Top collegiate wrestlers hit Vegas

Wrestling fans will be treated to some of the nation’s best collegiate competition this weekend at the annual Cliff Keen Invitational.

Forty-six teams and more than 100 ranked wrestlers, per Intermat, will be on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Of the 25 teams in Intermat’s tournament rankings, 13 will compete.

No. 2 Ohio State, defending invitational champ, is the top-ranked team, followed by Michigan, Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northern Iowa. Each is in the top 15 in the top 15 in the rankings.

“It’s probably one of the deepest and the largest. You have (schools) from all different scopes. The Big Ten, Ivy League schools, some of the West Coast schools,” tournament director Mark Churella said.

Each weight class has multiple wrestlers in Intermat’s top 10. Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (174 pounds) and Ohio State’s Kollin Moore (197 pounds) are ranked at the top of their weight class by Intermat.

Michigan’s Steven Micic (133), Ohio State’s Myles Martin (184) and Michigan’s Adam Coon (285) are No. 2 in their classes.

Winners from last year’s invitational who are expected to compete include Ohio State’s Micah Jordan (157), Michigan’s Logan Massa (165) and Valencia.

The competition starts 9 a.m. Friday and ends Saturday with the finals at 3 p.m.