The craziness has begun. The mats arrived at McKenzie Arena at 1:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) today. The entire University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling program is busy unloading and transforming the Roundhouse into the premier wrestling venue in the south. We are less than two days from the start of competition, so TheSouthernScuffle.com wraps up its previews with 197 and heavyweight today.
Top-ranked wrestlers is the theme of the tournament and 197 is no different. Penn State senior Morgan McIntosh is the last of seven No. 1s in the field. The two-time All-American placed fourth at the Scuffle in 2014 and moved up to third last season.
He is going up against a loaded field that includes five others in the top 10 and two more All-Americans. Duke senior Connor Hartmann was a finalist at last year's tournament. He beat McIntosh with a 3-2 decision in their last meeting in the quarterfinals at the NCAAs.
Minnesota junior Brett Pfarr is currently No. 5 in the nation. He placed second at the Cliff Keen Invitational in early December. His only loss of the season was in the finals to last year's Scuffle champ, J'Den Cox of Missouri.
Michigan senior Max Huntley is back in the field and ranked No. 7 in the country. The 2015 All-American is looking to improve on his sixth place showing at last year's Scuffle. Virginia senior Zach Nye is also back and ranked No. 10. He placed eighth in the tournament a year ago.
Newcomer Jake Smith, a junior from West Virginia, is ranked No. 8 and rounds out the top-10 competitors at 197.
The Mocs have a bit of a sleeper at this weight in junior Scottie Boykin. He is currently 18
th in the country and has placed at both the Hokie Open and the Wolfpack Open this season.
Others ranked at 197 include Lehigh senior John Bolich (15) and Utah Valley senior Derek Thomas (20).
| 197 | | | |
| Rank | Name | Year | Team |
| 1 | Morgan McIntosh | Sr. | Penn State |
| 2015 All-American - Scuffle 3rd | | |
| 2014 All-American - Scuffle 4th | | |
| 3 | Connor Hartmann | Sr. | Duke |
| 2015 All-American - Scuffle Finalist | | |
| 2014 All-American | | |
| 2013 Scuffle 6th | | |
| 5 | Bret Pfarr | Jr. | Minnesota |
| 7 | Max Huntley | Sr. | Michigan |
| 8 | Jake Smith | Jr. | West Virginia |
| 10 | Zach Nye | Sr. | Virginia |
| 2015 Scuffle 8th | | |
| 15 | John Bolich | Sr. | Lehigh |
| 18 | Scottie Boykin | Jr. | Chattanooga |
| 20 | Derek Thomas | Sr. | Utah Valley |
One of the most anticipated matchups might just happen at heavyweight. A rematch of last year's finals could be on tap between Michigan junior Adam Coon and the reigning Scuffle Champ, Oklahoma State senior Austin Marsden.
Marsden beat Coon 7-4 in last year's Scuffle finals, but Coon made it to the final match at the NCAAs. The two All-Americans are both in the top-5 with Coon at No. 5 and Marsden at No. 4. Coon has yet to lose this season and Marsden's only loss is to No. 1 Nick Gwiazdowski of N.C. State.
They are not the only talent in the bracket with All-American Michael Kroells at No. 6. The junior from Minnesota placed eighth at last year's NCAAs. Also in the top-10 is 10
th-ranked senior Max Wessell from Lehigh.
Chattanooga has another ranked competitor at this weight who will battle to be in the last group on Day 2. Junior Jared Johnson is currently 10-1 on the year and ranked No. 14 in the country. He finished second at the Wolfpack Open and his only loss is also to Gwiazdowski.
Others ranked at heavyweight include Appalachian State's Denzel Dejournette (13) and Wyoming's Tanner Harms (16). Penn State freshman Nick Nevills returns after placing eighth as a redshirt last season. Virginia senior Ethan Hayes looks to improve on his seventh place showing in 2014.
| 285 | | | |
| Rank | Name | Year | Team |
| 3 | Adam Coon | Jr. | Michigan |
| 2015 NCAA Finalist - Scuffle Finalist | | |
| 4 | Austin Marsden | Sr. | Oklahoma State |
| 2015 Scuffle Champion | | |
| 2014 All-American - Scuffle 5th | | |
| 6 | Michael Kroells | Jr. | Minnesota |
| 2015 All-American | | |
| 10 | Max Wessell | Sr. | Lehigh |
| 12 | Riley Shaw | Sr. | Cleveland State |
| 2015 Scuffle 5th | | |
| 13 | Denzel Dejournette | Jr. | Appalachian State |
| 14 | Jared Johnson | Jr. | Chattanooga |
| 16 | Tanner Harris | Sr. | Wyoming |
| Nick Nevills | Fr. | Penn State |
| 2015 Scuffle 8th | | |
| Ethan Hayes | Sr. | Virginia |
| 2014 Scuffle 7th | | |
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.
