Still a week out, but thought I'd get the speculating started. (last week's Intermat rankings used)
125
#1 Lee (13-0)
NR Witcraft (1-2 at 125)
Mastrogiovanni is out for the season due to injury, so Witcraft dropped from 133 and not having much success so far - the cut probably sapped his energy. I think that Spencer will get back to his pinning ways. 6-0 Iowa.
133
#16 Teske (6-1)
#2 Fix (19-0)
Will probably be a very boring match, since neither are known for their offense, and are solid defensively. I'll go with Fix in a one takedown match. 6-3 Iowa.
141
#2 Woods (11-0)
#15 Young (11-9)
Young is a struggling sophomore, though he did beat Hart (MO) a week ago. However, Woods is hitting on all cyclinders and will pick him apart, with TDs and NFs. Tech fall here. 11-3 Iowa.
149
#6 Murin (16-3)
#21 Voinovich (13-6)
Voinovich is a FR - I don't know his wrestling style, but he lost a close match to Mauller (MO). Murin will most likely grind out his usual victory, hopefully continuing his solid TD techniques. 14-3 Iowa.
157
#14 Siebrecht (10-3)
#10 Gfeller (15-5)
As with most of the OSU team, I don't know Gfeller's wrestling style, so hard to predict this match. With it being a home dual, and Siebrecht is improving week to week, I'll pick him in a close, high scoring win. 17-3 Iowa.
165
#7 Kennedy (15-2)
#25 Sheets (12-9)
Not sure why Sheets is struggling this year. What could have been a close match, appears to be a strong win for Kennedy - I'll even call a major. 21-3 Iowa.
174
#16 Brands (5-4)
#9 Plott (16-3)
Plott has lost his last two matches, to Mocco (MO) and DeVos (SDS). I've been waiting years to get on the Nelson Brands bandwagon, but he gives little reason to have confidence. He keeps matches close against top guys, but that's about it. Plott in another close one. 21-6 Iowa.
184
???
#10 Wittlake (14-3)
Rhodes likely won't wrestle again (or else he'll burn his redshirt), so will Griffith or McCain (174 lbers) move up, or will Iowa forfeit? I'll give OSU 6 points here. 21-12 Iowa.
197
#12 Warner (12-4)
#16 Surber (15-6)
Yes, Surber somehow beat Rocky Elam (MO) last week. And Cassioppi got pinned by some unknown last year -- upsets happen. Even though Warner has been very inconsistent this year, it's his final home dual and it's almost tournament time, so he'll get a strong win. 24-12 Iowa.
285
#3 Cassioppi (16-2)
#23 Doucet (13-7)
Doucet appears to wrestle close matches (is he an old-style Heavy?). Regardless...the Hawks started the dual with a pin, so why not close it out with the same? 30-12 Iowa.
OSU hasn't totally fallen on hard times, but as with ISU and MN, college wrestling is so much more enjoyable when they're one of the top teams (behind Iowa, of course!). Not as fun when beating OSU is almost a given. Will still be f*n!
125
#1 Lee (13-0)
NR Witcraft (1-2 at 125)
Mastrogiovanni is out for the season due to injury, so Witcraft dropped from 133 and not having much success so far - the cut probably sapped his energy. I think that Spencer will get back to his pinning ways. 6-0 Iowa.
133
#16 Teske (6-1)
#2 Fix (19-0)
Will probably be a very boring match, since neither are known for their offense, and are solid defensively. I'll go with Fix in a one takedown match. 6-3 Iowa.
141
#2 Woods (11-0)
#15 Young (11-9)
Young is a struggling sophomore, though he did beat Hart (MO) a week ago. However, Woods is hitting on all cyclinders and will pick him apart, with TDs and NFs. Tech fall here. 11-3 Iowa.
149
#6 Murin (16-3)
#21 Voinovich (13-6)
Voinovich is a FR - I don't know his wrestling style, but he lost a close match to Mauller (MO). Murin will most likely grind out his usual victory, hopefully continuing his solid TD techniques. 14-3 Iowa.
157
#14 Siebrecht (10-3)
#10 Gfeller (15-5)
As with most of the OSU team, I don't know Gfeller's wrestling style, so hard to predict this match. With it being a home dual, and Siebrecht is improving week to week, I'll pick him in a close, high scoring win. 17-3 Iowa.
165
#7 Kennedy (15-2)
#25 Sheets (12-9)
Not sure why Sheets is struggling this year. What could have been a close match, appears to be a strong win for Kennedy - I'll even call a major. 21-3 Iowa.
174
#16 Brands (5-4)
#9 Plott (16-3)
Plott has lost his last two matches, to Mocco (MO) and DeVos (SDS). I've been waiting years to get on the Nelson Brands bandwagon, but he gives little reason to have confidence. He keeps matches close against top guys, but that's about it. Plott in another close one. 21-6 Iowa.
184
???
#10 Wittlake (14-3)
Rhodes likely won't wrestle again (or else he'll burn his redshirt), so will Griffith or McCain (174 lbers) move up, or will Iowa forfeit? I'll give OSU 6 points here. 21-12 Iowa.
197
#12 Warner (12-4)
#16 Surber (15-6)
Yes, Surber somehow beat Rocky Elam (MO) last week. And Cassioppi got pinned by some unknown last year -- upsets happen. Even though Warner has been very inconsistent this year, it's his final home dual and it's almost tournament time, so he'll get a strong win. 24-12 Iowa.
285
#3 Cassioppi (16-2)
#23 Doucet (13-7)
Doucet appears to wrestle close matches (is he an old-style Heavy?). Regardless...the Hawks started the dual with a pin, so why not close it out with the same? 30-12 Iowa.
OSU hasn't totally fallen on hard times, but as with ISU and MN, college wrestling is so much more enjoyable when they're one of the top teams (behind Iowa, of course!). Not as fun when beating OSU is almost a given. Will still be f*n!
Last edited: