By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
If the preseason prognostications are correct, the top wrestlers in the country reside in Ohio and New Jersey, this year, with Pennsylvania also putting together a strong crop of contenders.
According to the preseason national wrestling rankings compiled by Bob Preusse of the Amateur Wrestling News, Ohio has four wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the nation in their weight class along with two others ranked No. 2. Leading the way is the Monroeville trio of Hunter (112) and Logan Stieber (125) and sophomore standout Chris Phillips (171). Logan Stieber and Phillips are both ranked No. 1 in their class while Hunter Stieber is No. 2. Orlando Scales of Elder is the top 215-pounder while Collin Palmer is No. 1 at 145 pounds. David Taylor of Graham is No. 2 at 135 pounds.
New Jersey, meanwhile, has the nation’s top team in Blair Academy, which sports three wrestlers ranked among the top five including super freshman Mark Grey at 103 pounds. The Garden State has 10 wrestlers ranked among the top five of the 14 weight classes as ranked by Preusse.
Pennsylvania has a pair of No. 1-ranked wrestlers in Zach Horan of Nazareth (112) and Dylan Alton of Central Mountain (140). The Keystone state also has 10 wrestlers in the top five.
Following is a look at the top wrestler in each weight class along with the rest of the top five.
103 pounds
Mark Grey-Fr, Blair Academy, N.J.
Grey was a national cadet freestyle champion last summer, defeating Joe Orecchio of New Jersey 7-0, 1-0 in the 98-pound finals. Grey joins a loaded Blair Academy team that is ranked No. 1 in the country by Amateur Wrestling News.
Others to Watch:
Tyler Fraley-Soph, Colt Neck, N.J.
Jade Rauser-Soph, Broadwater County, Mont.
Avi Friedman-Sr, Owings Mills, Md.
Robert Deutsch-Soph, Voorhees Eastern, N.J.
112 pounds
Zach Horan-Soph, Nazareth, Pa.
Horan finished second at 103 pounds at the Pennsylvania state AAA championships, but showed improvement this summer with a gold medal at 112 pounds at the Cadet Nationals. He defeated Hunter Stieber of Ohio 4-1, 6-2 in the finals.
Others to Watch:
Hunter Stieber-Soph, Monroeville, Ohio
Cody Brewer-Soph, Oak Park, Mo.
Eric Devos-Fr, Waverly Shell-Rock, Iowa
Ryak Finch-Jr, Safford, Ariz.
119 pounds
Ryan Mango-Sr, Whitfield School, Mo.
Mango won the 119-pound weight class in Missouri last year with a 45-0 record. He also finished second at the National High School wrestling championships in Virginia Beach, fallin to Tyler Cox of Cambell County, Wyo., 3-1 in the finals. Mango is the younger brother of Spenser Mango, who was a team USA member in 2008. Ryan Mango dropped to 112 pounds for the junior national freestyle tournament in July and defeated Shane Young of Penn-Trafford, Pa., 4-1, 4-3 in the finals. He also won the junior national Greco-Roman tournament earlier this year. Mango is a two-time state champion in Missouri, finishing third as a freshman at 103 pounds. He has an 87-2 record the past two seasons.
Others to Watch:
Shane Young-Sr, Penn-Trafford, Pa.
Alan Waters-Jr, Park Hill, Mo.
Tyler Cox-Sr, Campbell County, Wyo.
Jamie Clark-Jr, St. Edward, Ohio
125 pounds
Logan Stieber-Jr, Monroeville, Ohio
Although just a junior, Stieber has already committed to attend Ohio State. Stieber’s credentials are impressive: He was a three-time junior high school state champion, he has won two straight Ohio high school state championships and he was a two-time Cadet national champion. He recently won the FILA Junior Freestyle National Championship, which includes competitors under the age of 20, and defeated several college wrestlers en route to the title. Stieber enters his senior year with a 94-1 career record including 51-0 last year as a sophomore.
Others to Watch:
Jon Morrison-Sr, Carl Sandburg, Ill.
David Thorn-Sr, St. Michael, Minn.
Sammy White-Sr, Massillon Perry, Ohio
Zach Neibert-Sr, St. Paris, Ohio
130 pounds
Tony Ramos-Sr, Glenbard North, Ill.
Ramos is a two-time Illinois state champion and a three-time state finalist. He won the 125-pound weight class last year and has already committed to wrestle at Iowa next season. Ramos hopes to become the first three-time state champion at Glenbard North. He enters his senior season with a career mark of 130-4.
Others to Watch:
Chris Villalonga-Jr, Blair Academy, N.J.
Paul Paddock-Sr, Warsaw, N.Y.
Dylan Ness-Jr, Jefferson-Kennedy, Minn.
Justin LaValle-Sr, Apple Valley, Minn.
135 pounds
Eric Grajales-Sr, Brandon, Fla.
Grajales will look to help Brandon start another winning streak this year while pursuing a fourth straight Florida state individual championship. Brandon had a 34-year, 459-match dual streak broken last year, but the Eagles still managed to win their eighth straight state title. Grajales, who is headed to Michigan next year, has a 153-0 record as a high school wrestler and an overall career mark of 228-6, including seventh and eighth grade when he wrestled on the varsity. Grajales also holds the state record for pins in a season after pinning 52 opponents last season. Grajales is a five-time Greco-Roman national champion and a two-time Fila Caedt Greco national champion.
Others to Watch:
David Taylor-Sr, St. Paris, Ohio
Destin McCauley-Soph, Apple Valley, Minn.
Josh Kindig-Jr, Blue Mountain, Pa.
Mac Bailey-Sr, Oak Park, Mo.
140 pounds
Dylan Alton-Jr, Central Mountain, Pa.
One half of the twin combination that includes brother Andrew, Dylan Alton took first place at the Junior National freestyle championships last year and he also won the Greco Roman national championship. Alton was a state champion in Pennsylvania last year with a 45-1 record and has a 75-5 record entering his junior season.
Others to Watch:
Alex Ekstrom-Sr, Palmyra-Macedon, N.Y.
Dane Johnson-Sr, Shady Side Academy, Pa.
Nick Lester-Sr, Eureka, Mo.
Ellis Coleman-Sr, Oak Park-River Forest, Ill.
145 pounds
Collin Palmer-Sr, St. Edward, Ohio
Palmer is looking to keep alive a family tradition with a fourth straight Ohio high school state championship. His brother Lance was also a four-time state champion and Collin will join his brother next season after verbally committing to Ohio State. Palmer was also a three-time state champion at the junior high level. He’s lost just twice in his high school career, posting a 108-2 record heading into his senior season.
Others to Watch:
Andrew Alton-Jr, Central Mountain, Pa.
Zach Clemente-Sr, LaSalle Institute, N.Y.
Anthony Baldosara-Jr, Eastern Regional, N.J.
Vlad Dombroski-Sr, Natomas, Calif.
152 pounds
R.J. Pena-Sr, Sprague, Salem Ore.
Already committed to attend Oregon State next season, Pena has his eye on a fourth straight Oregon state title. Pena has proven himself at the biggest meets in the country, winning the Reno Tournament of Champions as a sophomore.
Others to Watch:
Matt Lester-Sr, Eureka, Mo.
Marshall Peppelman-Sr, Central Dauphin, Pa.
Nick Hager-Sr, Tomahawk, Wis.
Jim Belleville-Sr, West Black Hills, Wash.
160 pounds
Derek St. John-Sr, Iowa City West, Iowa
The top wrestler in Iowa is a two-time state champion, going 50-0 last year to win the 145-pound weight class. He was first at 140 pounds as a sophomore and third at 130 his freshman season. He has a career mark of 137-8 and was a junior national freestyle champion this summer.
Others to Watch:
Dallas Bailey-Sr, Catoosa, Okla.
Alec Ortiz-Sr, Newberg, Ore.
Kenny Courts-Soph, Central Dauphin, Pa.
Brock Gutches-Sr, Crater, Ore.
171 pounds
Chris Phillips-Soph, Monroeville, Ohio
Phillips made people look up and take notice last season when he won the Ironman tournament as a freshman 171-pounder. It’s rare for a freshman to win a state title in the upper weight classes, but Phillips is that rare type of wrestler. He went 51-0 last season in winning the Ohio state championship.
Others to Watch:
Ethen Lofthouse-Sr, Mountain Crest, Utah
Austin Meys-Sr, Shenendehowa, N.Y.
Jake Kemerer-Sr, Hempfield, Pa.
Edward Ruth-Sr, Blair Academy, N.J.
189 pounds
Chris Perry-Sr, Stillwater, Okla.
A standout running back at Stillwater, Perry announced last month that he will wrestle at Oklahoma State next season. A three-time state champion, Perry is 108-1 in high school career and has won his last 65 matches.
Others to Watch:
Andrew Campolattano-Soph, Bound Brook, N.J.
Jake Swartz-Sr, Auburn, Wash.
Jonathon Becker-Sr, Bergen Catholic, N.J.
Mac Mancuso-Sr, Hole Spirit, N.J.
215 pounds
Orlando Scales-Sr, Cincinnati Elder, Ohio
Scales captured his first state championship last year after going 48-0 at 215 pounds. Scales was a junior national Greco-Roman champion last year and has an 83-9 record heading into his senior season.
Others to Watch:
Glenn Carson-Sr, Manahawkin, N.J.
Mario Gonzalez-Sr, West Aurora, Ill.
Aaron Pavlenko-Sr, Marcos de Niza, Ariz.
Joe McMullen-Sr, Wyoming Seminary, Pa.
275 pounds
Ken Altarac-Sr, LaSalle Institute, N.Y.
Altarac is a two-time National High School Wrestling Champion, winning at 215 pounds over Orlando Scales as a sophomore and last year at 285 pounds. He was a state champion in New York last season and was an all-section choice in football this year.
Others to Watch:
Andrew Miller-Sr, Bassett, Va.
Eloheim Palma-Sr, Cary, N.C.
Toby Erickson-Sr, Helena, Mont.
Roger McCovey-Sr, Del Norte, Calif.
