It’s very likely the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh on March 16 will bring us matchups of the top two 170-pounders and the top two heavyweights in the country.
Better yet, the U.S. team competitors named are Penn State recruits and they likely -- although the Pa. team will not be announced until after the PIAA championships March 6-8 -- will face wrestlers who at one time were committed to attending Penn State.
Bo Nickal of Allen, Texas, is the U.S. wrestler at 170 and his potential matchup would be with Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale, now an Oklahoma State recruit. Marsteller is the No. 2-ranked overall wrestler in the country while Nickal checks in at No. 4.
The No. 1-ranked wrestler, according to Flo Wrestling, is Kyle Snyder of Good Counsel, Md., who is on the U.S. team at 220 pounds.
Nick Nevills of Clovis, Calif., is the No. 7 overall wrestler in the U.S. and will wrestle heavyweight in the Dapper Dan. His likely foe would be Thomas Haines of Solanco, a one-time Penn State verbal who now will attend Ohio State.
Haines, ranked one spot below Nevills in Flo's Pound for Pound rankings, could join Marsteller as Pennsylvania's 11th and 12th four-time state champions.
Marsteller, if he wins his fourth crown, could become the first four-time champ since Cary Kolat in 1992 to complete his high school career without a loss.
Here is the U.S. team:
113: Brian Rossi, Lockport, Ill. (110-16).
120: Nathan Boston, Woodford County, Ky. (153-1, 2-time state champ).
126: Steve Micic, Hanover Central, Ind. (136-5, 2-time state champ).
132: Josh Alber, Dakota, Ill. (134-0, 3-time state champ).
138: Joe McKenna, Blair Academy, N.J. (115-7, 3-time national prep champ).
145: Tyler Berger, Crook County, Ore. (152-3, 3-time state champ).
152: Bryce Brill, Mount Carmel, Ill. (136-5, 2-time state champ).
160: Ryan Blees, Bismarck, N.D. (141-5, 3-time state champ).
170: Bo Nickal, Allen, Texas. (140-7, 2-time state champ).
182: Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic, N.J. (110-16, 2-time state champ).
195: Chip Ness, Buford, Ga. (138-1, 3-time state champ).
220: Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, Md. (179-0, 3-time state champ).
285: Nick Nevills, Clovis, Calif. (150-5, 2-time champ).