Preview – 157 lbs.

9A7I2359 (Small)

157 lbs.

2011 Seeds
1. Brenon, Ithaca
2. Ponce, Augsburg
3. Banks, Wartburg
4. Harrington, Delaware Valley
5. Berns, Concordia
6. Larson, Trine
7. Loughlin, Cornell
8. Twito, Merchant Marine

Returning All-Americans
Ponce, Augsburg, 2nd at 165 in 2010
Banks, Wartburg, 7th at 165 in 2010
Harrington, Delaware Valley, 5th in 2010
Berns, Concordia, 7th at 149 in 2010

In between the meat grinder at 149 and the eight returning All-Americans at 165, 157 is a good weight, but not at the same level as those sandwiching it. It does, however, feature last year’s runner up at 165 in Ponce of Augsburg as well as another All-American at 165 in Banks of Wartburg. The top seed, however, is Brenon of Ithaca. After two time All-American Willie Horwath graduated last year, the sophomore Brenon stepped in and earned his #1 ranking win wins over Banks and Harrington, finishing 20-0 against DIII competition. He will surely be tested, however, by those same wrestlers as well as Ponce. They are all close, and who is having a good weekend may matter more here in determining a champ than some other weights.

Berns is the remaining All-American here, and he is the only one to have placed at a lower weight last year, finishing 7th at 149. He has lost to Ponce and Banks, but nobody else in DIII, and he has a few wins over other entrants here. Among those who qualified in the past but failed to place are a trio of Iowa Conference wrestlers in Loughlin, Hanson, and Warcynski, as well as 4x qualifier Twito of Merchant Marine who wants to finally wrestle on Saturday for the first time.

Prediction: Banks wins, but it might be against a surprise opponent from the top half of the bracket.

Last First School Record
Banks Carrington Wartburg 27-3
Berns Justin Concordia-Moorehead 26 – 4
Brenon Derek Ithaca 23 – 1
Burdge Chris Centenary (NJ) 14 – 6
Delgado Eduardo Hunter 20 – 4
Hanson Erik Loras 29 -4
Harrington Jesse Delaware Valley 22 – 6
Larson Elias Trine University 28-5
Letcher Michael Ohio Northern 28 – 7
Loughlin Nicholas Cornell College 25 – 9
Ponce Orlando Augsburg 31 – 5
Roberson Isaac Lakeland 23 – 3
Sarbacker Cade Wisconsin-Whitewater 26 – 8
Sterling Troy SUNY-Cortland 29 – 8
Twito Dan Merchant Marine 17 – 5
Warcynksi Ryan Dubuque 19 – 13
Willey Mike Plymouth State 23 – 1