photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com
2021 NCAA Division II Men’s National Wrestling Championship
The 2021 NCAA Division II National Championships will take place March 12th and 13th from the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Missouri. Our own Bryce Villa will provide previews for each and every weight class over the next couple of days. Tuesday we featured the lightweights (125-141). Yesterday 149-157 and right now we're talking 165-184 lbs.
165
#1 Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney) 3X AA (2018, 2019, 2020)
#2 John Dean (Belmont Abbey) AA (2020)
#2 @157 Baltazar Gonzalez (American International) AA (2020)
#3 Devin Fitzpatrick (St. Cloud State) 2x AA (2019, 2020)
#4 Alex Faranchek (Gannon) AA (2020)
#5 Fred Green (Colorado-Mesa) AA (2020)
#7 Shane Gantz (Wisconsin-Parkside)
#9 Kameron Frame (Newman) 2X AA (2019, 2020)
#10 Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin) AA (2020)
#15 Chase Morgan (West Liberty)
Noah Tarr (Davis & Elkins)
James Penfold (Lake Erie)
Corey Peterson (McKendree)
Braydon Huber (UMary) AA (2020)
The upper weights at this tournament are absolutely insane. Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney) is a returning All-American and is seeded third. His only Division II losses over the last two seasons are to Fred Green (Colorado-Mesa) and Nick Foster. Malcom and Green are on the same side of the bracket and if Green can avenge his early-season thumping at the hands of Kameron Frame (Newman) in the first round, it should be smooth sailing to the semifinals. Kameron Frame was a victim of some of the most ridiculous refereeing I have even heard about. During his semifinal match, they reversed a call on video review without being able to review the video. Yep. You are correct; I also thought that when video is not available, the original call is supposed to stand. Instead, he lost and got the worst draw in the entire tournament. This has upset written all over it for journeyman Fred Green. JoJo Gonzalez (American International) returned for the Super Regional I tournament, where he finished 3-0 and pinned Alex Faranchek (Gannon) in the finals. The committee at this weight must seem to love rematches because they seeded him fourth and put Faranchek fifth. Devin Fitzpatrick (St Cloud State) avenged his regular-season loss to Shane Gantz (Wisconsin-Parkside), which was enough to earn him the top-seed. They would only have the rubber-match if they met in the finals or on the backside of this tournament. I think Gantz may be the most dangerous sixth-seed in this entire tournament. He has all the skills necessary to win this weight. Fitzpatrick carries the weight of the Huskies fan's expectations on his shoulders and if he can make the finals, it would all but guarantee St Cloud another team title. Braydon Huber (UMary) will join his NSIC rivals in the tournament as an at-large and his unorthodox style could cause fits for more than one of these athletes. Call him John Dean (Belmont Abbey) is undefeated at 10-0, but received zero love from the seeding committee. Maybe they were confused because he is also listed as Mitch Dean sometimes; either way, he is a laughable seventh-seed and I expect him to finish above that. Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin) is a tough draw for anyone in this bracket and his opening match with Dean is sure to have some fireworks. Tiffin is a much different team from the top-10 finish squad in 2019, but they still have points scorers. James Penfold (Lake Erie) compiled a perfect record this season and his wins over fellow Super Regional III qualifiers Chase Morgan (West Liberty) and Bryan Lavearn show that the sophomore is peaking at the right time. Chase Morgan was a victim of the true-second battles and enters the national tournament, having lost two straight matches. He did more than enough during the regular season to earn his at-large bid and he is very capable of providing backside tournament points for the Hilltoppers. Noah Tarr (Davis & Elkins) did not compete in his finals match against Dean, but he earned the automatic bid for the national tournament. Two of his three losses this season are to Chase Morgan. McKendree had a phenomenal super regional tournament and Corey Peterson seems to have regained his redshirt season form where he won 18 matches.
Quarterfinals
Devin Fitzpatrick (St. Cloud State) vs. Corey Peterson (McKendree)
Alex Faranchek (Gannon) vs. Baltazar Gonzalez (American International)
Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Shane Gantz (Wisconsin-Parkside)
John Dean (Belmont Abbey) vs. Fred Green (Colorado-Mesa)
I firmly believe that the seeds hold at this weight which almost certainly means that I am wrong and anarchy will ensue. We are going to pretend, though, that I know what I am talking about and move forward in that sweet oblivion. Devin Fitzpatrick does not have an easy path to the finals, but after a warm-up bout against Noah Tarr, he will already have his blood pumping when he takes on Corey Peterson. In a small tournament, any mistake is magnified and that bye for Peterson could be the last thing he needs. He will go into this match cold and that is going to be a recipe for disaster. In a Super Regional I finals rematch, we will see one of the scariest men in Division II, Alex Farancheck, take on the well-rested Baltazar Gonzalez. Their match in the finals two weeks ago was a second-period fall for Gonzalez. That was only the second time in three seasons that Faranchek has been pinned and that speaks to how dangerous the American International wrestler is. I do not think this match ends early, but I think it goes the way of Gonzalez. Matt Malcom and Shane Gantz is going to be a very good match. The key will be who can put the tough ride on after earning a takedown. Both of these athletes use similar styles to dominate their opponents and have used the same recipe to defeat top-seed Devin Fitzpatrick in the past. Malcom has been here before and I hate to bet against his experience. If Fred Green gets past Kameron Frame in his first match, he is going to be ready to rumble. I am not sure there are any other wrestlers seeded second in the tournament who have the type of finals path that he could have. He follows up a rematch with Frame with a fight against undefeated John Dean. Crazy.
Semifinals
Devin Fitzpatrick (St Cloud State) v Baltazar Gonzalez (American International)
Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney) v Fred Green (Colorado-Mesa)
I am going to start my semifinal predictions with a big upset, I am looking at Baltazar Gonzalez and I just think he has all the tools necessary to defeat the monster that is Devin Fitzpatrick. He is excellent on his feet, excels on top, and is tough to ride. That is the recipe used by athletes in the past to defeat Fitzpatrick and there is more than enough video out there to have him prepped and ready to become American International's first national finalist. Run it again! These two have battled twice in the last two seasons, with Fred Green getting the better of Matt Malcom both times. Each of those wins has come in the finals of the Super Regional VI tournament and now they get to finally meet at the national tournament. Green has only lost once in the last two seasons in Division II, a tech fall to start the 2021 season against Kameron Frame. Five of his six wins since that match were bonus-point victories and now he sees Malcom again. There are no easy matches in this tournament and for Fred Green, that will be his undoing in St Louis. Matt Malcom does not have an easy path, but he does not have the same grind ahead of him that Green does. I think that plays in his favor and he finds a way to finally close out Green and get the win and return to the national finals to battle for a second national title.
Finals
Baltazar Gonzalez (American International) v Matt Malcom (Nebraska-Kearney)
One of these athletes has been here before with a head coach who has taken more than a few of his young men to the pinnacle of success. I think that experience is the difference between Baltazar Gonzalez and Matt Malcom. Malcolm won the 157 national championship in 2019 and was a 2018 All-American as well. He has been here before and not taking anything away from American International head coach Rich Hasenfus, but Dalton Jensen has been coaching national champions Nebraska-Kearney since taking over in the summer of 2016. I think that all the things Gonzalez is very good at, Malcom is just a little better at and in the national finals, it is a game of inches.
Top 8
- Matt Malcom - University of Nebraska-Kearney
- Baltazar Gonzalez - American International University
- Fred Green - Colorado Mesa University
- Devin Fitzpatrick - St. Cloud State University
- John Dean - Belmont Abbey College
- Alex Faranchek - Gannon University
- Kameron Frame - Newman University
- Shane Gantz - University of Wisconsin-Parkside
174
#1 Abner Romero (Lindenwood) AA (2020)
#2 Caleb Spears (Newberry)
#3 Andrew Sams (Indianapolis)
#4 Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnson) 2X AA (2019, 2020)
#6 Trevor Turiff (MSU-Mankato)
#7 Wyatt Jordan (Central Oklahoma)
#8 Josh Jones (McKendree) AA (2020)
#10 Max Bruss (UMary)
Noah Curreri (Queens)
Daniel Beemer (Ashland)
Terrell Garraway (Nebraska-Kearney)
Great job, Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown); you are a 2021 All-American! Not bad for a young man with just two matches on the season. He could finish 2-3 and still be an All-American, not that there is any way that happens. Biddle was an All-American in 2019 and earned the NWCA distinction last season after finishing on a tear. He has won 17 straight matches entering the tournament and is the third-seed. I do not want to say bad things about Andrew Sams (Indianapolis), but I refuse to cheer for anyone who wears Crocs. It is a personal choice I made a long time ago and I will not change it for the Super Regional III runner-up. I will say that the junior has been great since arriving in Indianapolis by way of now Division I Bellarmine and he is now a national qualifier after falling short in 2019. Abner Romero (Lindenwood) was a transfer portal steal for head coach Jimmy Rollins after he appeared back on the wrestling map at the 2020 Reno Tournament of Champions. He entered the lineup in the second semester of 2020 and has been the best wrestler at this weight in Super Regional IV for two straight seasons. His best matches in Division II have been against fellow qualifier Josh Jones (McKendree). Josh Jones is the only one with a win over Romero in Division II and they are on the same side of the bracket. Caleb Spears (Newberry) seemed poised to make the national tournament in 2020 until a late-season injury derailed him. He returned this season and arrives in St Louis undefeated and earned the fifth-seed. This is a weight class where the teams can all make up ground on St. Cloud State after Trevor Turiff (MSU-Mankato) and Max Bruss (UMary) kept the Huskies from earning a bid. Turiff is undefeated and now a super-regional champion after falling short in 2020. Max Bruss is a first-time qualifier as well; the redshirt sophomore returned to the lineup and has been great for UMary this season and joins Braydon Huber as national qualifiers for head coach Adam Aho. Wyatt Jordan (Central Oklahoma) needed an at-large bid to make the tournament, but it was well deserved. His only loss this season was a semifinal loss to Josh Jones. Jordan bounced back from a disastrous super regional tournament in 2020 and avoided the upset to make his statement. Terrell Garraway (Nebraska-Kearney) fell out of the rankings this season after losing three straight matches in January. Since then, he has won eight consecutive matches and enters the tournament riding that momentum for the Lopers. No Huskies at this weight means this is a chance to put points in the bank for the Lopers. Daniel Beemer (Ashland) avenged a regular-season loss to Andrew Sams in the finals of the Super Regional III tournament and it was enough to get the attention of the seeding committee and land in the fifth spot in the bracket. I am not sure what to make of the season that Noah Curreri (Queens) has had so far, but he is now a two-time national qualifier for coach with the best head of hair in Division II Rob Tate. He has a tendency to lose his offense, though, and that makes it hard to trust him in a tournament where everyone is the best in the country.
Quarterfinals
Abner Romero (Lindenwood) vs. Caleb Spears (Newberry)
Daniel Beemer (Ashland) vs. Josh Jones (McKendree)
Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown) vs. Andrew Sams (Indianapolis)
Terrell Garraway (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Trevor Turriff (MSU-Mankato)
Abner Romero has been unstoppable in Division II and he is so difficult to rattle in a way that creates opportunities for an upset. Caleb Spears will need to take him to deep water and hope he gets a leg cramp. I just feel like Romero is the best wrestler at this weight and it will take something beyond just a normal match to slow him down. Daniel Beemer and Josh Jones are going to be a fun match. At first glance, Josh Jones seems to be the heavy favorite. His only loss not to Abner Romero has been to Andrew Sams. But, and here is something to look at, Beemer just beat Sams in the Super Regional III finals. Speaking of Andrew Sams, I expect him to have his hands full with Brock Biddle in their quarterfinal match. There was a time last season where Brock Biddle had lost his offense, he looks to have kept it close by this long offseason because he has not seemed to miss a beat. Even if Sams loses this match, he will be an All-American, finishing lower than 8th. These athletes already have All-American status in the bank. Terrell Garraway has bounced back from that tough stretch and he takes on an athlete in Trevor Turiff, who has been steady as a rock in 2021. Looking at their resumes, despite the perfect record, Garraway has the best list of quality wins.
Semifinals
Abner Romero (Lindenwood) vs. Josh Jones (McKendree)
Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown) vs. Terrell Garraway (Nebraska-Kearney)
I am sure Brock Biddle did not even think about it after hearing that he was already guaranteed to be an All-American. Head coach Pat Pecora is the best all-time for a reason and he has Biddle focused on the larger picture. Biddle is just so good when he is on and he has not been "off" his game for over a year now. This will be the toughest competition that Garraway has faced this season outside of their dual against Division I Iowa State and I think that he blinks. For Abner Romero and Josh Jones, this is just another match against each other. Right now, Romero leads the series 2-1, he has won both their meetings this season, not allowing an offensive point. Something would have to change for a new result, Josh Jones did major Romero in 2020, but that was just Abner's third match in Division II.
Finals
Abner Romero (Lindenwood) vs. Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown)
What a fun matchup. Abner Romero, the journeyman from Old Dominion to Fresno City College now wrestling for Lindenwood. He will take on Brock Biddle of Pitt-Johnstown, the two-time All-American who just seems to keep getting better. This could be a preview of the 2022 national finals too. I jumped on the Abner Romero train after Pitt-Johnstown pulled out the season, but now they are back. Do I jump? I think I will stay with the guy who has the matches under his belt and gone through some challenges to get to this point.
Top 8
- Abner Romero - Lindenwood University
- Brock Biddle - University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
- Josh Jones - McKendree University
- Terrell Garraway - University of Nebraska-Kearney
- Andrew Sams - University of Indianapolis
- Daniel Beemer - Ashland University
- Caleb Spears - Newberry College
- Trevor Turiff - Minnesota State University-Mankato
184
#1 Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) 2X AA (2019, 2020)
#2 Connor Craig (West Liberty) 2X AA (2019, 2020)
#3 Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) 2X AA (2019, 2020)
#4 Anderson Salisbury (Colorado-Mines)
#6 Dan Fillipek (McKendree) AA (2020)
#8 Kyle Wojtaszek (Davis & Elkins)
#9 Austin Eldridge (Nebraska-Kearney)
#10 Bailey Kelly (Maryville)
#11 William Pitzer (St. Cloud State)
Cam Page (Gannon)
Trever Begin (Mercyhurst)
Zebrandon Gant (Newberry) AA (2020)
Gleason Mappes (Indianapolis)
Caden Steffen (SMSU)
Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) will be your 2021 national champion and probably your 2022 one as well. He is not just good, he is dominant. We will finally get to see him take on Connor Craig (West Liberty) though this season and it is hard not to just look ahead to their finals matchup. Craig was the 2019 national champion at 174 and Heath Gray finished third that year at 184. They have never met, but Gray was 2-0 against two athletes who defeated Craig in 2020. Much like at 174, this is probably a preview of the 2022 national finals. They are not the only returning All-Americans at this weight and they are joined by three athletes who were NWCA All-Americans in 2020. ZeBrandon Gant (Newberry) missed all but the season's final tournament but came back in fine form. He finished first and is now a three-time national qualifier in three seasons for head coach Cy Wainwright. Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) was a teammate of Connor Craig at now rebranded Wheeling Jesuit University. They parted ways, but they have met twice since then on the mat, with Craig winning both matches by major decision. Kyle Wojtaszek (Davis & Elkins) fell in the Super Regional II tournament finals to Zebrandon Gant and now faces a tough first-round draw against Anderson Salisbury (Colorado-Mines). They are both now two-time qualifiers, with each of them looking to earn their first All-American finish. Salisbury is coming off a big win over Austin Eldridge (Nebraska-Kearney) and he lands at the fifth-seed. That puts him on a collision course with Dan Fillipek (McKendree), the wrestler who has pushed Heath Gray the most over the last two seasons. Gleason Mappes (Indianapolis) finally made it over the hump and the young stud is now a national qualifier. He comes in with a 6-6 record and was the biggest at-large surprise for me. He can be one of the most dangerous wrestlers out there but he struggles with consistency. William Pitzner (St Cloud State) and Cade Steffen (SMSU) are the representatives out of Super Regional V. In a massive shock to me, Reece Worachek (Wisconsin-Parkside) did not earn an at-large despite his body of work this season. Instead, Cade Steffen effectively ended his season with a true-second fall that propelled the Mustang to the national tournament. Bailey Kelly (Maryville) will return to the national tournament after missing out on a trip in 2020. He will be wrestling close to his home turf and is a tough wrestler to run into on the backside of the bracket. Austin Eldridge steamrolled into the finals of his Super Regional and he earned his at-large over the course of the season, but he lands just below Heath Gray in the bracket. He will need to win a match to become an All-American. Cameron Page (Gannon) and Trever Begin (Mercyhurst) were both drawn into the bracket. Page won the Super Regional I bracket while Begin used a true-second victory over Alex Delp (Pitt-Johnstown) to impress enough to earn the at-large. This bracket is a two-horse race with one horse in the lead.
Quarterfinals
Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) vs. Austin Eldridge (Nebraska-Kearney)
Anderson Salisbury (Colorado-Mines) vs. Dan Fillipek (McKendree)
Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) vs. William Pitzner (St. Cloud State)
Zebrandon Gant (Newberry) vs. Connor Craig
Heath Gray is going to move on. I am sorry Austin Eldridge; it is nothing against how good of a wrestler you are, it is just that the senior from Oklahoma is that dang good. I like the Anderson Salisbury match against Dan Fillipek. This should be a low-scoring match as each wrestler battles for that angle to finish a takedown quickly and not present an opportunity for the other to counter and finish. Fillipek has been so good against everyone not named Heath Gray in his last 19 matches I have to go with him. The best quarterfinal match will be the six versus three seed. Aidan Pasiuk and William Pitzer are both studs. Pitzer has won every match this season, showing poise now that he has taken over the role as the starter. Pasiuk finished fifth in 2019 and the four-time qualifier can be a three-time All-American with a win. He has been here before and as I have said before, experience is something that can only be earned. Connor Craig is the massive favorite in every match against someone not named Heath Gray. That bodes ill for a very tough Zebrandon Gant who is still looking to stand on his first podium.
Semifinals
Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) vs. Dan Fillipek (McKendree)
Aidan Pasiuk (Ashland) vs. Connor Craig (West Liberty)
Connor Craig and Aidan Pasiuk have done this twice before. In neither meeting did Pasiuk mount anything resembling a challenge to Craig and I am not sure what could have happened since their meeting two weeks ago to change that. Heath Gray and Dan Fillipek are also very familiar. Fillipek has been the one athlete who has slowed down Gray over the last two seasons wrestling close matches with the senior. Fillipek will be just up the road from his home mat and sometimes pressure can be a bad thing.
Finals
Heath Gray (Central Oklahoma) vs. Connor Craig (West Liberty)
Connor Craig is very good. He is a national champion and a multiple-time All-American. This is not about how much I like him or how good of a wrestler I think he is. I just think that Heath Gray is better. The key to this match will be for Craig to earn a takedown and put on that tough ride he is so capable of. In the last three seasons, no one has been able to really do that in Division II except for Tony Vezzetti, who knocked Gray to the wrestlebacks in Cleveland using that recipe. Gray has been close before, but I think this is the year. No matter what, we will run it back again next season.
Top 8
- Heath Gray - Central Oklahoma University
- Connor Craig - West Liberty University
- Dan Fillipek - McKendree University
- Aidan Pasiuk - Ashland University
- William Pitzner - St Cloud State University
- Anderson Salisbury - Colorado School of Mines
- Zebrandon Gant - Newberry College
- Austin Eldridge - University of Nebraska-Kearney
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