Ramos-Brewer clash headlines talent-laden Who's #1 card

Tony Ramos (left) and Cody Brewer (right) meet for first time in the Who's #1 Main Event. Photos: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

Rapidly cementing itself as one of the nation’s premier wrestling events each year, Who’s #1 returns to Grace Hall in Bethlehem, Pa., this weekend with nine star-studded high school bouts capped off by a long overdue Senior-level battle.


With the Olympic Trials well in his rearview, two-time U.S. World Team member Tony Ramos is prepared to demonstrate his on-the-mat evolution against gunslinger Cody Brewer in the evening’s main event.


Both Ramos and Brewer competed all four years of their college careers at 133 pounds with three years of overlap between them. Ramos was a three-time All-American at Iowa and NCAA champion in 2014, while Brewer owns four All-American honors and the 2015 NCAA crown from his time at Oklahoma.


Although both were top contenders at 133 pounds throughout their respective college careers, they never crossed paths on the mat. The last opportunity for such an encounter was the 2014 NCAA Championships won by Ramos. Once again, the matchup was not destined to be. Everything changes on Sunday.


Never lacking confidence, the international veteran Ramos fully expects to dominate his less-experienced opponent without issue, especially given the two will wrestle freestyle.


“I expect to go out there and come away with a tech fall or a pin,” Ramos said. “Brewer opens up a lot, and there are a lot of opportunities to make things happen. I feel like style-wise, I’m going to give him a lot of trouble.”


The style matchup between Ramos and Brewer is juxtaposed in a nearly perfect manner. Ramos will hold position and capitalize off errant mistakes. Brewer attacks from every angle for the full six minutes. It is the classic wrestling dynamic.


As one would expect, the offensive-minded Brewer likes his chances despite his lack of recent freestyle experience.


“I think it’ll be a good match. I just have to work on what I do best and exploit little things that maybe he’s not as good in. He’s got a unique style that’s a little bit different. He doesn’t attack as much. He’s got pretty good counter attacks, stays in good position,” Brewer stated.


One twist that could affect the style matchup between these two are recent changes in training environments. After spending numerous years training in Iowa, Ramos joined Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott at North Carolina shortly after the Olympic Trials. Likewise, Brewer accepted a coaching position at Northwestern this summer, transitioning from his last year of college wrestling at Oklahoma.


Matchup aside, both men view Who’s #1 as an opportunity to test themselves and prepare for greater challenges down the road. Ramos is honing in on making his third World Team at 57 kg next year, and Brewer is focused on the 61 kg World Team Trials set for November.


“This is a stepping stone for me to get to World Team Trials in November,” Brewer said. “It kind of worked out well that I could get a match in before then and then go up there and wrestle and try to make that World Team. I think more than anything it gives me a feel back into freestyle, and then it is good for my training.”


A unique opportunity Who’s #1 affords these two Senior-level athletes is the ability to work with some of the top high school prospects in the game today.


“I’m excited to get out there and compete and watch some top-level high school kids. I know they go all out for this and I’m excited to be a part of the process,” noted Ramos.


Recent age-group World medalists Daton Fix, Travis Wittlake, Jr. and David Carr are among the top competitors seeking to grab No. 1 slots in the FloWrestling rankings with a win on Sunday.


Fix won bronze this year at the Junior World Championships, adding to his Cadet World bronze from 2014. The Oklahoma native is currently the top-ranked high school wrestler at 132 pounds. Fix will defend his top spot against Junior Nationals champion Austin Gomez, who comes in at No. 2 in the FloRankings.


The stock of Wittlake, Jr. has risen immeasurably this summer after winning a bronze medal at the Cadet Worlds and picking up the USA Wrestling Cadet Triple Crown honor. Coming into Who’s #1 at No. 2 in the FloRankings, Wittlake, Jr. will attempt to bolster himself one notch higher and overtake Pennsylvania state champion Mikey Labriola for the No. 1 spot at 170 pounds.


Carr joined Wittlake, Jr. with a bronze medal performance at the Cadet World Championships earlier this month. He seeks to cement his No. 1 ranking at 152 pounds against two-time Pennsylvania state champion Cameron Coy.


2014 Cadet World champion Jarod Verkleeren enters Who’s #1 ranked fourth at 145 pounds. He is set to face three-time Oklahoma state champion and current No. 2 Kaden Gfeller in a battle of Fargo and FloNationals champions.


In another No. 2 versus No. 4 bout, four-time Cadet Nationals champions Roman Bravo-Young and Nick Raimo will square off for bragging rights at 126 pounds. Bravo-Young competed at the Cadet World Championships earlier this month.


All told, six of the nine high school bouts pit No. 1 and No. 2 wrestlers against each other.


“I’ve heard this event is awesome. I’ve never been to it. It was something that came about after I graduated high school so I’m excited to go out there and see what kind of production Flowrestling puts on,” Ramos added.


Flowrestling will broadcast its Who’s #1 dual meet event live on Flowrestling.org this Sunday at 5 p.m. (ET). A Flo Pro subscription is required to view this event.

2016 WHO’S #1 PRESENTED BY FLOWRESTLING

Oct. 2 at Grace Hall in Bethlehem, Pa.

Main Event

61 kg/134.5 lbs. – Tony Ramos vs. Cody Brewer

High School Matchups

170 lbs. – #1 Mikey Labriola (Pennsylvania) vs. #2 Travis Wittlake Jr. (Oregon)

132 lbs. – #2 Austin Gomez (Illinois) vs. #1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma)

152 lbs. – #2 Cameron Coy (Pennsylvania) vs. #1 David Carr (Ohio)

160 lbs. – #1 Brady Berge (Minnesota) vs. #2 Shane Griffith (New Jersey)

182 lbs. – #1 Michael Beard (Pennsylvania) vs. #2 Jelani Embree (Michigan)

126 lbs. – #2 Roman Bravo-Young (Arizona) vs. #4 Nick Raimo (New Jersey)

138 lbs. – #3 Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania) vs. #1 Nick Lee (Indiana)

145 lbs. – #4 Jarod Verkleeren (Pennsylvania) vs. #2 Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma)

120 lbs. – #1 Gavin Teasdale (Pennsylvania) vs. #2 Jordan Decatur (Ohio)

Honorary Coaches

Team Green – Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club

Team Black – Dave Bell, Bergen Catholic High School