Going through the weights ..
106: McBurney (M. Perry) is the favorite through the top half, but has the toughest path with Clemens (Un. Lake) first round and then Sharpley (Solon) in the quarter. The easiest match for him in getting to the final just might be the semifinal. Rather smooth sailing for Stanley (Brecksville) and Dinwiddie (Wadsworth) in the bottom half, look for Dinwiddie to do what he did the first two times, and win a low scoring bout in the semifinal. Dinwiddie over Sharpley in one go to, and I have Clemens beating the fourth semifinalist (Hahn of Mentor) to slide on out to state.
113: The result with Ferguson (Fitch) over Grunzweig (Solon) last week shows that this is a completely open weight class for all four places, as opposed to being more a Grunzweig taking first and then wide open for two through four. I do think it's Grunzweig, Dulcie (M. Perry), and Ferguson for three state spots with Riordan (Jackson) and DeBoe (Mentor) most likely battling for spot four.
120: Joy (Wadsworth) and McBurney (M. Perry) are in opposite halves, and should safely hit the final. Molchak (Solon) and Vazsonyi (M. Highland) should be the other two wrestlers to get out, with each hitting semis after winning sectionals last week; Molchak has it a little tougher with Artman (Un. Lake) as a dangerous opening round opponent. Could end up with Palmisano (Mayfield) v Vazsonyi in a rematch of a sectional final that Vazsonyi won last week in a go-to bout.
126: This weight is a monstrosity. Five returning state medalists, a 2020 state qualifier (SA last year), and another returning state alternate. As noted earlier, the most tenable state path is held by Brugh (Wadsworth), who has the easiest quarterfinal opponent on paper. I would say Blackburn (Mentor) has the hardest state path drawing Jett (Brecksville) in a quarter then likely looking at the D'Alessandro (Mayfield)/Brugh loser to go, assuming he can replicate last week's sectional semifinal win over Haney (M. Highland) in a consi quarter - I'm assuming Frye (Walsh Jesuit) beats Haney in the quarters. Ultimately, I think Jett, D'Alessandro, and Brugh clear with Frye or Crutis (M. Perry) taking fourth - I know that's pretty much conventional wisdom, but it's conventional for a reason.
132: This is another monstrosity, though it's at a level below 126 in terms of podium caliber kids. Shelley (Mentor) is my pick to clear the top, though it's likely going through Davis (Stow) - only lost his sectional final by one last week - in a quarter and then the Pluhar (Brecksville)/Mellon (Wadsworth) quarterfinal winner; Pluhar has two narrow wins over Mellon this season. In the lower half, Gerome (Solon) is my pick to clear, though he could lose at either the quarterfinal (to Geckler, M. Perry) or semifinal (Cassetty, Un. Lake) levels. The top seven kids could do anything from win the weight to not even hit a go-to bout.
138: VanDyke (Walsh Jesuit) is the class of this field. Shue (Wadsworth) and Petite (Nordonia) are the next two best kids in the weight, they've split bouts this year, Petite winning the most recent. Shue v Crutchley (M. Highland) in the quarter is the more dangerous bout before the semis for those two. Shue is in the Van Dyke half, so you're looking at whom his go-to bout is, and I think he should make a third state tournament. Petite is looking at Johnson (M. Perry) in a semi, he's favored there; in terms of Johnson's go-to, probably either Zambounis (Brecksville) or Crutchley (Highland), they've split bouts this season. Note Zambounis does have a tough first rounder against Minick (Un. Lake), for which the winner hits Van Dyke.
144: This weight is similar to 132 in being a total mess, and it's also similar in terms of there not being any sure fire "high podium" candidates. I like Scordos (Brecksville) and Hill (M. Highland) to clear the respective sides, though there are ZERO guarantees. Scordos has Perrine (Nordonia) first round in a tossup match, the winner of which I think hits the top semi; the second quarter is one where Humphrys (Wadsworth) is favored; Scordos has two wins over Humphrys this season, though both were tight bouts. Hill has Supers (Medina) in a quarter, while the lower quarter has Randall (Stow) v Jordan (Un. Lake) as the most likely match, though Giltz (M. Perry) v Jordan first round could be worth attention. My picks to clear from consolation are Humphrys and Randall. Put this weight's pick down in soft pencil.
Back later for the back half.
