2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame Dual Classic

The National Wrestling HOF Duals are back this week. There’s 16 schools divided into 4 pools of 4 teams. Each team will wrestle the other 3 teams in their pool. Then based on how they finish in pool action they will be sent into a bracket competition. The only hiccup could be if and when Sem or Lake Highland would be set to face any of the 3 California schools. In which case, they will adjust the match ups.

While I currently don’t do team rankings (perhaps that’s the next evolution for me), 13 of the 16 teams are ranked in the Mat Scouts top 50. We have the projected line ups listed below in easy to read tables. You can see who is nationally ranked and why a team like Sem, with 11 of 14 weights ranked, is such a massive favorite. 

Should be some great action over the two days.

Streaming will be on Mat Scouts Rokfin channel.

https://rokfin.com/MatScouts

Pool A

Sem should dominate this one. They have 9 guys favored to go 3-0. And among the rest, a couple who could definitely do that as well. 

As for individual matches, Gage Walker vs Matt Botello and Ishmael Guerrero vs Anthony Evanitsky are the two that stand out.

Perhaps for the Sem vs Perry dual, we see Correa bump up vs Fockler. That would be a good one.

For Bixby, Roller has been out, not sure that he’s expected to be here or not. If so, might be too soon to bump up for Bouzakis, but that would be a classic if both fully healthy.

Pool B

Edmond North comes in as the favorite to win this pool, but they will be tested for sure.

The biggest test should come from Buchanan. They’re a perennial top 10 team, spending many years in the top 5 or even the top 3. Because the state is way out west and CA schools can’t compete at the bigger tournaments with prep schools anymore, their talent can get overlooked.

Woodward isn’t ranked at 106 but could definitely go 3-0. Bauder just fell out of our rankings but could push Hollingsworth. Toscano could do likewise with Schneider. 

I think Tuttle vs St Peter’s will be a stellar dual as well.

Pool C

This should be just as competitive between the top two as Pool B. Stillwater and Poway both have 5 nationally ranked wrestlers, and we could get a match up between them at 113.

Outside of that, it could come down to the fact that the remaining ranked guys for Stillwater might get pushed a little more than the remaining ranked guys for Poway. Meaning, it could be determined by a couple matches by major vs decision or pin vs major. 

Aside from Sierra vs Thomas at 113, the best match here could be at 126 with JJ McComas vs Nikade Zinkin.

If Rios is competing this week, don’t let the unranked fool you, he’s probably a top 15 national talent, maybe higher. He just hasn’t been heard from for awhile.

Pool D

After the top 2 of Pool C, the top here might be the next best pool dual. Say pool dual 5 times fast.

Anyway, the best individual matches here should be at 106 with Sontz vs Villasenor and 120 with Jones and Rivera.

If Paridon bumps up to meet James, that could be interesting. The ranked guys at 165, 175, and 285 should be dominant.

Another one we could get is Lee vs Kucharczk which would be very competitive.

Close
Meet Todd Wightman

Based in Western PA. Right in the heart of WPIAL country, Todd brings an insider’s view from the country’s epicenter  of wrestling. He’s excited to build on the TKDWN tradition of starting with the story first. The athletes, the coaches, their families and supporters, there is no shortage of stories to tell. And Todd will bring his unique perspective to help us continue to deliver top notch content for the world’s greatest sport!

Todd's Corner
State of PA