125 pounds: No. 7 Drake Ayala vs. No. 2 Braden Davis
The Penn State-Iowa fights have a strong history of starting at 125 pounds, so if these two fights do indeed start at lightweight, the fireworks could start early. Penn State true freshman Braden Davis was one of this year’s breakout stars at 125 pounds, holding a 14-0 undefeated record and pushing him to No. 2 in the nation.
Two weeks ago, Davis defeated Michigan’s No. 6 Michael DeAugustino 5-1, but Iowa’s No. 7 Drake Ayala had just lost to DeAugustino in Iowa’s 24 games. This win is even more significant and noteworthy ahead of the game against Iowa, considering it came out of the blue. 11 losses to Michigan. Transitive traits don’t always work in wrestling, and they certainly weren’t predictable at 125 pounds this year, but Davis’ win is important as he prepares for the sophomore Hawkeyes.
133 pounds: No. 20 Callan Schriever vs. No. 6 Aaron Nagao
Unlike Davis, Penn State All-American Aaron Nagao will not be undefeated heading into the game against Iowa, having lost to Ryan Crookum earlier this semester and more recently to Dylan Ragusin and Nick Buzakis. No, but Nagao remains the favorite at 133 pounds. Match. He’s a seasoned tough fighter who will look for a bonus against whoever Iowa puts on the mat.
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The Hawks currently have Callan Schriever as their favorite, and he has represented Iowa against Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan. Schriever’s only losses so far this season were to Ragusin and Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee, but he finished second to teammate Brody Teske in the Solder Salute. Meanwhile, Teske moved up to 141 pounds for the Illinois-Northwestern duals, but is not on the list of possibilities now that Real Woods is back. Iowa’s depth will also be a factor in the second-half lineup, as the Hawks have talented backup options in various weight classes, even if they have multiple national qualifiers in several weight classes. Stopping the Nittany Lions is still unlikely.
141 pounds: No. 2 Real Woods vs. No. 1 Beau Bartlett
For the second straight week, the Nittany Lions’ biggest match will be at 141 pounds. Last weekend, Penn State’s No. 2 Bo Bartlett defeated Ohio State’s No. 3 Jesse Mendez in a surprise victory in a highly anticipated top-five showdown, but this time Bartlett will take on No. 2 Real Woods. Once again, he will undergo a remarkable test. But Bartlett will come into this meeting with momentum. After Woods lost the major to Michigan’s Sergio Lemley last weekend, he slipped into the No. 1 spot in the United States, but Bartlett will have a chance to defend his position in enemy territory.
A good defensive and positional wrestler, Bartlett fights smartly. Woods’ style is a little different, with Hawkeye typically exhibiting a more aggressive, fast-paced approach, but that pace has slowed down recently as Woods approaches the game more strategically. The match against Carver-Hawkeye is where Woods wants to regain the lead, so I hope he blows the whistle, stands up hard, and works hard for the turn. His path to victory will require back points.
149 pounds: No. 12 Caleb Rathjen vs. No. 10 Tyler Kasak
Many of these Penn State vs. Iowa matches feature familiar storylines, such as top-ranked wrestlers vs. All-Americans, or breakout transfers vs. veterans. Athletes are known and expectations are more universal. None of that exists at 149 pounds.
Penn State will have an advantage going into this game, as the Nittany Lions are expected to start No. 10 Tyler Kazak. Tyler Kazak is a true freshman who had a great season after being named an All-American after Van Ness’ injury. . Cusack’s only loss this year was to 141-pound teammate Bo Bartlett, who just won against All-American Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State) and looks ready to go.
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Iowa State’s Caleb Rajen, the Hawkeyes’ third-year but first-year starter, has also been consistent and improved as the season progresses. He went 9-3 on the year and earned the starting spot with a win over teammate Victor Voinovich in the Soldier Salute. This will be a game between two first-year starters, meaning anything can happen, but the outcome of this game will have a significant impact on seeding for the Big Ten Tournament.
157 pounds: No. 5 Jared Franek vs. No. 1 Levi Haynes
This is a winnable match for Iowa’s Jared Franek, but he will be required to wrestle even sharper than he did against Michigan’s Will Lewan. If Iowa wants to maintain this weight, the Hawks will need Franek’s magic.
2023 NCAA finalist Levi Haynes is 11-0 on the year with a bonus percentage of over 63%. Franek, on the other hand, is 13-2, with his only losses coming to Michigan’s Rouen and Minnesota’s Michael Brox, both by one point.
For Franek to stay in this fight, he will need to slow Haynes down and keep the fight defensive.
165 pounds: No. 6 Mikey Caliendo vs. No. 7 Mitchell Mazenbrink
It’s possible Penn State shut out the Hawkeyes, but Mikey Caliendo has the potential to help prevent that outcome, as does fellow All-American transfer Jared Franek from North Dakota State. . Although he will enter this fight with a ranking advantage, Penn State’s Mitchell Mazenbrink is likely still considered the favorite to win this 165-pound bout. Mesenbrink, a California Baptist product, quickly became a Penn State fan favorite this year and continues to rise up the rankings with statement wins. The redshirt freshman middleweight is 15-0 on the year with an 80% bonus, but recent wins over All-Americans Cameron Amin, Caleb Fisch and Bryce Hoepner have elevated Mazenbrink’s potential as a title contender. actually shown.
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Caliendo is certainly a player that Iowa State expects to end up on the podium, so it’s good to get a chance to compete against Messenbrink regardless of the outcome.
174 pounds: No. 7 Patrick Kennedy vs. No. 1 Carter Starocci
The Nittany Lions are elite from top to bottom, but where Penn State really shines is in the upperweights. Three of the four Penn State wrestlers remaining in the lineup are ranked No. 1 in the nation, so the Hawks will need to win some lightweight matches to stay competitive at the back here. , will have to show a little gamesmanship in the lineup. Dual halves.
Iowa State has 174-pound No. 7 Patrick Kennedy listed as a potential starter for the Hawks, and Kennedy has shown he can compete. He has suffered just three losses this year, one to teammate Mikey Caliendo at 165 pounds, one to Nick Incontrera earlier in the season, and one to Shane Griffith in the bonus last weekend. did. Although the Griffith loss wasn’t Kennedy’s best performance, there have been moments this year where he looked strong, competitive, and impressive at his weight, most notably against No. 8 Edmund Ruth (Ill. ) was a 5-1 victory.
But Penn State’s Carter Starocci plans to take to the mat with Kennedy in Iowa City for a bonus. He is ruthless and competitive, destroying nearly everyone in his path. Ohio State’s Rocco Welsh defeated Starocci by decision last weekend in State College, but Starocci definitely wants to quell speculation that he could win.After all, this is the guy who said it later NCAA press conference His mindset when wrestling an opponent is to “drag him into deep water and feel his soul leave his body and just keep going after him…That motivates me. I like that feeling.”
Starozzi is a self-proclaimed “straight killer.” I hope he comes out strong and attacks to score until the final whistle. Kennedy’s task of dodging those bullets would be difficult.
184 pounds: Aiden Riggins vs. No. 6 Bernie Tuax
But Iowa doesn’t need to use Kennedy at 174 pounds, and the Hawks don’t need to use 184-pound Aiden Riggins, who is a potential starter. They can be creative. Against Iowa State, Iowa set Kennedy at 174 pounds and moved up true freshman Gabe Arnold to 184 pounds. In the doubles match, Kennedy defeated No. 19 MJ Gaitan of Iowa State, and Arnold defeated No. 8 Feldkamp. This is because Arnold has some doubles left to play against the Hawks without burning a redshirt, and whoever Iowa chooses to wrestle has a chance to face three-time All-American Varney. It would be a not bad double hit for a freshman. Truax.
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Trueax, a transfer from Cal Poly, is 8-2 on the year despite losing to All-American Trey Munoz and last weekend to Ohio State’s Ryder Rogotzke in the fall. Aiden Riggins, on the other hand, is 7-8 but coming off two wins against Northwestern and Michigan. Can Riggins beat Truax? Sure, anything can happen, but Arnold’s resume this year suggests he’ll be a better opponent. vader show Earlier this year, he said he didn’t expect to get up to 184 pounds again. Considering this comment and Iowa State’s chances, it’s likely that Riggins agrees, and simply based on Truax’s history, that this could be another bonus opportunity for Penn State. Suggests.
197 pounds: No. 11 Zack Glazier vs. No. 1 Aaron Brooks
At the beginning of the season, this matchup between Aaron Brooks and Zack Glazier might not have been much talked about. And indeed, Brooks remains the heavy favorite. But Glazier deserves credit here.
In his fifth year with the University of Iowa program, Glazier finally earned a starting spot. He is currently 14-0 and has a bonus win of over 78%, with a bonus win over Big Ten Champion Silas Allred and two wins over No. 20 Garrett Joles. He looked like an All-American in every way.
These are the matches you want#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/0lV3WKiDI1
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) February 7, 2024
But Brooks is a three-time champion and someone who could end Glazier’s undefeated streak soon. Nine of Brooks’ 10 games this year have ended early in the fall or technical fall, and this one could follow the same pattern. But this is an important game for Glazier, as he hasn’t been tested like this all season. Staying competitive with Brooks and trying to take the game to a decision could give him great experience heading into the postseason.
Additionally, Carvers are known for their magic. How can Glazier make the most of this moment?
285 pounds: No. 29 Bradley Hill vs. No. 1 Greg Kerkfried
Like 197 pounds, this edge belongs to Penn State in a big way. Nittany Lion junior Greg Kerkvliet improved to 9-0 with wins over No. 6 Lucas Davison, No. 7 Nick Feldman, No. 9 Nathan Taylor, No. 15 Owen Trefan and No. 24 Boone McDermott. It becomes. He is the favorite to win a national title this year and contribute to a program that could be one of the best in NCAA history.
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Iowa State’s Bradley Hill will struggle here, but Hill is not someone to scoff at. The Hawkeye starters have an 11-4 record with solid performances against four-time national qualifier Cole Arbus and Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher. Iowa has options here as well, potentially sending out true freshman Ben Kueter, but whichever Hawkeye takes the mat, it may be tough to fend off Kerkfried.
Iowa will want to do everything it can to gain momentum and points heading into the final four divisions. No team has scored more than 10 points against the Nittany Lions so far this year, making this the first hurdle for Iowa to clear as it chases its biggest upset of the season.