The Top 5 Potential Matchups in “MATNESS” 2024
No “MATNESS” Champion has ever navigated their way to top of the heap by picking only “favorites”. Competitors must be able to successfully pick an upset or two along the way to gain points against the rest of the league. Famously, the 2023 Championship was won by the winner selecting a Spencer Lee upset in the semifinals. In 2022, the winner hitched his wagon to a young Missouri wrestler named Keegan O’Toole.
Here are the Top 5 Potential matchups in 2024 and why they might not happen:
Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ) vs David Carr (IOWA ST.)
O’Toole and Carr are about as good as it gets. This 165 lbs. friendly rivalry has been going on for years. Speaking of “friends”, who will have the guts to pick an upset by Keegan’s childhood buddy, Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn St.) that would prevent this dream matchup from happening again?
Vitali “VITO” Arujau (Cornell) vs Daton Fix (Oklahoma St.)
Vito had an amazing year in 2023. We all know the details. Also, this is the LAST RIDE for Daton Fix. Before the season started, most predictors would have had this matchup as the final. Entering the chat… Ryan Crookham (Lehigh). This Freshman phenom has earned his #1 ranking by an UPSET over Arujau and remaining undefeated.
Carter Starocci (Penn St.) vs Mekhi Lewis (Va. Tech)
Carter is going for his 4th National Title and puts the STAR in Starocci! OK, all right, we all have him in the finals but who will he face? Lewis will be picked by most but what if former Champ Shane Griffith (Michigan) is feeling strong? We all know he loves the month of March. Will Iowa’s Gabe Arnold back up his claims to UPSET Starocci to claim the 174 lbs. kingdom?
Real Woods (Iowa) vs Beau Bartlett (Penn St.)
These two seem to be on a collision course; however, if someone were to “T-Bone” the 141 lbs. bracket? Think “Uncle Jesse” Mendez.
The beauty of the BIG TEN Conference is, we get to see the drama play out in duals and the Conference Tournament.
The WHOLE 125 lbs. Bracket
With the departure of Spencer Lee, there are no clear-cut #1’s. Whomever can pick this bracket correctly won’t just win their league but perhaps the #1 in Global Rank over the entire Wrestle MATNESS bracket competition!
