d3wrestle Preseason Rankings: 197

Many of the top wrestlers from 2007 return at 197 lbs. for 2008.  National Champ Miller and runner-up Strandberg return along with three other 2007 All-Americans.  Weatherspoon (Olivet) and Strickland (Lax) seem to be the top newcomers, but it will of course depend on how quickly the incoming freshmen develop.  There doesn’t seem to be a strong contender in the weight who can knock off Miller, but in 2006 it seemed the same way going into the tournament before Kelly from Wilkes beat Miller twice in the tournament for Miller’s only two losses of that season.

1.Miller (Wart)
2.Bonander (Luth)
3.Strandberg (BV)
4.Archer (Cort)
5.O’Connor (Aug)
6. Crespo (JWU)
7..Burger (BW)
8. Fogliano (Heid)
9. Orr (DV)
10. Schmidt (WW)

Contender

Vincent (KP)
Yurisich (Oliv)
Schmalfeldt (Osh)
Miller (Lyc)
Schmidt (JH)
D’Amico (BSC)
Roggenbuck (ConcM)
Wonderlin (Dub)

Newcomers

Nemunaitis (ONU)    4th OH
Weatherspoon (Oliv)    MI Champ
Connell (KP)    4th MN
Strickland (LX)    2X 3rd WI
Griffiths (Wheat)    VA placer
Murphy (Spri)    2nd New Engl.