157 Preview

2008 Champion: Aaron Wernimont, Wartburg
Returning All-Americans: Wernimont, Jason Brew (Olivet), Jason Adams (Augsburg, 141), Andrew Goldstein (Gettysburg), Jesse Milks (UW-Platteville), Johanson Quist (Luther, 149)

Here is another weight where both finalists return as the top two seeds, but this time, there’s no question about who is favored to win.  Aaron Wernimont has won 76 matches in a row leading into the NCAA tournament and rolled through last year’s event.  Brew hopes to again make the final and, if necessary, turn the tables on Wernimont and win his first NCAA title.  Brew has an attacking style that puts points on the board, but Wernimont’s style features solid, mistake free wrestling.

Jason Adams was a runner-up at 141 last year, but he moves up two weight classes to see if he can repeat that performance at 157.  After a few slip ups early in the year, he’s wrestled well of late, only losing to Wernimont and DII champ Meneely since December.  Goldstein comes back at the weight where he placed 8th last year and is 24-0 in half a season’s work.  The last returning All-American at 157 is Milks, who has just a single loss to Mizer in his abbreviated season.

Hanson was in the tournament last year before bowing out with an injury.  Baarson delivered one of those early season losses to Adams, and Horwath is the second 141 lb. qualifier from last year to make the move up this weight class for 2009.  A wildcard could be returning 149 lb. All-American Johanson Quist of Luther.  He spent all year at 149 before moving up to 157 for the IIAC tournament and placing third behind Wernimont and Hanson.

Mike Martini and Zach Mizer are making return trips to the tournament in hopes of getting that first All-American honor, and could each be a matchup problem for a seeded wrestler.  Gin beat Horwath at the Empire Conference, and Luke Miller upset Mizer in the OAC final.

Seeds
1. Wernimont, Wartburg
2. Brew, Olivet
3. Adams, Augsburg
4. Goldstein, Gettysburg
5. Milks, UW-Platteville
6. Hanson, Loras
7. Baarson, St. John’s
8. Horwath, Ithaca