OSU Vs. Illini Wrestling Preview thread (Now with results)

[BuckWrestler141]

To be fair, i've only watched OSU wrestle Missouri. Missouri won by a good margin, but OSU did fight tough in each of thier matches. The Illini on the other hand i've been able to watch lot of, and even compete verse a few. So here is my breakdown of the dual

125 – #3 Kyle Ott (IL) vs Nathan Costello or Jermaine Jones

Neither Costello nor Jones have had much success and will have to battle to not get pinned. I’ll go with a Tech Fall for Ott. IL-5, OSU-0

133 - #26 Gabe Flores (IL) vs Reece Humphrey

Humphrey is having an excellent true freshman season; Gabe is just getting back into the swing of things. Humphrey may have a size advantage. This hits me as a toss up, so I’ll go with Humphrey so as not to look too biased. However, I would not be surprised by a victory by Flores. IL-5, OSU-3

141 - #26 Cassio Pero (IL) vs # 23 TJ Enright

Enright has had a reasonably good season. If Cassio is on his game he should win this one handily. Pero by DEC. IL-8, OSU-3

149 – Troy Tirapelle (IL) vs #12 J Jaggers

Tirapelle has had a good month. Jaggers has had a very strong season and is one of the few wrestlers to beat Gillespie. Jaggers is the odds on favorite. Jaggers by DEC. IL-8, OSU-6


157 -#1 Alex Tirapelle (IL) vs Steve Sommer

When I saw Sommer wrestle against Missouri he hit me as a very smart wrestler. He was good at making things happen and took advantages of his opponents mistake. Many of Alex’s matches have been close this year, and Sommer is not a good one to allow to hang around. Two years ago I would have predicted Alex by MAJ, now I’ll go with Tirapelle by DEC. IL-11, OSU-6


165 - #9 Michael Poeta (IL) vs Nathaniel Auguston or Charlie Clark

Poeta is too fast and skillful for either Auguston or Clark. Poeta by MAJ DEC. IL-15, OSU-6

174 - #10 Don Reynolds (IL) vs #20 Blake Maurer

Reynolds is having a solid season and seems to be getting more comfortable at 174 as the season progresses. Maurer has had a good freshman campaign, with some impressive win and some disappointing losses. Reynolds beat Maurer at Las Vegas 10-6. Look for Reynolds to win again by DEC (or possibly by a major). IL-18, OSU-6


184 - #3 Pete Friedl (IL) vs Alex Picazo

If Friedl is aggressive he should win big. If he stands around waiting for Picazo to push the action he may win by a few points. Friedl by MAJ DEC. IL-22, OSU-6


197 - #10 Tyrone Byrd (IL) vs Corey Morrison

Morrison has struggled, while Byrd has run up the score against some lower-tier opponents. Byrd by TECH FALL. IL-27, OSU-6


HWT - #22 Matt Weight (IL) vs #14 Kirk Nail

Weight has had a strong initial season at heavyweight and can keep it close with all but the best heavies. Nail has missed part of the season, but has been successful when he has competed. Nail is favored, but I would not be surprised to see an upset by Weight. If Nail is injured and doesn’t go, then Weight will win over Josh Bartholemew. Nail by DEC. IL-27, OSU-9

So IL-27, OSU-9. This one could get ugly as Illinois could gain more bonus points.

[HineyBuck]

Looks like it might be James Aston at 197. He got his first match the other night against Minny and dropped a close one. I'm really anxious to see how this young Buck comes on.

[BuckWrestler141]

Originally Posted by HineyBuck

Looks like it might be James Aston at 197. He got his first match the other night against Minny and dropped a close one. I'm really anxious to see how this young Buck comes on.

Thanks for the info, he did great for a first match, i'm not all that sure they'll have him wrestle the Illini though, if he does I wish him the best, would be great to see him come out of the dual with an upset.

[BuckWrestler141]

<table class="tablecontent" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="475"> <tbody><tr><td>Ohio State 12, No. 3 Illinois 27</td><td>OSU</td><td>ILL</td></tr> <tr><td>141 - Cassio Pero (IL) dec. T.J. Enright (OSU), 8-2</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr> <tr><td>149 - No. 8 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. Troy Tirapelle (IL), 9-7</td><td>3</td><td>3</td></tr> <tr><td>157 - No. 1 Alex Tirapelle (IL) mdec. Steve Sommer (OSU),13-5</td><td>3</td><td>7</td></tr> <tr><td>165 - No. 10 Mike Poeta (IL) mdec. Nathaniel Augustson (OSU), 14-5</td><td>3</td><td>11</td></tr> <tr><td>174 - Blake Maurer (OSU) fall No. 8 Donny Reynolds (IL), 2:14</td><td>9</td><td>11</td></tr> <tr><td>184 - No. 3 Pete Friedl (IL) dec. Alex Picazo (OSU), 8-7</td><td>9</td><td>14</td></tr> <tr><td>197 - No.10 Tyrone Byrd (IL) dec. Corey Morrison (OSU), 6-1</td><td>9</td><td>17</td></tr> <tr><td>HWT - No. 11 Kirk Nail (OSU) dec. Matt Weight (IL), 4-2sv</td><td>12</td><td>17</td></tr> <tr><td>125 - No. 3 Kyle Ott (IL) fall Anner Arroyo (OSU), :36</td><td>12</td><td>23</td></tr> <tr><td>133 - Gabe Flores (IL) mdec. Reece Humphrey (OSU), 11-2</td><td>12</td><td>27</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[BuckWrestler141]

Looks like my predictions were pretty good .

I'm curious as to how Reyonds got pinned though, first period. Aside from that Humphrey did a lot worse then I was expecting.

Also Morrison did better then I expected vs. a Tough T. Byrd. I think OSU made the right choice by not sending Ashton out there for only his 2nd collegiate match, but I do think Ashton has what it takes to be a real tough wrestler.

[HineyBuck]

Thanks BW141, you weren't far off. NDChief's boy, Blake Maurer, is tearing them up since he's been back. Beat #10 on Friday and pinned #8 today. He'll be ranked next week. This team will take their lumps this year. But they've got some great young talent to build around.

[NOTREDAMECHIEF]

Maurer (a 4time Indiana Champ) beat the best wrestler I had ever seen in 2OT' in a state title match. A 2OT match is when one wrestler has 30 seconds to escape and the other 30 seconds to hang on. Blake hung on desite several rolls by his opponent.

I am sort of surprised Reece Humphrey is struggling like he is.