Update on the ILLINI Freshmen

We've had the MSU Open and the Lindenwood Open to get a chance to know the ILLINI Freshmen, and they look incredible. Dylan Connell made it to the finals of both tournaments. Along the way, he teched just about everybody. He has an unstoppable sweep single and cross-wrist tilt. He's hard to ride and a hard rider. In the finals of the Lindenwood Open, he wrestled a circus freak from Oklahoma State who won all the tournaments in high school. The match went to overtime, where the performer who had escaped from a sideshow managed the takedown.

NOTE:  Here's the interview of these fellows:

Maximo Renteria started off his ILLINI career with a bang at the MSU Open, looking like a serious stud. Unfortunately, something caught up to him in his next match and he had to forfeit out after that. Whatever it was that sidelined him kept him out of the Lindenwood Open as well. Here's to a quick recovery because I would really love to see what he can bring to the Midlands.

Another wrestler who gave us all a scare was Caden Ernd. He suffered a knee tweak at Lindenwood and eventually MFFed out. I don't know if his eventual sidelining was related to a possible knee issue, or maybe it was something else, or perhaps the coaches just wanted to play it safe. He was really putting on a show up to that point.

Talk about putting on a show! Joe "Bulldog" Braunagel was exploding like fireworks all day at the Lindenwood Open. He eventually placed, but not before racking up numerous throws and back points -- even a spladle. Haha! It will be very interesting to see how he continues to progress.