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Returning National Champion: Dustin Schlatter, Minnesota
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket (Premium Service)

Returning NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter has still been the one to stop at the weight and it's no surprise the undefeated sophomore is the top seed. The question now is who has the best shot at knocking Schlatter off his pace to four titles. Second-seeded Matt Storniolo and third-seeded Josh Churella might seem like obvious candidates, as would fourth seeded Jordan Leen of Cornell.

Schlatter's beaten the two, three and four seeds this year by a combined seven points, which makes people point at the alleged vulnerability Schlatter possesses without blowing people out like he did last season.

Leen and Schlatter are joined up top by returning All-American Gregor Gillespie (#5), Penn State's Dan Vallimont (#12), UT-Chattanooga's Aaron Martin (#8) and Cal State Fullerton's Morgan Atkinson. One thing to note is that Martin is the wrestler that first beat Brent Metcalf in college, wrestling at the West Virginia Open in November of 2005. What does it mean? Nothing really, but just food for thought.

Down low, Churella and Storniolo are joined by Harvard true freshman J.P. O'Connor (#6), Appalachian State's Scott Ervin (#7), Ohio State's Lance Palmer (#10) and Iowa State's Cyler Sanderson (#11).

The quarterfinals should be something fierce.

The Bad Draw ...

InterMat's breakdown of who the top guns don't want to see in the opening round.

Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska -- Has come on like gangbusters in the last month of the season, wrestling solid throughout the conclusion of the Huskers dual season. Finished third in the Big 12 and is a monster on his feet.

John Cox, Navy -- A match away from placing last season, Cox finished third in the EIWA behind O'Connor and Leen. Was ranked in the top 10 for much of the season, but a couple bad losses in a row dropped him. That's really problematic come tournament time.

Carter Downing, Wyoming -- Last year, it was Wyoming's Bryce Leonhardt that picked up a gigantic opening round upset, can Downing duplicate the feat? At 32-7, he's got some good wins, but not much is said about Wyoming, which makes him that much harder to scout.

David Jauregui, West Virginia -- The California native has good win of note that by itself makes him a problem. He beat Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie in a dual earlier this season. 20-4 on the season ... he doesn't lose much.

Jake Patacsil, Purdue -- A very interesting wrestler, to say the least. The Florida native has a type of funk that makes him eager to pick up a big fall. Only seventh in the Big 10, but never look past him. And because he's in the Big 10, he won't see Schlatter, Churella, Palmer or Vallimont in the first round.

Seeds:
1. Schlatter, Dustin (Minnesota)
2. Storniolo, Matt (Oklahoma)
3. Churella, Josh (Michigan)
4. Leen, Jordan (Cornell)
5. Gillespie, Gregor (Edinboro)
6. O'Connor, J.P. (Harvard)
7. Ervin, Scott (Appalachian State)
8. Martin, Aaron (UT-Chattanooga)
9. Atkinson, Morgan (Cal State-Fullerton)
10. Palmer, Lance (Ohio State)
11. Sanderson, Cyler (Iowa State)
12. Vallimont, Dan (Penn State)

2006 Medal Match Results
Finals: Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota) dec. Ty Eustice (Iowa) 4-0
3rd: Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) dec. Matt Storniolo (Oklahoma) 6-4
5th: Jon Masa (Hofstra) maj. dec. Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan) 9-0
7th: Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) FALL Mark DiSalvo (Central Michigan) 6:22