We've Got Another Four-Man At This Year's Who's Number One!
We've Got Another Four-Man At This Year's Who's Number One!
170 lbs is going to be 3X as fun at this year's Who's Number One with this four-man group.
The four-man group has been a staple of Who’s #1 the past couple of years and 2021 will be no different. This year’s group will be contested at 170 lbs between #1 Manny Rojas, #2 James Rowley, #3 Gabe Arnold, and #4 Rocco Welsh.
At the top Manny Rojas of Michigan. A grinder from Detroit Central Catholic, Rojas is as stingy as they come. After losing to in-state rival Stoney Buell in the 2019 Fargo finals, Rojas won Super 32 in the fall, a state title in the winter, and got his Fargo title in this past summer. He actually holds two wins over #2 Rowley. One at Fargo 2019, which you can watch HERE, and more recently at 2020 Super 32. Currently ranked #6 in the country pound-for-pound, the Iowa State Cyclones are getting a good one in Rojas.
Watch #1 Manny Rojas beat #2 James Rowley at 2020 Super 32 below.
Don’t write Rowley off, however. The Oregon native has no doubt improved since the two met almost a year ago. Just last month Rowley went overseas to Budapest, Hungary, and won a Cadet World silver medal.
Watch Rowley make it to the Cadet World finals below.
A Georgia native who competes for Wyoming Seminary High School in Pennsylvania, getting the chance to compete at Who’s Number One is something Gabe Arnold has worked a long time for. While Rojas was winning the Junior 170 title in Fargo this summer, Arnold was winning the 16U 170 title. And despite being behind Rowley in the rankings, Arnold does have a 7-3 win over him from February of 2021.
Watch Gabe Arnold win the 16U 170 lbs Fargo title below.
Coming up from 160 where he competed this offseason and 152 where he competed during the regular season is Rocco Welsh. Don’t sleep on this Pennsylvania stud. He’s the lowest-ranked of the group, but he’s had success moving up before. After making the PA state finals as a 126 lbs freshman Welsh moved up to 145 and made the Super 32 finals. He took third in loaded 160 lbs weight class and avenged his only loss on the backside. Welsh is a warrior and a fighter who will come ready for battle.
Watch 2021 Rocco Welsh make the Pennsylvania state finals below.
