125 | 133 | 141 | 149
Anticipation for the 2015 Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle continues to build as we are just over a week away from the start of the tournament. All eyes in the collegiate wrestling world will again be on Chattanooga, Tenn., as the Mocs host the prestigious event for the fourth time.
TheSouthernScuffle.com has already broken down the 123-149 brackets and links to those previews are available above. The #LetsScuffle outlook continues today with an overview of the competition at 157 and 165.
157 is going to be a tough one with four All-Americans and four of the top-10 set to compete. Kent State junior Ian Miller was a finalist last year. He lost to Oklahoma State's Alex Dieringer who has moved up to 165.
Miller is currently No. 3 in the Intermat rakings, right behind Scuffle newcomer James Green of Nebraska. Green, a junior, is a three time All-American and finished third at last year's NCAAs. In fact, he defeated Miller (MD, 1-3) in the third place match at the national tournament in March.
“I think a lot of people are looking at the 157 bracket and anticipating a Green-Miller matchup in the finals,” stated UTC head coach Heath Eslinger. “That certainly could be the case, but there is going to be some great wrestling at that weight before we get there.”
Other All-American's in the mix include Cornell Sophomore Brian Realbuto and Penn State senior Dylan Alton. Realbuto finished fifth at the NCAAs in 2014, while Alton placed third as a freshman in 2012. Realbuto was also fifth at last year's Scuffle.
Three others in the field have placed at the Scuffle in the past. Appalachian State junior Zach Strickland was sixth in 2013, while Navy junior Bobby Burg was seventh. Central Michigan junior Lucas Smith was seventh a year ago.
Other ranked wrestlers at 157 include No. 11 Joey Lavalle (Missouri – So.), No. 14 Brian Murphy (Michigan – So.), No. 17 Immanuel Kerr Brown (Duke – Sr.) and No. 20 Russell Parsons (Army – So.).
Taking the mat for the Mocs is junior Austin Sams. Sams is 5-9, but has been competing hard in his last three outings. He had a big win in the dual against North Carolina and barely lost a 2-1 decision against Old Dominion on Saturday.
“Sams is getting better each time out and gaining a lot of confidence,” said Eslinger. “His next step is to start getting the results and he has a chance to do that in the Scuffle.”
| Rank |
Name |
Year |
School |
2014 Scuffle Place at 157 |
| 2 |
James Green* |
Sr. |
Nebraska |
|
| 3 |
Ian Miller* |
Jr. |
Kent State |
2nd |
| 4 |
Brian Realbuto* |
So. |
Cornell |
5th |
| 9 |
Dylan Alton* |
Sr. |
Penn State |
|
| 11 |
Joey Lavalle |
So. |
Missouri |
|
| 14 |
Brian Murphy |
So. |
Michigan |
|
| 17 |
Immanuel Kerr-Brown |
Sr. |
Duke |
|
| 20 |
Russell Parsons |
So. |
Army |
|
| |
Bobby Burg |
Jr. |
Navy |
7th (2013) |
| |
Lucas Smith |
Jr. |
Central Michigan |
7th |
| |
Zach Strickland |
Jr. |
Appalachian State |
6th (2013 |
The 165 draw is another top-heavy field with three All-Americans competing. This group is highlighted by 2014 NCAA Champion and top-ranked Alex Dieringer. The Oklahoma State junior won the Scuffle at 157 last year and used that to springboard to the 157 title at the NCAAs in March.
He is pushed by Virginia senior All-American Nick Sulzer. Sulzer is No. 2 in the nation at 165. He placed third at the Scuffle last season, fourth in 2013 and fifth in 2012. Both Sulzer and Dieringer are undefeated heading into the tournament.
“This is another anticipated matchup that will have a lot of hype,” continued Eslinger. “They are clearly the best two at this weight, but look out for someone like Iowa State's Michael Moreno to get into the mix.”
Moreno is a two-time All-American, finishing fifth at last year's NCAAs. He comes into the Scuffle with a 14-1 record and a No. 5 ranking.
Cornell sophomore Dylan Palacio (6th) and Navy senior Payton Walsh (8th) both placed at last year's Scuffle and are No. 6 and No. 15 in the Intermat rankings this week. Other ranked competitors in the field include No. 10 Taylor Massa (Michigan – So.), No. 13 Jim Wilson (Stanford – Fr.), No. 17 Max Rohskopf (N.C. State – So.) and No. 20 Austin Wilson (Nebraska – Jr.).
Competing for UTC is freshman Garrett Alexander. He is looking for his second win of the year. “Just like Austin, Garrett is getting better each day,” added Eslinger. “It is a tough field, but Garrett is ready for the challenge and has the potential to pull off a few wins.”
| Rank |
Name |
Year |
School |
2014 Scuffle Finish at 165 |
| 1 |
Alex Dieringer |
Jr. |
Oklahoma State |
1st (157) |
| 2 |
Nick Sulzer |
Sr. |
Virginia |
3rd |
| 5 |
Michael Moreno |
Sr. |
Iowa State |
|
| 6 |
Dylan Palacio |
So. |
Cornell |
6th |
| 10 |
Taylor Massa |
So. |
Michigan |
|
| 13 |
Jim Wilson |
So. |
Stanford |
|
| 15 |
Peyton Walsh |
Sr. |
Navy |
8th |
| 17 |
Max Rohskopf |
So. |
N.C. State |
|
| 20 |
Austin Wilson |
Jr. |
Nebraska |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Rankings based on Intermat Dec. 16
* - Denotes All-American
The 2015 Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle takes place at the McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Jan. 1-2. For tickets, local attractions and hotel information, visit TheSouthernScuffle.com.
Flowrestling and Trackwrestling will again provide complete coverage of the event through live video and live scoring. Links for both are on TheSouthernScuffle.com.
Once again, the official hashtag of the Southern Scuffle is #LetsScuffle. Last year, the tournament trended nationally on social media. Be sure to use the #LetsScuffle hashtag when tweeting about the 2015 tournament.
