In its third year, the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals have grown into an event which was able to meet and exceed its 1500 wrestler capacity. The five division tournament has a total of 1550 wrestlers slated to convene at the UNI Done in Cedar Falls, Iowa this coming Saturday. 

Just over 900 wrestlers will compete in the high school division, while remaining wrestlers will compete in the middle school division (grades 7 and 8) and three separate elementary school divisions (grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6).

The 2010 high school field is anchored by four wrestlers that won titles this past summer in Fargo at the Cadet and Junior Nationals, as well as four other wrestlers that are defending their 2009 Preseason Nationals championships. Six other wrestlers that won middle school titles will be making their debut at the high school level during this weekend’s Preseason Nationals.

Two of these four wrestlers were Cadet National Greco-Roman champions – Jack Hathaway (Iowa City West, IA) and Zane Richards (Carbondale, IL); Hathaway was second in freestyle, while Richards took third in freestyle. Phillip Laux (Pekin, IA) was a Cadet freestyle champion, after finishing fourth in Greco-Roman. Finally, Alex Dieringer (Port Washington, WI) was a Junior National freestyle champion after a third place finish in Greco-Roman.

Defending high school champions at the Preseason Nationals include Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, IN), Brandon Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli, IA), Bo Schlosser (Bettendorf, IA), and Cody Krumwiede (Waverly Shell-Rock, IA). Middle school champions making their debut in the high school division include Jacob Cottey (Perry Meridian, IN), Josh Alber (Dakota, IL), Johnny Jimenez (Marmion Academy, IL), Ryan Blees (Bismarck, ND), Connor Larson (Webster, SD), and Christian Dulaney (Shakopee, MN).

However, it is one weight class that stands out as the star of the 2010 Preseason Nationals: 135 pounds in the high school division. This weight is anchored by five wrestlers that are among the nation’s best. Leading the way is Jesse Thielke (Germantown, WI) – a three time state champion ranked 5th nationally among all Class of 2011 wrestlers regardless of weight. 

Two of the challengers in this weight class rank 8th nationally in their respective grades.  John Meeks (Des Moines Roosevelt, IA) is undefeated at 78-0 in two years of high school wrestling, and was a runner-up at 125 pounds in the 2009 Preseason Nationals. Brandon Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli, IA) won a title in this event at 119 pounds last year, and followed that up with an undefeated state championship in his freshman season. After the season, Sorensen was runner-up in both the Cadet folkstyle and freestyle nationals.

The other primary challengers in this weight class reside in the Land of Lincoln. Undefeated in the 2009-10 season at 125 pounds, Joey Gosinski (Glenbard North, IL) followed that with a fifth place finish in freestyle at the Junior Nationals and is ranked 73rd among wrestlers in the Class of 2011. Despite his highest state tournament finish being second place, Zane Richards (Carbondale, IL) has back-to-back Cadet National championships in Greco-Roman and consecutive third place finishes in freestyle. Richards is ranked 27th in the Class of 2012.

Other wrestlers to watch in this weight class include Junior National folkstyle champion, and state champion, Chris Halblom (Alburnett, IA); two-time state champion Andrew Riedy (Grand Island, NE); and Junior National Greco-Roman runner-up Grant LaMont (Maple Mountain, UT).

The following is a brief analysis of the other 13 high school weight classes:

103 pounds – This opening weight class features both the Cadet and Junior National freestyle champions at 98 pounds from this past summer, Phillip Laux (Pekin, IA) and Matthew Garelli (Oak Park Fenwick, IL). 2009 Junior High PSN champions Cottey and Alber are also in this weight class. The weight class features at least eight other wrestlers with All-American finishes in Fargo.

112 pounds – State champion Morgan Engbrecht (Sturgis, SD), defending PSN champion Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, IN), and Junior National freestyle All-American Colby Knight (Urbandale, IA) anchor the field in this weight class. Another notable wrestler in this weight class is incoming freshman Colton Adams (Scotts Bluff, NE) – champion at the Blue Chip Brawl two weekends ago in Kansas City, MO.

119 pounds – Cadet National double finalist Jack Hathaway (Iowa City West, IA) seeks to move one step up on the ladder from his runner-up finish at the PSN last year. The two primary challengers are a pair of state champions and Junior National Greco-Roman All-Americans in Nick Harrison (Stillman Valley, IL) and Mike Fuenffinger (Hibbing, MN).

125 pounds – Danny Sabatello (Lincolnshire, IL), a state champion this past season with a victory over Junior National freestyle champion Eddie Klimara in the final, is the headline wrestler in this weight class. Others to watch include 2009 state champion Dakota Bauer (Denver-Tripoli, IA); two-time state runner-up Connor Ryan (Bettendorf, IA); and a trio of state champions from this past year – Taylor Bear (Campbell County, WY), Courtland Hacker (Broomfield, CO), and Hayden Zillmer (Crosby Ironton, MN).

135 pounds – Defending PSN champion and state champion Bo Schlosser (Bettendorf, IA), ranked 84th in the Class of 2011, is the headline wrestler in this weight class. Others to watch in this weight class include Adam Perrin (North Scott, IA), Jared Donar (Cuba City, WI), and Tyrell Galloway (Omaha Central, NE). Perrin is a 2008 state champion and three-time finisher inside the top three at the state tournament; two-time state champion Donar finished runner-up at the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman this past summer; while Galloway is a multiple time state finalist.

140 pounds – State champion as a freshman, and a double Cadet National All-American this past summer, Jake Marlin (Creston, IA) is the headline wrestler in this weight class. Others to watch in this weight class include two-time state runner-up Nick Babcock (Broomfield, CO); two-time state champion Blake Fruchtl (Grand Island, NE); sophomore Collin Holler (Carl Sandburg, IL), a state placer ranked 40th among Class of 2013 wrestler; and double Cadet National runner-up TJ Fox (Field, OH).

145 pounds – Junior National freestyle and folkstyle champion Alex Dieringer (Port Washington) is the star of this weight class. Others to watch include Junior National freestyle All-American, and FILA Cadet freestyle runner-up, Blaise Butler (Rockford Boylan, IL); 2009 state runner-up and returning PSN runner-up Dominic Chase (Bettendorf, IA); along with state champion and three-time finalist Nathaniel Garcia (Windsor, CO).

152 pounds – A pair of wrestlers lead the field in this weight class, Stephen Robertson (Montini Catholic, IL) and Matthew Gray (Wilmot, WI). Robertson is a three-time state finalist, with state titles in each of the last two seasons; while the junior Gray finished fourth at state this past year, and was eight in Junior freestyle at 152 pounds. Others to watch include a quartet of wrestlers with state titles on their resume – Jonathan Rivera (Kennesaw Mountain, GA), Chase White (Lincoln, NE), Britton Thompson (Iowa City West, IA), and Jared Reis (Napoleon, ND).

160 pounds – Two wrestlers stand out in the 56 person field for this weight class. Justin Koethe (Iowa City West, IA) is a two-time state placer, finished fifth in Junior Greco this past summer, and has double finalist credentials at the Cadet Nationals and FILA Cadet Nationals. State champion Logan Molina (Lincoln, NE) was a Fargo All-American in 2009.

171 pounds – Jake Waste (Apple Valley, MN) and Sam Brooks (Oak Park River Forest, IL) headline this weight class and may get to renew acquaintances from their multiple meetings during the summer of 2009. Waste, a state runner-up this past season, is ranked 44th among all wrestlers in the Class of 2010 with multiple All-American finishes in USA Wrestling tournaments. Of note this past off-season was a seventh place finish in Junior National freestyle and a championship in FILA Cadet Greco-Roman. Brooks earned a state title in his sophomore season of high school and is now a four-time Cadet National All-American in Fargo, ND. 

189 pounds – Three-time state qualifier Blaize Cabell (Independence, IA) has only placed once at his state tournament, fifth as a sophomore; however, he won the Junior National folkstyle championship this past April, and is probably the headline wrestler in this weight class. Two others to watch include multiple-time Fargo All-American Zack Rutt (Le Center, MN) and state champion Greg Wilson (Keller Central, TX).

215 pounds – State champion, NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up, and Junior National Greco AA Jay Taylor (Oviedo, FL) is the anchor of this weight class. Others to watch include Cadet National double All-American Brett Geilenfeldt (Marquette, WI), Carlos Martinez (Oviedo, FL), state placer Joe Scanlan (Johnston, IA), and state placer Edward Isola (Bishop Moore Catholic, FL).

285 pounds – Two-time state champion and Junior National freestyle runner-up Cody Krumwiede (Waverly Shell-Rock, IA) is the leader of the pack in the concluding weight class. However, two very significant figures pose as challenges in this bracket. Doug Vollaro (Oviedo, FL) was four times a runner-up this past off-season to Brooks Black, in both styles at the FILA Cadet and Cadet Nationals, after earning a runner-up finish at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. Parker Betts (St Michael-Albertville, MN) placed third at state, but followed that up with an eighth place finish in Junior National freestyle.