The MSU Open Preview

The season begins next Saturday in East Lansing as the ILLINI will have wrestlers in both the Open and Freshman-Sophomore divisions of the MSU Open. This is the first regular season tournament for ILLINOIS since December 29, 2019 at the Midlands. 

It has been a long wait. 

So long that my google search bar automatically finishes the question, "How many days until November 6, 2021?" The answer is now "5 days." There is a lot of anticipation for this tournament, as we'll get to see our prize recruits in action, and we'll get some answers to questions about the ILLINI starters. 

WHAT:     The MSU Open

WHERE:  East Lansing, Michigan, Jenison Fieldhouse, 223 Kalamazoo Street

WHEN:     November 6, 2021

TIME:       8:30AM (Central); 9:30AM (Eastern) (Note: MSU is in the Eastern time zone)

WHY:        To ABP

VIDEO:     This is a Trackwrestling tournament (see below)

TV/VIDEO/STREAMING.  This is a Trackwrestling event with registration through that organization. Thus far, I've found no confirmation that there will be live streaming. The tournament is listed on the Track "Events," so I expect there will be video. If that proves to be true, I will sign up for the $12.50 per month Track/Flo Pro access. It indicates that you can cancel at any time.

COVID RESTRICTIONS.  According to the official flyer for the event, there are Covid restrictions for this event. This is what it provides:

Currently there is a mask mandate (as of 9/17/21) for everyone in an indoor facility. Everyone will be required to wear a mask except when wrestlers are competing. All fans & spectators will be required to sit in the upper deck seating of Jenison Fieldhouse. 

 There's also a $15 admission fee for adults; $5 for high school and younger.

OPPONENTS.  Who are the most likely opponents for the ILLINI wrestlers in the finals? There will be some tough outs here, with wrestlers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Stupid Northwestern, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Cal Poly, Northern Illinois, Stinky Wisconsin, Edinboro, Ohio and non-Division One teams (Findlay, Davenport, Wabash and Olivet). I checked the official schedules for the D1 schools, and they are all sending their full teams. As an "Open," there might be unattached wrestlers from other schools as well. Here are those who individual ILLINI wrestlers might face:

125.  Justin Cardani.  Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern), Joey Prata (Oklahoma), Brock Bergelin (CMU), Antonio Lorenzo (Cal Poly), Jack Medley (Michigan) and Carlos Champagne (Wabash, formerly Marian Catholic). The ILLINI has a 1-1 record against Barnett, DeAugustino and Medley. As far as I can tell, he hasn't wrestled the others in college. 

133.  Lucas Byrd.  Chris Cannon (Northwestern), Rayvon Foley (MSU), Dylan Ragusin (Michigan), Mikey Kaminski (NIU), Anthony Madrigal (Oklahoma), Mario Guillen (Ohio), Drew Marten (CMU) and Ethan Rotondo (Wisky). Lucas Byrd is 3-0 against the field with two wins against Cannon and a win over CMU's Marten. Foley moving up to 133 will be interesting. Has his shoulder fully healed? 

141.  Dylan Duncan.  Stevan Micic (Michigan, moving up from 133), Dom Demas (Oklahoma), Dresden Simon (CMU), Gabe Willochell (Edinboro), Lawrence Saenz (Cal Poly), Caleb Brooks, (NIU), and Justin Benjamin (Stupid Northwestern). Including Duncan, there are five wrestlers in this tournament ranked in the Top Fourteen by wrestlestat.com. There will be an AA quality wrestler who will lose in the quarterfinals. 

149.  Mikey Carr.  Yahya Thomas (Stupid Northwestern), Austin Gomez (Stinky Wisky), Mitch Moore (Oklahoma), Alec Hagan (Ohio), Kanen Storr (Michigan), Legend Lamar (Cal Poly), Anthony Cheloni (NIU) and Peyton Omania (MSU). The ILLINI is 2-0 against the field with wins over Thomas and Storr. IHSA schoolboy Austin Gomez will make his Stinky Badger debut. 

157.  Joe Roberts.  Ryan Deakin (Stupid Northwestern), Will Lewan (Michigan), Justin Thomas (Oklahoma), Chase Saldate (MSU), Johnny Lovett (CMU), Jordan Slivka (Ohio), Garrett Model (Stinky Wisconsin) and James Wilmer (Findlay DII Champion). We will finally get to see how Joe Roberts fits in the lineup. He was 3-0 at NC State, but all were extra matches. 

TO BE CONTINUED ... 

WISCONSIN IS CHEATING.  The Badgers have a warmup dual with Buffalo scheduled for later on today. Not fair! That's called a head start, and it's not cricket. Also, Wisconsin was a very late addition to the field. That's ambush league. The Buffalo dual will be on BTN+. 

MICHIGAN CHEATING.  The Wolverines are also cheating as they have Steven Micic returning to their squad with his Medicare card, false teeth in a jar by his bed, and monthly Social Security checks. He'll be moving up from 133 to 141. 

COMING SOON:  An interview with the best ILLINI wrestling recruiting class since Alex Tirapelle, Kyle Ott, Pete Friedl and Tyrone Byrd. You will get to hear from Dylan Connell, Caden Ernd, Maximo Renteria and Joe Joe Braunagel. Find out which one is called "Bulldog."