Ha yes much respect go's to whoever wins the 138 bracket!

Yes I agree,
there was 12 returning State Placers in the 138 weight class at the East Sectionals.....

That's a bit of an exaggeration.  However, it's still brutal, with 8 returning state placers (but no champions) in this bracket (4 from each sectional):

Carr, 2nd - 119 (49-5)
Pyke, 3rd  - 125 (82-4)
Martin, 4th - 125 (28-6)
Flakes, 6th - 125 (41-11)
Benefield, 2nd - 130
Thompson, 4th - 135
Shephard, 5th - 135 (38-13)
Griffith, 5th - 140 (41-5)

Kratzer (58-2) was East Sectional champ last year at 125 but didn't place at state.  (All 6 placers came from the West Sectional)  His losses were to Benefield at Sectionals and Griffith at Area Duals.  (He beat Griffith at Area and Sectionals.  He also pinned Flakes in their only matchup.)

Spinks (44-16) went 0-2 at state last year at 140.

Karettis went 2-2 last year at 125.

Best I can tell the other five -  Paucay, Peynado (38-6), Locklear, Gilbert (51-12) & Nylen - didn't wrestle at state last year.

This is the only bracket I'm aware of with two returning state placers meeting in the first round (Benefield v. Shephard).