One of the deepest weights in the nation this year is 141 pounds. With both NCAA finalists from last year returning, most would think this weight class would be sewed up, but neither of those wrestlers are expected to be top seeds, showing how much better this weight has become. With four seniors and two sophomores loading this weight class this year, the emphasis turns to postseason experience. One of those sophomores, Teyon Ware, is the defending NCAA champion. The other, Nate Gallick, somehow wrestled at 149 pounds last year. Basically, everyone below the top seed, Scott Moore, has beaten everyone else this year. While seeding may not be too tough, predicting the overall winner is. Top Contenders Scott Moore, Sr. (Virginia) - Four words: 46 wins, 31 falls. Is this for real? Usually, a lighter weight never records this many pins in a season. This year, Moore has been anything but normal. And though many fans most likely want to scream ACC schedule when Moore steps out as the top seed and an undefeated record, but he is a returning All-American. He transferred this season from Penn State because of monetary issues. Now, he is on pace to become Virginia's first NCAA finalist since Steve Garland. Moore's weakness, if he has one, is on his feet. He is great from the top position, being coached by one of the best, Pat McNamara, but he can be taken down. That has been proven. A wide open style of match will always favor Moore as well. He defeated Teyon Ware 11-7 at the All-Star Dual, a match that is not on his official record. If the seeds stack up how we figure, he will have to go through Mester to get to the finals. These two have a history, with Mester knocking Moore out of the tournament two years ago, and Moore pinning Mester to move into the third-place match last year. Will their saga continue this year? Nate Gallick, So. (Iowa State) - At the start of this year, Gallick lost his first two matches, one to a wrestler from Boston University who will be in this tournament, and another to a Division II wrestler. In other words, the season was not looking bright for Gallick, until he reeled off wins in 13 of his next 15 matches, one of those losses being an injury default to Jason Mester, whom he was beating 3-1 at the time. When healthy, Gallick is as good as they come this year. He battled through a severe ankle injury following the Midlands, but he appears to be in top form heading into the NCAA Tournament. While he can use some work from the top position, he is very good on his feet and tough to keep on bottom. Gallick will most likely have a tough bracket, needing to go through both of last year's NCAA finalists to get into the finals himself. If he gets through those matches, he may not be beat this year. Teyon Ware, So. (Oklahoma) - Ware stormed onto the scene with a national title as a freshman last year, setting the course for another possible four-time NCAA champion. This year, Ware stayed unbeaten until January 30, when he lost to Gallick. Ware has continued to struggle with his offense. When he opens up, he gives up points. He is, however, the best counter-defender in the country right now - at any weight. If opponents take bad shots, Ware will make them pay. Last season, Ware was able to win a lot of tight matches, based strictly on defense. This year, his opponents have way too much offense for him to be able to avoid taking shots. While his confidence does not seem to be high when he is on his feet, he does have a nice high-crotch and single leg. Expect him to use those in this tournament. One thing is for sure. With Ware's quickness, and his legs as strong as any 141-pounders, he will still not give up many points in this tournament. Jason Mester, Sr. (Central Michigan) - Mester's only losses this year are to Moore and Ware, both by two points. He lost to Ware last year in the NCAA semifinals in a controversial match from an officiating standpoint. In his only chance against Gallick, Ware was down 3-1 in the second before Gallick injury defaulted with a sprained ankle at the Midlands. Mester sometimes gets too aggressive. Most of the points scored against him are on counters. Mester must be smart in his shots in this tournament, but he also has to stay aggressive. We project him to get the fourth seed, which would set up an electrifying semifinal with Moore. Mester is one of only six wrestlers to not be manhandled by Moore this year. Mester is hungry to become Central Michigan's first champion since his coach, Casey Cunningham. He always shows up for his matches and he is very consistent. Losing anytime before the semifinals is improbable. The Others Cliff Moore, Sr. (Iowa) - A two-time All-American, Moore has always performed good enough to score some points for the Hawkeyes, but has never put together an entire NCAA Tournament. He has flashes of greatness during the regular season, but that is only when he is aggressive. Too many times, he wrestles a passive style, which is where he often loses. This year, his only two losses are to Gallick and Mester in close battles. The Hawkeyes will need Moore to score big points if they want to contend for a team title. This is his first real chance at wrestling with pressure on his shoulders. Dylan Long, Sr. (Northern Iowa) - Long was one shot away from being an NCAA champion last year, a shot he took and was scored on by Ware in overtime. This year, he struggled heavily through mid-January. But then he got healthy, and has begun to turn it on since. Long loves to be the aggressor in matches, which was his undoing last year. But in this weight class, aggression is what is necessary. Because of his style, Long is loved by fans from all schools, except Oklahoma. With a strong crowd behind him in St. Louis, only six hours from his home of Creston, Iowa, look for Long to go out with a bang. High-Impact Freshmen Andy Simmons (Michigan State)NCAA Finals: Scott Moore (Virginia) vs. Dylan Long (Northern Iowa)
TheMat.com's Pick: Scott Moore (Virginia)
All-American Dark Horse: Rob Becker (George Mason)
Projected Top 4 Seeds 1. Scott Moore, Virginia 2. Nate Gallick, Iowa State 3. Teyon Ware, Oklahoma 4. Jason Mester, Central Michigan |