The Don Parker and Don Petrov Opens -- Redshirts and the IRTC Vets (NOW WITH PHOTOS!)

THE DON PARKER OPEN

Three ILLINI redshirts, Maximo Renteria, Danny Pucino and Dylan Connell, participated in the Don Parker Open in Wisconsin yesterday and won their weight classes. 

Personally, I would not have seeded Maximo Renteria anything but first, but I don't run the Don Parker Open. He is obviously over the illness that plagued him earlier in the season and is back to destroying people. 

America, you had your chance to beat Maximo. That window has closed. 

 

Then, at 141, you have Danny Pucino. He still qualifies as a redshirt because of the Covid year, even though he beat at least one Big Ten NCAA qualifier in a varsity dual last season. 

Pucino was even more of a bracket-buster than Renteria. I don't understand the seeding here at all. In any event, Danny got a decent match from the second seed in the finals. 

Finally, at 184, there was Dylan Connell, who has been owning open tournaments across the Midwest. Here, the meet organizers got the seeding right: 

For future reference, the single-season ILLINI pin record is 15 by Adam Tirapelle. The career pin leader is Tony Dallago with 40. Just putting this out there -- no real reason. 

Congratulations to the Winners!

THE DON PETROV OPEN

In about two weeks, the IRTC will be sending two athletes to the Don Petrov Open in Bulgaria. The featured wrestlers are Zane Richards and Tanner Farmer. 

It would've been more but world events got in the way. The Army put a hold on Max Nowry and Kamal Bey because of the tense situation in Ukraine. This is stolen from an email sent to me by the IRTC:

Since there are no competitions in the US before the US Open, senior level athletes are being forced outside of their comfort zones.  The IRTC has done better than most (if not all) by getting creative and making sure our guys are getting what they need to start the world team selection process.   Zane Richards - Traveled to Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia for the month of January.  Participated in Russian National training camp.  He had several competition simulations with some of the top wrestlers in the world.  The training environment was fantastic and Zane got better every day.  Zane's next competition will be in the Don Petrov tournament in two weeks in Bulgaria. Tanner Farmer - Participated in US National Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the beginning of January.  From there Tanner went to Croatia for the Zagreb Tournament.  In the tournament he lost 7-6 to the German but gained a lot experience.  After the tournament, all of the competing countries are participating in a training camp.  The camp is 13 days and will supply more than ample opportunity to polish up before he also compete in the Don Petrov tournament in Bulgaria. Max Nowry and Kamal Bey - the IRTC had bought plane tickets and participation fees for them to compete in the same tour that Tanner went on but with the instability in Ukraine the US Army pulled them from the tour.  They are currently trying to find some other ways to compete before the trials and we hope we can get them at least one competition before the US Open in April.

These athletes are able to chase their dreams only because of your support.  It has been amazing to see so many people step and get behind these outstanding young men.  Thank you and if there is anyone out there considering jumping on board - you won't regret it!   Here is the link to donate to the IRTC. And finally, some relevant tweets:

And celebrating the three Don Parker champions:

PHOTOGRAPHS

Here are some fantastic photographs from the Don Parker Open. Send me your photos, and I will post them! Opens, IRTC events, Tournaments in Bulgaria, High School Sectionals, State, Eating BBQ with the team after a big win (as long as it is not mustard-based BBQ sauce).

Send me all pictures! Don't think, send. Now!