Now that all of the presents are open, the family get-togethers are done and everyone is making a new list of resolutions for 2016, the focus finally shifts to "Scuffle Week". That's right, we are just days away from the 2016 Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is currently getting McKenzie Arena ready for the first whistle of action on Jan. 1. With all of the behind the scenes work in high gear, TheSouthernScuffle.com continues to breakdown the field with a look at the competition at 174 and 184.
Cornell junior Brian Realbuto highlights the 174 bracket as the current No. 1 at that weight, based on the most recent Intermat Top 20. An NCAA Finalist at 157 a year ago, he has bumped up two weights and is coming off a win at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
He will get a tough challenge from Oklahoma State All-American junior Kyle Crutchmer. Crutchmer placed in each of his previous two trips to the Scuffle and is currently No. 2 in the country.
Penn State freshman Bo Nickal is another top 5 competitor in the field. He is fifth with an 11-0 record and a win at the Nittany Lion Open in early December.
All totaled, there are nine of the top 20 in the field and any one of them can make a run to the finals mat on Saturday. Lehigh's Elliott Riddick is currently No. 19 and placed fourth at 197 at last year's Scuffle. Others ranked at this weight include No. 11 Matt Ottinger (Central Michigan), No. 14 Jadaen Bernstein (Navy), No. 17 Brian Harvey (Army), No. 18 Davanote Mahomes (Michigan) and No. 20 Keaton Subjeck (Stanford).
The Mocs have an experienced representative at 174 in junior Sean Mappes. Mappes is currently 9-4 overall and finished third at both the Hokie Open and the Wolfpack Open earlier in the semester. The 2015 Southern Conference Champion is competing in his third Scuffle.
| 174 | | | |
| Rank | Name | Year | Team |
| 1 | Brian Realbuto | Jr. | Cornell |
| 2015 NCAA Finalist (157) | | |
| 2014 All-American (157) | | |
| 2014 Scuffle 5th (157) | | |
| 2 | Kyle Crutchmer | Jr. | Oklahoma State |
| 2015 All-American | | |
| 2015 Scuffle 6th | | |
| 2014 Scuffle 7th | | |
| 5 | Bo Nickal | Fr. | Penn State |
| 11 | Matt Ottinger | Sr. | Central Michigan |
| 14 | Jadaen Bernstein | So. | Navy |
| 17 | Brian Harvey | Sr. | Army |
| 18 | Davonte Mahomes | So. | Michigan |
| 19 | Elliot Riddick | Jr. | Lehigh |
| 2015 Scuffle 4th (197) | | |
| 20 | Keaton Subjeck | So. | Stanford |
Competition at 184 pounds has produced some exciting moments at the Scuffle over the years. A lot of those have involved two-time champion Gabe Dean. The junior from Cornell shocked everyone when he defeated Penn State's Ed Ruth in 2014. He went on to win last year's Scuffle, jump-starting a run to the NCAA Championship. He has a chance to join elite company as a three-time Scuffle Champ, something only eight others have been able to accomplish over the years.
Speaking of the NCAA's, the 184 bracket looks a lot like the one from March, with three of the four semifinalist set to compete. Lehigh junior Nathaniel Brown lost to Dean in the finals, and could be in line for a rematch at the Scuffle. Brown is currently No. 4 in the nation.
Dean also defeated Edinboro's Vic Avery in the semifinals at the NCAA's. Avery is definitely another one to watch with his No. 2 national ranking.
There are two other top 10 wrestlers in the field, including Penn senior Lorenzo Thomas, who is No. 6. The 2014 All-Ameican finished sixth at the Scuffle two years ago. Michigan's 10
th-ranked junior Dominic Abounader placed fifth at the 2015 Scuffle and is one of three returning from last year's podium.
The other two placers who are back include Penn State sophomore Matt McCutcheon, who finished fourth and is currently ranked No. 13. Oklahoma State junior Nolan Boyd is No. 18 in the country and has two seventh place finishes at the Scuffle on his resume.
Navy's Matt Miller (15) and North Carolina's Alex Utley (19) give this field nine of the current top 20 in the country.
The Mocs' lone senior, John Lampe, could also make some noise in this year's tournament. He is off to a great start with a 12-2 record. He won the Wolfpack Open and also finished third at the Hokie Open earlier this season.
| 184 | | | |
| Rank | Name | Year | Team |
| 1 | Gabe Dean | Jr. | Cornell |
| 2015 NCAA Champion | | |
| 2015 Scuffle Champion | | |
| 2014 All-American | | |
| 2014 Scuffle Champion | | |
| 2 | Vic Avery | Sr. | Edinboro |
| 2015 All-American | | |
| 4 | Nathaniel Brown | Sr. | Lehigh |
| 2015 NCAA Finalist | | |
| 2015 Scuffle 3rd | | |
| 6 | Lorenzo Thomas | Sr. | Penn |
| 2014 All-American | | |
| 2014 Scuffle 6th | | |
| 10 | Dominic Abounader | Jr. | Michigan |
| 2015 Scuffle 5th | | |
| 13 | Matt McCutcheon | So. | Penn State |
| 2015 Scuffle 4th | | |
| 15 | Mathew Miller | So. | Navy |
| 18 | Nolan Boyd | Jr. | Oklahoma State |
| 2015 Scuffle 7th | | |
| 2014 Scuffle 7th | | |
| 19 | Alex Utley | Sr. | North Carolina |
| Jordan Rogers | Jr. | Oklahoma State |
| 2015 Scuffle 8th (174) | | |
Tickets are on sale now for the 2016 Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle on
TheSouthernScuffle.com. Hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Scuffle takes place at McKenzie Arena on Jan. 1-2. Full details, hotel information and a schedule of events are all available on
TheSouthernScuffle.com.
