Elite 8 - Top Matchups
We are days away from the 2022 edition of the Elite 8 duals and the potential matchups are simply outstanding. As we said yesterday, there will be ones to watch that are currently flying under the radar, but in reality most people come to see the small # athletes compete. Fat and Scrappy’s Lucas DeSilva and I spent the weekend breaking down the 6 matches highlighted by Elite 8 guru Cliff Fretwell … well expected we won’t get to see at least one of those matchups with the scratch of #1 Ben Davino from Spartan RTC. Lucas and I had already discussed it - so it remains in the video below, but know that Davino is a scratch for the event. One of the other top matchups - Brayden Thompson vs. Lorenzo Norman is also in doubt after Thompson bumped to 182. I can’t imagine Norman will challenge him at 182, but both are still list to be in attendance so we will hold out hope for that machup.
Whether it is these 6 matchups or not … Elite 8 delivers with 50 ranked vs. ranked matchups on Day 1 alone (* Based on FloWrestling’s Rankings). For the latest rosters check out FloWrestling’s article. David Bray has also highlighted every Day 1 matchup … I’ve included those below:
113 - #11 Christopher Kiser, Team Oklahoma vs #16 Gage Singleton, Black Mambas
113 - #16 Gage Singleton, Black Mambas vs #16 Cameron Stinson, Spartan RTC Elite
120 - #14 Thomas Verrette, Black Mambas vs #18 Cooper Hilton, Minion Legends
120 - #7 Kael Lauridsen, Dynasty vs #14 Gauge Botero, Team Carnage
120 - #7 Kael Lauridsen, Dynasty vs #20 Jackson Blum, POWA
120 - #7 Nathan Desmond, Spartan RTC Elite vs #14 Thomas Verrette, Black Mambas
120 - #7 Nathan Desmond, Spartan RTC Elite vs #18 Cooper Hilton, Minion Legends
120 - #14 Gauge Botero, Team Carnage vs #20 Jackson Blum, POWA
126 - #1 Jax Forrest, Dynasty vs #11 Brady Roark, POWA
126 - #1 Jax Forrest, Dynasty vs #4 Luke Stanich, Team Carnage
126 - #4 Luke Stanich, Team Carnage vs #10 Dillon Campbell, Arsenal
126 - #4 Luke Stanich, Team Carnage vs #11 Brady Roark, POWA
126 - #6 Drew Gorman, Minion Legends vs #12 Tyler Knox**, Spartan RTC Elite
126 - #6 Drew Gorman, Minion Legends vs #17 Logan Frazier, Indiana Outlaws
126 - #6 Drew Gorman, Minion Legends vs #17 Sam Herring, Team Oklahoma
126 - #10 Dillon Campbell, Arsenal vs #11 Brady Roark, POWA
126 - #12 Tyler Knox**, Spartan RTC Elite vs #17 Logan Frazier, Indiana Outlaws
126 - #17 Logan Frazier, Indiana Outlaws vs #17 Sam Herring, Team Oklahoma
132 - #4 Grigor Cholakyan, Team Carnage vs #18 William Baysinger, POWA
132 - #4 Grigor Cholakyan, Team Carnage vs #20 Brandon Cannon, Beast Coast
138 - #8 Vince Bouzakis, Dynasty vs #11 Cameron Catrabone, POWA
138 - #8 Vince Bouzakis, Dynasty vs #17 Matthew Repos, Team Carnage
138 - #11 Cameron Catrabone, POWA vs #17 Matthew Repos, Team Carnage
145 - #3 Joel Adams, POWA vs #18 Collin Dupill, Combat Athletics
145 - #3 Joel Adams, POWA vs #18 Nick Kunstek, Dynasty
145 - #6 Dylan Gilcher, Minion Legends vs #17 Weston Dalton, Black Mambas
145 - #6 Dylan Gilcher, Minion Legends vs #6 Pierson Manville, Spartan RTC Elite
145 - #6 Pierson Manville, Spartan RTC Elite vs #17 Weston Dalton, Black Mambas
145 - #18 Collin Dupill, Combat Athletics vs #18 Nick Kunstek, Dynasty
152 - #2 Ladarion Lockett, Dynasty vs #8 Jeremiah Price, Combat Athletics
152 - #2 Ladarion Lockett, Dynasty vs #9 Kody Routledge, POWA
152 - #8 Jeremiah Price, Combat Athletics vs #9 Kody Routledge, POWA
160 - #4 Ethan Stiles, POWA vs #18 Dagen Condomitti, Dynasty
180 - #4 Aeoden Sinclair, Dynasty vs #10 Timothy McDonnell, Team Carnage
180 - #4 Aeoden Sinclair, Dynasty vs #8 Harvey Ludington, Beast Coast
180 - #8 Harvey Ludington, Beast Coast vs #10 Timothy McDonnell, Team Carnage
195 - #3 Hayden Walters, POWA vs #20 Brian Burburija, Team Carnage
195 - #3 Hayden Walters, POWA vs #6 AJ Heeg, Dynasty
195 - #3 Hayden Walters, POWA vs #7 Remy Cotton, Arsenal
195 - #4 Jude Correa, Spartan RTC Elite vs #15 Hoke Hogan or #18 Luke Cochran, Minion Legends
195 - #4 Jude Correa, Spartan RTC Elite vs #19 Mark Marin, Team Empire (Cali)
195 - #6 AJ Heeg, Dynasty vs #20 Brian Burburija, Team Carnage
195 - #6 AJ Heeg, Dynasty vs #9 Michael Dellagatta, Beast Coast
195 - #7 Remy Cotton, Arsenal vs #20 Brian Burburija, Team Carnage
195 - #7 Remy Cotton, Arsenal vs #9 Michael Dellagatta, Beast Coast
195 - #9 Michael Dellagatta, Beast Coast vs #20 Brian Burburija, Team Carnage
220 - #15 Samuel Murphy, Dynasty vs #17 AJ Fricchione, Beast Coast
HWT - #6 Emmanuel Ulrich, Team Carnage vs #16 Aidan Fockler, Arsenal
HWT - #6 Emmanuel Ulrich, Team Carnage vs #7 Matthew Moore, POWA
HWT - #7 Matthew Moore, POWA vs #16 Aidan Fockler, Arsenal
And yes that is day one only with more fireworks coming on day 2. Below are the 6 matchups that Elite 8 Duals director Cliff Fretwell has been highlighting leading up to the event (I’ll include Davino vs. Forrest, but am going to refrain from spending anytime talking about it because it isn’t goin to happen):
Jax Forrest vs. Ben Davino
Both Who’s #1 winners …
Davino (Illinois) beat Marc-Anthony McGowan 6-3 at 126
Forrest beat Nate Jesuroga 8-7 at 120
Bo Bassett vs. Cam Stinson
Bassett has all of the accolades. He is a Cadet World Champ and is amongst the top 113-120’s in the country. Stinson nearly made the Fargo finals in 16U and his trajectory is off the charts at the moment. This is one match you don’t want to miss.
Lorenzo Norman vs. Brayden Thompson (not likely to happen, but who knows)
Both were 2nd at Powerade – obviously different weights with Norman one below Thompson which could be the case at Elite 8 this weekend as well.
Norman was 3rd at Beast; Thompson wasn’t there
Thompson took the WNO title with a 3-3 criteria win over Zack Ryder
Joel Adams vs. Pierson Manville
A pair of Greco hammers that will meet in Folkstyle. Adams went onto win a U17 Greco World Title after beating Manville at the World Team Trials. Manville lost 10-1 and then 7-6 …
Drew Gorman vs. Jax Forrest
According to everyone the series is tied 2-2. We get the grudge match this weekend in Atlanta.
Aeoden Sinclair vs. Gabe Arnold
Very good weight class and two of the best 182’s in the country will battle it out. If we don’t see Arnold take the mat we could end up with a Brayden Thompson vs. Aeoden Sinclair matchup which would be outstanding as well.
Truth is there are so many quality matchups. Tune into Flo or drop by the International Convention Center in Atlanta this weekend. It will not diappoint.