Author: marklongmainstream (Page 11 of 313)

Even after 10 of the top competitors either leaving 57 or graduating, those 10 do not include Levi Haines or a redshirting Daniel Cardenas. You also have 5 AA’s out of eligibility but even with all of that going on there is still a lot of depth at this weight. Notable moves from Tyler Kasak and Antrell Taylor along with big expectations from Ryder Downey after making blood round as a freshman, Jacori Teemer moving in to Iowa, there are lot of factors to consider and a whole lot of shaking up.

#1. Meyer Shapiro- This is a tough one, when considering the top 2 at 157 it’s a discussion of which one will remain healthy and how have they bounced back in the past from injury. Shapiro has demonstrated his ability to do so, with three losses last season, 2 at the CKLV to Trevor Chumbley and Dylan Cardenas, where it is rumored he struggled with a concussion through the tournament. His second loss to Cardenas and 3rd of the season at nationals he was leading 3-0 and again suffered a head injury after being tossed. So with that in mind, Shapiro payed back 2 out of those 3 matches with a 10-4 dec. over Cardenas in the 3rd place match at nationals. None of us can disregard the facts outside of these losses though, at one point in the season he went on a 20 match win streak, had a 70 percent bonus rate, and had 16 wins over ranked opponents which was the most in the country. To add he also bonused 11 of those 16, we think if his head can remain healthy and with Cardenas out of the way, there is no one that can stop him. On paper, not so much going 8-3 against like opponents with Jacori Teemer who’s 14-0 and we’ll break down Teemer next, so after just one year he has a 29-3 record at 90 percent win rate. A #2 preseason rank from Flo and #1 from Wrestlestat.

#2. Jacori Teemer- Nobody else really fits here among the rest of the list, honestly being the number 2 isn’t completely correct here, it’s more like a tie for 1st place. We could easily put him at the top based on his performance against Cardenas. They’ve faced off four times, Teemer winning them all. One of our biggest concerns is the same that we have for Parco, coming into the Big Ten is a whole different pace so will he be able to keep up. Probably the biggest concern is a pesky shoulder injury that has been well documented, will it reappear and sap his performance? Will he finally be able to close out this year after numerous top 5 finishes in the wake of many big names that have come to Iowa in the past only to have a substandard season. If he gets in a title match with Shapiro who’s on his game and we see the same Teemer that faced Haines with no offense, it’s a sure loss. We want the best for arguably the greatest wrestler that the state of New York ever produced. 85-17 record overall at 83 percent win rate. #1 preseason rank from Flo and #3 from Wrestlestat.

#3. Tyler Kasak- We have yet to see what Kasak can do without any prior history with Teemer or Shapiro, making a move from 49 settling for a 3rd place match against Ty Watters. This will have to be a year where he finishes somewhere in the top 5, otherwise eyes will start to turn to Alex Facundo who probably won’t want to stay behind Mitchell Messenbrink, so the obvious move is to go down. We will get our chance to see how ready he is with a preview at the NWCA All Star Classic against Peyton Kellar. 24-5 record overall at 90 percent win rate. A #4 preseason rank from Flo and #2 from Wrestlestat.

#4. Antrell Taylor- This guy is an absolute unit when he’s on, everyone seen how well he did against Messenbrink. Probably will be the same against Kasak if he gets the chance. Struggled a little bit at nationals last year losing to Peyton Hall and Izzak Olejnik, but looking beyond the past will he be able to handle the weight cut is what we are normally interested in. He has always been super strong, hopefully his brute strength can be maintained through this cut. 27-15 record overall at 64 percent win rate. A not so favorable #7 preseason rank from Flo and #7 from Wrestlestat.

#5. Payton Keller- debatably should rank higher on this list, in a world full of flashy NIL deals this man has stuck with Ohio from day 1 which is highly respectable. Placed 5th at nationals last year with a tight loss to Jared Franek in round 2, then blew through the consolations until Cardenas pinned him in the semis, ultimately settling for 5th over Bryce Andonian by fall 3 minutes in. More than ready to see him matchup against Tyler Kasak in a couple weeks at the NWCA. Really hope to see him and Taylor move higher than what the professional community predictions are. 58-17 record overall at 90 percent win rate. A #5 preseason rank from Flo and #4 from Wrestlestat.

#6. Ryder Downey- On paper we guess he belongs here, super technical wrestler that had a great freshman year capsizing a lot of guys to make a finish in the blood round. Not a dark horse contender as a lot of eyes are on him, but wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes his way into the top 5. Took the Big 12 title last year, majored 6 guys and tech’d 4 so no doubt a contender and will make the podium this year. 30-10 record overall at 75 percent win rate. A #6 preseason rank from Flo and #5 from Wrestlestat.

#7. Ed Scott- Seeking a second AA’s this year he’s been a 4X qualifier, Scott is kind of a wildcard. Great example are his matches against Bryce Andonian last year, majored him at the ACC Championships but then turns and almost gets majored by him at nationals. Flip flopped with Sonny Santiago losing 12-5 in February and turns around at ACC’s and wins 8-2. Those are some rather large swings, but to his credit he did beat Downey last and also beat out Cody Chittum for a Big 12 title in the past, wish he could move beyond the boom or bust reputation. 77-26 record overall at 74 percent win rate. A #8 preseason rank from Flo and #6 from Wrestlestat.

#8. Paniro Johnson- Losing a year of eligibility only to be found not guilty on gambling conspiracies that plagued the Iowa teams has to be gut wrenching for Iowa State even though it’s now considered a redshirt season. There are a lot of people that could fill out at #8 with guys like Paddy Gallagher, Teague Travis, or possibly a breakout year from Johnny Lovett who has more nationals experience than any one on this list. In 2022-2023 it seems that he handled his weight better at 57 than at 49 which reflects his performance, with this resolved he could move up higher on this list. 24-7 record overall at 77 percent win rate. A #11 preseason rank from Flo and #11 from Wrestlestat.

Overall this weight looks really solid even after counting out Cardenas and the departure of Haines this really isn’t a top 2 or top 3 race. The addition of Kasak and Taylor along with a move from Teemer and a hopeful ravenous return from Downey shows a storm of uncertainty brewing at 57.

Located at 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611, Longhorn Cavern is a stunning underground wonder that offers an unforgettable experience amidst the beautiful Texas Hill Country. For more information, click here.

About Longhorn Cavern Longhorn Cavern is a massive limestone cave formed over millions of years, boasting an impressive array of stalactites, stalagmites and intricate rock formations. This natural marvel is steeped in history, having served as a shelter for Native Americans, a hideout for outlaws and even a speakeasy during Prohibition.

Cave Tour Details Tour Options – Scenic Tour: 45-minute guided tour exploring the cavern’s most breathtaking formations. – Wild Cave Tour: 3-hour adventure through less-traveled areas, requiring crawling and climbing. – Private Tours: Customized experiences for groups.

Hours of Service – Summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day): 9 am-6 pm (last tour at 4 pm) – Winter: 10 am-5 pm (last tour at 3 pm) – Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Plan Your Visit Before heading out: – Check website for updates on hours and availability – Wear comfortable shoes and layers (cavern temperature: 68°F/20°C) – Bring water and snacks.

Additional Attractions – Gift Shop: Unique souvenirs and local goods – Picnic Areas: Scenic spots for relaxation – Hiking Trails: Explore surrounding Hill Country.

For more of the best adventures in the United States, click here. For the best nearby parks and amazing locations, click here. For the best Hotels, Resorts, and Vacation Homes, click here.

Every year towards the end of October some of the best wrestlers in the country migrate to Des Moines Iowa to take part in the annual Brain Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals. This is one of the toughest tournaments around and is open for all ages first grade through high school, for both male and female grapplers. Well this year’s tournament was a huge success with competitors traveling from 17 different states to showcase their skills. This prestigious tournament drew over 3,000 young wrestlers to Des Moines Hy Vee Hall over this 4 day event. With that many wrestlers ,it may be hard to stand out above the rest. However, one wrestler managed to do just that. Stone Helmrichs of Waverly Iowa had an outstanding tournament, claiming the championship of the 4th grade division at 105 lbs. What makes this achievement even more remarkable, is the fact that he went thru the entire tournament without surrendering a single point. Its this level of dominance that makes Stone Helmrichs, this weeks Iowa Matmen Wrestler Of The Week.

During Stones first match, he faced Wisconsin state champion, Drake Vrable. Stone won that match by pinfall in just :39 seconds. In the semifinals he faced one of Iowa’s best youth wrestlers, Everett Murtha is a 3x state champion and 6x all-american. Stone won this match 6-0. In the finals he faced a very tough Joseph Englese, from Illinois. Englese is a 4x state champion who had pinned his way into the finals. Once again Stone won 6-0, securing the National Championship!

Stone Helmrichs is an absolute bruiser, a 15X All American who has swept through all tournaments that Iowa has to offer. Getting his start with Back 2 Basics Club in Shell Rock, Iowa under Bill Thompson, who Stone spoke highly of. Currently training at Immortal Athletics Wrestling Club, in Waterloo, We want to bring him back down to earth and note that training and constant improvement will keep pride from becoming a weakness BUT this kid is beginning to separate himself from everyone else. In our interview he had a lot of respect for his rival in Everett Murtha, but mentioned, “I got my payback”. He had other big wins earlier this year, completing a rivalry with Braxton Drew from Empire Academy at the Belle Plaine Freestyle Tournament in a three round bout beating him twice by tech, taking a gold medal there. Also winning the Rumble Individuals in Sandusky, Ohio over Braxton Sholler, Helmrichs has quite an impressive resume. We asked him what his eyes were set on next, he responded with a deep desire to take first at Iowa AAU State Championships and Tulsa Nationals where he continually finishes better year after year. Big things are in store for Stone Helmrichs, a multi-dimensional and multi-sport powerhouse prevailing over a ton of high level competition, we are excited to continue the journey with him and hope to see him in Black and Gold one day.

More About Stone:

Year in school? 4th Grade.

What inspired you to start wrestling? What inspired me to start wrestling was just starting with Coach Bill, my first coach as four year old, and it was like really fun, just like throwing people around and stuff and taking them down and it was really fun just being physical.

How long have you wrestled? I started at 4, so 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. So six years.

Most significant wrestling moment? Probably my first Eagle at Tulsa Nationals. I got second place at kickoff.

What’s your Strategy? I go to a wrist under hook and then down, drop down single.

Record this season? 64 – 19

How many state medals have you won over the length of your career? won 3  AAU State Titles and 2 USA State Titles, and lots of medals.

Plan to wrestle in College? If so for who? Yes, at Iowa

Favorite Coach? Coach Cruz at Immortal Athletics. I know that I can come to him and he’ll know like what the answer for me is.

Other Sports? I do swimming, football, and baseball.

Favorite food? Pork Chops

Favorite Athlete? McCray, Haggerty or Bo Bassett, I even had a picture with Bo at the tyrant duels in Philadelphia.

Goals? To win Tulsa Nationals kickoff and the one in January. Nationals and then AAU State.

The Hawkeyes hit the road traveling to Oregon State, hoping to smash a few Beavers while in the Pacific Northwest. The meet takes place Saturday November 2nd at 9 Pm. While the Hawkeyes are heavily favored in this dual meet, a couple interesting matches do exist.  The dual features 11 ranked wrestlers and 2 ranked head to head bouts.

Don’t Miss: The 165 bout should be fantastic and 197 should also be entertaining. Both of these feature top 10 ranked opponents.

Keys To Victory: For Iowa they just need to win the matches they are favored to win.  For Oregon State its very complicated, they will require bonus points in the few matches they win and an upset or two may still not be enough.

125 Kale Peterson NR VS  Maximo Renteria #14

133 Drake Ayala #3 VS Gabe Whisenhunt NR

141 Ryder Block NR VS Nash Singleton

149 Kyle Parco #4 VS Noah Tolentino

157 Jacori Teemer #1  or Caleb Rathjen VS CJ Hamblin

165 Michael Caliendo #2 VS Matthew Olguin #8

174 Nelson Brands #6 VS Sean Harman

184 Gabe Arnold #5 VS Mason Christiansen

197 Steven Buchanan #1 VS Trey Munoz #4

285 Ben Kueter #11 VS Attao, Aden 

Conclusion: Iowa is favored in 9 of the 10 matches, Oregon State is favored at 125. The match of the night will take place at 165 between Caliendo and Olguin. I see the Hawkeyes winning 32-3. Not a bad start to the season.

A pretty heavy clash at 49, will be dominated by the young and hungry lions with only 2 seniors returning but 8 AA’s in total. The Reigning champ in Caleb Henson by some opinions can’t be challenged by anyone.  Shayne Van Ness returns from injury. Senior experience in Lovett and Kyle Parco and a move up from Anthony Echemendia, make this weight really interesting.  While the presence of Henson looms large over the entire class, the 149 class seems to be wide open.

#1. Caleb Hanson-

There is no way to shift around this one, the rightful reigning champ will more than likely take a victory bow after the finals at the NCAA’s this year, or will he? With the return of Shayne Van Ness in full we could almost say this is a two man race. Losing to SVN at nationals in 2023 (5-3 dec) leaves them at 1-0 head to head but Henson having a better record against like opponents going 8-3 where SVN is 11-6, it would be a safe bet to put them both in the finals. Henson had an incredible freshman year beating then #2 Sammy Sasso in his first dual debut and went on to beat 7 AA’s that season terrorizing ACC fans. So achievements are 2024 national title, 2X AA, 2023 ACC champion, 2X NQ, and 2023 ACC freshman of the year. Stunning 57-7 record overall at an 89 percent win rate. A preseason rank #1 from flowrestling and #1 from wrestlestat. Unanimously voted #1 in almost any preseason ranking.

#2. Shayne Van Ness-

There is no way we could put anybody else at number 2, coming off of an injury back in December of last year, he posted an update video of his rehab progress back in May and looks phenomenal. With a whole 6 months from then till now there is no reason to think injury will hold him back this year. Hopefully we’ll get to see him matchup against some of the others on our list other than Henson and Parco as he has no history with Ty Watters, Anthony Echemendia, or Kannon Webster. With a victory over the national favorite in Henson, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him crowned in 2025. Achievements are a 2023 AA and NQ with a 29-7 record overall at an 80 percent win rate. A preseason rank #2 from flowrestling and shocking #6 from wrestlestat.

#3. Ty Watters-

Being Iowa matmen we would love to put Kyle Parco here but just can’t, as Watter’s pinned him last year at nationals. We also can’t say that he’s got him figured out either so a rematch would be more definitive when it comes to determining dominance in the rivalry, they’ve both lost to Henson in duals which isn’t surprising and Parco does have a slight edge in like opponents at 8-3 where Watters is at 7-4, the question is, does it count? Being that out of the 11 opponents they’ve faced, almost half of them are no longer competing. 4th place finish at nationals last year, Big 12 Champion, grabbing a NQ and an AA. 26-5 record overall at an 83 percent win rate. A preseason rank #3 from flowrestling and #3 from wrestlestat. Almost #3 across the board, he is one of many young and talented guys in this weight on the rise.

#4. Kannon Webster-

Once again we push Parco down the list for the buzz surrounding Webster, we have to. Out of 21 matches, his only loss to Watters means he’s earned it and only by a 2 points (4-2 dec). Where Parco was pinned by him, it only makes sense. Taking out D’Emilio gives us more than enough confidence to put him here, and without a match to Parco yet we could be proven wrong. Him and Parco have an even 4-1 record against like opponents so it will be great to see if Webster can live up to the hype, Illinois needs it after a long drought without any superstars since Imar. 19-1 record overall to this point at a 94 percent win rate. A preseason no faith rank #12 from flowrestling and the same with wrestlestat at #11.

#5 Kyle Parco-

Finally we made it, does it make you angry Iowa fans? Several factors have placed him here as previously mentioned but something also looms against Parco and Teemer, the level of competition here in the Big Ten is a whole lot different than the Pac-12. There is also a concern with stamina over the course of the season, but to their advantage, Iowa has plenty of weapons in Caleb Rathjen and Cael Voinovich to make that happen. Saddens us to put him at #5 even ranking as high as #2 last year, but the facts are the facts, Webster lost better to Watters than he did even though Parco was actually beating Watters deep into the 3rd period. Hopefully we see a breakout year from Parco in his final season and rolls through this whole list. 4X AA and 3X Pac-12 Champion, 4X NQ is one out of 8 in Arizona state history to become a 4X All American. 103-20 record overall at an 83 percent win rate. A favorable #4 preseason rank from flowrestling and #2 from wrestlestat.

#6 Ridge Lovett-

Had to put Lovett here with a 5th place match loss to Parco at nationals, but why is there so much animosity against him? We get he hasn’t had the greatest finishes at the last two nationals but the most recent was super close. 1-0 Decision against Caleb Henson in the semi’s deserves some kind of respect, a lot of other preseason ranks barely have him on their list which is wild. He also racked two wins against #2 Austin Gomez, which are big wins as well, he should almost be higher on our list. Two losses to Parco says otherwise, but Lovett does have a 22-9 record against like opponents where Parco is 19-11. Still not enough to determine whether he’s capable of a revenge win this year, Lovett will have to find a way to beat him. Yet at the same time, he’s capable of making a title run if he can avoid Parco in the bracket. 2X AA and 4X NQ with a 75-19 record overall at a 79 percent win rate. A preseason rank #5 from flowrestling and #4 from wrestlestat.

#7. Anthony Echemendia-

With a controversial history long forgotten in his tenure with Ohio State, Iowa state will get another full season from him and most noteworthy, a head to head with Kyle Parco. You could almost say by any measure that a win is guaranteed being that Iowa’s back up Caleb Rathjen has beaten him before where Ridge Lovett has beaten Rathjen. We could almost say that Tom Brands has Echemendia figured out, dishing losses to him from Iowa along with Rathjen are Real Woods and Jaydin Eierman. With a long history against Iowa, he’ll have to find a new strategy against Parco in the Cy-Hawk dual. Along with a move from 41 could prove difficult to get into the higher matches at nationals this year. 29-7 record last season at an 80 percent win rate. A preseason rank #7 from flowrestling and #8 from wrestlestat.

#8. Jackson Arrington-

Probably our most controversial pick on any list to date, we have a lot of faith in this dark horse but one main reason to pick him. Even though he’s lost to Caleb Henson three times, he pushed him Sv-1 4-1 in the ACC tourney last year and that’s enough to barely crack the list. It’s hard not to put Lachlan McNeil here finishing nationals in 4th at 41 or even Chance Lamer who’s capable of a higher push after the round of 12 two years in a row.

Exciting years ahead for 149 with a lot of young blood but 8 AA’s returning this weight could be considered wide open. Others that we haven’t mentioned in Chance Lamer, Dylan D’Emilio moving up from 41, Jaden Abas who’s another round of 12 guy could easily move up to this list as well. Out of everything at this weight, the most we could hope for is a rematch with SVN and Henson to end the debate at the top.