NCAA Preview: 197
Weight Class Previews:
125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285
Weight Class Preview: 197
Qualifiers by Weight
Miller has so far done an admirable job defending his NCAA title of a year ago, defeating #2 Bonander twice and not losing since an early season setback to Bollig. He was 2nd to Iowa State’s Bertolino at the Harold Nichols for his other loss of the year. While he’s tough on top, Miller is also able to win on his feet. He won’t have an easy road to a 2nd title, as he could see #4 Bollig, who defeated him, in the semifinals and Bonander in the finals. Both Bonander matches went into overtime, and neither wrestler was close to a takedown in the IIAC final. Still, Miller has to be the favorite to repeat.
Bonander has only lost in D3 to Miller, and he can hold his own with the best of the competitors here. He has defeated Kramer, Fogliano, Crespo, West, and Neumann to earn his seed. #3 Hartt is 36-1 with a win over Bollig and a loss in overtime to Holforty, though he won the first matchup. He had a disappointing end to last season in the region, but he turned it on this year to win the region and garner his #3 seed. Bollig has the win over Miller to his credit and has only a single loss to Hartt as a blemish on his record. This weight class has a very tough top four, despite the presence of only 13 competitors in th weight.
Fogliano has big move potential and has a 14-1 record, losing only to Bonander. Miller is undefeated in a similarly short season, while Holforty’s big win is over Hartt while also beating Neumann and Kramer. Crespo drew one of the byes in the first round, leaving him now one win short of All-American status, something that could be decided in the rubber match between him and Kramer. Each has one win against the other, and the third match may be for a chance to compete on Saturday.
Eric Vincent has yet to face any of the other qualifiers as a result of the unique King’s Point schedule, but he is a strong athlete who has come along well in his sophomore year. Of the unseeded wrestlers, Joe West is probably in the best spot in the bracket.