In a short week of wrestling there's not a whole lot going on Thanksgiving time, but what is going on, will be good. We have a great dual between the #16 Illinois Fighting Illini & the #26 North Carolina Tar Heels later today. 7 of the 10 matches stick out in a dual that should be very good. The Illini are looking exceptionally tough & you know that Rob Koll will have the Carolina blue ready to compete.
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| #20 Ramazan Attasauov Vs #25 Spencer Moore 125 |
When the Russian competed for Iowa State, he did some notable things at 133 lbs, including qualifying for the NCAA DI championships in 2022. He's only wrestled one match at 125 lbs, and he was upset by an unranked wrestler from Southern Illinois Edwardsville. Now a lot can be assumed and speculated, but at this point, it's nothing but assumption and speculation. There's not a whole lot to be made out of one single match. It could be as simple as getting used to the weight. I'm reminded of Nate Gallick years ago. In his first matches down at 141, he was defeated by two unranked wrestlers. Then he went on to place 5th at the NCAA DI championships in March. So who knows what will happen?
What I know now is that he has to face a very tough Spencer Moore. A wrestler with a current 5-1 mark, including a very impressive 11-2 major decision over Jett Strickenberger. This match gives Attasauov the opportunity to show that the SIUE match was simply rust and adjustment. It gives Moore an opportunity for another win to move himself up the ladder.
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| #2 Lucas Byrd Vs #15 Ethan Oakley 133 |
I said in my preseason previews that if Lucas Byrd was 100% healthy this season, he'd be a contender & while I'm anything but all for all on my predictions, this is one that I have so far gotten right. 7-0, it was his win over Nasir Bailey at the All Star Classic that I think truly earned him his #2 ranking. Today he has a tough opponent in Ethan Oakley. Not one to be overlooked or underestimated. 7-0 in his own right, he's had some nice wins this year. He'll fight you to the very end. It may be a #2 vs #15 match, but I have a feeling it's going to be better on the mat, than what it is on paper.
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| #15 Danny Pucino Vs U.R. Jayden Scott 141 |
Danny Pucino has really impressed me thus far this season. His whole career he's been batting just above .500 and this year he's stepped it up notch. He's winning those tough matches. Emillio Ysguirre, Evan Mougalian, & Carter Bailey. He's beaten some notable opponents. He gave NCAA R12'er Josh Edmond who was sudden victory away from All American status last season a one point, 8-7 match. Pucino isn't one I would have initially thought might compete for a top 8 spot, but by George is he showing me that he can.
On the same hand, I'm surprised that Jayden Scott isn't in the rankings. Last year at 149 lbs he has some notable wins in his 18-13 record. He's lost only twice this season & both losses were to strong All American candidates. I suppose those who do the rankings feel that he needs a big W at 141 lbs before they can put him in somewhere. The hot streak that Pucino is currently on, good luck. BUT such a win would garner attention. That's for sure.
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| #10 Kannon Webster Vs #6 Lachlan McNeil 149 |
Thus far in '24-'25, Kannon Webster has brutalized and bullied his way through competition. Two techs, two majors and a fall, five of his seven matches have ended in bonus points. The blacktop coercer has ruled the playground. Well now the bell rang, there's another kid coming out for recess. A big kid. A tough, Canadian kid. A kid by the name of Lachlan McNeil. He's had a few setbacks this season, but we're also talking about a guy that has finished 4th & 6th thus far in the NCAA DI nation. Kids gathered round, even the teachers are going to want to see this one. We have "the fight" as it was often called about to take place. Grab yourself a seat on the on one of the benches or a slide. This one could get downright physical.
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| #20 Jason Kraisser Vs #27 Sonny Santiago 157 |
A lot of varying opinions regarding the transfer portal, this I believe is the positive side of it. I was really happy to see Jason Kraisser land at Illinois after things didn't work out for him at Iowa State. Truth is, there are only so many spots on a team & when you have more than one really good wrestler at a weight class, someone is going to earn that spot and someone isn't. There's no use of having an NCAA qualifier sit on the bench. That just doesn't make sense. So yes, in that regard I'm pro-transfer portal.
Speaking specifically to this match, we have a Ranking Vs Result situation here. Kraisser is seven spots head of Sonny Santiago in the rankings, but it was Santiago who took out Kraisser in a 14-4 major decision the last time the two met. Now I've seen a lot of wrestlers turn around ugly losses. In fact just yesterday I watched a guy turn a 12-3 loss, into nearly defeating the same opponent in a 4-3 loss. Regardless of who wins this match, I will say I don't think it'll be a blow out again. I think this time it'll be a much closer match. That's my gut feeling anyway, right or wrong.
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| #16 Danny Braunagel Vs #12 Josh Ogunsanya 174 |
We haven't seen Josh Ogunsanya in action yet in '24-'25, but we're bound to see the #12 wrestler at some point during the season. Will he be ready for action tonight? Don't know, but hope so. It would give us a chance to see how the two time NCAA DI qualifier at 165 lbs, fares at 174 lbs.
Looking at this from the other side, it has so far been a rough and rocky road for three time NCAA DI qualifier Danny Braunagel. I really thought after a redshirt year, he'd come into this season kicking butt and taking names. Instead it's been a struggle. Season is still young though. We still have 3 months left. Plenty of time to turn things around & knowing Braunagel, that's a very likely plausibility. In other words, if you're sitting at the Blackjack table and you have the Danny Braunagle card, you say, "hit me." He'll be back at some point this season. A win over Ogunsanya, would put him back tonight. And on the flip side don't kid yourself. A win for Ogunsanya for Braunagle is still a win worth noting.
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| #9 Ed Ruth Vs #22 Gavin Kane 184 |
You know what makes this match fun? The fact that you don't know what to expect out of either wrestler. Both Ed Ruth & Gavin Kane are wrestlers that can look like two completely different athletes depending on the day you watch them wrestle. There are times when you watch Ed Ruth & think to yourself, that guy could win a national title. Watching him compete at the Midlands the last two years. Watching him win the BIG 10's last year & place 7th in the NCAA DI nation. Those would be examples. There are other times you watch him wrestle and wonder if he wasn't abducted by aliens or if an opponent's mother didn't put a curse on him. Kane in many ways is similar. He was 8th in the nation two years ago, and he'll be more than happy to make us think many times this season, he'll earn another AA. He'll also be more than happy to make us think that he won't. He likes to keep us guessing. The ultimate hope for tonight's match is that we see both Ruth & Kane on one of their good days.
Things haven't been as rough for Zach as they have been for Danny, but still the start of '24-'25 wasn't quite the bang many thought it would be for the two time NCAA DI R12'er. I said in my preseason previews that I thought Zach Braunagel was one of the best wrestlers in the DI nation yet to All American. I'm standing by that statement, and I will continue to stand by that statement, because he is. As I said about Danny, there's still plenty of season left to make your mark. I expect big things out of Braunagel and I believe strongly we'll see them. As I say that, I know the importance of taking it one day at a time, opponent by opponent and not looking too far ahead.
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