[twitter-follow screen_name=’RossIAWrestle’ show_count=’yes’ text_color=’00ccff’] [twitter-follow screen_name=’IAWrestle’ show_count=’yes’ text_color=’00ccff’]
Taking a look ahead to the JJ Classic tournament this weekend. After some great performances at the Super 32 we look ahead to the next big tournament on the list up North. (Note: This is the list of competitors was updated on 11/7/14 with new wrestlers in italics).
100 – Kyle Biscoglia Fr – Waukee
Biscoglia had a really good start to his preseason as he captured the Conflict at Carver title. Being just a freshmen Biscoglia doesn’t have a really big resume, but if he can have a strong finish at the JJ Classic this weekend, it shouldn’t be long until the young freshman is showing up in our rankings.
106 – Justin Portillo Jr – Clarion-Goldfield
The smaller Portillo has really been on a roll lately, earning titles at the Conflict at Carver, KC’s Blue Chip Fall Brawl, and he made the round of 16 this past weekend at the Super 32 tournament. Justin has done so well he has earned himself a place among Flowrestling’s rankings.
113 – Josh Portillo Jr – Clarion-Goldfield, Derek Holschlag So – Union, Brennen Doebel Sr – Clear Lake
Josh Portillo has also racked up honors: Conflict title, 3rd at Fall Brawl, and a Preseason National title. Josh also made the round of 16 this past weekend at the Super 32 and is the returning 1A Iowa state champion. Sophomore Holschlag had a pretty good Preseason Nationals as he finished sixth place, and one of his losses was to a top ten ranked wrestler in Iowa commit Jason Renteria.
132 – Shane Vaughan Sr – Johnston and Austin Gutkneht Fr – Clarinda
Vaughan was at the Conflict earlier this fall and where he put together a 1-2 performance, with his lone win coming over a fellow Iowan Keegan Tenge.
138 – Colton Clingenpeel Jr – Thomas Jefferson and AJ Geers Jr – Linn-Mar
Clingenpeel put together a great Conflic performance as he placed second at 145 losing only to Illinois wrestler Kenan Carter of Izzy Style. Now back down at 138 Clingenpeel will look to build off his strong summer which saw him bring home Cadet Fargo All-American honors in freestyle. Geers also wrestled at 145 for the Conflict, going 1-2, but had a strong Fargo performance this summer, which saw him go 4-2.
145 – Fredy Stroker Sr – Bettendorf, Ryley Smith Sr – Norwalk, Jack Koethe Jr – West Des Moines Valley
Fresh off of his Freakshow title at 155, Stroker is headed back down to a lower weight and I think we should look for Stroker to be a wrecking ball at this tournament. Considered Iowa’s best pound-for-pound wrestler look for Stroker to continue to boost his already impressive resume.
160 – Dayton Racer Sr – Bettendorf (up from 152)
Racer was also already having a good preseason (GFC champion and 3rd at Preseason Nationals), but then he dropped to 152 and showed everyone he has what it takes to be considered a top recruit when he finished second at the Super 32. Racer will be returning to the state where he has already won a state title, so this is a homecoming of sorts.
170 – Jacob Holschlag Sr – Union and Dillion Chase Sr – Clinton
Holschlag won his only preseason tournament, but it was Preseason Nationals so it was a good one to win. The other Iowa competitor is Chase from Clinton who just finished 3rd at Preseason Nationals, where his only loss as a 2-0 defeat from Holschlag.