Previewing the Hawkeye Ten Wrestling Tournament

The journey to the 2019 Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament is now in full stride. In a little over two weeks, we will trim Iowa's field of wrestlers to just 672. There is just one more week until postseason wrestling begins and it's a big one. The Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament is always a fun one that displays many high caliber matches. There have been many years where multiple state champions have come from this class and even a few instances (i.e. last year) where state champions met in the finals. 13 wrestlers will come into Saturday's ranked, but four others have been ranked at some point this season. 

The Hawkeye Ten has a rich history dating way-back to 1973 and the people running the Hawkeye Ten are awesome enough to provide a highly thorough media guide for the upcoming tournament. So let's dive into some of the history of the Hawkeye Ten Tournament.

Last Ten Team Champions

2009: Lewis Central

2010: Lewis Central

2011: Lewis Central

2012: Creston/OM

2013: Creston/OM

2014: Creston/OM

2015: Creston/OM

2016: Creston/OM

2017: Atlantic/CAM

2018: Glenwood 

Looking to become a four-time conference champion (1): Chase McLaren (Atlantic/CAM)

Six Wrestlers are looking for their second conference championship, they are: Benjamin Schmitz (Kuemper Catholic), Jonathan Erp (Red Oak), Taber Dominguez (Lewis Central), Ethan Lemon (Harlan), Caleb Kingery (Lewis Central) and Carter Maynes (Red Oak)

         Total Individual Championships by School

1. Lewis Central (147)

2. Creston (109)

3. Glenwood (98)

4. Harlan (66)

5. Atlantic/CAM (49)

6. Clarinda (45)

7. Shenandoah (37)

8. Red Oak (20)
9. Kuemper Catholic (9)

10. Denison-Schleswig (4)

11. St. Albert (1) 

Each Schools most recent individual championship

Atlantic/CAM-John McConkey, 2018

Glenwood-Isaac Bales, 2018

Harlan-Nick Foss, 2018

Red Oak-Carter Maynes, 2018

Lewis Central-William Waugh, 2018

Clarinda-Austin Gutknecht, 2018

Kuemper Catholic-Benjamin Schmitz, 2018

Creston/OM-Kadon Hulett, 2017

St. Albert-Wyatt Lewis, 2014

Denison-Schleswig-Jesse Preul, 2010

Shenandoah-Carrol Heitshusen, 2010

Now I'll end the history lesson and give you what you really want. A weight-by-weight breakdown of the action set to take place this Saturday in Shenandoah.

106 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 3A No. 8 Tanner Wink (Lewis Central) 

The lightweight classes tend to give us a good idea of who is going to be a name to keep an eye on over the next couple years. This season is no different. Wink-who is just a sophomore is currently 29-9 on the season and is coming off a championship at last weeks' Heelan Invite where he won both of his matches by first period fall. 

Wink, however has not faced anyone in the Hawkeye 10 this season outside of Garrett McLaren (Atlantic-CAM). McLaren is coming off a third-place showing at last weeks' John J. Harris Invitational and will be looking to avenge a pinfall loss to Wink. 

113 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 2A No. 3 Benjamin Schmitz (Kuemper Catholic)

Schmitz came out of nowhere as a sophomore, but took the state by storm, advancing to the semifinals and taking home a third-place medal. He has been wrestling at a high level this year and his sets sight on a second consecutive Hawkeye Ten title, as well as some bigger goals. 

Assuming he gets to the finals, Schmitz will most likely run into Aybren Moore (Atlantic/CAM) or Jonathan Erp (Red Oak). Schmitz is a combined 3-0 against them, but has not pinned them this season. Erp and Moore have met each other twice. Erp won the first by fall and Moore beat Erp by 6-1 decision at the Rollin Dyer.

120 Pounds

There are no ranked wrestlers in this weight class and only five tournament teams have had a wrestler at this weight class at a tournament since Christmas. So this could be a pretty short bracket. I think the favorite almost certainly has to be Joe Weaver (Atlantic/CAM). Weaver had a wild Saturday at John J, pinning 1A No. 10 Connor Atkisson (Tri-Center) in the semis despite trailing with 20-seconds left. Weaver that got a takedown on 1A No. 9 Blaine Beeler (ACGC) with just one second remaining to win his finals match. 

That type of weekend could be a massive boost of confidence and give him a ton of momentum in this big stretch. Weaver will most likely joined in the finals by either Luke Musich (Harlan) or Kaden Bolton (Creston-OM), who have not wrestled each other this season.

126 Pounds 

Another weight class with no ranked wrestlers, but a deeper one, or at least I think so. 126 pounds consists of two former tournament champions, Taber Dominguez (Lewis Central) and Ethan Lemon (Harlan). Those two have yet to face off this season, so it's tough to predict what will happen if they do. 

The wildcard in this weight class is Steele McLaren (Atlantic/CAM). Last week McLaren upset 1A No. 9 Trae Ehlen (Mount Ayr) en route to a runner-up finish at John J. McLaren has defeated Dominguez by a five-point decision in both of their previous matches, but he also dropped a 6-2 decision to Lemon in their only meeting of the season and lost to Lemon by 4-1 decision in the tournament finals last year. Talk about motivation. 

132 Pounds

This might be the toughest weight class to gauge not only because there's no ranked wrestlers, but also because this class does not appear to very deep. Based on recent tournament results, only five wrestlers have been at this weight in tournaments recently. However, I could possibly see two additions this weekend. 

One of those additions is Shea Parkis (Kuemper Catholic) who has bounced between 126 and 132 this season. Parkis has wrestled five contested matches against Hawkeye Ten foes this year and he's won all five of them including a win last week over Wyatt Obrecht (Harlan). Garon Wurster (Creston/OM) is coming off a fourth-place finish last week at John J. but has not wrestled either Parkis or Obrecht this season. 

138 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 2A No. 6 Chase McLaren (Atlantic/CAM)

McLaren comes into this tournament with a chance to make history in three different ways. If McLaren wins the tournament title, he will- 1. Become the 19th different different-four time Hawkeye Ten Tournament Champion. 2. Become Atlantic/CAM's first-four-time conference champion. 3. Perhaps, most impressive of all, assuming he wrestles at 138, McLaren will be the eighth different wrestler to win his four championships in four different weight classes. Those other seven? They all won state championships in their senior year. So history is on McLaren's side if can join their name (which he will be favored to do).

Only five other schools have had a wrestler at 138 and there's no clear cut favorite to dethrone McLaren (which won't be easy). If I had to guess, I would say that gallant attempt will come from Tanner Higgins (Lewis Central) who McLaren pinned in 3:58 on December 13th. 

145 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 2A No. 10 Oscar Olmos (Harlan)

One year ago, the 145-pound bracket tournament consisted of three eventual state place winners; Trevor Anderson (Glenwood), Gabe Kjeldgaard (Lewis Central) and Mitchel Swank (Creston/OM), but unfortunately all three have graduated. 

Olmos has himself a quietly good season, amassing a 30-4 record thus far. Olmos has had a solid career to this point, but two things have eluded him; a Hawkeye Ten title and a state placement medal. He's on a mission to get both of those this year and he will definitely be the favorite to win the Hawkeye Ten this year, but I think Kadin Stutzman (Atlantic/CAM) is going to be someone to keep an eye on this weekend as he looks to avenge a major-decision loss to Olmos earlier this year.

152 Pounds

This weight class features zero ranked wrestlers, but one that was ranked to start the year in Connor Pellett (Atlantic/CAM). Pellett, a state qualifier last year, recently bumped down from 160. He's coming off a runner-up performance in which he nearly beat 1A No. 6 Connor Lange (Missouri Valley). Pellett is a very tactical wrestler that is incredibly fun to watch when he's clicking.

Collin Wiederin (Kuemper Catholic) will also have his sights set on a tourney title Wiederin has lost just five matches this season including two to Lange. He has yet to wrestle Pellett this season. I also would not be surprised to see Bruce Lukehart (Red Oak) give Pellett and Wiederin a run for their money.

160 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 2A No. 6 Justin McCunn (Red Oak), 3A No. 10 Caleb Kingery (Lewis Central)

There's a very good chance this years' final match is a rematch of last years' 152-pound championship. Last year, it was Kingery who picked up a 5-1 decision over McCunn in front of the Lewis Central faithful to claim his first conference title. Both wrestlers have bumped up a class, but they have maintained the dominance they had this this time last year. McCunn is coming off just his second loss of the season---a wild 9-8 loss to Drew Venteicher (Bedford-Lenox). 

Kingery has a stellar senior campaign, losing just four times. Three of those defeats came to out-of-state opponents. The other loss? A 3-2 decision to McCunn on January 3rd. Assuming these two make it to the finals, this could be the match of the day. 

170 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 2A No. 6 Carter Maynes (Red Oak), 2A No 7 Jakson Kinsella (Creston/OM)

This is another bracket that looks like it could be a ton of fun. I don't think anyone had a more impressive John J. performance than Kinsella, who defeated Maynes and 1A No. 3 Nick Haynes en route to the title. Last year was the first time Creston/OM did not have a Hawkeye Ten champion since 1996. Kinsella will have his sights set on creating a new streak. 

Maynes is looking to not only avenge a loss to Kinsella, but he's also looking to win his second consecutive Hawkeye Ten title and it would be foolish of me to count out the basketball/wrestling multitasker that is Chase Mullenix (Atlantic/CAM). Mullenix dropped to Haynes in the semifinals, but pinned Maynes to capture third place. Mullenix has yet to wrestle Kinsella this year, but it would be ridiculous for anyone to doubt what Mullenix can do. 

182 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 3A No. 2 Brett Mower (Glenwood), 3A No. 8 Ryan Higgins (Lewis Central)

Mower might be the best wrestler in the area that nobody is talking about. Mower kicked off his year with a runner-up finish at the talent laden Council Bluffs Classic. Mower has just two losses this season and is primed to make a deep postseason run. Higgins, his potential finals' counter-part is another wrestler who has flown under the radar and into the state rankings, but dropped a 15-7 major decision to Mower earlier this season. 

Another name to keep an eye on this weekend is Red Oak's Hunter McMann. McMann is a neat story that is easy to root for. He had never wrestled before joining Coach Tiegen Podliska's squad last season and this year is a John J. champion. I would not be surprised to see McMann ride last week's momentum into this week and perhaps into a trip to Des Moines much like his teammate Thomas Bentley did two years ago.

195 Pounds

Ranked Wrestler: 2A No. 8 Sam Chapman (Creston/OM)

There's actually two ranked wrestlers in this weight class, but I can confirm that Red Oak's Thomas Bentley is out until sectionals. The status on Chapman is also unknown since he did not wrestle at John J. last week. 

Assuming Chapman does not wrestle this week, I think Crew Howard (Clarinda) is the man to beat. Heck--Howard might be the man to beat even if Chapman does wrestle Saturday. The sophomore pinned three dudes on his way to the title. Howard has just three losses this season, one of which was a 9-3 decision at the hands of Chapman. 

220 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 2A No. 10 Cale Roller (Atlantic/CAM)

Roller is another wrestler who is coming off a John J. championship. Roller has his sights set on accomplishing the conference championship that always eluded his big brother, Drake. Roller will most likely be the number one seed, his top competitor looks to be Colton Kinnison (Red Oak)--who Roller beat by 10-0 major decision in the finals last week in Corning.

The ultimate wildcard here is the status of Tyler Courtier (Shenandoah). Courtier was ranked as high as No. 8 early in the season, but he's battling injuries as of late and his status for this week is unknown. If Courtier is unable to go, it will mark the second straight year he's missed out on a chance to win a conference title after illness sidelined him last year. If Courtier does wrestle Saturday, he'll have to fend off Roller--who he has never wrestled and Kinnison--who he beat twice last year, but lost to at districts. 

285 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 2A No. 5 Derec Weyer (Harlan)
This class no longer holds claim to state champions John McConkey (Atlantic/CAM) and Caleb Sanders (Glenwood). Last year, those guys put on a classic match that ended with McConkey winning on a stall call in overtime. This year the path is paved for Weyer to impose the same dominance that he has inflicted all season. Weyer is 37-2 on the season with one of those losses coming last week to Nebraska Class B No. 6 Trevor Nielsen (Plattsmouth). 

If I had to guess who will be joining Weyer in the finals, I would say probably Storm Howard (Clarinda). Howard has been wrestling really as of late behind a third-place John J. finish and took 1A No. 3 Arron Olson (Missouri Valley) to ultimate-tie-breaker recently. The Howard brothers--Crew and Storm are wrestling really well at the right time. Could they be the first pair of brothers to win Hawkeye 10 in the same year since Darrian and Brad Schwenke did so in 2011, or will the McLaren brothers beat them to it? 

TEAM RACE

Everything that could go right for Atlantic/CAM last week did. Don't get me wrong, luck is not why the Trojans won John J, but it definitely was on their side. I expect the Trojans to be the favorite to win their second conference title in three years. Lewis Central, Harlan and Creston/OM will certainly be factors too. It's just a matter of how many wrestlers each of them brings and if they can win the toss-up matches that Atlantic always finds a way to win come tournament time. Red Oak could potentially play spoiler if their hammers (Maynes and McCunn) come through along with some help from the likes of Erp, McMann and Kinnison. If I had to predict the team standings I would say: 1) Atlantic/CAM 2) Lewis Central 3) Creston/OM 4) Red Oak 5) Harlan. I could be dead wrong, so don't hold me to this. 

Previewing the 64th Annual John J. Harris Wrestling Invitational

The granddaddy of them all in Southwest Iowa wrestling is almost here. The John J. Harris Invitational in Corning is one of my favorite sporting events in all of high school sports. Being a graduate of Southwest Valley, the 2014 edition of John J was the first wrestling tournament I ever covered. I will try not to bore you with a ton of details, but let's just say I did play by play of the entire tournament despite knowing just about nothing about wrestling. I've learned a lot about wrestling since then and have covered many different meets, including three state wrestling tournaments, but John J. has always maintained a special place in my heart.

There were originally 23 teams slated to attend tomorrow but stupid Mother Nature has forced six teams to pull the plug on travelling to Corning Saturday. No worries though, there are 17 teams planning on attending what should be an awesome day of wrestling. Those teams are; Adair Casey/Guthrie Center, Atlantic/CAM, Bedford/Lenox, Clarinda, Clarinda Academy, Creston/OM, East Mills, Griswold, Missouri Valley, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley Red Oak, Riverside, Shenandoah, Southwest Valley, Tri-Center and Winterset.

All rankings come from The Predicament

106 Pounds 

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 1A No. 10 Jace Rose (Riverside)

 Rose's, high school career is off to an impressive 21-0 start. I saw him in person at Riverside's home tournament and I was thoroughly impressed He might be the only ranked wrestler in this class but he's not the only undefeated freshman in this weight class. Nodaway Valley has been a pleasant surprise (at least, to me) and a lot of that has been due to the emergence of freshman Elliot Cooney. Cooney---is 27-0 on the season and has won every contested match by either fall or tech-fall. I'm honestly surprised he has not reached the rankings yet. It looks like there's a really good chance that we get a battle of undefeated freshman in the finals and I'm all for it. However, I think it would be silly to count out Atlantic's Garrett McLaren--who has lost just two contested matches since Christmas. 

113 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 1A No. 8 Bryce Shaha (Mount Ayr)

Another weight class with just one ranked wrestler, but don't let the rankings make you think this class might not be deep because it is. Shaha, the lone ranked wrestler is also the defending tournament champion at 106 pounds. The sophomore bounced around between 113, 120 and 126, but has won at every weight class and has just two losses. Shaha will most likely be the one seed and the favorite to win it, but after that is where it gets interesting. Sam Kyle (Missouri Valley) has been wrestling really well and was ranked earlier in the season. John Schroder (Riverside) was also ranked at the beginning of the season while Aybren Moore (Atlantic/CAM) and Jonathan Erp (Red Oak) could make a run at the finals as well.

120 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (2): 1A No. 9 Blaine Beeler (ACGC), 1A No. 10 Connor Atkisson (Tri-Center)

A weight class with two ranked wrestlers! Atkisson has lost to the eventual tournament champion in the two previous John J's and would love to capture a title in his junior campaign, he will have a little extra motivation this week as he looks to avenge a pinfall loss to Beeler on January 10th.  

Aside from Beeler and Atkisson, I expect Joe Weaver (Atlantic/CAM) and Kaden Bolton (Creston/OM) to also make a run at the finals. Neither one of them have wrestled Beeler or Atkisson but they did wrestle each other earlier this season with Weaver picking up the win.

126 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (2): 2A No. 8 Bryce Hatten (Winterset), 1A No. 9 Trae Ehlen (Mount Ayr)

Here's a fun fact: only two underclassmen won championships at last years' tournament. We've already mentioned Shaha and the other one is Hatten who picked up the crown at 120 pounds last season. Ehlen has had a very impressive sophomore campaign with just four losses, all to ranked wrestlers while Hatten has just two losses, both of which came at the hands of ranked grapplers. 

Ehlen and Hatten have not met this year, but they do share a common loss in Martensdale-St. Mary's Cole Cassady. Ehlen lost to Cassady twice, once in sudden-victory and once by two points while Hatten lost to Cassady 6-0. If you believe in transitive property, then you pry believe Ehlen is the favorite, but either way, this should be fun.

132 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 2A No. 3 Kruise Kiburz (Winterset)

Last year Kruise Kiburz had perhaps the most impressive tournament performance from a non-champion. Kiburz lost his first round match to Connor Lange (Missouri Valley) but did not lose again over the two-day stretch in a pretty stout 138 pound class. Kiburz is down to 132 pounds this weekend and will be the odds-on favorite to finish the day undefeated. 

Guessing who is most likely to join Kiburz in the finals is a crapshoot as there is multiple candidates such as Cale Rowley (ACGC), Garon Wurster (Creston/OM), Talon Reidel (Bedford/Lenox), John Seylor (Griswold) and Nolan Moore (Riverside) just to name a few.

138 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (2): 1A No. 4 Teagan Lundquist (Southwest Valley), 2A No. 6 Chase McLaren (Atlantic/CAM)

I've been wanting to see Lundquist vs. McLaren all year. I thought it might happen at the Rollin Dyer Tournament two weeks ago in Atlantic, but Lundquist was ill while McLaren cruised to a title. McLaren has just three losses on the year and they are to a nationally ranked grappler from Nebraska and two of the top 138-pounders in Class 3A.

 Lundquist has just two non-medical forfeit losses this season including a loss to 1A No. 3 Josh Tibbits (Martensdale-St. Mary's) at the Pride of Iowa Tournament. The most intriguing part about these two wrestlers is they have similar styles. Both wrestlers’ waste no time taking dudes down and they wrestle with a mean streak. Both wrestlers have to get to the finals first, but if they do, it could be the match of the night. 

145 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (2): 2A No. 5 Jack West (Winterset), 1A No. 6 Duke Kyle (Missouri Valley)

This class has been dominated by Mitchel Swank the past few years but he's graduated and it's up for grabs. West and Kyle will certainly be the favorites and they are practically foreign to one another because they've never faced each other. There's a very good chance that they meet in the championship bout, but there's also a good chance that someone like Easton Benson (ACGC), Trevor Nelson (Tri-Center) or Kadin Stutzman (Atlantic/CAM) plays spoiler. There's almost always at least one upset at John J.

152 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (1): 1A No. 6 Connor Lange (Missouri Valley)

Lange finished second at 138 pounds last year, dropping a thriller to Austin Gutknecht (Clarinda) in the finals. There's no Gutknecht is in his way this year and Lange has his sights on finally winning that John J. title. Lange has just five losses and none of them have come in Class 1A. 

Winterset's Tyler Brown has shown signs of promise this year, dropping just four contested matches. Austin Wilson (Nodaway Valley) has had a solid season, posting a 15-7 record thus far, he could perhaps put his name on the map with a solid showing at John J as could Tri-Center's Trevor Nelson.

160 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers (3): 1A No. 3 Drew Venteicher (Bedford/Lenox), 2A No. 6 Justin McCunn (Red Oak), 1A No. 7 Bryson Freeberg (Tri-Center).

This is one of only two weight classes with three ranked wrestlers and those three wrestlers have a combined two losses. In my opinion, McCunn has been of the most impressive wrestlers in all Southwest Iowa this season. McCunn has yet to lose this season and has won 16 of his 25 contested matches by either pinfall or tech-fall. Venteicher has been ultra-impressive as well, losing just one match so far this season. That one loss? A 14-4 major decision to McCunn last weekend. Freeberg has been impressive well with the only blemish on his record being a one-point loss to Audubon's Trace McCuen.

170 Pounds 

Ranked Wrestlers: 1A No. 3 Nick Haynes (Missouri Valley), 2A No. 6 Carter Maynes (Red Oak), 2A No. 7 Jakson Kinsella (Creston/OM).

I mentioned earlier this year that I thought Haynes would wrestle with a chip on his shoulder after missing the state tournament last year, and oh boy has he. Haynes has just four losses this year, all of which came at the talent-packed Council Bluffs Classic on December 7th-8th. He's won 16 consecutive contested matches since then. Maynes had an impressive sophomore season that ended in a trip to the state tournament, but he's been banged up for the majority of the year, but it sounds like he'll be ready to go. He and Haynes have not faced each other this season. Kinsella is a new face in the rankings and deservedly so after posting just two losses all season, he appears to be Creston's breakthrough wrestler that we figured would happen. 

I cannot end this section without mentioning the basketball/wrestling-wizard that is Chase Mullenix (Atlantic/CAM), Mullenix plays basketball and wrestles while doing both at a high level. He was pretty darn dominant at the Rollin Dyer a few weeks ago. Can he pick up where he left off?

182 Pounds

The only class with no ranked wrestlers is the toughest class to gauge. Haynes, Maynes and Mullenix are all listed as eligible at 182 on Track Wrestling even though they've wrestled the majority of the season at 170. So maybe at least one of them bumps? I just don't know. 

Assuming none of them do, I think one of the favorites could be Jakob Childs (Clarinda) who has posted a solid 22-11 record and will most likely be the top seed if Haynes, Maynes and Mullenix stay at 170. 

195 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 2A No. 8 Sam Chapman (Creston/OM)

195 is not much easier to gauge than 182, but there is at least a ranked wrestler. Outside of that, it's much like 182. 

Clarinda's Crew Howard is 25-3 on the season but he dropped a 9-3 decision to Chapman earlier this year. Other candidates to get to the finals might include Hunter McMann (Red Oak), Bryson Rhamy (Southwest Valley) and Aaron Anderson (East Mills).

220 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 1A No. 10 Chance Strough (Bedford/Lenox), 2A No. 10 Cale Roller (Atlantic/CAM)

Strough and Roller both jumped into the rankings this week and bot will get a chance tomorrow to make a case that putting that No. 10 was too low. Strough has just one loss this season and that was to 1A No. 9 Alex Hommer (Southeast Warren) in the finals of the Pride of Iowa Tournament. Roller has had a breakthrough season and although he has eight losses, every one of them is a high-quality loss.

Tyler Courtier (Shenandoah) was ranked earlier in the season but he has been nagged by injuries lately and his status for this weekend is uncertain. Colton Kinnison (Red Oak) was also ranked earlier in the season and Red Oak always seems to have a guy step up at John J and Kinnison might be that guy. 

285 Pounds

Ranked Wrestlers: 1A No. 3 Arron Olson (Missouri Valley), 1A No. 5 Josh Cox (Mount Ayr).

A battle of top-five heavyweights? Yes, please. Olson will likely be the top seed and he's built a good resume paced by a third-place finish at the Council Bluffs Classic. Cox, meanwhile missed the majority of the first half of the season with a knee injury, but I understand that he's good to go. 

The wrestler in this class that I will be paying the closest attention to this weekend is Devin Whipple (Bedford/Lenox). Whipple has just four losses this season and won the Pride of Iowa Tournament. Also keep an eye on Storm Howard (Clarinda), who is responsible for one of Whipple's four losses.

THE TEAM RACE

Team points are something I pay way too much attention during tournaments, but I find it a ton of fun. Especially during this tournament. Creston/OM dominated John J from 2012-2016 with five consecutive team titles, that streak was broken in 2017 when New Hampton showed up with a loaded roster. New Hampton no-showed last year and that allowed Missouri Valley's balanced lineup to lead them to a team title behind three individual championships. 

I think the Big Reds are probably going to be the favorite to repeat, but Atlantic/CAM is going to give them a big run for their money much like they did with Sergeant Bluff-Luton at the Rollin Dyer Invitational. The difference maker could be at 285 where Olson will be expected to get to the finals and Atlantic/CAM does not have a 285-pounder. If I was a betting man I would say it comes down to those two squads followed by Creston/OM, Red Oak, Winterset and Nodaway Valley in some manner. 

It's going to be an exhausting day, but it's going to be a fun one. I only wish that stupid Mother Nature would not have forced this to be a one-day show.