Obviously, not every school is bringing all their wrestlers. Some will bring the ones expected to be most competitive and get the most out of the experience. Others, like Sem, may have a guy or two headed to Senior Nationals this weekend instead.

Again, I always try to be as accurate as possible but I can only work with the info I am given.

So first up, the school list at this year’s BOTE. I have them grouped by state, or by region if the state doesn’t have many entries.

The BOTE is one of the toughest tournaments in-season every season. In fact, I’d say it’s a pretty clear #2 behind Ironman. Credit to the school and wrestlers set to compete in both on back to back weekends. Those schools are marked with an *. 

How it compares to Ironman. You lose all the Oklahoma schools, as well as most of the Ohio and Illinois schools. But you pick up a lot of New Jersey schools, some different Pennsylvania schools, and a whole bunch more from Virginia and the New England area. With Blair, Sem, and Lake Highland competing in both, it does ensure that whatever is missing from Ironman, the drop off isn’t too steep.

The addition of New Jersey in particular gives us a first look at some of the nation’s best as this is the first week of the season for The Garden State.

I’ll be back with more between now and Saturday.