With the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships coming up this weekend, Rivals wrestling analyst Lex Knapp has decided to go one by one in each weight class offering his predictions and a breakdown of the top and bottom halves of the bracket.
With that being said, let's take a look at the 184-pound bracket.
THE TOP SEED -- Myles Amine (Michigan)
THE DARK HORSE -- No. 3 Hayden Hidlay (NC State)
THE SCARLET KNIGHT – No. 20 John Poznanski
TOP HALF OF THE BRACKET.....
With his win over returning National Champion, Aaron Brooks, Myles Amine secured the top seed in this bracket. Amine has a favorable path to the semis, and even the finals. Parker Keckeisen, who had a fantastic true freshman year finishing 3rd in 2021, should not be taken lightly. However, out of the top four seeds, Amine would much rather have Brooks and Trent Hidlay on the other side of the bracket. One person who can blow this side of the bracket up is Rutgers’ John Poznanski. Due to a struggling second-half of the year, Poznanski drew the 20th seed. However, he is more than capable of making a run to the semis. I like the one and four seeds to hold, with an Amine – Keckeisen match. Keckeisen is a tough out, but Amine, along with Brooks, seem to be on a different level compared to the rest of the field.
BOTTOM HALF OF BRACKET.....
This is where things get a little more interesting. As mentioned, Brooks fell to the second seed with a loss to Amine in the Big Ten tournament. Trent Hidlay, the three seed, gave Brooks all he could handle in the NCAA Finals last season, losing 3 – 2. Given the rest of the field down low, a Brooks – Hidlay semi is a safe bet. Brooks will likely be coming into this tournament with a chip on his shoulder after losing to Amine a couple weeks ago. That could be bad news for Hidlay, as Brooks will be doing everything in his power to set up a rematch with Amine. I think Hidlay gives him a good fight, but Brooks makes it out alive, later getting his revenge over Amine.
THE SCARLET KNIGHT SKINNY...
There were high hopes set for John Poznanski after a fourth place finish at the 2021 NCAA tournament. Poznanski certainly started off the year strong, but had a rough second half of the season. Could it have been because this was Ponznanski’s first full collegiate season, after an abbreviated 2021 season? Is Poznanski injured? Or is he simply just not wrestling that well? We do not know, but one thing that is for certain is Pozanski will have to wrestle his tail off to make the podium for the second time in his career. Sitting at the 20th seed, Poznanski has a lot of work to do, and he will have to get back to his old ways in order to find success this weekend.
PREDICTIONS....
1. Brooks (Penn State)
2. Amine (Michigan)
3. Hidaly (NC State)
4. Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
5. Romero (Ohio State)
6. Truax (Cal Poly)
7. Munoz (Oregon State)
8. Braunagel (Illinois)
--------------------------------------------------------------
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel