InterMat releases preseason high school rankings

Posted on | November 12, 2010 | No Comments

By: Josh Lowe, InterMat High School Analyst
josh@intermatwrestle.com

Link: InterMat Weight Class Rankings
Link: InterMat Fab 50 Team Rankings

The pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns have left, and the smell of turkey is in the air, the month of November is here, and this means the beginning of the scholastic wrestling season is upon us. In high schools across the country, preparation for the season has begun in earnest. InterMat is here to provide perspective on the upcoming season with national high school rankings.

Five-time defending state champion Apple Valley, MN is ranked No. 1 in the InterMat Fab 50.

In addition to the customary Top 20 in each weight class individual wrestler rankings, this season marks the return of national high school team rankings for InterMat with the Fab 50. After examining the lineups for many programs across the country, an elite group of four has emerged — Apple Valley, Minnesota, Blair Academy, New Jersey, St. Paris Graham, Ohio, and Brandon, Florida.

Starting the season in the top position will be an Apple Valley squad featuring five seniors that have committed to NCAA Division I programs, four of whom are ranked among the Top 100 prospects in the country by InterMat. In addition, the Eagles feature three other squad members that are ranked in the Classes of 2012 and 2013.

The seven wrestlers appearing in the individual rankings are senior Jordan Kingsley (112), junior Dakota Trom (130), senior Matt Kelliher (135), junior Brandon Kingsley (140), senior Destin McCauley (152) — the top-ranked Class of 2011 wrestler in the nation, senior Steven Keogh (160), and senior Jake Waste (171).

Top 10 Teams in InterMat Fab 50

1. Apple Valley, MN
2. Blair Academy, NJ
3. St. Paris Graham, OH
4, Brandon, FL
5. St. Edward, OH
6. Bakersfield, CA
7. Wisconsin Rapids, WI
8. Wyoming Seminary, PA
9. Simley, MN
10. High Point, NJ

Nipping right on the heels of Apple Valley is perennial powerhouse Blair Academy, New Jersey. The Buccaneers also feature seven wrestlers ranked in the Top 20 of their weight class: freshman Joey McKenna (103), senior Evan Silver (119), senior Caleb Richardson (125), junior Mark Grey (130), junior Robbie Preston (135), senior Austin Ormsbee (140), and sophomore Brooks Black (285). A pair of these wrestlers — Silver and Ormsbee — is ranked first in the country at their respective weight class.

Ranked third in the country is perennial power St. Paris Graham, Ohio, which has strung together a decade of dominance in which they have won the state tournament every year and doubled the next best in the standings on half of those occasions. The Falcon squad features six wrestlers ranked in their weight class: junior Ryan Taylor (112), senior Nick Brascetta (140), sophomore Bo Jordan (145), senior Matt Stephens (152), senior Kyle Ryan (171), and junior Huston Evans (189). Two others are not ranked in their weight class, but are ranked in the Classes of 2014 and 2012 respectively — Micah (119) and Isaac (160) Jordan.

Tyler Liberatore (Brandon, FL) defeated Matt Kelliher (Apple Valley, MN) to win the Junior National freestyle competition. Liberatore begins the season ranked No. 6 at 135 pounds, while Kelliher is ranked No. 7 in the same weight class

While the era of “The Streak” that was famously featured in the ESPN documentary “The Season” is more or less gone, the elements of what make the Brandon, Florida program special remain. Those being tremendous coaching led by legendary head coach Russ Cozart, a tremendous feeder program, and a major commitment to off-season wrestling. This squad features six nationally ranked wrestlers, all of whom were Junior National All-Americans this past summer in freestyle and/or Greco-Roman: junior Colton Howell (103), junior Rossi Bruno (125), sophomore Kevin Norstrem (130), junior Tyler Liberatore (135), junior Clark Glass (152), and senior Wally Figaro (160).

Testing yourself outside of the season in major, competitively relevant platforms — and performing at a high level in these opportunities — is a key element in growing as a wrestler, as well as a common thread among the majority of those in the national rankings. This is in particular the case for wrestlers towards the top, and at the top, of the national rankings.

Below is a profile of each of the top-ranked wrestlers in the country.

To see the balance of Josh Lowe’s article visit Intermatwrestle.com.