Part Two: Storylines to Watch at the 2021 Super 32 Challenge (160-HWT)
by Christopher Miller

Image courtesy of The Super 32 Challenge Twitter Page (@TheSuper32). 

As per usual, the Super 32 Challenge is showing signs of being an immensely competitive tournament once again in 2021.

Rankings don’t guarantee Super 32 belts. That being said, there are north of 150 nationally-ranked wrestlers (including dozens of TOM-ranked wrestlers) in a talent-laden men’s high school field. The men’s high school tournament has over 1,600 competitors from 48 different states (only Arkansas and Mississippi will not have representation) Plus, both the U.S. and Canada will be represented.

All of whom will be competing inside the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, October 23-24. 

Below you’ll find the pre-seeds, brackets, a complete entry list, TOM’s latest rankings from Colt Yinger, and finally, some storylines to watch out for.

We are one day away from the most challenging high school event in the nation. With more than 30 different colleges currently represented as future landing sports for these high school standouts, this is an action-packed two-day wrestling extravaganza you surely won’t want to miss. 

https://twitter.com/MatScoutWillie/status/1451665373418360835

TOM’S WHAT TO WATCH FOR AT THE 2021 SUPER 32 CHALLENGE SEPTEMBER 23-24. 

https://twitter.com/theopenmat/status/1451626366538035206

160: With No. 3 Aiden Riggins (Iowa) and No. 7 Tyler Lillard (Ohio) both being scratched from the action this weekend, the projected winner Levi Haines (Pennsylvania) becomes even more favored. Haines, a Cadet Trials champ and a Super 32 champ from a year ago, hopes to bring home the belt this year as a senior before heading to Penn State. 

170: Wow! This weight will be a lot of fun. The top five in the field are 2020 Super 32 finalist and No. 1 seed Matthew Singleton (Georgia), No. 2 Rocco Welsh (Pennsylvania), No. 3 Brayden Thompson (Illinois), No. 4 Tate Naaktgeboren (Iowa), and sophomore Rune Lawrence (Pennsylvania) rounds out the first five in the bracket. In other words, we should be in for quite the quarterfinal round. 

While Singleton likely wants redemption in the worst way after a runner-up showing at this same event the last time out, it will be no easy feat. Welsh put the wrestling world on notice after a phenomenal Who's No. 1 down in Dallas. First, Welsh downed last year's Super 32 champ Manny Rojas, and then he took Gabe Arnold down to the wire. I expect Welsh to be more motivated than ever to prove himself at his new weight. He has a rare combination of exceptional strength and the quickness of a little guy. 

Look for fellow Keystone State standout Rune Lawrence to turn some heads as well. The 2021 PIAA state champ out of Frazier was a remarkable 30-1 during his rookie campaign. I expect big things from the lanky sophomore this weekend. 

182: New Jersey's Brian Soldano is the guy to watch here. The future Rutgers Scarlet Knight upper weight has a style like none other. The best way to describe it is probably all gas and no breaks. Plus, he's quite a scrambler for a bigger guy. A pair of past Super 32 placers in Hayden Walters (Oregon) and Clayton Whiting (Wisconsin), and Minnesota's Ryder Rogotzke are Soldano's biggest threat, but I expect Soldano to get it done and become a back-to-back Super 32 champ. 

195: Unfortunately, one of the nation's best high school athletes, Ben Kueter, who is slated to play both football and wrestle at the next level with the Iowa Hawkeyes, won't be on the mats this weekend. Even with Kueter out, there are still plenty of studs suiting up at 195, including Ohio's Seth Shumate, a Fargo finalist, plus Fargo placers Rylan Rogers (Washington), Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania), Wyatt Voelker (Iowa). New Jersey's Martin Cosgrove will look to improve on a Super 32 third-place finish in the past. Simply put, it is a loaded field. 

220: It's the Christian Carroll show at 220 in Greensboro this weekend, simple as that. The returning Super 32 champ has battled injury throughout his career, but he looks unstoppable when he makes his way to the mat. The lone loss of his young high school career came in a Big Man super match at Who's No. 1 against the nation's top heavyweight Nick Feldman. The 3-2 decision came on a somewhat controversial no takedown call for Carroll that came at the buzzer. If you haven't seen the match, you need to. It'll be fun two see these two battle it out in the Big Ten in the years to come. Feldman will be an OSU Buckeye, while Carroll will suit up for Mike Poeta's Fighting Illini. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzhguzdb-Ds

285: The heavyweight field isn't particularly strong this year at Super 32. Regrettably, Nick Feldman is not participating. Still, TOM's No. 3 heavyweight and No. 15 in the latest pound-for-pound ranking, Georgia's Chase Horne, will be in action. Horne likely takes home a Super 32 belt before heading off to NC State next season. 



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