Ranking wrestlers across multiple states can be challenging. Ranking during the fall (football) and during Covid makes this especially difficult. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, I have included a screenshot of a section of the information I’ve pulled for each weight class. I focused on 5 events that, I believe, provide an adequate sample of quality wrestling over the last several months. Those 5 events include:
Super 32
Grappler Fall Classic
Georgia Super 32 Early Entry (EE) Tournament
Florida Super 32 Early Entry (EE) Tournament
Chaos Duals
Other events helped provide some information, but the bulk of the ranking is based on these 5 events plus last year’s post-season (e.g. state tournaments). The other events include Deep South Duals, Rocky Mountain Nationals, Battle of the Burgh, River Rumble, etc. Normally, NHSCA’s and Fargo would play an important role in the rankings, but neither took place in 2020.
I frequently get asked about other events - duals in Florida or an event at Morris Fitness in Georgia, etc. Those events are important, but those are not considered as much for two simple reasons: 1) they are difficult to track down and I don’t know of other similar events occurring in other states and 2) they don’t feature the level of competition that the 5 events I’ve identified do.
Several of you will probably question why I put wrestlers at particular weight classes. It is a valid question and doesn’t have a simple answer. A good illustration is Alabama hammer Cory Land. Land is ranked nationally at 113 by nearly all of the major rankers, but he won’t see 113 this high school season (I haven’t confirmed that with Cory, but I’d say that is probably a safe bet). He simply doesn’t need to make the weight to be the favorite to claim a state title at a higher weight. He might go 113 for a national-level tournament, but that would be it. So you will find him at 120 (and perhaps at 126 if he decides to wrestle much of the year at that weight). The rankings are a reflection of where wrestlers will spend the majority of their time this coming year, but in reality it is hard to know what weight each will end up wrestling.
Please remember to keep the rankings in perspective. They are my rankings, but I’d like to acknowledge that I don’t do this entirely on my own. Several people from around the SE have given me their feedback and their points of view have helped to shape the rankings to be better than they were before. Remember, rankings are fun to look at and discuss, but at the end of the day it isn’t the wrestler ranked #1 who stands on the top step … it is the one who won all of the matches.
The current plan is to release the next set of rankings before the Knockout in December. Those will include results from Pre-Season Nationals, Elite 8 Duals, NHSCA Duals, as well as the beginning of the high school season.
106 lbs.
Ethan Rivera - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
Christian Guzman - Columbus (FL)
Caleb Uhorchuk - Signal Mountain (TN)
Adrian Morales - South Dade (FL)
Ty Tice - Eastside (SC)
Bryson Terrell - Bradley Central (TN)
Tyler Washburn - Palmetto Ridge (FL)
Anderson Heap - Osceola (FL)
Gabriel Tellez - Miami Southwest (FL)
Heaven Fitch - Uwharrie Charter (NC)
Blaine Taranto - Venice (FL)
Jay Peace - Cane Bay (SC)
Rion Montaperto - CATA (NC)
Cameron Stinson - Mallard Creek (NC)
Brodie Christmas - Mortimer Jordan (AL)
#1: Ethan Rivera – Lake Highland Prep (FL). Rivera is the defending Florida 1A State Champ, but given Lake Highland Prep’s move from the FHSAA he will not be back to defend his title. Rivera was impressive at both Super 32 (5-2 with a nice win over a very tough Drew Gorman of Georgia) and the Grappler Fall Classic (6-2 with wins over Tennessee 1A-2A State Champ Caleb Uhorchuk and Jay Peace of South Carolina) this past month.
#2-#5: 2020 Florida 3A Runner-up Christian Guzman returns at the weight and comes in #2 after a solid October. Guzman skipped Super 32, but placed at the Grappler Fall Classic with wins over Santora (GA), Uhorchuk (TN), and Gulliam (SC). He also beat fellow Florida 3A State Placer Adrian Morales to claim the Super 32 Florida Early Entry Tournament title. Add in wins versus Heap and Taranto and he is #2 in the rankings. Uhorchuk comes in at #3, Morales at #4, and South Carolina State Runner-up Ty Tice at #5.
#6-#10: A tough group to rank. Heaven Fitch, the defending 106 lb. 1A North Carolina State Champ comes in at #10, but could be higher or lower … she has looked outstanding at Super 32 and Grappler Fall Classic, but all against the girls and some in freestyle. Terrell is #6 and is activity this summer and fall has really helped him move up the rankings. He has nice wins over Montaperto, Peace, Christmas, as well as over #7 Tyler Washburn. Heap could be ranked too high, but it is hard to know … he did not have a very Super 32 (0-2) or Grappler Fall Classic (0-2), but looked good at Super 32 Florida Early Entry Tournament with wins over Tellez and a loss to Guzman. Tellez is 9th after a pair of wins over Taranto and a win over Washburn (loss vs. Heap cost him a higher ranking).
#11-#15: This group could be ordered any number of different ways … each seems to share wins (and losses) to others in the group (or the 6-10 group). Taranto was probably the most difficult to rank because of wins over McCullough, Domninguez, Vugman, and Montaperto, but losses to Montaperto at Chaos, Tellez, and Heap complicates where he should be ranked. Wasn’t sure whether to put Montaperto or Stinson ahead of one another … hopefully they will see each other in the spring and can work that out.
HM: Drew Gorman would be ranked in the top 10, but as an 8th grader in Georgia he won’t get much of an opportunity to show his skills vs. any of these wrestlers during the high school season (it isn’t like some of the middle school wrestlers that get to wrestle for a state title in other SE states – Georgia doesn’t allow that). Jayce Paridon, Gavin Nolan, Chaz McDonald, Ben Gulliam, Ethan Vugman, Nathan Payton, Mac Chandler and many others have looked good wrestling this past summer and fall, but were just outside that top 15. Cleveland’s Logan Fowler just popped up on the radar after a terrific Pre-Season Nationals where he beat #7 Tyler Washburn en route to making the podium. This is just an add-on at the moment, but that will certainly shake up the next rankings.
113 lbs.
Nick Corday - Baylor (TN)
Isaiah Powe - Gardendale (AL)
Yanni Vines - Thompson (AL)
Justin Bradford - Blackman (TN)
Jacob Silka - Cherokee (GA)
Jake Crapps - Cass (GA)
Josh Noble - Mt Pisgah (GA)
Malik Hardy - Spencer (GA)
Matt Rowland - Pinecrest (NC)
Dominic Ditomasso - Lowndes (GA)
Tyson Lane - Brandon (FL)
James Levy - Hilton Head (SC)
Jackson Baglio - Central Cabarrus (NC)
Marcus Jackson - Central Cabarrus (NC)
Hudson Waldrop - McAdory (AL)
#1: Nick Corday – Baylor (TN). Some will argue that this spot belongs to Land, Montaperto, or Hunt and they would be right. Especially after Hunt beat Corday to advance to the Grappler Fall Classic finals at 113 in October. But I can’t imagine any of those 3 wrestling 113 this high school season. Land and Montaperto each won state titles at 120 last year and Hunt will probably wrestle 120 to make room in the lineup for Jake Crapps. Corday has had a very good summer/fall and will almost certainly be 113 during the season (he did wrestle 106 at Super 32).
#2-#5: What to do with this group? Powe comes in #2 after beating Vines at the Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament. But Bradford could make a case after beating Powe at the Deep South Duals. Powe was 3-2 at Super 32 and looked very good. Bradford was 3-2 in the GFC 113 Elite bracket and beat Silka and Ditomasso at Chaos. Silka comes in #5 after going 1-2 at Super 32. The defending Georgia 7A State Champ has nice wins over Ditomasso and Ethan Lipsey (TN) this fall as well.
#6-#10: For those that haven’t been watching over the last couple of years they might be surprised to see GA’s Jake Crapps go 4-2 at Super 32 with losses to Kyle Montaperto and eventual Champ Caden Horwath … you shouldn’t be surprised at all. Crapps is tough and makes for a very tough 1-2 punch with Hunt for Cass this season. Few wrestlers made the kind of jumps during this off-season that Mt Pisgah’s Josh Noble made … he was a 1A State Runner-up a year ago and has really wrestled this summer/fall. He has split with #9 Matt Rowland, lost to #2 Powe, and beat #8 Hardy at the Georgia Super 32 Early Entry tournament. Hardy, Rowland, and Georgia 7A State Runner-up Dom Ditmasso round out the top 10.
#11-#15: This group was very difficult to rank (and some of the honorable mentions below could make a case for being in this group). Florida State Placer Tyson Lane of Brandon is #11 after going 2-2 at Super 32. South Carolina Runner-up James Levy is #12, with Jackson Baglio and Marcus Jackson #13 and #14 … one of those two should be 113 for Central Cabarrus this season (I think the other is up at 120 and probably unranked). Alabama State Placer Hudson Waldrop takes the #15 spot (but will he wrestle 113 this season or will it be his teammate Peter Henderson?).
HM: Aidan Fincher, Aiden Poe, Aiden Prunoske, Ethan Lipsey, Ethan McCullough, and Tyler Perrow are just a few of the names that could make a case for a spot in the top 15. Bentley Ellison or Arlo Laxton of Cleveland could be there as well, but they’ve only wrestled up at 120 this off-season. State Champs like Blaise Albarado, Drew Endres and Peter Henderson could be here as well, but they haven’t wrestled at all from what I can tell.
120 lbs.
Cory Land - Moody (AL)
Kyle Montaperto - CATA (NC)
Cole Hunt - Cass (GA)
Jackson Bond - Baylor (TN)
Danny Martinez - Southwest Miami (FL)
Michael Roe - Woodstock (GA)
Alex Walker - Lake Gibson (FL)
Elijah Lusk - Merritt Island (FL)
Daniel Uhorchuk - Signal Mountain (TN)
Cooper Haase - Osceola (FL)
Andrew Voiles - Alexander (GA)
Mark Samuel - Laney (NC)
Isham Peace - May River (SC)
Art Martinez - Holy Innocents (GA)
Chris Compton - Byrnes (SC)
#1: Cory Land – Moody (AL). 120 in the SE has both top-end talent and is one of the deepest weights around. The rankings are topped by nationally-ranked Cory Land. Land just missed on the Super 32 belt again in 2020 (this time losing to Horwath in the semis), but remains one of the best 113’s in the nation. He is ranked at 120 because unless it is a national-level competition he doesn’t need to drop weight to have a shot at claiming the title … he will wrestle anywhere from 120-132 for Moody this season and will almost certainly pick up another Alabama State title in 2020-2021.
#2-#5: Kyle Montaperto and Cole Hunt come in at #2 and #3 after outstanding October’s. Montaperto, the reigning 2A North Carolina 2A State Champ, went 4-1 and placed 3rd at the Grappler Fall Classic with wins over Uhorchuk, Alex Walker, and Haase up at 120 and then dropped to 113 for Super 32 and went 8-2. Hunt made the finals in the 113 Elite division of the GFC. He beat Corday and lost to Horwath in the finals. He could be ranked #1 at 113, but is likely a 120 this high school season. Baylor’s Jackson Bond comes in #4 – 4-2 at GFC 125 Elite and 3-2 at Super 32. Southwest Miami has been everywhere this fall, but there hasn’t been a Danny Martinez sighting at all. I’m assuming he is at 120, but who really knows (probably just those in South Florida).
#6-#10: Extremely good group that, like some of the other weights in the #6 to #10 rankings, could be in most any order. Georgia 7A State Champ Michael Roe comes in at #6 … 2-2 at Super 32, but a nice win over Compton, Peace, and Hunt at Chaos in early fall. He could make the case for being higher (especially with the win over Hunt), but we didn’t get to see him at GFC and he was good, but not spectacular at Super 32. Lake Gibson’s Alex Walker is a bit of an enigma … with a nice win over Bates and losses to Land and Montaperto, but then has a loss to Minto, Martinez, and Luders. Lusk, Uhorchuk, and Haase round out the top 10. Each has some nice wins and then a loss or two that prevented them from being ranked higher.
#11-#15: Andrew Voiles is #11, but could be out of the top 15 altogether given how deep the weight is and the fact he hasn’t wrestled much … still he was listed to compete at 120 for Pre-Season Nationals this weekend so we will see. North Carolina 4A State Champ Mark Samuel is #12 – lack of wrestling has hampered his ability to be ranked higher. South Carolina’s Isham Peace and Chris Compton are #13 and #15 and Georgia’s Art Martinez is #14. Martinez had a very nice Georgia super 32 Early Entry Tournament, but then had a tough GFC – going 0-2 at losing to Uhorchuk.
HM: As I said before – 120 is very deep. Any of these wrestlers could be ranked in the top 15, but either a loss to one of the wrestlers above or lack of summer/fall wrestling has kept them out of the rankings. Keep an eye on Georgia’s Riley Dahlgren, Amantee Mills, Robert Westbrook, Kaleb Davis, Oren Decker, Austin Thiel, and Dawson Thompson, Florida’s Caleb Massari, Tennessee’s Ellison and Laxton as well as Thomas Borders, North Carolina’s Brock Carey, Chance Cottingham, Jorden Schlossman, and Alabam’s John Robert Thompson.
126 lbs.
Keyveon Roller - Lakeway Christian (TN)
Richard Treanor - Hough (NC)
Braden Basile - Tampa Jesuit (FL)
Elijah Rivera - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
Trey Bates - Beech (TN)
Dylan Sparkman - Palm Harbor (FL)
Jacob Pedraza - North Hall (GA)
Jacob Cox - South Rowan (NC)
Hayden Whidden - Lake Gibson (FL)
Colton Bishop - Woodland (GA)
Andrew Austin - Charlotte (FL)
CJ Murphy - Pickens (GA)
Joey Robinson - Pope (GA)
Reese Jones - Ola (GA)
Hunter Ross - CATA (NC)
#1: Keyveon Roller – Lakeway Christian (TN). Most difficult #1 decision … Roller or Treanor. Treanor has been all over this summer/fall. 6-2 at 125 Elite at GFC; 8-0 at Chaos Duals; wins vs. Basile, Austin, and Martinez. But a disappointing 1-2 at Super 32 – whereas Roller hasn’t been in the scene much across the SE except for showing up big at Super 32. Going 7-3 at 120 – making the podium and beating some very talented wrestlers. You could go with either … but Roller’s Super 32 made the difference for me.
#2-#5: I’ve already made the case for why Treanor could be #1 – so #2 is a no-brainer especially after his 10-5 win at GFC over #3 Braden Basile. Basile (and Treanor and Roller) could spend much of the year up at 132 … that wouldn’t be a surprise, but they should it in wherever their squads need them the most. The same could be said for LHP’s Eligh Rivera. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Rivera is the only one of the top 4 to spend significant time at 126 during the season (because Nini, McClelland, and Griffin all sit in the weights above). The one I’d be surprised to move up is Trey Bates. Bates is the defending 3A Tennessee State Champ, but he wrestled the GFC at 119 – so 126 seems likely (although 132 for some matches wouldn’t be a surprise at all). I can’t see Bates wrestling down at 120 in Tennessee – so he is ranked at 126.
#6-#10: Again #6 through #10 are a struggle to rank. Sparkman, #6 at 126 was 2-2 at 125 Elite at GFC with a nice win over Jackson Bond. Pedraza hasn’t wrestled and could certainly be up at 132 … but he deserves to be top 10 here (or maybe even at 132). Cox has wrestled 120, 125 Elite, and 126 this summer/fall and with wins over Haase, CJ Murphy, Whidden, but a loss to Whidden’s teammate Blake Walker at the Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament. Whidden, Blake Walker, or Alex Walker will be in the top 10 at 126 … and it looks like it will be Whidden with one Walker above and one Walker below in the lineup. Colton Bishop is #10 after going 4-2 at 130 GFC Elite. It wouldn’t surprise me if 126 was Easton Bishop with Colton at 132. But this is the ranking as we begin the year.
#11-#15: Austin, Murphy, Joey Robinson, Reese Jones, and Hunter Ross round out the top 15. Murphy and Robinson were really hurt by their absence from the Grappler Fall Classic and Super 32 … a run to a spot on the podium would’ve helped vault them into the top 10. Austin and Reese Jones are both ranked over some of the Honorable Mentions because of the competition they have sought out this summer/fall. Ross was 6-0 at Chaos with wins over Kresho, Thiel, Hardy, Fajerman, etc. but he barely breaks into the top 15 because of a lack of wrestling … the same reason many of the honorable mentions below didn’t make the top 15.
HM: Nick Smith, Chris Minto, Nick Cambria, Tripp Collins, Arlo Laxton, Jackson Bradford, Jason Shaw, and so on could be names in the top 15 … is many of their cases they are not ranked because they haven’t wrestled much.126 is very deep and wrestlers like Elijah Ortiz, Calvin Eason, Ethan Shell, Tyler Tracy, Noah Wadle, and Caden Hagler could make a run for the top 15 this season.
132 lbs.
Danny Nini - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
Hunter Mason - Greeneville (TN)
Dylan Layton - Indian Land (SC)
Sebastian Melguizo - Southwest Miami (FL)
James Joplin - Northwest Guilford (NC)
Thomas Snipes - Hillcrest (SC)
David Panone - Lassiter (GA)
Emory Taylor - McCallie (TN)
Brennan Watkins - Dobyns Bennett (TN)
Matthew Rodriguez - Ridgeview (FL)
Latrell Schafer - Westfield (GA)
Jacob Seymour - South Paulding (GA)
Ryan Summerlin - Moody (AL)
Beau Branand - North Oconee (GA)
Dayne Dalrymple - Christian Brothers (TN)
#1: Danny Nini – Lake Highland Prep (FL). Nini is the defending 1A 126 lb. State Champ, but like his LHP teammates will not return this season to defend that title (LHP is now not a member of the FHSAA). Still Nini rolled along this summer/fall and turned in an excellent Grappler Fall Classic in early October. Nini beat #2 Mason and #4 Melguizo to make the 130 Elite finals. He also beat Mason 1-0 (and lost to him 5-1) at Super 32.
#2-#5: Hunter Mason, Dylan Layton, Sebastian Melguizo, and James Joplin have each had tremendous October’s. Mason was 6-2 at GFC and 9-3 at Super 32 and was the only one of the group to make the Super 32 podium. Layton beat Melguizo, Rivera (126), and McClelland and finished 3rd (7-1) at GFC and was 5-2 at Super 32 with a loss to Mason. Melguizo also placed at GFC after making the semis, but had losses to each of the wrestlers ranked above him. Joplin was 3-2 at GFC and 4-2 at Super 32 – was also 6-0 at Georgia Super 32 Early Entry tournament including a 9-4 win over #7 David Panone of Georgia.
#6-#10: I flipped Snipes, Panone, Emory Taylor, and Watkins around a ton of times in trying to get this part of the ranking correct. Rodriguez – Florida Runner-up to Nini in 2020 – comes in at #10 … mostly because we haven’t seen him wrestle this summer/fall. Taylor is another wrestler that could be ranked much higher, but he hasn’t wrestled at Super 32, GFC, Chaos, or any of the other SE matchups that we were able to track down. Snipes is #6 – beat Panone, but had a disappointing GFC at 135 Elite – bounced back and won the Varsity tournament the next day. Panone lost to Watkins, but rebounded from that loss to battle through the consis to make the podium at GFC. Watkins had two very nice wins over Couto and Panone, but went 0-2 at Super 32.
#11-#15: GA’s Latrell Schafer is #11 and had a nice Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament, but didn’t compete at Super 32 or GFC and attends a school where he isn’t likely to get much top-end competition in the GISA … so his opportunity to make an impression might be gone. Seymour is a 2x Georgia State Champ and is super tough, but we haven’t seen him wrestle this summer/fall. Summerlin, Branand, and Dalrymple each went 1-2 at Super 32.
HM: Any of the names listed here could make a case for the 11-15 spots … and hopefully will have a shot to make a case for one of those spots this coming season. Keep an eye on Georgia’s Andrew Cory, Connor Powell, and Tucker Kinsaul, Tennessee’s Luke Belcher and Riley Fort, Florida’s Blake Walker (he could be ranked at 126, but Lake Gibson has a logjam at these weights), North Carolina’s JT Richards and Davis Freeze, South Carolina’s Jackson Rumfelt and Kaleem Heard (both at York and one will obviously not be at 132, but both could be ranked), and Alabama’s Kyler Adams, Maney Havis, and Jacob Dease.
138 lbs.
Tom Crook - Tampa Jesuit (FL)
Trae McDaniel - Cleveland (TN)
Ethan Mojena - Tampa Prep (FL)
Joseph Sealey - High Point Central (NC)
Brennan Van Hoecke - Palmetto Ridge (FL)
Riley Edwards - Northwest Guilford (NC)
Brayden Ivy - Lakeway Christian (TN)
Jared Dinh - Riverdale (FL)
Isaac Church - Charlotte (FL)
Eli Knight - Sonoraville (GA)
Jayden Tapia - Timber Creek (FL)
Carson Throne - Sequoyah (GA)
Alex Couto - South Dade (FL)
David McClelland - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
Sean Pitts - Father Ryan (TN)
#1: Tom Crook – Tampa Jesuit (FL). Crook had quite a nice October, but probably a little short of what he expects. He made the GFC 135 Elite finals opposite national #1 Nic Bouzakis – losing 5-2 and was 5-2 at 132 at Super 32 with a nice win over Georgia State Champ Mark Metz. Crook has high expectations and is the clear #1 at 138 as we enter the season (we could see a McCrary vs. Tom Crook match the knockout – that would be outstanding).
#2-#5: Trae McDaniel comes in at #2, but we haven’t seen much of McDaniel this summer/fall. He wrestled a little at the Deep South Duals, but didn’t make the trip to Myrtle Beach for either the Grappler Fall Classic or the Super 32. Ethan Mojena went 3-2 at Super 32 at 132 and is #3. Freshman Joe Sealey of North Carolina has looked outstanding and could make a case for being #2 behind Crook at 138. He was 4-2 at 138 at Super 32, 6-2 at GFC 135 Elite with wins over Pitts and Panone and beat Latona, Wood, and fellow North Carolinian Riley Edwards early in the fall. Brennan Van Hoecke wrestled very early this summer and won Rocky Mountain Nationals, but hasn’t been in the mats since and is #5.
#6-#10: Riley Edwards is #6 after going 4-2 at Super 32 at 132, but was a disappointing 0-2 at GFC 135 Elite early in October. Lakeway Christian’s Brayden Ivy should probably be ranked higher, but we have no matches (he could’ve headed north for the Battle of Burgh, etc.) from Super 32, GFC, or any of the other SE tournaments. Jared Dinh, Isaac Church, and Eli Knight round out the top 10. Dinh lost to #11 Jayden Tapia at the Florida Super 32 Early Entry Tournament and Tapia’s could certainly make the case he should be in the top 10. Dinh was impressive at Super 32 going 5-2. Church beat Knight at GFC in a match that got away from the official … resulting in a DQ of Knight. Both wrestlers are very good and I hope we get to see the two compete again this season.
#11-#15: Tapia vaulted into the top 15 with a pair of nice wins at the Florida Super 32 Early Entry Tournament … beating State Champs Dinh and Couto as well as Vadyak. He followed that up with a win over Snipes at GFC and then was 2-2 at Super 32 at 138. Carson Throne is #12 with Couto #13. Lake Highalnd Prep’s David McClelland had a tough October – 1-2 at GFC 130 Elite with a loss to Layton and was 0-2 at 132 at Super 32 with a loss to Branand. He is #14 and Tennessee State Runner-up Sean Pitts is #15.
HM: As I’ve said with other HM sections … the following group of wrestlers could make a case for being ranked. Regardless each should have an excellent season – keep an eye on Florida’s Skylar Caban, Cordell White, Chase Gillis, and Alex Soto (it will be interesting to see where Soto fits in with Dinh I nthe line-up), Georgia’s Mark Metz, Garrett Wood, and Jackson Whitmire, North Carolina’s Will Lewis, Zachariah Lewis, and Zack Karagias, Tennessee’s Josh Parton, and Alabama’s Logan Reaves.
145 lbs.
Caden McCrary - Woodland (GA)
Jack Crook - Tampa Jesuit (FL)
Myles Griffin - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
David Hunsberger - Byrnes (SC)
Hunter Noland - Dalton (GA)
Jeremiah Price - Surry Central (NC)
Jaekus Hines - Osceola (FL)
James Latona - Thompson (AL)
Adrian Neco - South Dade (FL)
Garrett Foreman - Pigeon Forge (TN)
Clint Gilbert - Collins Hill (GA)
Jarrod Pominville - Harrison (GA)
Chase Hicks - Oxford (AL)
Tyler Cabral - Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
Braxton Mann - Science Hill (TN)
#1: Caden McCrary – Woodland (GA). Few have wrestled as well in October as Caden McCrary. He did stumble against #2 Jack Crook in the GFC 140 Elite semis, but rebounded to finish 3rd with a nice win over #3 Myles Griffin and then looked absolutely phenomenal en route to claiming the Super 32 belt just a week or so ago. You could make the argument that Jack Crook beat him head-to-head and that should mean he is #1. I don’t subscribe to that philosophy. Crook is outstanding and had a great October as well … he beat McCrary in that semifinal match. Would he do so again … maybe, but that certainly isn’t a given.
#2-#5: Jack Crook had a tough end to his 2019-2020 season, but that hasn’t slowed him down at all heading into 2020-2021. He beat McCrary at GFC (taking 2nd to Jaydin Scott of New York) and followed that up with a very good 5-2 Super 32. Lake Highland Prep’s Myles Griffin also had an outstanding October – going 6-2 at GFC 140 Elite and then going 5-2 at Super and beating #6 Jeremiah Price. It was a bit of a disappointment to not see Hunsberger make a return trip to Myrtle Beach for the Super 32 … he went 3-3 at GFC 145 Elite and was 5-2 at Chaos duals. He might be up at 152 and should be ranked there, but at the moment he is at 145. Georgia’s Hunter Noland comes in at #5 after going 3-2 at 138 at Super 32.
#6-#10: North Carolina’s super Sophomore Price comes in at #6. Price won a 2A title in 2020 and looks ready to claim another in 2021. He was 6-0 at Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament with nice wins over Sam Harris and Tyler Secoy, he was 2-2 at GFC 140 Elite with a win over Florida Runner-up Adrian Neco-Rodriguez, and was 3-2 at Super 32 at 145 with a loss to #3 Griffin. Florida State Champ Jaekus Hines comes in at #7 – tough losses to Cabral and Cannedy at GFC, but rebounded with a 5-2 Super 32 (also beat Price at Chaos Duals). Alabama’s James Latona is #8 and Neco is #9. Tennessee’s Garrett Foreman comes in #10 after going 3-2 at Super 32 at 145. He could be up at 152 this season, but for the time being is ranked at 145.
#11-#15 Georgia State Champ Clint Gilbert comes in at #11, but because he hasn’t wrestled in any of the SE tournaments we have no idea if this is the right weight or not. Georgia State Placer Jarrod Pominville has had a terrific summer/fall. He was 6-2 at Chaos, 7-1 at the Georgia Super 32 Early Entry tournament, and then fell off a bit going 1-2 at both Super 32 and GFC. He has wins over Ortis and Hicks of Alabama and losses to Moder, Hines, McCrary and Harris. Alabama State Champ Chase Hicks comes in at #13, but could be up at 152 this season (where he may or may not be in the top 15). Florida’s Tyler Cabral wrestled both the Super 32 and the Florida Super 32 Early Entry Tournament at 145 and could also be up at 152 … he has a loss to DeFord who is an honorable mention at 152. Braxton Mann of Science Hill Tennessee rounds out our top 15 at 145 (another wrestler that might ultimately be up at 152).
HM: With several of the 11-15’s close to being up at 152 – look for the following names to break into the top 15 when it is released again during the season. Keep an eye on Georgia’s Al Coy, Jake Swink, Christian Cartier, Alan Cordero, and Tyler Secoy, as well as Tennessee’s Riley Bennett, Landon Fisher, and Cole Fort. Alabama’s Bryce Wanagat is a name to watch as is Florida’s Nick Hejke.
152 lbs.
Caleb Henson - Woodland (GA)
Michael Kilic - Woodward Academy (GA)
Garrison Dendy - Baylor (TN)
Kodiak Cannedy - Greeneville (TN)
Brendon Abdon - Lake Gibson (FL)
Christian Moder - Golden Gate (FL)
Will Miller - Thompson (AL)
Darian Estevez - Somerset Academy (FL)
Chandler Amaker - Ft Dorchester (SC)
Sam Harris - Ola (GA)
Jeremy Paradice - Colquitt County (GA)
Jaden New - Alexandria (AL)
Sergio Desiante - Tampa Jesuit (FL)
Bas Diaz - Somerset Academy (FL)
Gray Ortis - Mountain Brook (AL)
#1: Caleb Henson – Woodland (GA). Henson headlines one of the best weights in the SE. 152 features at least 5 wrestlers that are ranked nationally and that doesn’t include the hammers that will probably wrestle this season up at 160, but have wrestled Super 32 and GFC at 152. Henson could go 160, but with the Woodland lineup that doesn’t seem terribly likely. He won the Super 32 belt beating #9 Chandler Amaker and 160 #6 Jonathan Ley along the way. With Kilic at #2 and Woodward Academy in 5A – you could have Henson vs. Kilic for a state title (personally I don’t think that happens … I think McCrary goes 138 and Henson goes 152 and Kilic drop one more time to 145, but if that match-up happens be sure you are in Georgia to watch it).
#2-#5: Few had as good of a summer/fall as Michael Kilic. Kilic won the 145 Elite at GFC beating #4 Cannedy and #6 Moder and then went 8-1 and finished 3rd at Super 32 beating #3 Dendy. Baylor’s Garrison Dendy comes in ranked #3 after wrestling at 145 at Super 32 … it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him at 160, but he should fit in wherever Baylor needs him most. There might not be a bigger 145/152 than Kodiak Cannedy. He is an absolute monster at the weight and was outstanding this summer/fall – beating Munro up at 170 at Chaos, beating Hines and Hunsberger at GFC (losing to Kilic) and going 4-2 at Super 32. He is another wrestler that could easily be up at 160 or 170 during the season. Lake Gibson’s Brendon Abdon comes in at #5. He was 5-0 at the Super 32 Early Entry Tournament, but was just 3-2 at GFC 152 Elite. The Braves opted for Pre-Season Nationals instead of Super 32 this year so he wasn’t in Myrtle Beach for the belt.
#6-#10: Probably the deepest 6th through 10th group in the rankings. Florida State Runner-up Christian Moder is #6 after a superb Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament where he beat #7 Miller, #9 Amaker, Jakob Chisolm and Will Hames. Was 3-2 at GFC Elite 145 with a loss to Kilic and a win over Pominville. Miller’s only results are from that Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament – wins over Joey Bertrand and Manny Marrero. Thompson (Alabama) opted to head to Pre-Season Nationals rather than Super 32 so we will check in later to see how Miller wrestled in Iowa. Florida’s Darian Estevez is #8 after a solid GFC and Super 32 and Chandler Amaker is #9. Sam Harris of Georgia comes in at #10.
#11-#15: Georgia State Runner-up Jeremy Paradice comes in at #11 after being knocked out of the Florida Super 32 Early Entry Tournament with an injury. He bounced back and was 2-2 at Super 32 a week ago, but had a nice Georgia Super 32 EE tournament where he beat #12 Jaden New and was 5-3 at Chaos. New was 4-2 at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament, but rebounded to go 5-2 at Super 32. Tampa Jesuit’s Sergio Desiante really helped his stock and climbed into the rankings after a superb Super 32 – going 6-2 at 152. Bas Diaz – the outstanding 8th grade and Florida State Champ is #14 (although he and Estevez will need to work out who is going which weight - does one go down to 145 at the end of the season?) and Alabama State Champ Gray Ortis is #15.
HM: Given the depth at 152 … there are several wrestlers that could be ranked in any other weight. Cambridge’s Kyle Romano tops the list. Romano was 7-1 at Chaos, but hasn’t wrestled since (and I believe it is because he is out injured – possibly for the season which would be a shame). Florida’s Kenneth DeFord had a solid fall and makes the honorable mention list as does North Carolina’s Jayden Dobeck. Christian Brothers have two hammers at 152 – Aidan Bowers and Evan Anthony. Anthony had surgery at the end of last season and hasn’t competed as far as I can tell yet this fall. Cody Souder is another Alabama wrestler that would probably make the top 15, but we haven’t seen him on the mats this fall either. Keep an eye on Georgia’s Will Hames and Sam Johnson as well as Tennessee’s Jackson Hurst and Alex Ables. Alabama also has a pair that could make the list in Chisolm and Donald Phillips and Florida’s Dominic Rodriguez might be a name people in Florida and the SE should keep an eye on.
160 lbs.
Kamdyn Munro - Richmond Hill (GA)
RJ Weston - Lassiter (GA)
Lucas Willis - Charlotte (FL)
Dylan Kohn - The Master's Academy (FL)
Gunner Filipowicz - Blessed Trinity (GA)
Johnathan Ley - Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
Cole Cochran - Woodland (GA)
Gavin Cagle - McCallie (TN)
Colby Dalon - Lakeway Christian (TN)
Tre Morrisette - Dobyns Bennett (TN)
Dawson Mathews - Alexander (GA)
AJ Dickerson - West Oak (SC)
Jake Piccirilli - Mt Pisgah (GA)
Oren Bost - East Rowan (NC)
Raul Soto - Lake Gibson (FL)
#1: Kamdyn Munro – Richmond Hill (GA). Munro headlines another outstanding weight here in the SE. Munro has had his ups and downs this summer/fall from losing to #4 Filipowicz and #4 at 152 Cannedy (not that there is anything wrong with either loss) and going 3-2 at Super 32 to beating #8 at 152 Estevez and #2 Weston to claim the 152 Elite GFC title. When he is “on” like he was in his match vs. Vafiadis and Weston at GFC, he is one of the top 152/160’s in the country.
#2-#5: Nationally ranked RJ Weston comes in at #2. Weston has been back at it this summer/fall after missing the last half of the high school season a year ago. He has wins over Romano, Hunsberger, Bowers, Mann, etc. and just two losses to SE foes – Munro in the GFC finals and to Henson at Chaos. 4x Florida State Champ Lucas Willis is #3, but we haven’t seen much of him this fall – mostly because he exited with an injury in the first few minutes of his first match at GFC. Florida’s Dylan Kohn comes in #4 after a stellar GFC (7-1 and 3rd) and 6-2 at Super 32 with wins over #12 AJ Dickerson and #5 Gunnar Filipowicz. Filipowicz is #5 after a superb summer/fall. He went 8-0 at Chaos, 3-1 at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament, 4-3 at GFC with a nice win over #6 Jonathan Ley and 3-2 at Super 32.
#6-#10: Ley, Cochran, Cagle, Dalon, and Tre Morrisette are all outstanding and shows you the depth at 160. Ley finished 3rd at Super 32 at 152 with his only loss coming to eventual Champ Henson. Cochran kind of takes a backseat in terms of attention to teammates McCrary and Henson, but he is phenomenal. He was 6-2 at GFC and 3-2 at Super 32. Cagle – the recent UVA commit – went 3-2 at GFC losing to Ley and was 4-2 at Super 32. Dalon hasn’t wrestled much in the SE, but is a returning Tennessee 1A/2A State champ who is now in D2 with Lakeway Christian. We could see Cagle vs. Dalon for a state title in February. Another Tennessee Champ - Tre Morrisette rounds out the top 10.
#11-#15: Dawson Mathews hit the mats for the first time this summer/fall this past weekend at Pre-Season Nationals. That action is taking place as this is being written so we will have to wait for the next iteration of rankings to breakdown his performance in Iowa. South Carolina State Champ AJ Dickerson comes in #12 – 2-2 at Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament with a nice win over Aaron Sheffield and losses to Singleton and Tre Morisette. Mt. Pisgah’s Jake Piccirilli is #13 – 1-2 at Super 32, 2-2 at Grappler Fall Classic, 6-1 at Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tournament with wins over Amaker, Paradice, and Chisolm. North Carolina’s Oren Bost made the podium at the Grappler Fall Classic and is #14 and Florida State Placer Raul Soto is #15 (Soto might be at 171 with Solozano at 160 for Lake Gibson, but at the moment this is where Soto is after going 4-2 at GFC).
HM: Several outstanding wrestlers fell just outside of the top 15. Alabama State Champ Jack Lamey and State Runner-up Carson Kim are included in that group. As are Georgia State Champ Aaron Sheffield and Georgia Placer Ethan Rickert, North Carolina Champ Seth Blackledge and State Runner-up Aiden Curry, as well as Tennessee State Champ Mason Smith (who we haven’t seen on the mat this summer/fall).
170 lbs.
Matthew Singleton - Woodward Academy (GA)
Alex Whitworth - McCallie (TN)
Jonathan Conrad - Carrollwood Day (FL)
Bailey Flanagan - Lake Highland Prep (FL)
Lance Schyck - Lemon Bay (FL)
Caleb Campos - Cannon (NC)
James Cale Hoskinson - Clay (FL)
Greyson Clark - West Laurens (GA)
Clint Morrisette - Dobyns Bennett (TN)
Joshua Swan - South Dade (FL)
David Bertrand - Mt Pisgah (GA)
Dalton Battle - North Hall (GA)
Cody Rice - Charlotte (FL)
Warren Hoyt - Grissom (AL)
River Carroll - Swansboro (NC)
#1: Matthew Singleton – Woodward Academy (GA). Singleton is the easy #1 – and that says more about how good Singleton is because the group chasing him is outstanding. Singleton was 5-1 at Super 32 losing in the finals to Dean Hamiti Jr. of Illinois. He hasn’t been challenged in the SE since last year when he had a loss to DeSilva at Southern Slam and was pushed by current #2 Alex Whitworth of McCallie at the McCallie tournament (I believe Singleton won that match 5-3 or 5-2).
#2-#5: Whitworth is easily #2 and it will be interesting to see if he wrestles the season at 170 or bumps to 182. He was 7-2 at Super 32 at 170 and claimed a spot on the podium. Florida’s Jonathan Conrad, Bailey Flanagan, and Lance Schyck come in 3, 4, and 5. Conrad and Schyck have been absent from summer and fall wrestling – I don’t know if they play football or not, but both are hammers on the mat. Flanagan had a nice Grappler Fall Classic and was 1-0 at Super 32 with a win over North Carolina’s Aiden Curry when he forfeited out (I wasn’t there so I don’t know what happened).
#6-#10: North Carolina’s Caleb Campos comes in at #6 – he was 2-2 at Super 32, but has been all over wrestling in Pennsylvania, etc. Florida’s Cale Hoskinson and Georgia’s Greyson Clark both helped their stick immensely with some wins this fall. Hoskinson has wins over Tre Morrisette and River Carroll at Chaos, a win over Clark at GFC, and a win over Clint Morrisette at Super 32. Clark downed defending Florida State Champ Josh Swan at GFC in early October. Tennessee’s Clint Morrisette comes in at #9 and Florida’s Josh Swan is #10. Several wrestlers (most notably Swan and Campos) are bumping up significant weight from last year – it will be interesting to see if they stay at 170 or end up coming back down a weight class during the season.
#11-#15: Georgia State Champ David Bertrand comes in #11 – some very good wins over Florida State Placer Roger Arocha and Alabama State Runner-up Warren Hoyt, but also some close losses to Raul Soto at Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament and at the GFC. Georgia 3A State Champ Dalton Battle has had a nice summer/fall … 8-0 at Chaos with a win over Aaron Sheffield, 2-2 at GFC and Super 32 – each time with a win over Florida State Runner-up Cody Rice who comes in at #13. Rice went 1-2 at both Super 32 and GFC – losing to Battle at each event. His loss to fellow Floridia State Placer Jack Dinberg says more about how close Dinberg is to being ranked than a slight of Rice. Grissom’s (AL) Hoyt is #14 and Swansboro’s (NC) River Carroll comes in at #15.
HM: Obviously Jack Dinberg is on the list … the one challenge of ranking him above any of the others in the 11-15 is that he went 2-2 at the Florida Super 32 at 160. The win over Rice is a nice one to add to the resume, but you have to beat the others that “you are supposed to beat”. 170 is loaded with wrestlers that could be in the top 15, but we haven’t seen much of during the summer/fall. Let’s cover a couple that have been on the mats … North Hall’s State Placer Hunter Adams has been wrestling, but it is hard to know where he will fall in the lineup. Tennessee’s Matheson Meade has also wrestled some as has William George. There are several wrestlers that could make the top 15, but we haven’t seen compete yet this year. Keep an eye on Josh Chapin, Georgia’s Armond Jones, Ethan Kasler, and Jackson Eller as well as Florida State Runners-up Josh Pritz and Ahmahd Denmark.
182 lbs.
Tylynn Lukens - Manatee (FL)
Mason Blackwell - Wetumpka (AL)
Sawyer Bartelt - South Dade (FL)
Eyan McKnight - Hillcrest (SC)
Gunner Garriques - Baylor (TN)
Raynarde Thomas - Raines (FL)
Tate Evans - Richmond Hill (GA)
Jebb Knight - Sonoraville (GA)
Avery Krippner - Forsyth Central (GA)
Bentley Wheeler - North Forsyth (GA)
Jeremiah Mauras - Southwest Miami (FL)
Daba Fofana - West Forsyth (GA)
Drake Miller - Pepperell (GA)
Devon Bell - Laney (NC)
Nolan Pozzobon - Marist (GA)
#1: Tylynn Lukens – Manatee (FL). Lukens has had a few ups and downs this fall. He lost early to #3 Sawyer Bartelt at GFC, but battled back to take 3rd including avenging his loss to Bartelt. Lukens went 1-2 at Super 32 beating Noblett of Georgia, but losing to North Carolina’s Holden Cypher.
#2-#5: Alabama State Champ Mason Blackwell comes in #2 after going 7-0 at Chaos duals and 4-0 at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament. He had some nice wins over Will Parker and Tate Evans. If there is a criticism, and the reason he isn’t ranked above Lukens, it is that he didn’t compete at either of the premier events in the SE this fall – the Super 32 or the Grappler Fall Classic. Sawyer Bartelt comes in #3 – split with Lukens, but lost the last meeting. Hillcrest’s Eyan McKnight is #4, but hasn’t wrestled this fall and Baylor’s Gunnar Garriques vaults to #5 after a stellar GFC. Garriques was 3-2 at 189 Elite with wins over Mikey Tal Shahar and Holden Cypher and a loss to Lukens. Garriques has made the most of his opportunity with many of the #6-#15 wrestlers not competing.
#6-#10: Raynarde Thomas (6th), Jebb Knight (8th), and Bentley Wheeler (10th) have yet to make an appearance on the mats this fall. Tate Evans of Richmond Hill has a nice win over Nolan Pozzobon and a loss to #2 Blackwell. Forsyth Central’s (GA) Avery Krippner went 8-0 at Chaos Duals with wins over Jack Dyess, Zane VanVleet, and Khalil Mitchell, but didn’t compete at either GFC or Super 32.
#11-#15: Just like 6-10 – 11-15 has two wrestlers that have yet to hit the mat this fall. West Forsyth’s Daba Fofana and Pepperell’s Drake Miller will begin the 2020-2021 season ranked, but they should keep an eye on those behind them. Florida State Placer Jeremiah Mauras of Southwest Miami has won some and lsot some this fall and comes in at #11. North Carolina’s Devon Bell and Georgia’s Nolan Pozzobon round out the top 15.
HM: Keep an eye on these wrestlers that have put in the work this summer/fall. Will Parker, Carson Freeman, Jack Dyess, Theo Sewell, and Gervacio Gonzalez have each won matches that got them noticed. Baylor’s Omaury Alvarez wrestled a little over the summer, but hasn’t been to any of the top tournaments in the SE this fall and neither has Georgia State Champ Jake Frates.
195 lbs.
Jaxon Smith - Woodland (GA)
Landon Foor - Foard (NC)
David Harper - Baylor (TN)
Nolin Eaddy - Osceola (FL)
Holden Cypher - Millbrook (NC)
Dedric Marshall - Miami Southridge (FL)
Mikey Tal Shahar - American Heritage Delray Beach (FL)
8 Levi Kluttz - Mt Pleasant (NC)
Sean Concepcion - Somerset Academy (FL)
Bryant Wilkinson - Rome (GA)
Thomas Godbee - Vidalia (GA)
Kyle Fink - Robbinsville (NC)
Jonathan Morton - Elizabethton (TN)
Miles Scott - Eastside (SC)
Jason Brumlow - East Hamilton (TN)
#1: Jaxon Smith – Woodland (GA). Smith assumes the #1 spot after a tough October. Smith had a very good early fall – going 8-0 at the Chaos Duals with wins over Cypher, Floyd, Pozzobon, etc. He was seeded 2nd at the Grappler Fall Classic but was injured in his quarterfinal match and hasn’t been back since. Hope he is good to go for the Elite 8 Duals this coming weekend in Atlanta.
#2-#5: Landon Foor, David Harper, and Nolin Eaddy come in #2, #3, and #4. None of the three has wrestled this summer or fall. Both Foor and Harper could make a case for the #1 spot, but without wrestling they will sit tight right behind Smith. Millbrook’s Holden Cypher comes in at #5 after some solid wins (over 182 #1 Lukens, Sewell, and Kluttz), but a loss to Gunnar Garriques keeps him behind the top 4.
#6-#10: Florida State Placer Dedric Marshall of Miami Southridge comes in at #6 after a solid fall. He was 3-3 at GFC Elite up at 215 with a loss to Pettigrew and a win over Carson Floyd and then dropped to 195 and went 4-2 at the Super 32. Florida State Runner-up Mikey Tal Shahar is #7 after going 3-2 at GFC at 195 Elite. North Carolina State Runner-up Levi Kluttz is #8 after going 5-3 at Chaos Duals and 3-1 at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament. 0-2 at Super 32 hurt his bid to be ranked higher than 8th. We finish the top 10 with a pair that has yet to hit the mats this fall … Florida State Champ Sean Concepcion of Somerset and Georgia State Champ Bryant Wilkinson.
#11-#15: We haven’t seen much of 11-15 this fall with the exception of North Carolina State Champ Kyle Fink who comes in at #12. Georgia 2A State Champ Thomas Godbee is #11 with Morton, Scott and Brumlow rounding out the top 15.
HM: Keep an eye on the following wrestlers this season … each could make a run into the top 15. North Carolina’s Jaron Greer and Andrew Becker, Georgia’s Cole Williams and Ty Veatch, Florida’s Kyle McGill, and Tennessee’s Caleb Wolfe and Connor Billingsley. With many football players yet to hit the mat – there are several wrestlers that will certainly make some noise that are not currently listed.
220 lbs.
Triston Norris - North Henderson (NC)
Ashton Davis - Cleveland (TN)
Parker Peterson - Father Ryan (TN)
Sakarri Morrison - Lake Norman (NC)
Chase Thompson - American Heritage Delray Beach (FL)
Dylan Lyerly - North Forsyth (GA)
Carson Floyd - Lake Norman (NC)
Jonathan Chesser - Riverside Military (GA)
Elijah Burns - Commerce (GA)
Kaleb Walley - Rockdale County (GA)
Kodie Hughes - Travelers Rest (SC)
Tristan Middlebrook - Lake Gibson (FL)
Marvin Collins - Winter Springs (FL)
Kyle Watson - Smiths Station (AL)
Ryver Shelton - Jefferson County (TN)
#1: Triston Norris – North Henderson (NC). Norris headlines a good weight that has actually seen quite a bit of wrestling this summer/fall. Norris has been everywhere. He was 7-1 at Chaos Duals where he beat #4 Morrison and split with Noah Pettigrew. He also went 6-2 at Super 32 and was recently headed to Des Moines for Pre-Season Nationals.
#2-#5: Cleveland’s Ashton Davis is a clear #2. He was superb early this summer at Chaos Duals, but suffered an injury before GFC or Super 32 and hasn’t been back on the mat since. Father Ryan’s Parker Peterson is #3, but is a big football player and we won’t see him until the football season is finished. Sakarri Morrison comes in #4. He lost to fellow North Carolinan Carson Floyd at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament, but bounced back to beat Noah Todd, Tristan Middlebrook at GFC, and then went 4-3 at the Super 32. Florida State Placer Chase Thompson comes in #5 after going 2-2 at Super 32.
#6-#10: North Forsyth’s Dylan Lyerly claimed a State title last year as a Sophomore and should be amongst the favorites to do it again in 2021. He comes in #6 with North Carolina’s Carson Floyd coming in #7. Floyd and Morrison are teammates at Lake Norman so it will be interesting to see how they work that out when the season begins. Georgia’s Jonathan Chesser and Elijah Burns are #8 and #9 and both are in Georgia 1A – are both returning Champs and could face each other this season. Rockdale County’s Kaleb Walley is #10 after going 2-2 at GFC 215 Elite with a loss to #7 Floyd and a win over fellow Georgian Garrett Gaston.
#11-#15: South Carolina State Champ Kodie Hughes is #11 followed by Florida State Placer Tristan Middlebrook of Lake Gibson. Middlebrook is the only wrestler in the bottom 5 that has been on the mat this summer/fall and he has made the most of his opportunity. He was 2-1 at the Georgia Super 32 EE Tournament with wins over Noah Todd and Nelson Toro and was 3-3 at GFC with a loss to Morrison and win over Kluttz. Florida’s Marvin Collins, Alabam’s Kyle Watson, and Tennessee’s Ryver Shelton round out the top 15.
HM: Tennessee’s Noah Todd and North Carolina’s Chase Crayton headline the honorable mention list. Both have had good summer/fall’s and will look to break into the top 15 this season. Keep an eye on Georgia’s Brock Bibbee, Bryce Shedd, Connor McHugh, and Garrett Gaston as well as Alabama’s Cole Fuller this fall.
285 lbs.
Chase Horne - West Laurens (GA)
James Howard - McCallie (TN)
Dylan Fairchild - West Forsyth (GA)
Parker Bennett - Creekview (GA)
Mason Arnold - Carrollwood Day (FL)
Joe Fusile - Richmond Hill (GA)
Levi Andrews - Avery County (NC)
Will Jeffcoat - Pelion (SC)
Jamier Ferere - Southern Guilford (NC)
Ryan Walker - Newton-Conover (NC)
Beau Shugarts - Greenbrier (GA)
Jertavis Black - Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
Parrish Pacetti - Hixson (TN)
Gerald Greaves - Dr Phillips (FL)
Lance Williams - Alcoa (TN)
#1: Chase Horne – West Laurens (GA). Horne is not only the best 285 in the SE … he recently won FloWrestling’s Who’s Number 1 event to claim the top spot nationally. He lost that spot a couple of weeks later when he dropped his Super 32 final match vs. Hayden Copass of Illinois.
#2-#5: This group hasn’t hit the mats at all this fall and that shouldn’t be a surprise given that several of them are top football players. James Howard of McCallie comes in #2 and Georgia State Champ Dylan Fairchild of West Forsyth is #3. Fairchild is a Georgia football commit – which gives you an idea of how good he is on the gridiron. Fellow returning Georgia State Champ Parker Bennett of Creekview is #4 (could we see him down at 220?) and Florida State Runner-up Mason Arnold is #5 … Arnold has been the runner-up for several years now – will a change to Carrollwood help him breakthrough to the top step in 2021?
#6-#10: This group also features some football players – at least that is the assumption because we haven’t seen at least 3 of them on the mat this fall. South Carolina’s Will Jeffcoat is #8 after beating #9 Jamier Ferere at the Chaos Duals early this fall. Richmond Hill heavyweight comes in #6, but we haven’t seen him or #10 Ryan Walker on the mats this fall at all. You’d think we might have seen Walker since North Carolina pushed back all NCHSAA sports until later in the fall/spring, but he hasn’t been at GFC or Super 32. Two North Carolinan’s have been very active this fall … #7 Levi Andrews finished 2nd at GFC with wins over Vance (NC), Sans (FL), and Riano (GA). #9 Ferere was 3-2 at GFC and 5-3 at Chaos Duals.
#11-#15: None of 11-15 have hit the mats either and I really debated whether to include Somerset’s Matthew Jimenez, Coffee’s Jesus Riano, Lassiter’s Frankie Valle, and Woodward Academy’s Robert Joseph in here because they have wrestled this fall and have largely done well with the competition that they have faced. But their sample is pretty small and each is in the honorable mention section and are ready to make the jump into the rankings when the high school kicks off. So I went with those wrestlers that finished the 2019-2020 high school season on the podium. #11 is Georgia State Placer Beau Shugarts, #12 is Florida State Placer Jertavis Black, #13 Tennessee 220 State Champ Parrish Pacetti (was 8-1 at Deep South Duals up at 285), #14 is Florida State Placer Gerald Greaves, and Tennessee State Champ Lance Williams rounds out the top 15.
HM: Riano, Valle, and Joseph are definite contenders, but the name you should keep an eye on is Matthew Jimenez. Jimenez has been everywhere this summer/fall and is ready to use that experience to make a run at the Florida 1A title this season. Keep an eye on Alabama’s Brodie Vinson, Dawson Ray and Carson Hall as well.