What We Can Learn From the MSU Open

The start of a new ILLINI Wrestling season is always fun, and there are always important questions to answer. Here are some of the top questions we are looking to answer:

1.  Joe Roberts at 157.  Everybody wants to know the new kid in town. He hales from Aurora and went to Montini Catholic High School, where he won an ILLINOIS State Championship. Joe started college at North Carolina State University, but he was likely turned off by the BBQ. They put mustard in their sauce there! Now, he's back home where he belongs. In his bio, the ILLINI starter at 157 says he wants to get into MMA or become a coach.  

2.  How to Watch the MSU Open.  The MSU Open will be broadcast by Flo. It costs $150/year or $12.50 per month, and it says that you can "cancel anytime." If you want to watch the match and don't have a Flo account yet, you can start here. If you're like me, it'll take you a couple of hours panhandling under an overpass in Myrtle Beach to make that kind of jack. 

3.  Watching All the ILLINI Rookies.  Like opening a present, ILLINI fans want to see what we got! How do the new kids look? How will they do in college? And this year, the ILLINI not only boasts a large and gifted true Freshmen class (J. Braunagel, Caden Ernd, Dylan Connell, and Maximo Renteria--see video below), but there are also Freshmen transfers (Joe Roberts, Luke Rasmussen, and Anthony Federico). On top of all that, the ILLINI have Sophomores who are technically Freshmen, even though they're Sophomores, and they didn't get a chance to wrestle at the MSU Open or Lindenwood or any other tournaments last year (Mike Bosco, Luke Odom, Isiah Pettigrew, Daniel Renshaw, and Chase Waggoner). How will they do? 

4.  Improvement from the Starters Over the Summer.  How have the veterans progressed? Did a summer camp in Russia help out? What about another year working with Coaches Poeta and Hunter, and getting to work with Coach Ruth? 

5.  The Great Matchups!  This is going to be a loaded tournament. Michigan, MSU, Oklahoma, the ILLINI, Stupid Northwestern, Stinky Wisconsin and Northern ILLINOIS to name a few of the teams showing up with their starters. Unfortunately, probably no Danny Pucino or Chris Cannon, as they'll be wrestling (in the same bracket) at the U23 Worlds. The Braunagels versus the Amines is sure to be a highlight. Luke Luffman has to navigate a bracket filled with folks ranked in the Top Ten. Lucas Byrd versus Rayvon Foley will be epic. Dylan Duncan versus Stevan Micic will be fun. Probably no Dom Demas at that weight, as he's at U23 Worlds in the bracket just below Pucino's. 

6.  Mikey Carr.  How is he doing? Is it possible to root harder for a guy just to be healthy? If he's healthy, the winning will take care of itself. ILLINI fans want to see him in good health.