Indiana Vs Lock Haven Preview: Saturday Nov 7th

 

Lehigh will be hosting a series of duals this weekend and one that intrigues me most will be the Hoosiers of Indiana taking on the Bald Eagles of Indiana. Neither team is currently ranked in the top 30, but both teams are looking to make leaps and bounds throughout the season.  Coach Escobedo & staff have taken to the Transfer Portal as they compete within the warzone that is NCAA DI's toughest conference, the BIG 10.  They're a mixture of veterans and newcomers looking to climb that rankings ladder.  Coach Moore has a group of guys that have been with him for quite some time now. Guys that have shown potential that are looking to step it up.  Lot to prove here for both programs in this dual. 

5 of the 10 matches stick out to me in particularly. 

149
#20 Tom Crook Vs #16 Lucas Kapusta

The Tampa, Florida native did some big things at Virginia Tech during his time as a Hokie, and Coach Escobedo is expecting some big things out of him now that he is a Hoosier.  Currently ranked #20 in the nation, a win over the #16th ranked Lucas Kapusta would be a great way to start of '26-'27.  Kapusta won 25 matches last year & a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title.  Should be a good match. 

165
#21 Tyler Lillard Vs #28 Nick Stampoulos

I know Tyler Lillard is much better than his #21 ranking, and I know that he has the tools, and capabilities to finish off his collegiate career as an All-American. It's also not lost on me that Nick Stampoulos is one of those wrestlers that you never count out & that you never look past.  He qualified for the NCAA DI championships all the way back in 2024, and he hasn't been back since.  This will be his final opportunity to make the dance, and I can see that as a result having him wrestle with extra intensity.  He upset Gavin Drexler last year, so I put nothing past him.  We have two guys here, both looking to prove themselves in '26-'27.  Should result in a great match. 

184
#27 Sam Goin Vs #30 Sammy Gautreau

I'm anxious to see if these two are as close to one another on the mat as they are in the rankings, and as they are in first names.  Sam Goin, along with many of his Hoosier teammates is looking to improve upon his ranking.  Sammy Gautreau was one match shy of being an NCAA DI qualifier last season, and you know that's been itching at him for the past 7 months.  Either way, both of these guys would walk off the mat with a nice W. 

197
#18 Gabe Sollars Vs U.R. Tucker Hogan 
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Neither one of the Hogan brothers is currently ranked, but I don't think that will be the case for very long.  Both are talented wrestlers that should break into the top 30, I would imagine before the first of the year.  Tucker doing so against Gabe Sollars? Pretty tough pop quiz to start off the season.  Sollars is in the same boat as teammate Lillard.  He has the tools and the capabilities to be an All-American this season. Matter of fact, two years ago, he came within a match of doing exactly that.  The last time these two met, it was a textbook, controlled 5-1 victory for the Hoosier.  I predict one of two things will happen in this match.  Either Sollars will widen the gap & win by a larger margin, or Hogan will close the gap & make it a much closer match. 

HWT
#17 Connor Barkett Vs U.R. Talan Hogan 

I know how sad Duke was to lose him & I know how happy Indiana was to get him.  Coach Escobedo has himself a very tough HWT, that I'm anxious to see how he performs wearing Hoosier colors this season.  As I said, I think both of the Hogans will be in the rankings before the 1st of the year, but Talan getting the upset over Barkett? Tough order.  I do think that Hogan will be a great first match to see where Barkett is though.  He had great coaches at Duke, but what he didn't have there was a strong room full of workout partners.  He has that at Indiana & I'm anxious to see how much of a difference that makes in his wrestling.  

#2 Life Vs #6 Southeastern Sun Nov 7th @ Takedown At Yorktown

 

One of the most exciting things in college wrestling this season, is that this is the first year ever of Southern States Athletic Conference wrestling!  We have two of the best teams in NAIA wrestling, Life & Southeastern, both of which want to be the first ever SSAC team champions by the end of 2027!  These two wrestling giants will be meeting early on this season, as they do battle this Sunday at the Takedown At Yorktown! 

Should be a very exciting dual & these are the matches JT1Wrestle looks forward to most. 

Mikey Doerr Vs Jake Bucci
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Life Vs Southeastern. As already noted, two teams both looking to rule the SSAC by the end of the season.  What fun it is to start things off with two light weights both looking to start off '26-'27 with a bang! Mikey Doerr had some big wins last season & Jake Bucci placed 4th at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational.  

Isaiah Rubio Vs Aaron Lucio
133 lbs

3rd & 2nd thus far in the NAIA nation, I believe it is fair to say that Aaron Lucio is a contender for both an SSAC title as well as a National title in 2027.  Isaiah Rubio himself last season, a Battle in the Bluegrass champion.  When these two met in the dual, Lucio scored a takedown in the first period, and those were the only real points scored in what ended in a 4-1 decision for the Fire.  Team pride, ranking, seeding at conference, a whole lot on the line in this match of talented light weights. 

Mauro Michel vs Andrew Voiles Or Drew Jones
141 lbs 

In the NAIA it's not uncommon to have more than one talented wrestler at a weight & therefore you never know who will be sent out onto the mat.  What I can tell you is that at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) last season, Andrew Voiles defeated teammate Drew Jones 4-2 in the semi-finals in route to a 2nd place finish.  Mauro Michel then majored Jones 12-3 for a 3rd place finish & Michel also finished 3rd in the NAIA Nation a couple of weeks later.  Michel Vs Voiles is the match I want to see, because I wouldn't be at all surprised if that ends up being out SSAC final. 

149
Elvis Solis Vs Mario De La Torre

Wrestling sure can be a funny sport at times. Often times one of the toughest to predict.  At the AAC last year, Elvis Solis took it to Mario De La Torre in the finals in a 13-3 major decision.  Yet at the NAIA championships, De La Torre finished 4th to Solis finishing 7th.  

174
Reese Jones Or Konlin Weaver Vs Ty Rodriguez Or Husam Mustafa

A lot of talent here at 174 lbs & I can't tell you for sure what we will end up seeing.  I can tell you what I hope we end up seeing though.  I'd love to see a rematch of last year's AAC championships where Reese Jones squeaked past Ty Rodriguez in a 2-1 decision.  Jones vs Husam Mustafa Or Rodriguez vs Weaver could also be a lot of fun as well.  Or We could also possibly see Jones or Weaver move up to 184 lbs to take on a very tough August Batson. 

197
Efren Arizmendez Vs Gentry Smith

Two-time AAC runner-up Gentry Smith who finished R12 at last year's NAIA championships is looking to win a SSAC title this year.  Efren Arizmendez will be a great first test in route to acing that final exam.  Smith is favored, but I look for this to be a good match. 

THUR NOV 5th - UW-Parkside vs UW-Whitewater

 

Cross Division, Cross fire!! We have one of the best NCAA D2 teams in the country taking on one of the toughest NCAA D3 teams in the country as two Wisconsin powerhouses meet up this Thursday!  Four matches stick out in particularly in what should be a great dual! 

125
Brady Phelps Vs Drew Dolphin

The sport of wrestling is all about proving yourself.  Showing the world what you can do on the mat.  The Dolphins have been a part of UW-Parkside for quite some time.  Dad Jim wrestled for the Rangers a few moons ago & brother Troy one match shy of D2 qualification last season, has his sights set on All-American status having stuck both James Wright & Elijah Lusk last year.   Drew won 12 matches last year, including a huge pin against a DI opponent from Iowa.   Should he get a win against a very tough Brady Phelps, that would be one heck of a way to start off the '26-'27 season.  Phelps 5th at Regional 7 last year, looked super tough at Pete Willson capturing 3rd place.  Parkside won most of the see-saw matches in last year's dual. This one will be important. 

157
Easton Worachek Vs Luke Swan

Looking really forward to this one.  When these two met last year, it was a tight, calculated 4-3 win for Worachek.  It will once again be a great match, that will probably be decided by a point or two.  It's amazing to compare these two to one another.  Woracheck was 2nd at Super Region V & Swan was 2nd at Regional 7.  Woracheck was 2nd at the Midwest Classic & Swan was 2nd at Pete Willson.  There are going to be a lot of great matches in this dual.  This is one of them. 

165
Brody Hemauer Vs Braydon Peet

Another match that is going to be absolute fire. This one was decided by a single takedown last year as Braydon Peet took a 3-1 decision on Brody Hemauer.  Both of these guys are already the top of the top within their Divsion.  Hemauer reps D2 with All-American finishes of 6th & 5th, where was Peet reps D3 with back-to-back All-American finishes of 4th.  I know so many out there get passionate & sometimes even heated in the D2 Vs D3 debates.  If you're one of those people, this match is a MUST SEE!!

174
Dajun Johnson Vs Jermaine Butler

Looking very forward to this one. Let's face it.  '25-'26 didn't go for either of these guys the way they were hoping it would.  Jermaine Butler did secure his second NCAA D3 qualification, but having won the Pete Willson Invitational two seasons ago, I don't think he was super excited about finishing 6th last year.  Dajun Johnson was 3rd in the D2 nation in 2025 & he came up short of qualification this past season.  In other words, I think both of these guys carry a bit of a chip on their shoulder, and both of them are looking at going into this dual & getting a huge win over the other.  Last year Johnson won a very hard fought 4-3 war.  It'll be a war again this year & could very well end up the best match of the night.