Region 8 Tournament Preview

[Nainten]

The Region 8 tournament is just ahead so I’ve prepared a preview of sorts for folks to mull over.  With late season weight shifts I realize I’ve probably gotten some folks at the wrong weight.  We can discuss and correct those.  Also some teams have continually bumped up a wrestler to cover a weight when they have multiple, interchangeable wrestlers at a lower one.  It was difficult in some cases to determine who these teams will eventually move up permanently for the tournament but I took a guess in those cases.  Those are open to discussion as well. 

The categories:

1. Odds on Favorite  -- self-explanatory
2. In The Mix – Likely qualifiers some of who will challenge for the title.
3. On the Bubble – Will have to upset someone to get in top 4, but very doable. 
4. Dark Horse – A long shot but not impossible.  Gonna Need a lot of help. 

 

These are all just humble opinions. 

 

Enjoy. 

 

 

 

 

 

106

Odds-On Favorite:  Nick Carter (Cor)

In The Mix: Jeremy Henson (Col); Matthew Smolin (Hou); Abel (Bol)

On the Bubble: None

Dark Horse Qualify:  (Tennyson Thomas (Arl)

 

Nick Carter is the overwhelming favorite to take this weight.  He is undefeated in the region with wins by fall over Smolin, Henson Olson, and Abel.  Jeremy Henson and Smolin will likely face one another in the semis for the shot at Carter in the Finals.  Abel and Olson will battle it out for the last qualifying spot. 

 

113

Odds-On Favorite:  Alex Carroll

In The Mix:  Donovan Nason, Alex Connell, and Sharrif Thomas

On the Bubble: Dalton Ridling

Dark Horse Qualify:  None

 

Carroll should walk out with the region championship comfortably.  Dalton Ridling has better than even chance to qualify top 4 if he can make the weight. 

 

120 

Odds-On Favorite:  Bryce Dodson (Arl)    

In The Mix:  Mitchell Nguyn (Col); Travis Arthur (Hou); Steven Poe (Bar)

On the Bubble: None

Dark Horse Qualify:  Daiquan McInnis (Bol)

 

This will be one of the more interesting weights to follow with three state placer caliber wrestlers in Dodson, Nguyn, and Arthur.  Dodson is the slight favorite based on his win over Arthur and his steady dominance of opponents in the region at this weight.  Nguyn is the seasoned senior dropping down from 126.  He easily has the most high school experience and that could serve to put him over the top if either Dodson or Arthur let nerves get the best of them.    Look for Nguyn and Arthur to meet in the semis if Dodson gets the #1 seed.

 

126

Odds-On Favorite:  Braun Stephens (Bar) 

In The Mix:  Tyler Brown (Bri); Bailey Hulley (Arl); Chase Moncies (Mil)

On the Bubble: Brian Watkins (Hou)

Dark Horse Qualify: 

If Stephens wrestles at this weight he will be the solid favorite over Tyler Brown.  Hulley and Moncies will contend for 3^rd.  Watkins has a good chance to upset either Moncies or Hulley if either is not wrestling to their capabilities.  If Stephens stays up at 132, then his replacement, David Thomas, will immediately drop into the mix with Bailey and Moncies to see who faces Brown in the finals. 

 

132

Odds-On Favorite:  Andrew Zarshenas (Arl)

In The Mix:  Greyson Young (Hou); Diego Scott-McCabe (Col); Andrea Spencer (Mem)

On the Bubble: Braun Stephens (Bar)

Dark Horse Qualify:  Will Solomon (Mil)

 

5^th ranked Zarshenas is a solid favorite over all other contenders with wins over Young, DSM, and Stephens.  If Stephens stays up at this weight, look for him to battle it out in a semi with Young for the chance at Zarshenas in the finals.  That should be a good semi.  Solomon has a chance to qualify if Stephens is at 126 and out of this picture. 

 

 

138

Odds-On Favorite:  Kris Bledsoe (Bar)

In The Mix:  Alaa Shihadeh (Hou), Matthew Richardson (Col), Will Craft (Arl)

On the Bubble: Lafe Reinhart (Kin)            

Dark Horse Qualify:  Destion Edwards (Bol)

 

Had to make someone the favorite so I gave the slightest of edges to Bledsoe.  This weight class is totally up for grabs and, like 120, has state placer quality wrestlers at the top.  Richardson has a win over Bledsoe (@ 145) who has a win over Shihadeh, who has a win over Richardson.  Craft has losses to both, Shihadeh and Matthews but each loss was by 2 points so he has to be reckoned with as well.  Deep weight leaves Reinhart and Edwards on the outside looking in.

 

 

145

Odds-On Favorite:  James Costner (Cor)

In The Mix:  Chris Hall (Bar), Matthew Dale (Hou)

On the Bubble: Josiah Miller (Ger), Jonathan Kreiser (Arl)

Dark Horse Qualify:  Dejerion Williams (Rid)

 

Costner is the clear favorite at 145 with decisive wins over Dale and Hall.  Look for Dale and Hall to meet up in the semis barring an upset.  There is good depth at this weight with Williams, Kreiser, and Miller all capable of upsetting Hall or Dale.  The battle for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th will be a good one. 

 

152

Odds-On Favorite:  Nathan Enzor (Arl)

In The Mix:  Seth Williams (Col), Dalton Mock (Hou), Ahmad Richardson (Cor)

On the Bubble: Reco Hall (Mem)

Dark Horse Qualify:  Jackson Cook (Mil)

 

Another weight with good depth.  Enzor has wins over Williams and Mock while Richardson has a win over Mock as well but a loss to Williams.  The semis could end up rematches between Enzor v. Mock and Williams v. Richardson.  Barring a stumble, expect Enzor to claim the title with a scrum for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th.  Reco Hall and Jackson Cook could provide some surprises in the battle for qualifiers and cannot be overlooked. 

 

160

Odds-On Favorite:  Kevin Reeves (Bar)

In The Mix:  Matthew Mullins (Cor), Matt Wideman (Arl), Gradon Yoder (Col)

On the Bubble: Luis Hernandez (Mil),

Dark Horse Qualify:  Richard Byrd (Bol)

 

Expect Reeves to see Mullins in a rematch of their dual match which was won by Mullins.  I am giving the edge to Reeves, however, because Mullins lost to Mock and was losing to Enzor when he caught him in a head-and-arm for the fall.  Wideman and Yoder have the inside track on the other qualifying spots but if Hernandez comes down to 160 as speculated, he cannot be looked past by either of these two despite having lost to both during the regular season.    Byrd will be a longshot to make it in especially if Hernandez wrestles here.

 

170

Odds-On Favorite:  Jeffrey Houston (Ger)

In The Mix:  Drequan Adams (Cor), Sina Setayeshpour (Hou), Ramsey Essex (Bri)

On the Bubble: Kenney Skylar (Col), George Stewart (Bar)

Dark Horse Qualify:  Rayveon Hardin (Arl),

 

No one here stands out as head-and-shoulders above the rest but Jeffrey Houston has been a consistent winner with no major losses to speak of in the region.  Should be a good battle all four spots with Hardin, Stewart, and Kenney capable of providing surprises.  Ramsey Essex has some quality wins at 182 over Tarver and Hardin.  If you put a gun to my head I’d probably say a Houston-Setayeshpour final. 

 

182

Odds-On Favorite:  Cameron Tarver (Col)

In The Mix:  Wyatt Beal (Hou), Ismael Bakakly (Cor), Brandon Patterson (Bol)

On the Bubble: None       

Dark Horse Qualify:  None

 

Tarver is the favorite in a weak weight class. 

 

195 

Odds-On Favorite:  Tyree Daniels (Cor)

In The Mix:  Wesley Walker (Mil), Nathan Hale (Col), Chris Stowe (Arl)

On the Bubble: Chastain Oliver (Bol), Ahmad Malawi (Kin)

Dark Horse Qualify:  Nicholas Wilson (Bar)

 

Daniels is the class of weight.  Hale and Stowe have split matches.  Expect to see them battling for 3^rd as Walker tries to avenge an earlier loss to Daniels in the finals. 

 

 

220

Odds-On Favorite:  Travis Williams (SW)

In The Mix:  Jeremy Washburn (Bar), Kraig Robinson (Mil), Alexander Tekle (Hou)

On the Bubble: Elijah Holcomb (Col), Emanuel Barrientos (Bar)**

Dark Horse Qualify:  Kylan Gray (Arl)

 

Williams is the probable one-seed.  Washburn will make it interesting as will Tekle.  I can see Williams, Washburn, Tekle, and Robinson in that order.

** Not sure how it would shake out if Barrientos (Bar) goes at this weight instead of Washburn.  Barrientos is a small heavy who has wrestled at 220 at least once this year.  Not enough data to judge his effectiveness at 220 having lost what I think was his only time wrestling at 220 (LBF to Hale who is a true 195). 

 

285

Odds-On Favorite:  Tres Ring (Col)

In The Mix:  Emanuel Barrientos (Bar), Quinton Harrison (Mil), Mitch Whitten (Arl)

On the Bubble: Stephan Stuckey (Kin), Radarrius Anderson (Mem)

Dark Horse Qualify: 

 

Ring is the head-and-shoulders choice to win it at heavyweight without much dispute.  Barrientos would be his likely opponent in the finals if he stays at heavy.  Stuckey or Anderson could easily knock of Whitten.  I think 1,2, and 3 are pretty set in Ring, Barrientos and Harrison with the battle for 4^th being up in the air. 

Edited January 28, 2014 by Nainten

[Nainten]

I've heard chatter that Braun Stephens is going to stay at 132.  That being the case it opens up 126 quite a bit with Tyler Brown, however, still having the inside track.  This may end up being one that's up for grabs. 

[Longo]

Olson (106) from Bartlett has beaten Tennyson and Able multiple times this season, most recently pinning Abel at Freshman City

 

Young (132) from Houston might drop to 126, and he would then take the #1 seed since he beat Stephens. 

 

Bledsoe will most likely be 145

 

Seth Williams (Collierville) will most likely be 145

 

Byrd (Bolton) should be at 152

 

Graham (Bartlett) at 182 isnt even mentioned; Nick Wilson may be dropping to 182 and has pinned Malawi twice

 

Barrientos is most likely going 220

[Nainten]

These are the seeds for the tournament. 

If they were to hold, Collierville will likely win the team points title ( assuming bonus points even out between the top teams). There is a enough parity between Collierville, Houston, Arlington, Bartlett, and Cordova to guarantee these seeds won’t hold, however. 
Should be a very competitive tournament.  I think Collierville has to stumble to lose it, but it happens sometimes. Places 2-5 will be hotly contested.

 

 

106

1

Carter -Cor

2

Henson - Col

3

Smolin - Hou

4

Olsen - Bart

 

113

1

Carroll - Bar

2

Ridling - Bol

3

Nason - Kin

4

Connell - col

 

120

1

Nguyen - Col

2

Dodson - Arl

3

Arthur - Hou

4

Poe - Bar

 

126

1

Young - Hou

2

Stephens - Bar

3

Ensell - Ger

4

Perez - Kin

 

132

1

Zarsh - Arl

2

DSM - Col

3

Brown - MEH

4

Taylor - Cor

 

138

1

Shihadeh - Hou

2

Richardson - Col

3

Craft - Arl

4

Srock - Mil

 

145

1

Costner = Cor

2

Hall - Bar

3

Dale - Hou

4

Williams - Col

 

152

1

Enzor - Arl

2

Cook - Mil

3

Richardson - Cor

4

Hall - MEH

 

160

1

Mullins - Cor

2

Reeves - Bar

3

Wideman - Arl

4

Hampton - MEH

 

170

1

Ramsey - Bri

2

Houston - Ger

3

Adams - Cor

4

Yoder - Col

 

182

1

Walker - Mil

2

Tarver - Col

3

Young - Hou

4

Graham - Bar

 

195

1

Daniels - Cor

2

Malawi - Kin

3

Moore - MEH

4

Williams - SW

 

220

1

Tekle - Hou

2

Hale - Col

3

Robinson - Mil

4

Wilson - Bar

 

285

1

Ring - Col

2

Harrison - Mil

3

Barrientos - Bar

4

Anderson – MEH

 

 

[memphissoccerpimp22]

When and where is this

[Nainten]

Up to the quarterfinals were wrestled last night.  I think today's rounds have been postponed until tomorrow at noon due to the weather.  It is being held at Cordova.  Scores as of last night: 

1. Houston            44.0
2. Bartlett              41.5
3. Collierville         31.0
4. Arlington           27.0
5. Cordova           25.0
6. Kingsbury         20.0
6. Millington          20.0
8. Memphis East  16.0
9. Brighton           11.5
10.Bolton             10.0
10.Germantown   10.0
12.Southwind       2.0
13.Ridgeway        0.0

[memphissoccerpimp22]

Thanks will u keep me posted would like to come watch tomm

[tennesseeterp]

Thanks will u keep me posted would like to come watch tomm

Wrestling starts at 12:00 at Cordova H.S.

[xtrmx]

The Region 8 tournament is just ahead so I’ve prepared a preview of sorts for folks to mull over.  With late season weight shifts I realize I’ve probably gotten some folks at the wrong weight.  We can discuss and correct those.  Also some teams have continually bumped up a wrestler to cover a weight when they have multiple, interchangeable wrestlers at a lower one.  It was difficult in some cases to determine who these teams will eventually move up permanently for the tournament but I took a guess in those cases.  Those are open to discussion as well. 

The categories:

1. Odds on Favorite  -- self-explanatory
2. In The Mix – Likely qualifiers some of who will challenge for the title.
3. On the Bubble – Will have to upset someone to get in top 4, but very doable. 
4. Dark Horse – A long shot but not impossible.  Gonna Need a lot of help. 

 

How did your predictions work out?

 

[Nainten]

There were a good number of weigh changes like Bledsoe going UP to 152 and some of those pointed out by Longo.  I just didn't bother updating the preview to reflect them. 
So the short answer is that  it remains to be seen ( the tournament is but 1/2 way finished as of this morning), but my goal wasn't to predict outcomes so much as to provide a "lay of the land" to anyone mildly interested on who the players were.  Cheers!. 

 

p.s.  I plan to give up day work if that's what you were angling at.    

Edited February 9, 2014 by Nainten

[Nainten]

Region 8 finished up it’s tournament on Sunday evening after a one day weather delay.  Collierville won handily by 33 points over second place Houston.  The Dragons had 8 finalists; the Mustangs had 4; and Arlington, Millington,  and Bartlett each had 3.    Arlington came in third edging out Bartlett by 3.5 points with 126.  The tournament placers and state qualifiers are as follows:

 

106
1st Place - Nicholas Carter of Cordova
2nd Place - Jeremy Henson of Collierville
3rd Place - Matthew Smolin of Houston
4th Place - Jonathan Abel of Bolton

113

1st Place - Alex Carroll of Bartlett
2nd Place - Dalton Ridling of Bolton
3rd Place - Alex Connell of Collierville
4th Place - Samuel Greenberg of Houston

120
1st Place - Bryce Dodson of Arlington
2nd Place - Mitchell Nguyen of Collierville
3rd Place - Travis Arthur of Houston
4th Place - Tyler Poe of Bartlett

126
1st Place - Grayson Young of Houston
2nd Place - Braun Stephens of Bartlett
3rd Place - William Perez of Kingsbury
4th Place - Bailey Hulley of Arlington
 

132
1st Place - Andrew Zarshenas of Arlington
2nd Place - Diego Scott-McCabe of Collierville
3rd Place - David Thomas of Bartlett
4th Place - Justin Taylor of Cordova

138
1st Place - Matthew Richardson of Collierville
2nd Place - Alaa Shihadeh of Houston
3rd Place - John Craft of Arlington
4th Place - Marcus Sutton of Kingsbury

145
1st Place - Seth Williams of Collierville
2nd Place - Matthew Dale of Houston
3rd Place - James Costner of Cordova
4th Place - Josiah Miller of Germantown

152
1st Place - Nathan Enzor of Arlington
2nd Place - Jaxon Cook of Millington
3rd Place - Kris Bledsoe of Bartlett
4th Place - Ahmad Richardson of Cordova

160
1st Place - Matthew Mullins of Cordova
2nd Place - Kevin Reeves of Bartlett
3rd Place - Brandon Carmichael of Millington
4th Place - Matt Wideman of Arlington

170
1st Place - Jeffrey Houston of Germantown
2nd Place - Essex Ramsey of Brighton
3rd Place - Graydon Yoder of Collierville
4th Place - Rayveon Hardin of Arlington

182
1st Place - Luke Walker of Millington
2nd Place - Cameron Tarver of Collierville
3rd Place - Cole Young of Houston
4th Place - Ismaeel Bayakly of Cordova

195
1st Place - Tyree Daniels of Cordova
2nd Place - Irana Moore of Memphis East
3rd Place - Ahmad Malawi of Kingsbury
4th Place - Nick Wilson of Bartlett

220
1st Place - Alexander Tekle of Houston
2nd Place - Nathan Hale of Collierville
3rd Place - Kylan Gray of Arlington
4th Place - John McDougal of Southwind

285
1st Place - Tres Ring of Collierville
2nd Place - Quinton Harrison of Millington
3rd Place - Radarius Anderson of Memphis East
4th Place - Justin Jones of Houston