James Hackney
The Cowboys head to Las Vegas for what is almost surely the most stacked tournament of the year, the Cliff Keen Invitational. The tournament only allows starters, and it includes teams like #2 Michigan, #2 NC State, #5 Nebraska, #6 Cornell, #9 Virginia Tech, and more. Every weight is absolutely stacked, and Coach Smith called it the toughest tournament before NCAA’s, including Big 12’s. OK State has seven seeded in the top ten, with two unseeded. Pre seeds are in, but are sure to change with late drops. True freshman Brayden Thompson is expected to return, and Daniel Manibog is getting the start at 157. In such a stacked field, there are big opportunities and high expectations throughout the lineup.
125: #21 Troy Spratley (5-0) – Pre-Seed #10
Other Ranked Wrestlers: #2 Matt Ramos (Purdue), #5 Michael DeAugustino (Michigan), #8 Brett Ungar (Cornell), #9 Caleb Smith (Nebraska), #11 Jore Volk (Wyoming), #14 Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State), #16 Tanner Jordan (SDSU), #18 Kysen Terukina (ISU), #20 Nico Provo (Stanford), #22 Tucker Owens (Air Force), #23 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State), #24 Nick Babin (Columbia), #25 Diego Sotelo, #27 Spencer Moore (North Carolina), #28 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech), #31 Dom Mendez (Cal Poly)
Spratley is a wrestler that falls into a large tier of wrestlers I think can contend for an All-American spot. At a tournament like this, he could jump levels and show that he is in a top four tier. As the ten seed now, he would likely see the seven seed Tanner Jordan (SDSU). Jordan is coming off a big win over Spratley’s former teammate Pat McKee, but I favor Spratley in that match. From there the on paper match would be #2 Michael DeAugustino, a rematch from last year’s Last Chance Open. Spratley won by injury default, but the match was tied 1-1 late. I’m going to take a big chance and slot him in the finals, and rocket up the rankings.
Prediction: Runner-Up
133: #1 Daton Fix (1-0) – Pre-Seed #1
Other Ranked Wrestlers: #4 Kai Orine (NC State), #8 Evan Frost (ISU), #10 Julian Chlebove (ASU), #11 Angelo Rini (Columbia), #12 Brendan Ferretti (Navy), #14 Dom Zaccone (Campbell), #15 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State), #23 Haiden Drury (UVU), #25 Caden McCrary (North Carolina), #26 Gabe Whisenhunt (Oregon State), #27 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska), #29 Richie Koehler (Rider), #31 Ethan Oakley (App State)…
