This Friday we have an excellent dual meet between the #5 Minnesota Golden Gophers & the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes. No sleepers in this one, all 10 matches will be worth the price of admission. You're gonna get your money's worth here.
 |
| #9 Cooper Flynn Vs #18 Brendan McCrone 125 |
We have a good battle here between two NCAA DI qualifiers from last season. Cooper Flynn is currently climbing up the ladder into the All-American potential category, as Brendan McCrone fluctuates a bit more, with some really nice wins, among some not so great losses. The Golden Gopher is 11-2 on the season, whereas the Buckeye is 18-6. BIG 10 seeding purposes, Flynn does not want a loss here, as McCrone could really use the win.
 |
| #18 Tyler Wells Vs #10 Nick Bouzakis 133 |
On paper this one favors the Buckeyes, but I would not count out the Gophers. Tyler Wells has shown to wrestle above his ranking at various times in the past, including making the R12 at last year's NCAA DI championships. There's not a whole heck of a lot of separation between a #5 team & a #7 team. Thus, making it blatantly obvious that all wins and losses in this dual meet are crucial. Gophers are wanting an upset here & Buckeyes are wanting to avoid it.
 |
| #8 Vance VomBaur Vs #1 Jesse Mendez 141 |
8th in the DI nation last season, and currently 18-2 on the season, Vance VomBaur is looking extremely good this season. Likely to not only earn All American honors again, but perhaps improve upon his 8th place showing. With that said I'm reminded of a scene from one of my all time favorite films, Best of The Best. The American fighters are all being show video tapes of their Korean opponents. As they're being schooled on the credentials and statistics of their adversaries, the Coaching staff directs their attention to Tommy Lee. They tell him about his opponent, "Dae Han Park." The most feared wrestler in his weight class. Like Dae Han, Jesse Mendez is the most feared wrestler in his weight class. 21-0 on the season, looking to defend the NCAA DI title he won last year.
 |
#25 Drew Roberts Vs #9 Dylan D'Emilio |
 |
| #8 Tommy Askey Vs #17 Sammy Sasso 157 |
I wouldn't ever count Sammy Sasso out of a match. However, as much as it pains me to say it, we all know the current state of affairs. The Sasso who was 2nd-5th-2nd in the DI nation is not the same Sasso we're currently seeing on the mat now. No fault of his own, which makes the situation even more arbitrary. Life isn't fair, and of all the lessons that our sport can teach us, that's often one it rarely skips. Tommy Askey is in my opinion looking about as good as he's ever looked. 18-2 on the season, it's a very likely win for the Gophers. Askey getting a major though? Well, the Maroon & Gold could certainly use it in hopes to fend off a Buckeye upset, but I don't think Sasso will give it up.
 |
| #11 Andrew Sparks Vs #9 Paddy Gallagher 165 |
Love these types of matches. 165 lbs as far as this dual is concerned, could be the most important match of the night. On paper, these two are right on par with one another. We have 17-4 on the season, three-time NCAA DI qualifier Andrew Sparks, who is looking to add his name to the already respectable list of potential All Americans the Gophers have listed. Paddy Gallagher, 11 wins on the season, has done an outstanding job of being a utility man for the Buckeyes, not only filling in where he is needed, but going above and beyond expectation in doing so. He went from, "is he going to crack the lineup" to "we're looking at possibly a top 8 wrestler by season's end" and he deserves the credit I give him right now for his performance. Both of these wrestlers could be the difference between victory and defeat team wise in this dual. Makes it a fun match.
 |
| #25 Clayton Whiting Vs #5 Carson Kharchla 174 |
7th in the DI nation in 2022 & one match shy of earning a second All American honor in 2023, Carson Kharchla missed out on 2024 with an injury. Now he's back & on a mission to make up for what he missed out on last season with a vengeance. 9-0 on the season, many are wondering if among the names O'Toole, Haines & Hamiti, we might be able to add Kharchla to the list of viable prospects for this year's NCAA title. While Clayton Whiting, a Missouri transfer is continuing to make a name for himself, I have to say I think the goal here will be keeping this match to a decision.
 |
| #4 Max McEnelly Vs #19 Ryder Rogotzke 184 |
Max McEnelly is in line to receive "Freshman of the Year" honors by the end of '24-'25. He has some stiff competition from some other outstanding rookies, but my gawd has he wrestled well for far this season. 15-0 on the year, he faces an opponent that while unfamiliar collegiately speaking, he knows quite well from his high school years. Ryder Rogotzke. Batting just above .500 in '24-'25, this one is pretty much in the bag for the Gophers. Avoiding bonus will be the key for the Buckeyes.
 |
| #9 Isaiah Salazar Vs #18 Seth Shutmate 197 |
As we get into the upperweights, it becomes obvious the upperhand the Golden Gophers have over the Buckeyes here. This is why it is crucial for the Buckeyes to score bonus where they can & win the toss-up matches throughout the lower & middle weights. Once we hit 174 lbs, it's Maroon & Gold all the way. Do I think Salazar, 6th in the DI nation last year & 13-3 so far this year can accumulate bonus here against Seth Shumate? Yes, I do. Not a guarantee, but I do see it plausible possibility against the 9-9 Buckeye.
 |
| #1 Gable Steveson Vs #7 Nick Feldman HWT |
It's surreal when you think about it. Nick Feldman is a freakin' good wrestler. 12-3 on the season, he was 5th at last year's DI championships. The young Buckeye is likely to finish off his career someday as a four time All American. If you know and understand the world of college wrestling, that's a rare feat. That's an accomplishment that says nothing short of how talented you truly are. Yet on Friday, he's not facing an ordinary opponent. He's facing a wrestler who may very well go down in history as the best HWT of all time. Collegiately speaking anyway. Gable Steveson is something else. An Ivan Drago, without a Rocky to stop him. Do I see bonus here? I have a hard time not seeing bonus here. 4, 5 or even 6, this match doesn't end in a regular decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment