Rad Martinez (133)- Former West Jordan Jaguar now wrestling for Clarion. Martinez, a junior comes into the NCAA tournament with a 28-5 overall record and the 12th seed. He has been ranked as high as #6 in the Amateur Wrestling News. Update: He was beat by Penn State's Marat Tomaev 5-4 and will now wrestle David Hoffman of Virginia in the next round.
Aaron Holker (141)- Aaron is a 3X state champion from Orem high school. He signed for BYU where he was the WAC freshman of the year and made All-American at his first NCAA appearance in 1999 placing 7th at the NCAA tournament in State College, PA. Now in his junior year at Iowa State he has turned many heads going 29-7 this year. In January he avenged an earlier loss to Arizona Sate's Eric Larkin, curently ranked #2. Aaron goes into this years tournament ranked #4 as the 5th seed and will wrestle Scott Moore of Penn State in the first round. Update: Holker wins by technical fall 15-0 and will now take on 12th seeded Coyote Cooper (Indiana).
Gabe Vigil (141)- Gabe (20-11), a 2001 NCAA qualifier, wrestled at West Jordan high school and is now in his Junior year at Boise State. He placed 3rd in the Pac 10 Tournament losing to Larkin #2(ASU) and Cedric Haymon (Cal Poly) ranked #5. He will wrestle Darnell Ruffin (E. Michigan) in the first round.
Update: Vigil defeats Ruffin by a score of 19-8 and will now face second seed Eric Larkin.
WayneWatts (149)- Watts (27-16) won the Southern Conference to qualify for the NCAA's. Watts was a two-time state champion at Bingham/Riverton HS. Watts is a freshman. Watts's first round opponent will be sixth seeded Mike Kulcycki of Michigan. Update: Kulycki beats Watts by fall. Watts will now wrestle Stanford's Matt Gentry in the consolation round.
Collin Robertson (149)- Collin (25-3) is from Pleasant Grove high school and is also in his Junior year at Boise State. He won the Pac 10 Tournament and is currently ranked #19. He will wrestle Nate Wachter (Penn State) in the first round. Update: Robertson wins a close one 3-2 vs. Wachter and will advance to take on Oklahoma's Jared Frayer, the 4th seed.
Rocky Smart (157)- Rocky (20-9) is a 4X Utah Champ and High school National Champion (Prep career record of 125-1) who transfered to Arizona State after BYU dropped their program. He has flourished despite a career plagued with injuries. He was a 2000 and 2001 NCAA qualifier, 3rd PAC-10 in 2001 and 3rd-West Regional in 2000. His Pac-10 5th place finish this year was a disapointment but, he should be ready to rock 'n roll at this, his senior year NCAA's. Rocky will have to rise to the occasion right away as he drew #8 ranked Matt Anderson (Iowa) in the first round. Update: Anderson defeats Smart 4-0. Smart will grapple against Hoftstra's Paul Siemon in the consolation round.
Mitch Morgan (157)- Mitch (5-8) Mitch a freshman, hails from Wasatch high school and may not have an impressive record or the credentials of these other guys but, he is in tournament and ready to do battle. Mitch will have #10 seed Griff Powell (Illinois) in the first round. Update: Powell defeats Morgan 9-3. Now Morgan wrestles 7th seeded Joe Carr of West Virginia who was upset by VMI's Adam Britt.
Justin Ruiz (197)- Justin (18-9) signed with Nebraska after a stellar prep career at Taylorsville high school. He won the High School National tournament and a Junior Greco and Freestyle title before serving a two year mission for the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. He's done a good job of shaking off the cobwebs in this red shirt freshman year but enters a tough tournament in as weight full of talent. Justin will start the tournament against #7 seed Chris Skretkowicz (Hofstra) who is also ranked #7. Update: In a big uspet Hofstra's Skretkowicz falls to the former Taylorsville HS stud! Ruiz will now take on another seeded wrestler Tomm Grossman of Oklahoma, the 10th seed.
Cael Sanderson (197)- Cael (154-0) is the story of the NCAA tournament this year. His credentials are impecable. His record for the last four years is perfect. The entire national wrestling community is watching to see if he can finish that way. Most say it is a surety. But, Cael's secret to success is that he has never overlooked an opponent. Cael has already accomplished more than any other college wrestler with three NCAA titles and three NCAA outstanding wrestler trophies. He is from Wasatch high school and is Utah's favorite wrestling son. Cael is the #1 wrestler, is seeded #1 and will wrestle Eric Mausser (Clarion) to start the tournament. To read more about Cael's Career at Iowa State click this link. Update: Sanderson wins #155 by pinning Clarion's Mausser in the second round. He now wrestles Buffalo's Kyle Cerminara in his 156th college bout. Cyclone Watch
