13 Must-Watch Super 32 Quarterfinals
13 Must-Watch Super 32 Quarterfinals
You won't want to miss any Super 32 quarterfinal action, but these bouts should be especially exciting.
The Sunday morning session at Super 32 just might be the best session in all of high school wrestling. The quarterfinalist are elite, the matchups are excellent, and we get semifinal action after the quarters. While there shouldn't be a bad quarter in the batch, we're especially fired up about these must-watch matches.
106 lbs - #13 Seth Mendoza, IL vs #12 Cooper Hilton, TN
This is a rematch from a best of three series at the U15 Trials finals. Cooper Hilton took the series two matches to zero, but it was ultra-competitive. Both matches in that series came down to criteria. In a folkstyle bout, we won't finish with a tie score. Expect this one to be razor thin.
Match 2 at U15 Trials between Cooper Hilton and Seth Mendoza
113 lbs - Jax Forrest, PA vs #3 (106) Beric Jordan, OH
Beric Joran is the #3 man at 106 lbs, and he's the favorite in this bout with new Bishop McCort 8th grader Jax Forrest, but Forrest has been on fire. In the round of 16, he teched #10 Alan Koehler in a match where he showed off his neutral prowess as well as his top game. A match with Beric Jordan is a tall task, however, which is why you'll want to circle the 113 quarter at the bottom of the bracket.
Jax Forrest's tech over #10 Alan Koehler
120 lbs - #1 Nathanael Jesuroga, IA vs #9 Ben Davino, IL
Nate Jesuroga needs no introduction. He's been making the world aware of him all spring and summer by making the Cadet World Team, bringing a bronze home from Budapest, and defending his #1 ranking at Who's Number One. Tomorrow morning, he'll have a hungry opponent in Ben Davino, a sophomore who has been outstanding all weekend. Jesuroga's the heavy favorite, but Don't count out Davino.
Ben Davino's round of 16 victory over #18 Alessandro Nini
126 lbs - #4 (120) Kannon Webster, IL vs #7 Vincent Robinson, IL
This all-Illinois quarter is a clash of styles. Robinson is an artist on his feet while Kannon Webster is super stingy and savvy on the mat. Either of these guys is capable of winning the whole bracket, so tune in for a match that could very well be a final.
Vincent Robinson's round of 16 victory over #11 Grigor Cholakyan
132 lbs - #9 Brock Bobzien, CA vs #20 (126) Mac Church, PA
The last time these two were in a bracket together, Bobzien made the Cadet World Team Trials finals while Church was eliminated early. That was freestyle though, and Church is a folkstyle specialist. This one has upset potential, but whether it's an upset or it goes chalk, it should be a lot of fun.
Mac Church's major decision over #15 Chase Deblaere
138 lbs - #6 Tyler Kasak, PA vs #3 Michael Gioffre, CA
This ranked matchup between #6 Tyler Kasak and #3 Michael Gioffre has the potential to be the best quarter at 138 lbs. Both wrestlers are folkstyle specialists. You won't want to miss it.
145 lbs - #4 Ty Whalen, NJ vs #15 Noah Tolentino, CA
Noah Tolentino is as hot as any wrestler in the country right now. With a Freakshow title and a recent victory over #3 (138) Michael Gioffre under his belt, he just might be ready to take on a challenge like #4 Ty Whalen. Tolentino's hungry for the upset, but Whalen will try to put a stop to it.
152 lbs - #5 Erik Gibson, PA vs #7 Zack Ryder, NY
Gibson has always had the potential to win a tournament like Super 32, and this weekend he's looking the part. In his way will be young Fargo Champ Zack Ryder who broke out as an impressive freshman a year ago and now has his sights set on a Super 32 belt as a sophomore.
Erik Gibson's quick fall over Kael Voinovich
170 lbs - #9 Tate Naaktgeboren, IA vs #10 Rune Lawrence, PA
This match has the potential to test the skills of the scorekeepers. Naaktgeboren wrestles the kind of pace Iowans are proud of, and Rune Lawrence loves to let it fly. There is pin potential here from any number of positions.
Rune Lawrence's round of 16 second-period fall.
182 lbs - #2 Brian Soldano, NJ vs #8 (170) Cody Merrill, CA
Brian Soldano is famously dangerous, but Cody Merrill has upper body skills that could make this match interesting. I'm not picking Merrill to best Soldano here, but it certainly isn't outside the realm of possibility. Merrill also has the ability to keep matches very close, something that is easier said than done against a guy like Soldano who has two falls and a major so far this weekend.
Soldano's 34 second first round fall
195 - #6 Kolby Franklin, PA vs #11 Max Ramberg, WI
The 195 bracket is one of the better upper-weight brackets and this is the match I’m circling to watch. Kolby Franklin is a Fargo champ who moves well for a 195 despite the fact that he has spent a considerable amount of time at 220 in his career. Max Ramberg is another big 195 coming down from 220. Can Ramberg match the athleticism and movement of Franklin?
220 - #14 Parker Ferrell, VA vs #19 Dylan Russo, OH
Both of these big men bonus pointed their way to this point. Clearly, these guys can put some points on the board. This shouldn’t be a 1-1 overtime match.
Watch Dylan Russo's early-round pin below.
285 - #3 Chase Horne, GA vs Aiden Lacoma, VA
Chase Horne is the top-ranked heavy here and only got one match to prove it on day one. Lacoma is unranked, but earned the nine seed and took out the eight seed to make it to the quarters. Horne can’t come too sleepy to his first match tomorrow morning.