WIN’s Prep Preseason Picks: Benick, Sweany top 195 pounds
A look back – and ahead – at 195 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. This week’s preview is a look back and ahead at 195 pounds.
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:
8. Jeremy Sweany Sr Vacaville, CA
10. Lance Benick Jr Fridley, MN Totino Grace
18. Nathan Rose Sr Arlington, MN Sibley East
Three. Count ‘em…three. They’re all that remain from the 20-odd wrestlers we considered at the end of last season. Minnesota was the most stacked state in the nation at 195 last season, with four ranked wrestlers, and two return this season. The question is whether Benick will return to 195 or stay up at 220, where he won his second Cadet Nationals double title in dominating fashion. Most likely, he’ll stay down, since he’s listed at 202 pounds as he tears up the gridiron. Through eight games, Benick rushed for 548 yards, six touchdowns and a 6.8-yard average, caught nine passes for 122 yards and three more scores, and completed three of four passes for 54 yards to lead defending 5A state champion Totino Grace to a 6-2 record thus far.
So, let’s hand out the hardware.
OW: Benick
It’s hard even to consider anyone else the way Benick dominated the Cadet level the last two years. His two-year run under the FargoDome: 26-0 – 13 wins each year – with 12 pins, 12 technical falls and five points allowed, all five in 2012. He had six sub-minute pins this year. And his split with the Junior Nationals double champion, Roy Nash of Utah, in the FILA Cadet Nationals finals makes for a spirited debate this season if Benick stays at 220: Who’s No. 1?
Honorable Mention:
Sweany – he advanced to the Junior National Greco-Roman finals, losing to Chance McClure of Georgia, whom we’ll address next week, at 220. He didn’t place in the freestyle meet, though, after earning All-America status in 2012.
Marcus Harrington, senior, Waterloo (Iowa) West – the state champion was a Junior National freestyle placewinner, avenging a loss to Sweany in the Junior National Duals. He also beat McClure, losing to Edmond North standouts Joel Dixon and Derek White.
Samuel Shields-Colbray, sophomore, Hermiston (Ore. ) – he was on the way to a Cadet Nationals double title until being pinned by Tyler Johnson of Illinois in the freestyle final. Prior to that, Shields-Colbray had technical falls in 14 of his 16 wins and allowed only 12 points. He was 8-0 in the Junior National Duals with four wins in each style. He had five pins and three technical falls, lost just one period and allowed only three points.
Tops at the Disney Duals: Ohio runner-up Kyle Conel of Ashtabula Lakeside. His undefeated 9-0 record got him a silver medal because of his nine-win mark, but that mark included three pins.
Next week: 220 pounds.
