Blue White Illustrated

Kolodzik (Princeton), Brock Mauller (Missouri) 157 | Jason Nolf (26-0) | Sr., Yatesboro, Pa. PSU OUTLOOK As has been the case the past two years, it's Nolf and everybody else at 157. Back is Hayden Hid- lay of North Carolina State, who gave him a challenge in the national final a year ago before falling, 6-2. Nolf has defeated most of the other top competitors decisively. He might find his strongest competition to be against teammate Bo Nickal in the hunt for the Hodge Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top college wrestler. FRONT OF THE CLASS Nolf*, Tyler Berger (Nebraska), Ryan Deakin (Northwestern), Hayden Hidlay (North Carolina State), Alex Pantaleo (Michigan) 165 | Vincenzo Joseph (23-1) | Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. PSU OUTLOOK Joseph has never won a Big Ten title. He has also never not won an NCAA title. Despite suf- fering his first defeat of the season in the conference final – 9-3 to Alex Marinelli of Iowa – he's got to be considered the favorite nationally until someone knocks him off when it counts most. In front of a hometown crowd, the stakes may never be higher for Joseph as he searches for his third national title in three years. FRONT OF THE CLASS Joseph*, Alex Marinelli (Iowa), Logan Massa (Michigan), Josh Shields (Arizona State), Evan Wick (Wisconsin) 174 | Mark Hall (26-0) | Jr., Apple Valley, Minn. PSU OUTLOOK Known for slick counter moves and a stingy defense, Hall knows how to win big. But maybe more important, he also knows how to win close. That's what it will take to get through this bracket, which once again features defending champion Zahid Va- lencia of Arizona State. Hall and Valen- cia have had a series of nail-biters, including matchups in the past two NCAA tournaments. They split those bouts at nationals, but Hall won their most recent meeting – a convincing 4- 0 victory during a dual meet at Rec Hall in December. FRONT OF THE CLASS Hall*, Zahid Va- lencia* (Arizona State), Jordan Kutler (Lehigh), Daniel Lewis (Missouri), Myles Amine (Michigan) 184 | Shakur Rasheed (18-0) | Sr., Coram, N.Y. PSU OUTLOOK Rasheed carries an undefeated record into nationals after taking a medical forfeit before the Big Ten cham- pionship round against Myles Martin of Ohio State, which didn't count as a loss. Rasheed had missed some previous matches late in the season for unknown injury reasons. Perhaps his absence against Martin was purely precautionary, as the team re- ported after the tournament. Or maybe Penn State's coaches didn't want Martin to encounter Rasheed's funky style be- fore nationals, when it matters most, in the hope that the unknown could catch the Buckeye standout off-guard if/when they finally meet. FRONT OF THE CLASS Rasheed, Myles Martin* (Ohio State), Nick Reenan (North Carolina State), Max Dean (Cornell), Zachary Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) 197 | Bo Nickal (25-0) | Jr., Allen, Texas PSU OUTLOOK This weight class used to belong to Ohio State's Kollin Moore, at least as far as the Big Ten was concerned. But that was before Nickal moved up to 197 for his senior season. Not only did Nickal pin the two-time league champ in a dual meet, he rolled him for a 10-3 decision in the conference tourna- ment final. Now a three-time Big Ten champ himself, Nickal's dominance doesn't stop within league borders. He's twice won the national crown at 184 and has the opportunity to add a 197-pound title to his trophy shelf. Who's going to stop him? The next question concerns the Hodge and whether Nickal can edge his teammate Nolf for wrestling's version of the Heisman Trophy. FRONT OF THE CLASS Nickal*, Patrick Brucki (Princeton), Kollin Moore (Ohio State), Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State), Willie Miklus (Iowa State) 285 | Anthony Cassar (25-1) | Sr., Rocky Hill, N.J. PSU OUTLOOK Gable Steveson, a true freshman phenom from Minnesota, had dreamed of an unde- feated career record and four national champi- onships – and it looked as though he was on track until the Big Ten final. That's when Cassar scored a late takedown to win, 4-3. It was the first takedown the Golden Gopher standout had surren- dered all season. Steveson's latter ambi- tion is still within reach as he prepares for his first trip to the national tournament. But since moving up from the 197-pound class, Cassar has proven he's a real threat at heavyweight. His only loss on the sea- son came by 1 point against Derek White of Oklahoma State during the Southern Scuffle, and he's made significant im- provements since then. Although the senior will be making his first trip to na- tionals, he appears to have as good a chance as anyone to find himself stand- ing atop the podium in Pittsburgh later this month. FRONT OF THE CLASS Cassar, Gable Steveson (Minnesota), Amar Dhesi (Ore- gon State), Derek White (Oklahoma State), Jordan Wood (Lehigh) ■ * Previous NCAA champion 157 Jason Nolf 26-0 Sr. | Yatesboro, Pa. 165 Vincenzo Joseph 23-1 Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. 174 Mark Hall 26-0 Jr. | Apple Valley, Minn. 197 Bo Nickal 25-0 Sr. | Allen, Texas 184 Shakur Rasheed 18-0 Sr. | Coram, N.Y. 285 Anthony Cassar 25-1 Sr. | Rocky Hill, N.J.

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