. Paris Graham) dec. Mark Grey (Blair Academy), 6-3

Seeds & Rankings

1   #4 - Braxton Brown, Allen, Texas - Super 32 4th

2   #10 - Jordan Williams - Collinsville, Oklahoma - Fargo Champ

3    #14 - Kyle Rowan - Perry, Ohio - Cadet Trials Runner-Up

4    #9 - Diego Sotelo - Marmion Academy, Illinois - Super 32 6th

5   #15 - Dylan Chappell - Seneca Valley, Pennsylvania - Super 32 7th

6    #11 - Nick Fea - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania

7    Gary Steen - Reynolds, Pennsylvania - State Champ

8    Daniel Wask - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Fargo 8th

9    Sean Seefeldt - St. Edward, Ohio - Fargo 6th

10   Peyton Fenton  - Elyria, Ohih

11    #17 - Richard Fedalen - McDonogh, Maryland - Fargo 5th 

12    Kenneth Crosby - St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio

13    Nolan Gessler - Graham, Ohio

14    Paul Garcia - Scottsbluff, Nebraska

15    Ryan Luna - St. Francis, California

16    Dante Frinzi - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania

Unseeded Notables:

Bryce Cockrell - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma - Fargo 6th

Danny Nini - Lake Highland, Florida

Commentary:

With Figs up at 113, it's anyone's game at 106. Brown has been the most steady. He beat Sotelo and Williams at S32. 

Williams looked phenomenal in Fargo (where he beat eventual S32 Champ Poulin). And he kept it going the first day in Greensboro. But Day 2 for him was shocking as he lost back-to-back matches and dnp'd. Both losses were to guys in this field - Brown and Chappell.

Pay attention to Chappell, who flies under the radar a bit as he had to wrestle up at 113 because teammate Alejandro Herrera was there (and won a state title).

Watch for Fea. He didn't have a great S32, but he did beat Brown this fall (at Waterway Duals).

Also watch for Crosby. He made Fargo quarters but missed weight on Day 2. I think he's an up-and-comer.

Willie's Picks:  1. Brown   2. Williams  3. Fea   4. Rowan

113: 2008 Final - Devin Carter (Christiansburg) dec. Hunter Stieber (Monroeville), 8-4

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Richie Figueroa, Selma, California - FloNationals, Cadet Trials and Super 32 Champ

2    #2 - Jacob Decatur - CVCA, Ohio - Returning Ironman Champ

3    #15 - Ryan Miller - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning Runner-Up

4    #3 - Logan Agin - Lancaster, Ohio - Returning 3rd

5    #5 - Troy Spratley - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Super 32 7th

6    #11 - Cooper Flynn - McDonogh, Maryland - Fargo 3rd 

7    #8 - Dustin Norris - LaSalle, Ohio - FloNationals 3rd

8    #7 - Vince Cornella - Monarch, Colorado - State Champ

9    #9 - Colton Drousias  - Mt. Carmel, Illinois - Returning 8th

10  #17 - Alejandro Herrera - Seneca Valley, Pennsylvania - State Champ

11   Rocky Stephens - Collinsville, Oklahoma

12   Garrett Lautzenheiser - Louisville, Ohio - Fargo 8th

13   Dayton Delviscio - Malvern Prep, Pennsylvania

14   Jaydin  Gomez - Gilroy, California

15   Jackson Cockrell - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

16   Jack Stanley - Brecksville, Ohio

Unseeded Notables:

#20 - Brock Bobzien - Poway, California

Tim Levine - St. John Bosco, California - Fargo 8th

Nic Willingham - Aurora, Ohio

Commentary:

More than half the nation's ranked wrestlers is an absurd amount for an in-season tournament. Decatur beat Figueroa here last year en route to the title (and with a finals win over Miller). The Decatur-Figs match at WNO was 1-0 with Decatur opting to go neutral when he had a choice. 

With such a deep weight class, anyone could get knocked off. But watching Figs navigate a similarly deep bracket at Super 32, along with him being seemingly un-take-downable, gives me confidence. That being said, his side of the bracket, with Agin and Spratley might be more formidable than the bottom side.

I don't know if I feel the same way about Decatur. Could he beat Figs? Sure. I've just never seen him string together as many consecutive matches as he'll need to this weekend. Norris, Flynn and Miller will present stiff tests for him.

I'm extremely high on Spratley. Seventh at S32, he lost to Figueroa and Lujan. Agin was awesome in Greensboro, beating Fargo champ Cullan Schriever, not once but twice. His only loss was to Figs and he beat Lujan, who beat Spratley. He also showed a good ability to ride, which is critical at Ironman.

Another darkhorse-ish guy is Herrera. He was great last year in winning a state title at 106. But he had a horrible Fargo at 113. Perhaps more filled into the weight now, and certainly better in folk (where he's good on top), he could be a serious threat.

Willie's Picks:   1. Figueroa   2. Flynn   3. Agin   4. Decatur

120: 2008 Final - Jamie Clark (Lakewood St. Edward) dec. Sean Boyle (Blair Academy), 5-3

Seeds & Rankings

1   #1 - Trevor Mastrogiovanni, Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning Champ

2    #3 - Lucas Byrd - LaSalle, Ohio - Super 32 Champ

3    #6 - Ryan Crookham - Notre Dame, Pennsylvania - 2017 Super 32 Champ

4    #5 - Matthew Ramos - Lockport, Illinois - Cadet World Champion

5   #7 - Nick Bouzakis  - Lake Highland Prep, Florida - Super 32 3rd

6    #9 - Kysen Terukina  - Kamehameha, Hawaii - NHSCA Champ

7    #17 - Antonio Lorenzo - St. John Bosco, California - Super 32 7th

8    #18 - Dominic Chavez - Arlington Martin, Texas - NHSCA Champ

9    Lachlan McNeil - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Pan Am Champion (from Canada)

10   Beau Bayless - Reynolds, Pennsylvania - FloNationals 7th

11   Carson Sauriol - Poway, California - State 5th

12   Chris Barnabae - Mt. St. Joseph's, Maryland - National Prep 3rd

13   Oscar Sanchez - Genoa Area, Ohio - State Runner-Up

14   Joey Cruz - Clovis North, California - FloNationals Finalist

15   Michael Jaffe - Marmion Academy, Illinois - State 4th

16   Nain Vasquez - Montini Catholic, Illinois - State 4th

Unseeded Notables:

Peyton Keller - Vincent Warren, Ohio - FloNationals 5th

Kal Miller - Park Hill, Missouri - Fargo 7th

Wyatt Yapoujian - Pomona, Colorado

Commentary:

Let this sink in - a returning champ, two Super 32 champs and a Cadet World champ in the same bracket. Actually, it's three Super 32 champs counting Lorenzo who did it a few years back.

Mastro teched Crookham at Akron in the third-place bout. That being said, I think most would agree that Crookham, with his scrambling and riding abilities, is much better in folk.

Crookham is undefeated against Bouzakis.

The book on Ramos is that he's an upperbody, counter, freestyle specific wrestler. I'm not ready to disregard him as a title contender though. That reputation is massively uninformed. He gets it done when he has to. When he needed leg attacks at Worlds, he went and got them.

Ok, let's get to Lucas Byrd. I cannot unsee what I saw at Super 32. Byrd scolded (politely) me for picking him low. In my defense, what I saw in Greensboro was a wholly improved Lucas Byrd, one that was totally complete in all positions and situations. Going through Lorenzo-Crookham-Mastro is not an easy feat, but I was surprised by Lucas Byrd no more.

We also have to talk about Terukina, who won Sophomore Nationals. Look, I have no idea if he's "there" yet. But he bears mentioning. There's no one I want to learn about more at Ironman than him.

The last guy I want to mention is Cruz, who looked like the second coming at FloNationals where he made the finals only to lose to Figueroa in OT rideouts. But he then went up a bunch in weight and had a terrible Akron. 

Hopefully now settled into weight, and full-time under Ben Holscher, I think he'll be prepared. He's an outright bully, whom I can see taking advantage of the small mats and forcing stall calls. Think a young Metcalf chasing you down.

Willie's Picks:  1. Mastrogiovanni   2. Byrd   3.  Crookham   4.  Bouzakis

126: 2008 Final - Sam White (Massillon Perry) dec. Zach Neibert (St. Paris Graham), 7-5

Seeds & Rankings

1    #2 - Michael Colaiocco, Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning Champ, Fargo Champ

2    #7 - Reece Witcraft - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma - Fargo Runner-Up

3    #9 - Travis Ford-Melton - Marian Catholic, Illinois - Super 32 Finalist

4    #11 - Kai Orine - Seckman, Missouri - FloNationals Runner-Up

5    #14 - Anthony Molton - Lockport, Illinois - Fargo 7th

6    Dylan Shawver - Elyria, Ohio - 2x Fargo AA

7    #20 - Dylan Ragusin - Montini Catholic, Illinois - Returning 3rd

8    #19 - Devin Murphy - Clovis North, California - FloNationals 5th

9    Mosha Schwartz - Ponderosa, Colorado - FloNationals Champ

10   Drew Munch - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania

11   #12 - Daniel Cardenas - Pomona, Colorado - Fargo Runner-Up

12   Jason Miranda - Poway, California - State 5th

13   Zack Witmer - St. Joseph's Academy, Pennsylvania - State 5th

14   Caleb Tanner - Collinsville, Oklahoma - Fargo AA

15   Antoine  Allen - Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio - State 5th

16   Brandon Wittenberg  - Battlefield, Virginia - NHSCA 6th

Unseeded Notables:

Gavin Brown - Legacy Christian, Ohio

Dom Baker - New Kent, Virginia

Brendon Chletsos - Notre Dame, Pennsylvania

Chris Kelly - Graham, Ohio

Ethan Miller - Park Hill, Missouri

Logan Ours - Beaver, Ohio

Davin Rhoads - Louisville, Ohio

Isaac Salas - St. John Bosco, California - Returning 5th

Commentary:

I feel like I got a pretty good grip on this weight, which probably means I'm completely wrong.

Let's go quick-hitting bullet points style:

• Colaiocco beat Witcraft in Fargo finals. Colaiocco dominated. Everyone. In Fargo. He's a returning champ. In my opinion, he ain't losin'.

• If there's someone who could do it... Ford-Melton, with his electric offense. When he's on, he's on. But he's highly inconsistent and doesn't finish off tight matches.

• Shawver-Cardenas will be the best prelim bout of the tournament. Winner gets Ford-Melton.

• Molton-Orine will be among the best quarterfinals.

• Witmer will beat someone ranked.

• Ours, Chletsos, Brown, Baker. Best group of freshmen in a weight at Ironman this year.

• No one but Mrs. Witcraft would pick him to make the finals...

• Except me.

Willie's Picks:  1. Colaiocco   2. Witcraft   3. Ford-Melton   4. Cardenas

132: 2008 Final - Chris Villalonga (Blair Academy) dec. Felipe Martinez (St. Paris Graham), 6-1

Seeds & Rankings

1     #1 - Jordan Decatur - Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio - 2x Who's #1 Winner

2     #2 - Dylan D'Emilio - Genoa, Ohio - Super 32 Champ

3     #3 - Beau Bartlett - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Super 32 Runner-Up

4     #8 - Shayne Van Ness - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Super 32 Champ

5     #14 - Justin  Rivera - Lake Highland Prep, Florida - Super 32 3rd

6     #7 - Ryan Franco - Clovis North, California - 2x Fargo Runner-Up

7     #16 - Bretli Reyna - South Dade, Florida - Super 32 4th

8     #17 - Henry Porter - Oakdale, California - State Runner-Up

9     #19 - Kenny Herrmann - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania - State 4th

10   #12 - Cleveland Belton - St. John Bosco, California - FloNationals 4th

11   Frankie Tal-Shahar - American Heritage, Florida - Cadet Trials Runner-Up (to Josh Saunders)

12   Justin Pacheco - Pomona, Colorado - Returning 6th

13   Mick Burnett - Elyria, Ohio - Fargo Runner-Up

14   Nick Moore - St. Paris Graham, Ohio - State Runner-Up

15   Vincent Zerban - Christian Brothers, Missouri - Fargo 8th

16   Richie Markulics - Notre Dame, Pennsylvania - State 3rd

Unseeded Notables:

Dylan Burnoski - Montini, Illinois

Jaden Two Lance - Arlington Martin, Texas

Nick Vafiadis - New Kent, Virginia

Commentary:

Decatur has never placed higher than fourth here. But that changes this year.

D'Emilio, like Lucas Byrd, appeared to jump levels when we saw him at S32, beating Beau in the finals. His all-around game is on point. And Beau is always dangerous. He can beat anyone.

While there is a clear drop-off in perception (and perhaps, in fact/ability) I wouldn't be surprised with upsets out of Rivera, who's only loss in Greensboro was 1-0 to Beau, or Van Ness, who dispatched 3x Super 32 champ Adam Busiello to claim his own title.

I also like the trio of Californians. Franco made Fargo finals the last two years. Belton beat Franco in state finals. And Porter is one of the best sophs in the nation.

Ultimately, I think Decatur knows it's his last chance at an Ironman title. He didn't play football this year. He didn't go to the OTC (which would have kept him out of Ironman). And he looked phenomenal beating Josh Saunders at WNO. He's the best neutral wrestler in the country.

Willie's Picks:   1. Decatur   2. D'Emilio   3. Bartlett   4. Rivera

138: 2008 Final - David Taylor (St. Paris Graham) maj. dec. Joe Waltko (North Allegheny), 16-3

Seeds & Rankings

1    #2 - Josh Saunders - Christian Brothers, Missouri - Cadet World Team Member

2    #9 - Luke  Baughman - Wadsworth, Ohio - Returning 4th

3    #7 - Chase Saldate - Gilroy, California - State 4th

4    #8 - Peyton Hall - Oak Glen, West Virginia - Returning 7th

5    #18 - Bryce Hepner - St. Edward, Ohio - Returning 8th

6    Chris Rivera - Lake Highland Prep, Florida

7    Jackson Dean - Caesar Rodney, Delaware - Fargo 3rd

8    Shannon Hanna - Lake Gibson, Florida - NHSCA Runner-Up

9    Mike Madara - Blair Academy, New Jersey - National Prep 5th

10   #19 - Jake Niffenegger - Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio - Fargo 4th

11   Elijah Blake - Del Oro, California - State 7th

12   Matt Lackman - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania - Returning 7th

13   Alek Martin - St. Paris Graham, Ohio - Returning 8th

14   Josh Swan - South Dade, Florida - NHSCA Champ

15   Dustin Morgillo - Genoa, Ohio

16   Trent Dooley - Allen, Texas

Unseeded Notables:

Travis Ragland - New Kent, Virginia

Commentary:

Echoing 126, but with no caveats - anything short of a title from Saunders would be shocking. There's no one near his pedigree, and not even a Ford-Melton type that could be better for just one six-minute bout.

Now that I have offended every other parent in the bracket...

Chase Saldate is very good. Either he or Baughman will make for a quality finals opponent. And both are highly underrated. 

Saldate out-placed (second to fourth) Hepner at Freak Show and won Grappler Fall Classic where he pinned Alek Martin.

The guy who's been on the upswing is Peyton Hall, placing fifth at S32 with four ranked wins.

One of my favorite freshmen in the country is Niffenegger. He's a little bull and will make his presence felt. I'm fairly confident the kid will be a star sooner or later. Maybe as soon as Friday.

Willie's Picks:   1. Saunders   2. Baughman   3. Saldate   4. Niffenegger

145: 2008 Final - Andrew Alton (Central Mountain) dec. Collin Palmer (Lakewood St. Edward), 5-3

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Ryan Anderson - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania - 2017 Super 32 Champ

2    #4 - Bryce Andonian - St. Edward, Ohio - Fargo Champ 

3    #5 - Jaden Abas - Rancho Bernardo, California - Super 32 Champ

4    #8 - Michael North - Wadsworth, Ohio - FloNationals Champ

5    #9 - Travis Mastrogiovanni - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Fargo Champ

6    #15 - Chris Donathan - Mason, Ohio - Super 32 7th

7    #10 - Fidel Mayora - Montini Catholic, Illinois - Cadet Trials Runner-Up

8    #14 - Manzona Bryant IV - Western Reserve, Ohio - FloNationals Runner-Up

9    #18-Trevor Chumbley - Marmion Academy, IL - State Champ

10   Dawson Sihavong - Bullard, California - State 4th

11   #17 - Luka Wick - San Marino, California - Super 32 8th

12   #16 - Andrew Cerniglia - Notre Dame, Pennsylvania - NHSCA Champ

13   Cael Valencia - St. John Bosco, California - Fargo 3rd

14   Caleb Dowling - St. Joseph's Catholic, Pennsylvania - State Runner-Up

15   Wyatt Henson - Christian Brothers College, Missouri - Super 32 6th

16   Connor Kievman - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - National Prep Champ

Unseeded Notables:

Andrew Garr - Aurora, Ohio

Marco Regalbuto - Brecksville, Ohio

Brayden Roberts - Parkersburg, West Virginia - NHSCA 7th

Jeff Thomas - Graham, Ohio

Commentary:

We're cooking with grease here, people! A weight class with quantity, quality and no foregone conclusions! That's how you script it!

#1 implications loom large. I gave Anderson the nod over Fargo/S32 champ O'Toole. Should Anderson win this, he deserves #1. Should he not...

Andonian has a case if he wins Ironman. Any other scenario basically locks it up for O'Toole, who beat Abas at WNO.

The credentials here are bonkers. Anderson was first in 2017 at S32, 3rd at Ironman. Abas was third at Fargo, first at S32. North won FloNats. Bryant was second. Mastro won Fargo Cadets, and Mayora was this close to winning the Cadet World Team Trials.

Oh, and Valencia was first (GR) and fifth (FS) in Fargo. The 16-seed has won National Preps!

Of course, they all have their hiccups. Anderson placed fifth at S32 (without giving up a takedown). Andonian didn't even place here last year. Mayora dnp'd in Greensboro. It all makes for the uncertainty that drives drama.

I'm going to go with Anderson for a couple reasons: 1) you can't take the kid down, 2) he knows how to manage matches, 3) he's at his "right" weight, and 4) his path is easier. 

I love Andonian, but he has a coin-flippish match with Abas, who kinda surprisingly moved up from 138. That's playing the odds. This bracket could play out in any number of ways.

Willie's Picks:  1. Anderson   2. Andonian   3. Abas   4. North

152: 2008 Final - Dylan Alton (Central Mountain) dec. Brian Stephens (St. Paris Graham), 5-3

Seeds & Rankings

1    #4 - Brevin Balmeceda - South Dade, Florida - 2017 Super 32 Champ

2    #3 - Sonny Santiago - St. John Bosco, California - Super 32 3rd

3    #9 - Sam Dover - St. Edward, Ohio - Returning 5th

4    #6 - Jake Stiles - Montini Catholic, Illinois - Returning 7th

5    #10 - Victor Voinovich - Brecksville, Ohio - Cadet Trials 7th

6    #19 - Elan Heard - Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio - Returning 3rd

7    #14 - Aaron Gandara - Poway, California - Super 32 6th

8    #18 - Baylor Fernandes - Lockport, Illinois - Cheesehead 3rd

9    #15 - John Martin Best - Parkersburg, West Virginia - Fargo Runner-Up

10   #17 - Cole Handlovic - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania - State 6th

11   Benny Baker - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - National Prep 7th

12   Reece Heller - Marian Catholic, Illinois - State 5th

13   Kyle Prewitt - Christian Brothers College, Missouri - State 4th

14   Jacob Conrad - Carrollwood Day School, Florida

15   Walker Heard - Marysville, Ohio - State 6th

16   Nico Incontera - Blair Academy, New Jersey

Unseeded Notables:

Tyler Badgett - Rancho Bernardo, California

Dylan Fishback - Aurora, Ohio

Jax Leonard - Louisville, Ohio - State 3rd

Keegan Rothrock - St. Joseph's, Pennsylvania - Fargo 5th

Commentary:

This weight has all the intrigue that makes 145 so great, minus the #1 conversation. You have to love Santiago's trajectory. His only loss at S32 was to Ryan Anderson, and he beat Balmeceda, the returning champ.

Balmeceda was good enough to win S32 again. His front side loss was a dq on an illegal mat return. He gave up a grand total of one takedown (to Santiago).

I'm taking Balmeceda to make the finals through a path that goes Fernandes-Best and then Stiles-Voinovich. I think Fernandes is a fine sleeper pick; he's a hammer on top. And you've probably heard me sing the praises of Voinovich. It's a tough road and he'll have to string them together, but match-by-match I favor Balmeceda.

The bottom half is pretty wild. Elan Heard took third here last year but has still never placed at the state tournament. He's a boom-or-bust guy of high talent and upside. I think Dover sneaks under the radar a bit (as does Heard), but one of them has a great shot to be in the finals.

Which is where Santiago comes in. Tough quarter for him with Gandara, whom he beat in OT at S32. But I think he gets it done to meet Heard.

Sleeper pick: Jax Leonard.

Willie's Picks:   1. Balmeceda   2. Heard   3. Santiago   4. Stiles

160: 2008 Final - Brandon Rolnick (Lawrenceville) dec. Nick Sulzer (Lakewood St. Edward), 3-1

Seeds & Rankings

1    #2 - Connor Brady - Olentangy, Ohio - Super 32 Champ, Fargo 3rd

2    #4 - Dom Mata - Blair Academy, New Jersey - California State Champ

3    #2 - Jace Luchau - Selma, California - Cadet Trials 3rd, Fargo 5th

4    #6 - Thayne Lawrence - Frazier, Pennsylvania - State Champ, S32 7th

5    #17 - James Limongi - Genoa, Ohio - Returning 7th

6    #20 - Kyle Mosher - South Side, New York - S32 8th

7    Kai Bele - Lake Highland Prep, Florida - Returning 6th

8    Noah Blake - Del Oro, California - State 3rd 

9    Todd Perry - South Dade, Florida - State Champ

10   Luca Frinzi - Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania - State 7th 

11   Tyler Stoltzfus - St. Joseph's Academy, Pennsylvania - NHSCA 3rd

12   Peter Ferraro - Marmion Academy, Illinois

13   Eric Two Lance - Martin, Texas

14   Brenden Severs - Beaver Local, Ohio

15   Will McGhee - Aurora, Ohio

16   Will Edgar - Christian Brothers College, Missouri

Unseeded Notables:

Elise Brown Ton - Allen, Texas

Commentary:

Brady and Luchau both moved up from 152 to 160. And thank god. It would have made 152 a bona fide mosh pit and 160 would have been very thin. They're now two of the clear favorites.

Luchau beat Brady in Fargo on a four point move with no takedown. Brady would go on to take third, Luchau fifth. 

Brady won Super 32 at 152 and we all remarked how great it was to see him finally win his first major. Could he make it two in a row?

The funny thing about that S32 run was that the bracket got all busted up. Anderson, Balmeceda, Santiago and Lawrence all got beat. While Brady beat Mosher, Gandara and Amine, he didn't have to go through the gauntlet we thought he might.

He'll have Lawrence or Limongi in semis, and I'll take him all day.

Brady's toughest test here should be Mata, who beat Luchau 3-0 at the state tournament last year. There's no doubt that Luchau has improved leaps and bounds since then, but I'll take Mata over Luchau in that semi.

A guy to keep an eye on is Bele. You've seen him high in the rankings. You've seen him high on Big Boards. But his preseason was a disaster with bad showings at GFC and S32. Being down at 160 should help, so let's see if he can bounce back.

Willie's Picks:   1. Brady    2. Mata    3. Luchau     4. Lawrence

170: 2008 Final - Zach Toal (Troy Christian) dec. Kyle Lang (Brecksville), 5-3

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Carson Kharchla - Olentangy, Ohio - Fargo Champ

2    #3 - Julian Ramirez - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning 3rd

3    #14 - Nevan Snodgrass - Kettering Fairmont, Ohio - Fargo 6th

4    #16 - Jake Stefanowicz - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Fargo 8th

5    #20 - Christian Rodriguez - Selma, California - Returning 8th

6    Ashton Habeil - Lake Gibson, Florida - NHSCA Runner-Up

7    Blake Hopson - Park Hill, Missouri - State Runner-Up

8    David Cumberledge - St. John, Ohio - State Runner-Up

9    Micah Ervin - Union County, Kentucky

10   Jake Evans - Elyria, Ohio

11   Nathan Warden - Christiansburg, Virginia

12   Beau Smith - Beaver Local, Ohio

13   Michael Garcar - St. Edward, Ohio

14   Patrick Daum - Marmion Academy, Illinois

15   Dom Loparo - Wadsworth, Ohio

16   Isaiah DeJesus  - Notre Dame, Pennsylvania

Unseeded Notables:

Jack Darrah - Christian Brothers, Missouir

Louden Hurt - St. Christopher's, Virginia

Isaiah Reinert - Easton, Pennsylvania

Asa Terrell - Mt. Carmel, Illinois

Commentary:

This should be a showdown. Ramirez beat Kharchla here in consi semis last year. Kharchla didn't like that very much and went scorched earth. He hasn't lost since, which includes a domination of Fargo and a win over Ramirez at WNO.

I like Rodriguez, but he had a poor S32. I don't think he (or Stefanwicz) is a threat to Kharchla reaching the finals.

Likewise - and crazier things have happened - but you can't make a compelling argument for Ramirez not making the finals. Snodgrass is tough, but he hasn't beaten anyone on Julian's level.

Kharchla's ability on his feet have proven effective in all styles. Gotta go with him over Ramirez.

Watch out for tough freshman Jake Evans and also St. Ed's Garcar, who beat out a tough Harrison Hightower in wrestle offs.

Willie's Picks:   1. Kharchla   2. Ramirez   3. Rodriguez   4. Snodgrass

182:  2008 Final - Ed Ruth (Blair Academy) dec. Ethen Lofthouse (Mountain Crest), 10-5

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Devin Winston - Park Hill, Missouri - Who's #1 Winner

2    #8 - Darrien Roberts - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Returning 4th

3    #16 - Sam Fisher - Fauquier, Virginia - Super 32 4th

4    #11 - Jackson Turley - St. Christopher's, Virginia - Super 32 5th

5    Peyton Craft - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning 5th

6    Nathan Haas - St. John Bosco, California - Fargo Runner-Up

7    #19 - Trey Sizemore - Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio - State 7th

8    Anthony D'Alesio - Canfield, Ohio - State 3rd

9    Dan Benoit - Chicago Mt. Carmel, Illinois

10   Nicholas Florschutz  - Malvern Prep, PA - National Prep 7th

11   Trevor Swier - Montini Catholic, Illinois

12   Cole Hivnor - Lake Catholic, Ohio

13   Franklin Cruz - Pomona, Ccolorado - State 4th

14   Justin Henry - Mt. St. Joseph's, Maryland - National Prep 8th

15   Evan Anderson - Aurora, Ohio

16   Ben Vanadia - Brecksville, Ohio

Unseeded Notables:

Emmanuel Skillings - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Commentary:

The top of the rankings at 182 is probably the most tenuous of all weights. No one truly has a clean resume. Winston didn't even place in Akron, yet he vaulted to the top spot after placing fifth in Fargo (the highest placing wrestler still in high school at the weight), and beating then-#1 Abe Assad at WNO. But he definitely can't avoid a slip up.

The good news is he beat Roberts (8-4) in Akron. He should cruise to the semis where he'll see his first real test in Craft or Turley - he also beat Turley 10-4 in Fargo. Craft is one of the most interesting sophomores. He had a very solid FR season for an upperweight last year. Now down at 182, he could really turn heads.

I'll stick to chalk in the bottom side, too, and say Fisher meets Roberts in semis. While Roberts is probably the favorite there, Fisher is comin' in hot. After placing in Fargo, he took fourth at S32 by beating Turley and Sizemore.

I'm intrigued by Skillings, another sophomore. He's one of my favorite sleepers.

Willie's Picks:  1. Winston   2. Roberts   3. Fisher   4. Turley

195: 2008 Final - Max Huntley (Blair Academy) dec. Max Thomusseit (St. Paris Graham), 4-3

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - AJ Ferrari - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning Champ

2    #8 - Ryan Reyes - Gilroy, California - State 3rd

3    #3 - Peter Christensen - Montini Catholic, Illinios - Returning 7th

4    #12 - Ashton Sharp - Park Hill, Missouri - State 3rd

5    Michael Baker - Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio - Returning 8th

6    Hudson Jump - Grandview Heights, Ohio - State Champ

7    Nathan Dugan - Lake Norman, North Carolina - Super 32 7th

8    Jack Wimmer - McDonogh, Maryland - Returning 8th

9    Kolby Franklin - St. Joseph's Catholic, Pennsylvania - Double Fargo Finalist

10   Ethan Hatcher - Brecksville, Ohio - Fargo 5th

11   Nick Crawford - Canfield, Ohio - State 5th

12   Ty Kwak - Christiansburg, Virginia - State Champ

13   Brent Paulus - Louisville, Ohio - Fargo 8th

14   Colin McNamara - Aurora, Ohio

15   Logan Andrew - Lake Highland Prep, Florida

16   Jadin Patterson - St. John Bosco, California

Commentary:

A returning champ and Cadet World medalist, AJ Ferrari is considered one of the best prospects in the Class of 2020 and is perhaps the heaviest favorite in all of Ironman.

That being said, there are a lot of great kids to watch in this field. There are a ton of "bubble" guys who aren't ranked right now but are knocking on the door.

Baker, Jump, Dugan Wimmer and Andrew fit that mold. Baker and Wimmer are returning placers. Franklin was a double Fargo finalist and he's just a freshman. Hatcher beat two top-10 guys in Akron. And Paulus has shown potential.

Excellent group of talent for an early season upperweight bracket.

I'd like to take Christensen to make the finals over Reyes in the bottom bracket, but he has a really tough match-up in Jump in the quarter. I'll play the better odds and go with Reyes, whom I'm more confident in getting by Dugan.  

Willie's Picks:   1. Ferrari   2. Reyes   3. Christensen   4. Baker

220: 2008 Final - Joe McMullan (Wyoming Seminary) dec. Ben Krakower (Blair Academy), 5-0

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Braxton Amos - Parkersburg So., West Virginia - Returning Champ

2    #5 - Owen Trephan - Blair Academy, New Jersey - Returning 3rd

3    #8 - Jacob Kaminski - Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania - Cadet GR World Team Member

4    #14 - Andy Smith - Christiansburg, Virginia - Super 32 3rd

5    #6 - Garrett Kappes - McDonogh, Maryland - Fargo 7th

6    #11 - Tyler Stein - Canfield, Ohio - State Champ

7    Kade Carlson - Corner Canyon, Utah - State Champ

8    Matthias Ervin - Union County, Kentucky - NHSCA 4th

9    Kenneth Crouse - South Dade, Florida

10   Wyatt Owen - Reynolds, Pennsylvania

11   Simon Tesfamarian - Park Hill, Missouri

Commentary:

Amos is looking to go back-to-back at Ironman as just a junior. Trephan is formidable though. While he didn't have any eye popping wins last year, he only lost to uber studs, including Amos here.

Kaminski is quite intriguing, transferring from Fenwick (IL) over the summer. He has finalist potential.

I like Smith and Kappes. I'd like them a lot more if they weren't on Braxton's side of the bracket though.

Smith is coming off a great S32. He lost early, then won six straight backside matches to take third.

Kappes is also interesting. He went from 170 in March at National Preps to 220 in Fargo, where he teched eventual S32 HWT Champ Aidan Connor.

If I was sure Tyler Stein, the DII state champ in Ohio last year, was going to be in the field, I'd pick him highly - maybe even second. But it looks like football will keep him off the mats.

Willie's Picks:   1. Amos   2. Trephan   3. Kappes   4. Kaminski

285: 2008 Final - Jeremy Johnson (Brecksville) pin Zach Corl (Central Mountain), 1:54

Seeds & Rankings

1    #1 - Cohlton Schultz - Ponderosa, Colorado - Returning Champ

2    #4 - Jonathan Birchmeier - Broad Run, Virginia - Beast of the East Champ

3    #13 - Nicholas Villarreal - Gilroy, CA - State 6th

4    Isaac Righter - Mt. St. Joseph's, Maryland - Cadet Trials 6th

5    Louden Haga - Parkersburg South, West Virginia - 2017 Fargo Runner-Up

6    Johnny  Shafer - St. Paris Graham, Ohio - Returning 6th

7    Noah Koch - Genoa, Ohio - State 3rd

8    Kevin Hudson - Caesar Rodney, Delaware - State Runner-Up

9    Mike McNicholas - Montini Catholic, Illinios

Commentary:

Two horse race here. Schultz is arguably the best wrestler in the Class of 2019. Arguably the best wrestler pound-for-pound in the nation. He's made the finals here three times, finishing runner-up to Matt Stencel in 2015 and Chase Singletary in 2016 and winning last year over PJ Mustipher.

While he's the heavy favorite (get it, "heavy?"), Birchmeier won the Beast, dominating Mustipher in the semis. He also just beat the #20 D1 college heavyweight to make the finals of the Binghamton Open. Should be a fun match.

The others have been a little up and down. Haga hasn't faired well since Fargo 2017. Righter is uber talented but temperamental and inconsistent.

While Graham isn't known for the upperweights, I like Shafer to be top four ahead of some of those guys.

Willie's Picks:   1. Schultz   2. Birchmeier   3. Schafer    4. Righter