184 Preview: We're All Back!
Brief Weight Class Outlook:
A cast of high favorites buoys an overall very deep weight class at 184lbs this season. Your top four returners, interestingly, have a combined 0 NCAA Championship podium finishes at the actual weight class.
Antonio McCloud, of Mount Saint Joseph’s, and Ben Sarasin, of the University of Chicago, are both returning podium finishers from 2019, but both are migrating to 184lbs from different weights. McCloud finished in 8th place at 197lbs in 2019, while Sarasin finished in 7th at 174lbs. Both qualified for the 2020 NCAA Championships at 184lbs, but neither were able to compete in the 2021 NWCA field. It is our estimation that both will return to the weight, but McCloud could make his way back to 197lbs and we would not be surprised there either. Eyes peeled for potential moves…
Our other two top returners squared off in the finals of the 2021 NWCA Championships, with Shane Liegel, Loras College, besting the Coast Guard Academy’s, Paul Detwiler with a third period takedown. Will these two be on a collision course for another match-up on a Saturday night in March?
Liegel qualified as first-year in 2020, before his title run last year, and is now a junior. Detwiler is a 2x NCAA Qualifier, 2021 NWCA Runner-Up, and will finish his career this season.
Three other NCAA Qualifiers return to the weight class, as well. Chibueze “EZ” Chukwuezie is a 2x Qualifier for the Bombers of Ithaca College. Edwin Morales jumped on the scene in 2020, knocking off then-returning National Champion, John Boyle, en route to a national berth at 184lbs. He fell to Detwiler in the Northeast Regional final in 2020. Finally, Doug Byrne qualified the weight for Baldwin Wallace University in 2020, as well.
In addition to those seven returning NCAA Qualifiers, we have three other 2021 NWCA All-Americans who will be in the mix for podium finishes come March. Brock Montford, junior out of North Central College, finished 4th at 184lbs at the NWCA’s, defeating Nick Rogge, of Augsburg University, along the way. Rogge finished in 5th, besting Ryan Schott, of Coe College.
Who will prevail in a very balanced field at 184lbs? We are not sure, but we can guarantee you it will be a fun bracket to watch in March!
Top Returners
Shane Liegel - Loras College - 2021 NWCA National Champion, 2020 NCAA National Qualifier (#7-Seed), 2020 NCAA Lower Midwest Regional Third Place
Paul Detwiler - United States Coast Guard Academy - 2021 NWCA National Runner-Up, 2020 NCAA National Qualifier (#2-Seed), 2020 NCAA Northeast Regional Champion, 2019 National Qualifier (#5-Seed)
Antonio McCloud - Mount Saint Joseph’s - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier, 2020 Central Regional Runner-Up, 2019 All-American (8th, 197lbs)
Ben Sarasin - University of Chicago - 2020 National Qualifier (#5-Seed), 2020 Upper Midwest Regional Runner-Up, 2019 All-American (7th, 174lbs)
Notable Returners
Chibueze Chukwuezie - Ithaca College - 2x NCAA National Qualifier (2020, 2019)
Edwin Morales - Bridgewater State Univ. - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier (#8-Seed)
Doug Byrne - Baldwin Wallace University - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier
Brock Montford - North Central College - 2021 NWCA All-American (4th, 184lbs)
Nick Rogge - Augsburg University - 2021 NWCA All-American (5th, 184lbs)
Ryan Schott - Coe College - 2021 NWCA All-American (6th, 184lbs)
2021 NWCA Nationals Placers
Shane Liegel - Loras College
Paul Detwiler - US Coast Guard Academy
Ira Kuehn - Dubuque
Brock Montford - North Central College
Nick Rogge - Augsburg University
Ryan Schott - Coe College
David Stevens - Messiah University
Helton Vandenbush - Milwaukee School of Engineering
Notable Transfers
Robbie Garcia - Transfer from Oregon State University to Johnson & Wales University
Garcia heads back east after a year of competing for the Beavers where he went 13-4 with 7 pins at a variety of weight classes. He will be in the JWU line-up at 184lbs. Garcia was a state placer in New Jersey in 2019
Notable Roster Omissions:
David Stevens - Messiah University
Stevens, according to online sources, was only a Junior last year for the Falcons, however, he does not appear on their roster as of publication.
Helton Vandenbush - Milwaukee School of Engineering
An academically rigorous institution that tries to graduate its engineers in four years, it is highly probable that Vandenbush graduated and will not be utilizing his COVID year of eligibility.
Ira Kuehn - Luther College
We do not see Kuehn listed on any of Luther’s rosters.