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Fini

Succeeding at seeding
February 19th, 2014 \| Written by: Editor

	A cursory view of the 2014 LHSAA State Wrestling Championships leads me to believe they were chosen very well, albeit some of them may at first glance seem a little shocking. One aspect that the state tournament allows for is subjectivity. The first three criteria are concrete enough: 1) "Head-to-head competition," 2) "Win/Loss record versus common opponent(s)" and 3) "Place finishes in same tournaments". The fifth criteria is also pretty straightforward: "Best overall record, especially at that weight (winning percentage)." Criteria four and six allow for the subjective to enter into the decision. The fourth criteria is "Exceptional record versus seeded opponents." This allows for subjective decisions by the fact that the seeding process itself can include subjectivity. The sixth criteria is "Vote by committee, if necessary." Actually, little if any subjectivity is evident in the seeding for this year's event. It is my assertion that the seeds were determined very accurately. (Of course, that and 10¢ will get one an empty plastic cup at Starbucks.)

Below is a list of the top four seeded wrestlers in each weight class for Divisions III and II (one fifth seed is also included as the situation merits it), and the top eight in Division I. Time prevents my researching every seeded wrestler, but I will attempt to explain how the seeding committee derived the seeds that at first befuddled the LWN editor. Asterisks will denote those weight classes, followed by a possible explanation, if only for the editor's edification.

I will begin with Division III as it is too often relegated to the last sections of articles far too much. To further such madness, I will not even put bookmarks to the other divisions, forcing the viewer to scroll!

However, as February 17 has come and gone and the LHSAA Website, as of 1:30 a.m. still does not have a link to the brackets that I can find), clicking on a division will open the brackets for that division. (Brackets used to be a real pain to print out from TrackWrestling, but the new computer from my ill-gotten gains makes it a snap!)

Division III

Seed/ Weight	106	113	120	126	132	138	145
1	Armand Zachary Loyola	Kendon Lee-Kayser Brusly	Baret Sanchez Brusly	Wyatt LeJeune Brusly	Noah Landry Brusly	Cameron Corley Lakeside	Benjamin Kirkiksis Evangel
2	Brittany Bates Doyline	Gavin Becker North Vermillion	Rhett Maturin North Vermillion	Bryce Cortez John Curtis	James Graham South Plaquemines	Reid DiMaggio Holy Rosary	Koby Mancuso Brusly
3	Austin Franklin Brusly	Logan Jefferson Thomas Jefferson	Bradley Wright Evangel	Kelby Comeaux South Cameron	Devin Bazinet Basile	Deiontae James South Plaquemines	James Davis Episcopal
4	Joey Cavolaski Grand Lake	Billy Smith Ouachita Christian	John Watson Lakeside	Troy Bourgeois Fisher	Tyrone Broussard Kaplan	Toby Hebert Brusly	Dominic Bioc De la Salle

Seed/ Weight	152	160	170	182	195	220	285
1	Trevor Schermer Brusly	Alex Martin De la Salle	G'Corey Fullilove John Curtis	Colin Vaughn North Vermillion	Dillon Prejean Brusly	Donald Johnson Brusly	Logan Williams Evangel
2	Lehrue Stevens, IV St. Louis	Diondre Dorsey Brusly	Blayze Olano Brusly	Matt Adams Fisher	Jared Smith St. Louis	Luke Griffith Lakeside	Kirk Wilson Dunham
3	Colin Laird North Vermillion	Johnny Brooks-Feaster Doyline	Logan Sylve De la Salle	Kevin Drury, Jr. South Plaquemines	Jonathan Thompson North Vermillion	Robert McPherson St. Louis	Christopher Banks Baker
4	Jack Bowman Episcopal	Thomas Lambert Lakeside	Griffin Miller Dunham	Blake St. Romain St. Louis	James Phillips Grand Lake	Blake Bernard North Vermillion	Jo'Vonte Wheeler Brusly

Division II

Seed/ Weight	106	113	120	126	132	138	145
1	Colt Olinde Live Oak	Jacob Chenevert Live Oak	Brock Bonin Teurlings Catholic	Cody Hill Live Oak	Tristan Lee Teurlings Catholic	Seth Bosarge Live Oak	Bryce Ballas Shaw
2	Austin Gouedy Central	Alex Simmaly Parkway	Jason Pitts Parkway	Andrew Aucoin Sam Houston	Sterling Saylor Plaquemine	Hunter Huckaby Parkway	Zach Funderburk Parkway
3	John Hebert Teurlings Catholic	Mauricio Ballesteros Grace King	DeCoreyon Howard Huntington	Ryan Huckabee Parkway	Brandon Webb Live Oak	Jeffrey Lewis Benton	Tre` Pugh Benton
4	Garrett Strozier Parkway	Daniel Trappey Carencro	Johnathan Davadi Grace King	Anthony Seaux Rayne	Nathan Pitts Parkway	Michael Ensminger St. Michael	Austyn Hodge Live Oak

Seed/ Weight	152*	160	170	182	195	220	285
1	Andre Dean Benton	Kynan Sonnier	Kody Woodson Shaw	Jalen Oliver Bossier	Brennan Falcon Shaw	Logan Thompson Belle Chasse	Robert Kennedy Belle Chasse
2	Avery Jones Bossier	Jordan White Benton	Aaron Maddox Grace King	Brody Bonura Live Oak	Cody Stutson Riverdale	Adam Garza Teurlings Catholic	O'Shea Dugas Northside
3	Austin Many Riverdale	The`Anthony Taylor Huntington	Peyton Cortez Teurlings Catholic	Tyler Samford Pearl River	Nick Simoneaux Live Oak	Kellan Lockhart Sam Houston	Travis Santiago Teurlings Catholic
4	Jacob Courts Teurlings Catholic	Dylan Verret St. Michal	Jason Moran Pearl River	Logan Knox St. Michael	Jacob Spohrer Pearl River	Willie Washington, Jr. Northside	Chauncey Taylor Benton

D'Aunta Anderson at #7 has a 1-0 record vs. #2 Avery Jones of Bossier, but his overall record (10-8 not counting forfeits) was not strong enough to merit being seeded. If it appears he is seeded #7, then that would imply John Hagen of Live Oak is seeded #8, and Hagen has a win over Anderson. Hence, it is likely the weight class was only seeded up to #5 (Cozenski Alfred of Northside) as the wrestler in the #6 spot does not have a winning record, and that is required to even be considered for seeding.

Division I

Seed/ Weight	106*	113**	120	126	132***	138	145
1	Alex Betteridge East Ascension	Mason Mauro Brother Martin	Ben D'Antonio Jesuit	Taylor Gambill Brother Martin	George Benoit Holy Cross	Austin Meyn Brother Martin	Danny Evans Brother Martin
2	Steven Shields Brother Martin	Devyn Breaud Rummel	Tyler Mire Rummel	Connor Stampley Comeaux	Paul Klein Brother Martin	Brennan Taylor Catholic	James Claitor Catholic
3	Brody Martin Jesuit	Nicholas Charles Jesuit	Joshua Matthews Catholic	Collin Guerra Holy Cross	Brennan Taylor Sulphur	Will Lafranca Jesuit	Rick LaCava Rummel
4	Nick Lirette Hahnville	Joseph Foret Holy Cross	Jacob Bernard East Ascension	Christopher Walden Airline	Antonio Lococo Airline	Joshua Averett St. Amant	Brandon Cowell Dutchtown
5	Chris Zea Holy Cross	Mitch Napoli Catholic	Beau Bush Holy Cross	Jake Rando Jesuit	Kalik Battle C.E. Byrd	Gage Landry Acadiana	Hunter Dempster Hahnville
6	Jonathan Bradley Catholic	Steven Van Zandt St. Paul's	Seth Johnson Brother Martin	Aaron Cambre Hahnville	Jacob Rovira Jesuit	Hunter Bourgeois St. Paul's	Griffin Mason Jesuit
7	Robert Fairchild Rummel	Javarious Jones Airline	Nicholas des Bordes Mandeville	Matthew Ashford East Ascension	Tristyn Wheeler St. Amant	Timothy Ellender Sulphur	Kole Miller Comeaux
8	Prentice Spurlock John Ehret	Hunter Fitch Comeaux	Jake Verret Comeaux	Zack Lawson Fontainebleau	Chris Meraux St. Paul's	Zach Bowman Rummel	Thaquan Priestly Lafayette

*	Alex Betteridge of East Ascension and Brody Martin of Jesuit are 1-1 against each other, negating criteria #1, so common opponents had to be considered (criteria #2). Betteridge has two wins over Colt Olinde of Live Oak whereas Martin has a loss to Olinde. That places Betteridge ahead of Martin. Shields and Betteridge have not faced each other, but Shields has a 3-2 match edge over Martin which places him above Martin but is not enough to supplant Betteridge.
**	No worries re Mauro as the #1 seed. Questions may arise about Joseph Foret of Holy Cross being seeded 4th after he defeated #2 Devyn Breaud on February 5th. Foret is 12-3 against Louisiana competition and has the Mandeville Open championship to his credit. One of Foret's losses was to #3 Charles of Jesuit. Breaud has a win over Charles and is 1-1 against Mauro. He also has tournament championships from the Spartan Open and the St. Paul's Invitational. Breaud is 16-5 against Louisiana competition, but his wins over Mauro and Charles, as well as winning the Spartan Open, which has grown to be the stiffest early season test until perhaps the Trey Culotta, merits a higher seeding than Foret.
***	This one was very surprising to the editor at first, but it fits the criteria just fine, particularly criteria #3, "Place finishes in same tournaments" and #4, "Exceptional record versus seeded opponents." Holy Cross' #1 George Benoit and #2 Paul Klein of Brother Martin are tied 1-1 versus each other, negating criteria #1. They have two common opponents, both having defeated Jacob Rovira of Jesuit and Dylan Mire of Rummel, negating criteria #2. In the only tournament in which they both participated at 132 lbs. (the Ken Cole) Benoit was the winner (giving Benoit criteria #3). Re other seeded wrestlers at 132 lbs. in the state tournament, Klein has wrestled none of them while Benoit has defeated #3 Brennan Taylor twice, #4 Antonio Lococo of Airline twice, #5 Kalik Battle of C. E. Byrd and #8 Chris Meraux of St. Paul's (giving Benoit criteria #4).

Seed/ Weight	152	160	170	182*	195**	220	285
1	Mason Williams Brother Martin	Tanner LeBlanc St. Paul's	Jake Eccles Jesuit	Guy Patron, Jr. Jesuit	Daniel Relayson Holy Cross	Quinn Gilliam C.E. Byrd	Christian Ponson Fontainebleau
2	Matthew Mire Catholic	Gaston Eymard Jesuit	Brice Duhe Holy Cross	Yehia Riles Brother Martin	Matthew Perez Sulphur	Rae Juan Marbley Destrehan	Ryan Hanley Rummel
3	Jack Fontenot John Ehret	Travis Quarterman Brother Martin	Blaze d'Aquin John Ehret	Brendan Allen Covington	Kenderick Jones Hahnville	Michael Yeatman Holy Cross	Conor Karwath East Ascension
4	Ashton Queyrouze Jesuit	Brandon Verges Fontainebleau	Frankie Arena Mandeville	Porter Dazet Holy Cross	Joshua Tapia Brother Martin	Rodrigo Diaz Lafayette	Dominic Carmello Jesuit
5	DeQuan Jackson East Ascension	Daniel Rittell Zachary	Matthew Moreau Catholic	Ethan Eisenhardt Fontainebleau	David Thompson Destrehan	Christopher Wright Zachary	K. J. Wilson Catholic
6	Trey Duhon Sulphur	Morgan Root Catholic	Nick Comardelle Brother Martin	Keegan Gilligan Airline	Robert Hudgins Rummel	Jacob Clapp Brother Martin	Blake Pacheco Dutchtown
7	Jacque Girouard Comeaux	Gabe Arceneaux Dutchtown	Harrison Hooper Airline	James Young Rummel	Sean McManus Zachary	Travis Goodman Dutchtown	Travis Gardner Holy Cross
8	Joseph Kerry Rummel	Jarrett Moss Baton Rouge	Nicholas Wallis Zachary	Calvin Griffin Comeaux	Gerald Ben Dutchtown	Nicholas Cashio Catholic	Jamal Campbell Comeaux

Patron and Riles are 2-2 on the season, so criteria #2 (common opponents) comes into play first. Riles lost to #3 Brendan Allen whereas Patron defeated Allen, which puts Patron at #1. The potential quandary here is Allen being seeded #3 behind Riles, and Dazet at #4 behind Allen, whom he defeated in the Ken Cole finals. Allen and Dazet are 1-1 against each other, and each match was in a tournament, negating criteria #1 and #3. Criteria #2 favors Allen over Dazet as Dazet lost to Matt Adams of Fisher and Matt Krutzfeldt of St. Paul's, both of whom Allen defeated. That leaves the question of Riles being #2 and Allen #3. That decision probably came down to a mixture of criteria #2 (common opponents) and #5 (winning percentage). Re #2, Riles has two wins over Patron whereas Allen is 0-1 against the Blue Jay. Re criteria #5, Riles is 34-4 against Louisiana competition while Allen is 22-4. Criteria #6 may also have come into play in this scenario.

The question here is why Joshua Tapia of Brother Martin is seeded #4 whereas Daniel Relayson of Holy Cross, whom Tapia defeated in their sole match on February 10th, is seeded # 1. That, of course, gives Tapia criteria #1. But Sulphur's Matthew Perez defeated Tapia at the Ken Cole, and Relayson defeated Perez in the finals of that event (as well as in the Raider Open finals), giving Relayson criteria #3. Perez defeated Jones at the Louisiana Classic, so that puts Perez over Jones. Jones defeated Tapia at the St. Paul's Invitational, placing Jones ahead of Tapia. Tapia's record against Louisiana competition is 25-3. Relayson's record is 24-3 (two to the same opponent), so that pretty much makes criteria #5 a "wash." As of now Tapia has criteria #1 and Relayson has criteria #2 and #3. That leaves criteria #4, the seeding of the weight class. Relayson defeated the #2 seed (Perez) twice, the # 6 seed (Robert Hudgins of Rummel) and #8 (Gerald Ben of Dutchtown). Tapia has also defeated Hudgins and Ben, but his loss to Perez gives Relayson criteria #4. Three criteria to one gives Relayson the edge, and criteria #6 may have been used as well.

As always: MullerYourAnIdiot

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