November 15th is just around the corner & we will begin round one of the National Duals Invitational! This is an event that is long time coming & hopefully will be the success that we all want it to be. JT1Wrestle decided to sit down, look over the bracket & make some predictions!
#3 Iowa will kick things off against #19 Missouri in what looks to be from my vantage point, a reminiscent summoning of the glory days of Dan Gable. Brands and Co has a very tough team this season & I believe against the Tigers, they are going to show their dominance. Here's how I see things potentially going down.
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| #10 Dean Peterson Vs U.R. Mack Mauger 125 |
The former Scarlet Knight, now Hawkeye has only one thing on his mind for the '25-'26 season, and that is to be an NCAA DI title contender come those three most important days in March. Iowa made an investment in this transfer & he plans on making like Stevie Wonder, coming in signed, sealed and delivered. His opponent, an unranked freshman from Idaho still has a good long career ahead of himself to make things happen over the next four seasons, but I think upon his introduction to DI varsity wrestling, this is going to be a rough one. I predict Tiger steak, extra rare, and Peterson forgetting his manners.
IOWA: 5
MISSOURI: 0
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| #3 Drake Ayala Vs #20 Kade Moore 133 |
Kade Moore is one of those guys that sometimes wrestles like David Banner (yes, I'm a Bill Bixby fan & it is David for those wanting to correct me to Bruce) and at other times he wrestles like the Incredible Hulk. That fact is not lost on me & I do take it into consideration anytime I see Moore's name in competition. It's also not lost on me that Drake Ayala is a two-time NCAA DI runner-up & the last time these two met, Ayala scored a 21-5 technical fall. I can see Moore maybe holding this one to a major decision, but I don't see him holding it to a decision. This is something that Tom & Terry sound alike, look alike, think alike are taking very seriously. They're coming in here to not only win but to dominate. I say Ayala gets another tech.
IOWA: 10
MISSOURI: 0
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| #10 Nasir Bailey Vs U.R. Seth Mendoza 141 |
Another of the Iowa investments from the transfer portal, Nasir Bailey a former Little Rock Trojan looks to make his mark this year as a Hawkeye. Although currently unranked at the moment, I think Seth Mendoza is better than the U.R. that accompanies him into this match. Mount Carmel has been producing great talent longer than I've been alive & I trust that Mendoza is no exception. Still going with the experienced Bailey in this one, but I do not see any bonus.
IOWA: 13
MISSOURI: 0
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| U.R. Ryder Block Vs #15 Josh Edmond 149 |
On paper, the reality of it is, Missouri does not match up well with Iowa, weight by weight. With that said, 149 lbs is the best opportunity for the Tigers to let out their claws, show their teeth & go in for the hunt. Do I see a major here? No. The only commonality between Block & Edmond is Illinois' Danny Pucino. Pucino defeated Block by 1 point & lost to Edmond by 1 point. What does that suggest to me? That Edmond should win this match, and it has a probability of being close. So yes, a Tiger hunt, but we're not talking a goat here, we're talking a sloth bear. (Which if you know your animals, don't always lose to Tigers. Sometimes they win too.)
IOWA: 13
MISSOURI: 3
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| #7 Jordan Williams Vs #25 J Conway 157 |
Ever heard the expression of "better on the mat, than what it is on paper"? This would be an example of that. On paper, a #7 should be having his way with a #25, but I wouldn't bet on that happening. I'm still going to go with Jordan Williams in this match, but I do think it'll be a tight one. Matter of fact I wouldn't rule out the possibility of an upset. The only commonality here is opponent Joel Mylin, who Williams defeated 2-1 & who Conway defeated 1-0. Prediction another victory for the Hawks, in a well contested match.
IOWA: 16
MISSOURI: 3
The last two times Mikey Caliendo & Maxx Mayfield met, Caliendo won via technical fall by scores of 19-4 & 21-5. The Hawkeye will once again be going for the bonus here, but I'm not sure if he'll get the 5. He may have to settle for four. Mayfield is in a new environment, with new coaches & new workout partners. Having workout partners like Steed & Conway, could be a difference maker. Not sure if Mayfield can keep Caliendo from majoring him, but I do think he can make this match go a full seven minutes.
IOWA: 20
MISSOURI: 3
Every time I assess a dual meet, I always look for the marquee matchup, and this may very well be it. These guys mirror one another as far as common opponents & performances against them are concerned. Patrick Kennedy proved himself in unfavorable odds last season to not only be Iowa's starter, but to also be one of the best in the NCAA DI nation by capturing a national finish of 4th. Cam Steed 7th in the nation last year, would love to knock him down a peg, as he continues to climb the ladder himself. Kennedy is one of those guys who finds a way to win in dire situations. Not ruling out an upset here, but once again predicting an Iowa victory.
IOWA: 23
MISSOURI: 3
If 174 isn't the marquee, then 184 will be. From a promotional, distribution standpoint, it already is. Hard telling which match actually will be better, but if we're asking hype & anticipation, this is our Hulk Hogan Vs Andre The Giant draw right here. Fans love losing their shit over freshmen, and these two currently off redshirt are two of the best in the country. Angelo Ferrari defeated Dustin Plott 6-3 last year, whereas Aeoden Sinclar dropped an 18-7 major decision to him. To be honest, I'm not putting a whole lot of stock into those results. Not everyone is the sensational straight out of high school prodigy that Ferrari is. Some take a few lumps in that year of adjustment & I'm not convinced that Plott would have his way with Sinclair now like he did a year ago. Missouri fans are probably sick of reading this line by now but....I'm still going with Iowa on this one. I do think it'll be a good match though.
IOWA: 26
MISSOURI: 3
These are the type of matches that make a dual like this fun. The type of matches with the kind of stories that should be used to hype & draw. Wrestling fans love to sit around and debate about whether we should allow NCAA D2 & NCAA D3 champs entry into the NCAA DI tournament again. Love to sit around and fantasize about these lower division wrestlers coming in & having their way with these DI wrestlers from these big DI schools. Massoma Endene has the opportunity at these duals to fulfill the hopes of those in favor by showcasing the skills of a three time NCAA DIII champ against some of the best 197 has to offer. Evan Bates will be a good test.
Looking at it from Bates perspective, he joins Mayfield as a former Wildcat, now Tiger. He's one of those guys that is easy to picture in the round to place but needs some more definitive victories before we start imagining him winning that match. A win over Endene I believe would be a strong start at the beginning of the season.
Missouri fans are really going to hate me, but going with Iowa in a close one yet again.
IOWA: 29
MISSOURI: 3
Pretty straight forward here. I think Stoner can keep this one to a decision & I think he should keep this to a decision, but I also think it'll be a well-controlled, never in doubt victory for Keuter.
IOWA: 32
MISSOURI: 3
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Tom & Terry Brands have probably spent the last 16 years tossing & turning at night from the fact that they haven't brought home a gold trophy from the NCAA DI wrestling tournament since 2010. It probably eats away at them even more that they were ranked #1 in 2020, when the tournament was canceled because of COVID-19. Nobody hates not being #1 worse than the Brands. They're like leprechauns, all they're interested in is gold. They haven't had any from the NCAA DI championships in quite a while, they'll be damned if they're leaving Tulsa without any.
I say Iowa is coming in here with a mentality of nothing will do other than being the best, and they're coming in here to win this tournament. I say they make that statement right from the get-go, which is why I'm predicting such a lopsided victory.
IOWA: 16
MISSOURI: 3
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| #2 Mikey Caliendo Vs #12 Maxx Mayfield 165 |
The last two times Mikey Caliendo & Maxx Mayfield met, Caliendo won via technical fall by scores of 19-4 & 21-5. The Hawkeye will once again be going for the bonus here, but I'm not sure if he'll get the 5. He may have to settle for four. Mayfield is in a new environment, with new coaches & new workout partners. Having workout partners like Steed & Conway, could be a difference maker. Not sure if Mayfield can keep Caliendo from majoring him, but I do think he can make this match go a full seven minutes.
IOWA: 20
MISSOURI: 3
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| #2 Patrick Kennedy Vs #5 Cam Steed 174 |
Every time I assess a dual meet, I always look for the marquee matchup, and this may very well be it. These guys mirror one another as far as common opponents & performances against them are concerned. Patrick Kennedy proved himself in unfavorable odds last season to not only be Iowa's starter, but to also be one of the best in the NCAA DI nation by capturing a national finish of 4th. Cam Steed 7th in the nation last year, would love to knock him down a peg, as he continues to climb the ladder himself. Kennedy is one of those guys who finds a way to win in dire situations. Not ruling out an upset here, but once again predicting an Iowa victory.
IOWA: 23
MISSOURI: 3
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| #2 Angelo Ferrari Vs #10 Aeoden Sinclair 184 |
If 174 isn't the marquee, then 184 will be. From a promotional, distribution standpoint, it already is. Hard telling which match actually will be better, but if we're asking hype & anticipation, this is our Hulk Hogan Vs Andre The Giant draw right here. Fans love losing their shit over freshmen, and these two currently off redshirt are two of the best in the country. Angelo Ferrari defeated Dustin Plott 6-3 last year, whereas Aeoden Sinclar dropped an 18-7 major decision to him. To be honest, I'm not putting a whole lot of stock into those results. Not everyone is the sensational straight out of high school prodigy that Ferrari is. Some take a few lumps in that year of adjustment & I'm not convinced that Plott would have his way with Sinclair now like he did a year ago. Missouri fans are probably sick of reading this line by now but....I'm still going with Iowa on this one. I do think it'll be a good match though.
IOWA: 26
MISSOURI: 3
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| U.R. Massoma Endene Vs #11 Evan Bates 197 |
These are the type of matches that make a dual like this fun. The type of matches with the kind of stories that should be used to hype & draw. Wrestling fans love to sit around and debate about whether we should allow NCAA D2 & NCAA D3 champs entry into the NCAA DI tournament again. Love to sit around and fantasize about these lower division wrestlers coming in & having their way with these DI wrestlers from these big DI schools. Massoma Endene has the opportunity at these duals to fulfill the hopes of those in favor by showcasing the skills of a three time NCAA DIII champ against some of the best 197 has to offer. Evan Bates will be a good test.
Looking at it from Bates perspective, he joins Mayfield as a former Wildcat, now Tiger. He's one of those guys that is easy to picture in the round to place but needs some more definitive victories before we start imagining him winning that match. A win over Endene I believe would be a strong start at the beginning of the season.
Missouri fans are really going to hate me, but going with Iowa in a close one yet again.
IOWA: 29
MISSOURI: 3
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| #5 Ben Kueter Vs #23 Jarrett Stoner HWT |
Pretty straight forward here. I think Stoner can keep this one to a decision & I think he should keep this to a decision, but I also think it'll be a well-controlled, never in doubt victory for Keuter.
IOWA: 32
MISSOURI: 3
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Tom & Terry Brands have probably spent the last 16 years tossing & turning at night from the fact that they haven't brought home a gold trophy from the NCAA DI wrestling tournament since 2010. It probably eats away at them even more that they were ranked #1 in 2020, when the tournament was canceled because of COVID-19. Nobody hates not being #1 worse than the Brands. They're like leprechauns, all they're interested in is gold. They haven't had any from the NCAA DI championships in quite a while, they'll be damned if they're leaving Tulsa without any.
I say Iowa is coming in here with a mentality of nothing will do other than being the best, and they're coming in here to win this tournament. I say they make that statement right from the get-go, which is why I'm predicting such a lopsided victory.
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