WIN’s Prep Preseason Preview: A look back and ahead at 170 pounds

By Rob Sherrill

In looking ahead to this winter’s upcoming high school season, WIN Magazine is looking back at the top wrestlers from last season, who are expected to return this season. The examination of these weight classes comes from individual wrestlers’ performances this past summer at the Cadet/Junior Nationals and Disney Duals.

Click here to view WIN’s 2013-14 Preseason High School National Rankings

Rankings will be subject to change as weight classes are updated as the season grows nearer.

Here’s how they finished in the WIN rankings last year, minus those who graduated:

6.                   Chandler Rogers                  Sr                  Spokane, WA Mead

10.                   Andrew Garcia                                    Sr                  Novi, MI Detroit Catholic Central

13.                   Corey Griego                                    Sr                  Hesperia, CA Sultana

18.                   Bobby Steveson                                    Jr                  Apple Valley, MN

With just four returnees from last year’s top 20-plus, this weight class experienced the second-most attrition from last year. And the longer the new weight classes remain in effect, be prepared for this to be an annual occurrence. There just aren’t enough wrestlers to fill these weight classes.

OW: Rogers. This one wasn’t even close.

He had just three titles — a double crown at the Northwest Junior Freestyle and the Junior National Greco-Roman title at Fargo — but his 12 quality wins tied Taylor LaMont of Utah for the most among returning wrestlers. That included a pair of wins over the Junior freestyle champion, Bo Nickal of Texas, the wrestler who gives this weight class a strong 1-2 punch at the top. Those wins came in each style … in the FILA Cadet Freestyle and the Junior National Greco-Roman Duals.

Rogers also won twice in three matches against Utah standout Kimball Bastian, as well as Garcia, Devonte Mahomes of Illinois, double cadet National champion Beau Breske of Wisconsin, Chris Wiler and Patrick Coover of Pennsylvania, Myles Martin of New Jersey, Dayton Racer of Minnesota and Lance Dixon of Oklahoma. His only other loss was to Mark Hall of Minnesota. He was 5-0 in the Junior National freestyle before an injury knocked him out of the tournament.

Oh, and the 13-0 record at the Junior National Duals didn’t hurt, either.  He had four pins and eight technical falls, allowing just two points.

Honorable Mention:

Steveson – he had quality wins at the FILA Cadet Nationals over Andrew Marsden of Illinois, Hunter Ritter of Maryland and Armani Robinson and Jackson Harris of Ohio.

Garcia – he was a Junior National freestyle All-American.

The attrition at this weight class also affected the Disney Duals. Though he only received a copper medal because of his total win number, Iowa champion Adam Drain of Mediapolis was the star of the weight class, posting an 8-0 record. That record included victories of 5-3 over two-time Nebraska champion Will Schany, who will come up next week, and 7-5 over Ohio champion Dakota Sizemore, who earned a silver medal by going 9-1.

Next week: 182 pounds.