Have an outstanding dual later on tonight between the #7 Missouri Tigers and the #5 Virginia Tech Hokies. Going to be a lot of really good wrestling. This will not be one you want to miss.
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| #12 Noah Surtin Vs #13 Eddie Ventresca 125 |
Redemption is one of my favorite things about life, so naturally it's one of my favorite things about wrestling. I have no idea what was going on with Eddie Ventresca last season. All I know is that it was disheartening and depressing watching him struggle so much. To see him back to form and wrestling well, has thus far been one of the early season highlights of '24-'25 for me. The 7th place 2023 All American has himself one hell of a challenge tonight against Noah Surtin. Surtin himself is a four time NCAA qualifier, itching not only for his fifth qualification, but his first All American honor by season's end. In a dual meet where two teams are only separated by two spots in the rankings, what an important match this is.
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| #29 Kade Moore Vs #10 Connor McGonagle 133 |
In Missouri trying to knock off Virginia Tech, this could be a vital opportunity for the Tigers to pull off an upset. After watching Kade Moore give two time NCAA champ Vitali Arujau a wild 1 point match, I'm convinced this guy is a lot better than the current #29 ranking he has. That's to take nothing away from McGonagle. It's called an upset for a reason. McGonagle, a transfer from Lehigh wants to show the Hokie nation that they picked up a good one. A victory here may not seem like all that big of a deal, because it'd be a #10 over a #29, but I assure you, it is. Rankings don't always tell the full story and can sometimes be misleading.
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| #13 Josh Edmond Vs #18 Sam Latona 141 |
Here's the thing. Neither one of these guys are going to be happy by season's end if they're still ranked where they are now. Both of these guys want to be top 8 when it's said and done. Josh Edmond finished R12 at last year's NCAA championships. Sam Latona, a two time All American, failed to place last year. Based on nothing but observation alone, I think it was fairly obvious that the weight cut was too much for him. That's why he's up at 141 lbs now. A win here would be very good for either wrestler. Edmond defeats Latona, it gives him another win over someone who's been there and done that. An excellent confidence builder. A win for Latona, shows him that he is a contender for AA at 141 lbs, as he defeated another wrestler who is a contender at 141.
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| #24 Logan Gioffre Vs #1 Caleb Henson 149 |
The #1 wrestler, NCAA DI champion taking on the #24 wrestler at his weight. Probably thinking bonus points for the Hokies in the form of a major, pin or tech. Yeah, maybe. Believe it or not, the last time these two met Gioffre gave Henson won Hell of a match, losing only 6-4. Wouldn't that be the upset of all upsets? A wrestler with an 8-9 record last season, and only 32 wins in his entire career knocking off the national champ? Flo could make film out of it. Christian Pyles could make a short, 198 minute video talking all about it. On the flip side of the coin, Henson could come into this match and totally dominate. Show the wrestling world it was simply an off day for him last time they wrestled. Kinda reminds me of Rocky Vs Apollo.
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| #1 Keegan O'Toole Vs #4 Lennox Wolak 174 |
3rd-1st-1st-3rd, Keegan O'Toole in my opinion will be challenged this year, but I don't think he'll be denied. The guy is so good, so technical, so sound, and so smooth. Lennox Wolak is a very good wrestler in his own right. 6th in the nation last season, proves that. However, sometimes you gotta call it like you see it. I think Wolak keeps it to a decision, but O'Toole, 93-4, adds another W to the record.
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| #12 Colton Hawks Vs #5 T.J. Stewart 184 |
This match intrigues me. We have an R12'er in Colton Hawks taking on a 7th place NCAA DI All American T.J. Stewart. If the match is fast paced, with a lot of separation, it highly favors the Hokie. He likes to go at a high speed and his quickness and speed allow him some beautiful outside shots. If Hawks can slow it down, and tie-up Stewart, I think he does stand a chance at pulling off an upset. Which in order to win this dual, is exactly what Missouri needs & what Virginia Tech needs to avoid.
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| #4 Rocky Elam Vs #13 Andy Smith 197 |
5th-4th-3rd-6th in the NCAA DI nation, looking to become a five time All American Rocky Elam has shut out Andy Smith on two occasions. 11-0 and 7-0. In a dual of importance like this one, bonus points may very well be what the #7 Tigers need to upend the #5 Hokies. Which in essence means that keeping the match to a decision is exactly what Virginia Tech needs to do. In dual meet situations, these types of situations show how much of a strategical chess match this sport can be.
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