Weekend Storylines to Follow (11/22/24)
Week four of the college wrestling season has already gotten off to a strong start. Indiana made a frantic comeback in their final three matches (tech, fall, major) to hold off a frisky Columbia team, 23-21. Later in the evening, #12 Illinois continued to impress and pushed their record to 4-0 with a 23-14 win over #13 Missouri.
We’ll have even more fireworks for sure as one of college wrestling’s top rivalries is renewed on Saturday. Before that, we have two duals with ranked teams colliding tonight, along with three others on Sunday. Oh yeah, and some individual bracketed tournaments.
There’s lots to watch (here’s how and where to watch) so we’ve highlighted some of the key storylines to watch over the next three days.
The Battle of the Mountaineers
#20 West Virginia travels south to meet SoCon power Appalachian State in a non-conference meeting between a pair of schools that share the same mascot. This matchup may not end up as strong as it initially was, on paper, as Appalachian State has lost 141 lb starter Sean Carter for the year with an injury. In his season debut, Carter upset two-time All-American Sam Latona (Virginia Tech). Word is that Appalachian State might also be without the services of 2024 184 lb conference champion Tomas Brooker for an extended time because of an injury.
Even with injuries mounting, the 165 lb match is very important as it will feature #3 Peyton Hall against #8 Will Miller.
Gable’s Return
Tonight we should get the first glimpse in over two years of Gable Steveson in a Minnesota singlet. Last week, Minnesota announced that the two-time Hodge Trophy winner and Olympic champion was returning to use his final year of eligibility. He’ll have the first chance to knock off the rust against North Dakota State’s Andrew Blackburn-Forst.
Shrek and Wrestling?
Maryland hosts in-state foe Morgan State tonight and the theme is Shrek. The first 100 students will receive Shrek-themed Maryland wrestling shirts. The first 100 fans will receive Shrek ears. That’s it. That’s the message.
Rutgers/Virginia Tech Storylines
Last year, Rutgers and Virginia Tech renewed their dual series in a fun contest that saw the Hokies travel to Jersey Mike’s Arena and come away with a 19-12 victory. Now, Rutgers will hit the road and hope to return the favor. There are plenty of quality storylines in this meeting. Virginia Tech has always recruited New Jersey well and is expected to send out New Jersey natives at their bookends. Eddie Ventresca at 125 and Jimmy Mullen at heavyweight.
Conversely, Rutgers has a Virginia native at 174 lbs in All-American Jackson Turley who hasn’t wrestled in his home state since graduating from St. Christopher’s in 2019.
There’s also a good all-freshman match on tap at 157 lbs with Rafael Hipolito and Conner Harer. At 184 lbs, Brian Soldano typically throws the kitchen sink at his competition and TJ Stewart will be happy to oblige in a potentially wild affair.
Whoever Virginia Tech sends out at 197 lbs (Andy Smith/Sonny Sasso) should make for a good match with John Poznanski and we have a top-ten clash at 133 lbs with Dylan Shawver and Connor McGonagle.
Spratley’s Big Weekend
It’s not crazy to think that come Tuesday, Oklahoma State 125 lber Troy Spratley could be the top-ranked 125 lber in the country. Tonight, Spratley will face second-ranked Jore Volk of Wyoming. The two met last year in the Big 12 finals and Volk prevailed in sudden victory.
Two days later, Oklahoma State will host Arizona State and top-ranked, returning NCAA champion Richie Figueroa. If I had to guess, this match may not happen. Figueroa appeared to be injured at the Daktronics Open when South Dakota State’s Brady Roark got in on a leg attack. He laid on the mat and was attended to - but then continued to compete. After a second takedown, the notably limited Figueroa and the ASU staff stopped the match. If Figueroa has something lingering from that match, I don’t expect ASU to let him wrestle someone of Spratley’s caliber.
But one can hope.
Cornell’s Dual Debut
Two weeks ago, we got a peek at #11 Cornell at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. They have a bit of a new look Brett Ungar moving up to 133 lbs to replace two-time champion Vito Arujau and Greg Diakomihalis sliding in at 125 lbs. Cornell also has tough freshmen at 174 and 197 lbs with Simon Ruiz and Mikey Dellagatta, respectively.
Cornell will be in dual action for the first time Saturday afternoon as they host Buffalo. With all due respect, I don’t expect Buffalo to challenge the Big Red at this point in Donnie Vinson’s tenure, but it will be a good measuring stick for each program, in their own way.
Buffalo will also stick around to wrestle in the Big Red Invitational on Sunday.
I’m also eager to see if All-American Meyer Shapiro will compete. He defaulted out of the Journeymen event with an apparent head injury.
For those looking to see the “full” Cornell lineup, that will have to wait until the end of the first semester. Veterans Julian Ramirez and Chris Foca only have one semester of eligibility remaining due to Ivy League rules.
Classically Navy
Mid-to-late-November is always the setting for the Navy Classic and it takes place this Saturday. In addition to the hosts, Big Ten schools Indiana and Nebraska will be in attendance. Oregon State comes in from the West Coast - as Nate Engel got his college coaching career started in Annapolis.
Provided everyone who we expect to wrestle actually wrestles, a few weights to watch are 141 lbs, 157 lbs, and 197 lbs.
At 141 we could see #4 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) vs. #9 Josh Koderhandt (Navy)
At 157, how about #3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs. #5 Peyten Kellar (Ohio).
At 197 lbs, #9 Trey Munoz (Oregon State) and tough freshman #26 Camden McDanel (Nebraska).
I’m also eager to see #23 Maximo Renteria (Oregon State) against the wrestler above him in the rankings #22 Jacob Moran (Indiana) and possibly #3 Caleb Smith (Nebraska).
Cy-Hawk
We covered Iowa vs Iowa State in our dual preview here
For a historic look at Iowa/Iowa State in the NCAA finals try here
Adam Hall’s Homecoming
Utah Valley’s Adam Hall comes back to Raleigh and the place he called home for nine years on Pat Popolizio’s staff at NC State. The Wolverines challenging the #7 ranked Wolfpack is a stretch at this point, but there could be some solid matches at 125, 133, 141, and 165 lbs.
Philly Special
Another event that is penciled into the calendar at this time of year is Penn’s Keystone Classic. The Quakers have a really solid lineup and much of it will be intact and ready to roll as they host a solid contingent of challengers. Virginia Tech will send most of their starters. Two of the top teams from the MAC, Central Michigan and Lock Haven, will be in action. Harvard also had a couple of wrestlers that shined at the Journeymen Classic. We’ll get a second look at them.
There are a few weights that appear to be unsettled (or with multiple good options) for Penn, so there could be some de facto wrestle-offs at 133 and 149 - among others.
Black Knight Invitational
Last week, we got the first glimpse at the three-time defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions. Now, they’ll be in action in a bracketed tournament at West Point for the Black Knight Invitational. Penn State also has some weights that need sorting out, so we’ll be on the lookout for a potential Alex Facundo/Tyler Kasak match at 157 lbs and Lucas Cochran/Josh Barr at 197 lbs.
This will also be the first time that we potentially see the number one overall recruit in the Class of 2024, Luke Lilledahl, against ranked competition. Army’s Charlie Farmer is currently ranked #21 and Long Island’s Robbie Sagaris has proven to be a tough out.
In the non-Penn State portion of the tournament, I’m looking forward to a potential semifinal at 141 lbs between #28 Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) and #29 Braden Basile (Army West Point). Carter already has a win over Basile this year and is 2-0 with two wins over national qualifiers.
Someone who was not in the preseeds that could do some damage is #27 Remy Cotton (Michigan State) at 197 lbs. The seeded portion of that bracket includes the Penn State duo (Cochran/Barr), teammate Kael Wisler, and #33 Austin Kolhofer (Army West Point). It’s a solid bracket with no overwhelming favorite.
Can Gable pull the Upset?
Sunday has a battle of All-American heavyweights as Taye Ghadiali and the Campbell Camels hit the road and travel to Minnesota. Minnesota means Gable Steveson.
If you haven’t used WrestleStat’s Dual or Individual comparison feature you’re missing out it’s great. You can project how two teams will do in a dual, based on the individual wrestler’s history. It will generate all of the common opponents between the two wrestlers and highlight any head-to-head meetings. However, every so often you’ll get a random prediction, that may not seem to make sense.
That was the case last Sunday as this was the prediction for a potential Steveson/Ghadiali matchup.
Since then, it has been tweaked and it shows Steveson as the winner. But it’s fun to think about Gable pulling the big upset!
Rider’s Road Trip
Rider will head to the midwest this weekend as they face Northern Illinois on Friday and Wisconsin on Sunday. The Northern Illinois matchup could be one between MAC darkhorses this year. In the preseason, Northern Illinois was tabbed to finish sixth in the conference and Rider was seventh. I tend to think both schools will do better.
Sunday’s dual with Wisconsin is interesting as the Badgers have already lost to a MAC squad this year - Ohio. Using the WrestleStat dual comparison tool, it has Wisconsin holding off Rider, 17-15. One of the swing matches should be at 174 lbs with redshirt freshman Lucas Condon (Wisconsin) - a top 100 recruit against returning national qualifier Michael Wilson of Rider.
The Low-Key Match of the Week
Iowa/Iowa State will get the hype this week and deservedly so. But #17 South Dakota State at #10 Northern Iowa is a pretty awesome dual in and of itself.
The marquee match of the dual is one that features a pair of returning All-Americans at 184 lbs with #2 Parker Keckeisen and #4 Bennett Berge. Despite being in the same Big 12 weight class last season - and both making the NCAA podium - the two did not meet in 2023-24.
In addition to 184 lbs, I’m eager to see the match at 197 lbs, as well. #8 Zach Glazier and #15 Wyatt Voelker. The two did not meet last season, but Glazier did major Voelker in 2022-23 when Voelker was a true freshman. I think Voelker takes the next step this season and challenges for a spot on the podium. A win over Glazier would be a step in the right direction.
There are also ranked vs ranked matches at 149, 157, 165, and 174 lbs in this dual.
The new Big 12 rivalry
With conference realignment continuing to rearrange everything we’ve known about college sports, I present to you a new conference matchup between #21 Arizona State and #4 Oklahoma State. Arizona State moved the Big 12 in the offseason and will presumably be a fixture on the Oklahoma State schedule.
Earlier we mentioned the possibility of a Figueroa/Spratley match at 125 lbs and why it may not happen.
#33 Cael Hughes was a highly-regarded prospect. I’ll be interested to see how he stacks up to #19 Julian Chlebove.
Finally, at heavyweight, we have a pair of multi-time AA’s in #3 Wyatt Hendrickson and #5 Cohlton Schultz. The two have been in the same 285 lb bracket for the past three years and have never met. It will be a serious contrast of styles.
East vs West (PA)
East meets West as Lehigh heads across the Pennsylvania Turnpike to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
As these things sometimes work out in duals, the strengths of these two teams don’t appear to match up to create many monster matchups, but it’s still a quality dual. The headline bout coming at 197 lbs with two-time All-American Michael Beard and sophomore Mac Stout. In last year’s dual, it was all-Beard as he crushed in an 18-3 technical fall.
Big picture, I’m looking at how this Lehigh lineup develops. As of now, they seem intent on redshirting Luke Stanich (141) and Max Brignola (165). Both have been impressive this year. Add in heavyweight transfer Owen Trephan to a lineup that includes #1 Ryan Crookham and Beard. That’s some serious firepower that could be capable of a high NCAA finish. Will the Lehigh staff stick to their plan?
This year’s underdog team?
Last year, Little Rock was the darling of the NCAA wrestling world with a dual meet title in the Pac-12 followed by a pair of freshmen making the NCAA podium in Kansas City. Now, we just expect them to be good. Neil Erisman’s team is currently ranked #16 in the country but will get a bit of a test from #25 Northwestern.
Northwestern is a team that hasn’t been talked about much this year. The 2023-24 season was not kind to the Wildcats as they went 1-9 in dual competition and sent only three wrestlers to the national tournament.
That was then and this is now. Northwestern re-added two-time All-American Chris Cannon and they have redshirt freshmen Dedrick Navarro (125) and Sam Cartella (149) showing signs of being very strong contributors. Those wrestlers plus returners like Trevor Chumbley (157), Maxx Mayfield (165), and Evan Bates (197) make this a good dual team.
Will they beat Penn State or Iowa? No, but they will surprise some people. Maybe Little Rock on Sunday?
Blue and Hoo
The weekend will close with Michigan against Virginia in the second of two ACC duals for the Wolverines this week. They’ll meet Duke tonight.
In this dual, I’m curious to see the middleweights. Michigan’s probable starter Beau Mantanona was lost for the year with an injury. There wasn't a clear-cut replacement for Mantanona so who stepped up? None other than his younger brother, Brock, who was completely dominant over a ranked opponent in Cesar Alvan (Columbia) during Michigan’s most recent dual. Will Sean Bormet’s team continue to trot out the true freshman, Brock? If they were to do so against Virginia, it would make for a strong matchup against #12 Nick Hamilton. A win over Hamilton might signal that Brock continues as the starter and doesn’t redshirt.
The next weight, 174 lbs, is another one I’m eager to see. Michigan has veteran Joseph Walker who has seen plenty of action over the years, but never has been their full-time starter. It looks like this is the year. So far, Walker has responded well with a Clarion Open title and a win in the Columbia dual. Facing him is the Cavaliers Rocco Contino. Contino missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injuries and had never appeared in a dual, prior to this season. Contino has won both duals thus far and looks like someone who should be considered for the national rankings. Beating Walker could help him crack the top 33.
