Conquistadors
02-02-2006, 04:53 PM
Illiois travels to Evanston on Sunday to take on the much-improved and dangerous Wildcats. Rankings are an approximate average of the most recent versions of the five major rankings (Wrestling Report, WIN, AWN, Intermat, and WrestlingMall). Won-loss records are from www.bigeleven.net (http://www.bigeleven.net). Below are my only slightly biased predictions.
Northwestern is a very solid and talented team, but doesn’t seem to match up well with the Illini.
125 #3 Kyle Ott (IL) (6-1) vs. #10 John Velez (17-3)
Half the time I’ve seen Velez wrestle, he’s been injured in the match. When he stays healthy enough to complete a match, he is a top talent who has been very successful, including a round-of-twelve finish at the NCAAs last year. I get the feeling that Ott and Velez are fairly similar in style. Last year Velez beat Ott in the dual. This year, Velez doesn’t have any wins against top competition (neither does Ott, but two Runner-up finishes at the NCAAs speak for his ability to beat top competition). This match could be very close and is essentially a toss-up. Ott has had more success in his career, so I’ll go with him. Ott by Dec. IL-3, NW-0
133 #23 Gabe Flores (IL) (5-2) vs. Dan Quintella (7-12)
Gabe had a big win over Ohio State's Reese Humphrey last weekend. Quintella has struggled this season. Last weekend, he wrestled tough against Reiter (losing 5-2) but was pinned in 38 seconds against Moos. This is a match that Gabe needs to rack up points. Flores by MAJ DEC. IL-7, NW-0
141 #23 Cassio Pero (IL) (13-4) vs. #8 Ryan Lang (12-2)
If memory serves me correctly, Pero won two of the three times they met last year, including the match for 3rd in the Big Ten. Pero got off to a slow start, but has been more successful over the last month. Lang will be his biggest challenge in quite some time. Lang had a couple of early big wins this season, but then was injured for quite some time. I would contrast the style of these guys in that Pero relies on tenacity, speed, and strength, whereas Lang is more of a scrambler and tough rider (a la Andy Simmons or Nate Gallick). I’ll be rooting for Cassio, who certainly can win this match, but I’m going to have to predict a win by DEC for Lang. IL-7, NW-3
149 Troy Tirapelle (IL) (17-6) vs. Jimmy Kim (3-10)
Kim has struggled quite a bit this season. In seven of his ten losses, the opponent has scored bonus points. Troy pinned Kim at Midlands. Look for Troy to try to rack up points and wear down the over-matched Kim, and then to win by FALL. IL-13, NW-3
157 #1 Alex Tirapelle (IL) vs. #24 Greg Hagel (14-11)
After a good freshman year, Hagel began this season well. However, he has lost his last six matches and is looking to right his ship. Alex Tirapelle is not a good person to try to regain one’s confidence, as he can frustrate the best offensive moves. However, Hagel could score a victory of sorts if he can keep it close. Alex has a habit of winning close bouts, but has won three of his last six matches by major decision. Look for Alex to go on the offensive in this match and win by MAJ DEC. IL-17, NW-3
165 #9 Michael Poeta (IL) (18-3) vs. #18 Will Durkee (15-9)
Durkee, a grad student who transferred after graduating from Virginia, has given the Wildcats a solid, experienced wrestler in the middle of their line-up. Poeta’s speed and talent should overcome Durkee’s experience. Although Durkee might be able to hang with Poeta, I think that Poeta will try to score four or five take downs. Thus,look for a MAJ DEC. IL-21, NW-3
174 #11 Don Reynolds (IL) vs. #2 Jake Herbert (24-0)
Don is having a very good season and wants to show that he belongs closer to the top seed in the Big Ten than to the #8 seed. So fighting hard against Herbert is important. Herbert is big for 174 and Don has moved up from 165, so Herbert’s size and strength—not to mention his superb wrestling skills—may be too much for Don. Herbert has scored bonus points in two-thirds of his matches this season. Herbert by MAJ DEC. IL-21, NW-7
184 #3 Pete Friedl (IL) (20-2) vs. #12 Mike Tamillow (15-4)
Tamillow, as well as Delguyd and Fox, are similarly poised. That is, they are on the bubble in terms of securing a seed at Nationals. Thus for them, every match has importance in terms of Big Ten seeding and potential seeding at Nationals. Tamillow is having an excellent season, with wins over Webster and Rovelli. All his losses are to very good wrestlers (thus his current ranking might be on the low side). A win over Friedl would be huge for Tamillow. But Friedl is a master at subterfuge—now you see him, now he’s in back of you with a takedown. Friedl by DEC. IL-24, NW-7
197 #9 Tyrone Byrd (IL) (18-4) vs. #12 Matt Delguyd (20-7)
At Midlands, Byrd beat Delguyd convincingly. That was the best I had ever seen Tyrone wrestle. Tyrone is starting to realize that he could be a Big Ten Champ this year and could get a top 8 seed at Nationals if he continues with the momentum he now has. Delguyd is a very solid wrestler and last year’s Big Ten Champ. He has the tools to beat Byrd, but in all likelihood, Byrd will win this match by DEC. IL-27, NW-7
HWT #22 Matt Weight (IL) (15-8 ) vs. #13 Dustin Fox (19-8 )
After a great showing at Nationals last year (Round-of-twelve), Dustin has been a bit inconsistent this season and has had trouble getting his offense going at times. At Midlands, Weight beat Fox 2-1 in overtime. For Weight, beating Fox again would probably firmly establish him as a top 20 wrestler. Although Matt’s done very well against the big boys, I would have to favor Fox in a rematch. Fox by DEC. IL-27, NW-10
Northwestern is a very solid and talented team, but doesn’t seem to match up well with the Illini.
125 #3 Kyle Ott (IL) (6-1) vs. #10 John Velez (17-3)
Half the time I’ve seen Velez wrestle, he’s been injured in the match. When he stays healthy enough to complete a match, he is a top talent who has been very successful, including a round-of-twelve finish at the NCAAs last year. I get the feeling that Ott and Velez are fairly similar in style. Last year Velez beat Ott in the dual. This year, Velez doesn’t have any wins against top competition (neither does Ott, but two Runner-up finishes at the NCAAs speak for his ability to beat top competition). This match could be very close and is essentially a toss-up. Ott has had more success in his career, so I’ll go with him. Ott by Dec. IL-3, NW-0
133 #23 Gabe Flores (IL) (5-2) vs. Dan Quintella (7-12)
Gabe had a big win over Ohio State's Reese Humphrey last weekend. Quintella has struggled this season. Last weekend, he wrestled tough against Reiter (losing 5-2) but was pinned in 38 seconds against Moos. This is a match that Gabe needs to rack up points. Flores by MAJ DEC. IL-7, NW-0
141 #23 Cassio Pero (IL) (13-4) vs. #8 Ryan Lang (12-2)
If memory serves me correctly, Pero won two of the three times they met last year, including the match for 3rd in the Big Ten. Pero got off to a slow start, but has been more successful over the last month. Lang will be his biggest challenge in quite some time. Lang had a couple of early big wins this season, but then was injured for quite some time. I would contrast the style of these guys in that Pero relies on tenacity, speed, and strength, whereas Lang is more of a scrambler and tough rider (a la Andy Simmons or Nate Gallick). I’ll be rooting for Cassio, who certainly can win this match, but I’m going to have to predict a win by DEC for Lang. IL-7, NW-3
149 Troy Tirapelle (IL) (17-6) vs. Jimmy Kim (3-10)
Kim has struggled quite a bit this season. In seven of his ten losses, the opponent has scored bonus points. Troy pinned Kim at Midlands. Look for Troy to try to rack up points and wear down the over-matched Kim, and then to win by FALL. IL-13, NW-3
157 #1 Alex Tirapelle (IL) vs. #24 Greg Hagel (14-11)
After a good freshman year, Hagel began this season well. However, he has lost his last six matches and is looking to right his ship. Alex Tirapelle is not a good person to try to regain one’s confidence, as he can frustrate the best offensive moves. However, Hagel could score a victory of sorts if he can keep it close. Alex has a habit of winning close bouts, but has won three of his last six matches by major decision. Look for Alex to go on the offensive in this match and win by MAJ DEC. IL-17, NW-3
165 #9 Michael Poeta (IL) (18-3) vs. #18 Will Durkee (15-9)
Durkee, a grad student who transferred after graduating from Virginia, has given the Wildcats a solid, experienced wrestler in the middle of their line-up. Poeta’s speed and talent should overcome Durkee’s experience. Although Durkee might be able to hang with Poeta, I think that Poeta will try to score four or five take downs. Thus,look for a MAJ DEC. IL-21, NW-3
174 #11 Don Reynolds (IL) vs. #2 Jake Herbert (24-0)
Don is having a very good season and wants to show that he belongs closer to the top seed in the Big Ten than to the #8 seed. So fighting hard against Herbert is important. Herbert is big for 174 and Don has moved up from 165, so Herbert’s size and strength—not to mention his superb wrestling skills—may be too much for Don. Herbert has scored bonus points in two-thirds of his matches this season. Herbert by MAJ DEC. IL-21, NW-7
184 #3 Pete Friedl (IL) (20-2) vs. #12 Mike Tamillow (15-4)
Tamillow, as well as Delguyd and Fox, are similarly poised. That is, they are on the bubble in terms of securing a seed at Nationals. Thus for them, every match has importance in terms of Big Ten seeding and potential seeding at Nationals. Tamillow is having an excellent season, with wins over Webster and Rovelli. All his losses are to very good wrestlers (thus his current ranking might be on the low side). A win over Friedl would be huge for Tamillow. But Friedl is a master at subterfuge—now you see him, now he’s in back of you with a takedown. Friedl by DEC. IL-24, NW-7
197 #9 Tyrone Byrd (IL) (18-4) vs. #12 Matt Delguyd (20-7)
At Midlands, Byrd beat Delguyd convincingly. That was the best I had ever seen Tyrone wrestle. Tyrone is starting to realize that he could be a Big Ten Champ this year and could get a top 8 seed at Nationals if he continues with the momentum he now has. Delguyd is a very solid wrestler and last year’s Big Ten Champ. He has the tools to beat Byrd, but in all likelihood, Byrd will win this match by DEC. IL-27, NW-7
HWT #22 Matt Weight (IL) (15-8 ) vs. #13 Dustin Fox (19-8 )
After a great showing at Nationals last year (Round-of-twelve), Dustin has been a bit inconsistent this season and has had trouble getting his offense going at times. At Midlands, Weight beat Fox 2-1 in overtime. For Weight, beating Fox again would probably firmly establish him as a top 20 wrestler. Although Matt’s done very well against the big boys, I would have to favor Fox in a rematch. Fox by DEC. IL-27, NW-10