Looking at the NCAA qualifiers objectively – i.e., trying not to be too much of a Hokie homer – what do people think will be the most exciting divisions in St. Louis? Here’s my thoughts – again, trying to look beyond just the Hokie competitors.

First, a few brackets seem to have prohibitive favorites at the top: Tomasello at 33, Retherford at 49, I-Mart at 65 (he's like Sidney Crosby: he wins the biggest games), and Dean at 84.

The most wide-open divisions – where it would not be shocking if any of several wrestlers won, are IMHO:

125 – Four or five guys could take this, including Dance. 125 is typically one of the least predictable divisions because of the speed. That speed makes any sudden event possible.

141 – I think the final will be Heil and Jack, but the top 5 are all freaky good.

174 – The ASU freshman, Valencia, is currently No. 1. But three to four guys could take this, including Epperly.

184 – Although I listed 184 as a lock for Dean, the battle for 2d and 3d will be fierce. There are 5 or 6 seriously good wrestlers after Dean, including ZZ. Along with 141, I’d say 184 is among the toughest divisions this year, with solid talent all the way through the top 10 spots.

197 – Cox can be beaten. And Haught could do it. Pfarr and Moore too.

285 – Others may disagree (especially in Ohio), but I don’t think Snyder is a lock. He is immensely talented, and I would not be surprised to see him win this year and next, but he has been challenged. As much as everyone remembers the amazing finals last year between Snyder and GWiz, the semi-final against Walz was every bit as good. Walz pushed Snyder to the very end. Walz and Medberry will challenge him hard this year.

Let me know your thoughts.