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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 197 #18 Gabe Sollars Vs U.R. Tucker Hogan 197 |
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.
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| 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.
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