The ILLINI Starting Lineup 2021-2022

I have received some information from sources, but there will be some speculation herein. Beware! Like any season, there are questions to be answered. Because the ILLINI were so young up and down the lineup last year, perhaps there are fewer questions this year?

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125. Justin Cardani has been the man at this weight for two years. I don't see that changing this year. The interesting wild card is incoming freshman Maximo Renteria. The kid from California is a multi-year State Champion, and the ILLINI have had success with a multi-year State Champion from Cali. I would expect a redshirt year for Renteria, just the way it was for Byrd, IMAR and Delgado. Weight shouldn't be an issue for Cardani, unless he's bitten by a radioactive spider or is doused with Gamma Rays from a lab experiment gone horribly right. The kid from Champaign had a bit of a sophomore slump, but even then, he was the guy who created the greatest outcry when he didn't receive a wild card selection. As a freshman, he earned a trip to the NCAAs but Covid denied him any matches. I still think he is a future AA, as he has a remarkable ability to get to the legs of even quick wrestlers. Plus, he's got Byrd, Duncan, Pucino, Zane Richards, Travis Piotrowski and Jeremy Hunter with whom to train.

133. Lucas Byrd is a returning All-American who had a brilliant redshirt freshman campaign. The question about him is how far can he rise? Although he has a strong body, it seemed that he was slightly smallish for the weight last year. Before the season started, I didn't know which weights would be manned by Byrd and Cardani. The All-American will attack from anywhere with multiple holds, as he is also a champion at Greco. The third match with Desanto and the first match with RBY will be must-watch wrestling. It's popcorn time when Byrd wrestles! Will Sebastian Rivera go down to 133 for Rutgers? I'm skeptical, as he looked pretty full-sized up at 141 last year and had another off-season to grow. 

141. Dylan Duncan is another returning All-American, and he looked fabulous the last time we saw him. (I would like to point out that every single wrestler who has been interviewed by me on The War Room podcast has become an All American). The only question about Duncan is whether he'll be back for another go. I've seen a statement from Mikey Carr about returning for another season, but I haven't seen one from Duncan. He is a Poet-Warrior who is a joy to watch, whether it is a slick takedown or grinding on top. The ultimate pro, a wrestler's wrestler. If Duncan isn't back, the ILLINI have Danny Pucino in the wings. He filled in very nicely last year in a couple of matches, and is on the Italian national team. He didn't go to Russia for Juniors because of a passport issue, which is crazy to me, as an Italian passport should be easy like: 1. Click/Picture, 2. Bada bing, Bada boom, 3. Passport. But he'll wrestle U23 for the Italians later this year.

NOTE: I've heard from a source that Dylan Duncan may be moving on. Yet, he's still got a picture in the official roster at FightingILLINI.com, so I'll keep him in the starting lineup. Maybe it's just wishful thinking? The source also suggested that the next wrestler on my list might be heading down to 141. 

149. Mikey Carr will someday hold dozens of patents and cure things that were incurable, but for now, he has some *** to kick. To maintain such a high grade-point average in such a rigorous course of study, Carr has to be very goal-oriented. That's great for ILLINI fans. As long as he stays healthy, he's a force at this weight (or down at 141). Last season was cut short by injury, leaving the ILLINI with a 5-2 record. The losses were to a Sammy Sasso cradle and a close one against Max Murin on the road. He had a very solid win against a very solid Michael Blockhhus of Minnesota and a tight win over soon-to-be All American Yahya Thomas of Northwestern. A healthy Michael Carr is an All American. Intermat has  him ranked #15 right now. Danny Pucino is the obvious guy to fill in if Carr can't go, but also on the roster are Michael Gunther, Christian Kanzler and Fresno State transfer and IHSA schoolboy Anthony Federico. 

157. Johnny Mologousis was the man last year and has the inside track this season. He finished with a 2-9 record, but a couple of those losses were by one point to Michigan's Will Lewan and Ohio State's Elijah Cleary. Weight control will be key for him, as he's tall and has to cut to make the weight. Battling for the spot will be North Carolina State transfer and IHSA champ Joe Roberts and others. In fact, wrestlestat.com has already penciled in Roberts into the starting lineup. The ILLINI will need somebody to step up and take control. The school has a proud tradition to uphold at this weight. 

165. Danny Braunagel was fire for much of the season until a broken bone or bones got in his way. He won six Big Ten matches in a row to start the season. Even with the injury, the ILLINI team co-captain was able to beat Nebraska's Peyton Robb with the best takedown of the season (in my opinion), as well as win a couple matches at the Big Ten Tournament. The injury slowed him down so that he lost to two wrestlers (Ferrante and Robb) he had majored and beaten, respectively, earlier in the season. As a redshirt freshman, Little Brawny sported a 23-9 record and won All-American mention when the NCAA tournament was cancelled. Look for Brawny to get back to form this year. The ILLINI have a sweet set of reserves here with Trey Sizemore listed at 165 (though he will likely challenge for the top spot at 174) and Luke Odom (who is also listed at 157). 

174. DJ Shannon won the starting spot last year and wrestled at the Big Ten Championships. His 3-7 record kept him out of the NCAA tournament, but this will be the year he breaks out. He's got the talent and will be pushed in the room by the Braunagels, Sizemore (who will challenge for the spot), Freshman Caden Ernd, transfer Luke Rasmussen, and Freshman Dylan Connell. To top it off, new big man coach Ed Ruth can show him the winning edge. Maybe the secret to his cradle? The ILLINI will need to improve on the record at this weight, as there has been a proud tradition of 174ers who wore the Orange and Blue. 

184. Zac Braunagel is the other Team Co-Captain, and he'll man this weight again for the ILLINI. He had some fantastic highlights during the year, including a big win in Iowa City. Yet, it was a year of taking a step forward, then a step back. Big Brawny will want to get back to something along the lines of his redshirt freshman record of 21-10 (or better). That resulted in Honorable Metion AA status. Nine of the top twenty-one wrestlers in the NCAA are in the Big Ten at this weight, according to Intermat. He'll have a brawl every time he steps onto the mat. True freshman and four-time ILLINOIS champion Dylan Connell is listed at this weight, but he's almost certainly going to redshirt. 

197. Matt Wroblewski has not just one but two years of eligibility left, if he decides to take advantage of the Covid exemption. He had a 5-5 record last year that included a win over Ohio State's Gavin Hoffman. He was in every match he wrestled, and with the help of Coach Ed Ruth, this will be year to make big strides, especially if he learns how to use his long arms to cradle up opponents. Joey Braunagel ("Biggest Brawny") is the new kid on the block. He'll get to redshirt and win some matches at the MSU and Lindenwood Opens and at the Midlands. The Big Ten added Max Dean and Patrick Brucki, Rocky Jordan is supposedly moving up a weight for Ohio State. 

285. Luke Luffman started off the season winning his first four matches. Those included huge wins over Tate Orndorff of Ohio State and Trent Hilger of Wisconsin. He would later beat Christian Lance of Nebraska. The Orange Hulk ended up at 9-7 and had a tough post-season. It did include a couple of wins in the Big Ten Tournament and a win at the Big Show. The conference has been especially tough at this weight during his first couple of years. It may be even worse this year, as six of the top seven at heavyweight are Big Ten foes.

UPDATE: Thanks to a source, I've just learned that Johnny Mologousis has medically retired because of a shoulder injury. This was reported on his Instagram account. Insterwho? Yes, I'm old. I recall Johnny wearing a shoulder brace later in the season last year. Huge props to this Greek warrior who had to cut an impossible amount of weight and deal with a serious injury. Heroes aren't just NCAA Champions.