by John Rizzuti

Tournament Preview – How will Texas wrestlers do?

The Super32 Challenge is one of the most intriguing preseason tournaments anywhere in America. It’s only a few years old, but has already grown by leaps and bounds to handle 1250 high school-age wrestlers. The meet is set for this Saturday, October 28 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The one and only “Nature Boy” Ric Flair did most of the famous wrestling in this arena in the past decade! Scores of wrestlers from all over the Eastern seaboard with a great percentage coming from the southeast will be competing.

The organizers are also doing things just a little differently from other tournaments. First, they are allowing high school football players to weigh-in on Saturday morning. (All other competitors must weigh-in Friday evening.) So far they have about 25 football players set to compete. Talk about pulling a double shift! Second, the matches are 2-1-1 for the championship bracket and 1-1-1 for the consolations. There is no 180-class (c’mon people get with the program. There is no logic behind not having a 180-class. In Texas it is always one of our best classes)! The overtime rules are also the “old” regulations because of “time constraints.”

The top 12 wrestlers are seeded and some of the weight-classes have a huge entry list. While there are many, many kids in some classes this is a meet where some unknowns can shine. There are anywhere between 3 and 15 state champions per class (275 has none!) but there are also a ton of kids who didn’t place at state so this meet is wide-open!

Last year several Bishop Lynch kids entered the meet. Three of them were seeded first (David Staines 103, Dak Adamson 130, and Luke Ashmore 140). Luke Silver was seeded sixth. The Silver Bullet put on the most impressive show as he battled his way to the finals where he met top-seed and nationally ranked Adam Pittman from wrestling powerhouse Great Bridge (VA). Silver won the match 3-2 once again showing his great strengths in defensive wrestling and technical ability. He just doesn’t make mistakes! Luke Ashmore won his class getting the belt on a 2-1 match over Mallie (oh, Mallie) Shuster from Big Spring, PA.

Dak Adamson, who once again acted like a lean-mean pinning machine with three falls and 2 matches where he rolled up 14 points, got second.

This year 22 Texans are on the entry list. Some of our best superstars are headed east to represent the Lone Star State. Several of the wrestlers have been training with Dallas Dynamite. That will definitely give them an advantage.

Here is my take on how the Texas boyz will do.

Possible Champions:
Luke Silver (140) He did it once, he can do it again. There are six other state champions in his class, including heralded Chris Diaz from Caesar Rodney (DE) and Tim Miles out of Christiansburg (VA). The Silver Bullet should get the top seed and with his skill set and his ability to plow through a big meet making very few mistakes, look for Luke to wear another Super32 crown.

Actual results: Luke Silver beat Chris Diaz for the title.

Possible Finalists – Top Four Minimum
I see Dak Adamson, John Koepp, Jeremy Sandoval, Josh Sandoval and Erik Spjut as being the best shots to get in the hunt for a title. Dak has six other state champions in his class but he is certainly capable of winning it all. If Jeremy Sandoval went at 119 he would probably be a finalist but we are told he is going 125, which is a far tougher road. With both Sandoval’s you always have the shot at a title. A lot depends on seeds. Spjut can win it all but he has nine state champs and four runners-up in his class. That ain’t gonna be easy! Same for Koepp. At 152 he has more state champs than any other weight-class. But that said Koepp has beaten many of the top wrestlers in the country and a bunch of southeastern U.S. wrestlers aren’t going to scare him.

Actual results: John Koepp lost 3-2 in the championship bout at 152. Erik Spjut placed fifth at 112. Dak Adamson did not compete.

Possible Top-eight Medal Winners
Justin Armstrong, Tanner Eitel, Kyle Anderson, Teddy Gambordella, Jordan Couch, Cameron Couch and Stephen Wurster. Would love for one of these guys to breakthrough. Many of these guys (Armstrong, Anderson, C. Couch) have moved up several weight classes. It’s is always a great challenge early in the season to adjust to the heavier opponent. It wouldn’t surprise me if one of these guys did shock some people and break the top four.

Actual results: Justin Armstrong placed 4th at 140.

A Great Learning Experience
Scott Collins, Sean Monahan, Alexander Munoz, Troy Silver, Chad Gallatin, Dillion Shail, Joshua Brown, Vassil Boasherliev, and Travis Cable.

Actual result: Alex Munoz placed 7th/8th (no match).