The ILLINI Recruits BIG DAY
COACH POETA
The ILLINI recruits had a big day yesterday, and they'll have another big day today. ILLINI Head Coach Mike Poeta must have been happy with everything he saw on Friday, as he let the world know:
KOLE BROWER
I aggravated some of my old wrestling injuries just watching Kole Brower wrestle. His wrestling is dominance-based; he's confident and quick with a side of nasty.
The good Nasty.
Like the way you want your kid to stand up to a bully. That kind of Nasty.
I stole some nice warm-up shots from Twitter of Kole Brower and his teammate, Noah Tapia, warming up:
Since our last post, Kole has won in the quarters and the semis and now is into the finals against Batavia's Kaden Fetterolf. Here is the remainder of his bracket:
The video for Brower's match with Jimmy Nugent doesn't start until Kole is already down 2-6 with only a minute to go in the first period. Unfazed and confident in his ability to take anybody down, Kole came back methodically, until ...
WILL BAYSINGAR
Like his new ILLINI brother Kole, Will Baysingar had to win quarterfinal and semi-final matches on Friday. He did that with another pinfall and a major decision against a pair of wrestlers who were a combined 67-8. Here's how the remainder of his bracket shapes up:
One of his local papers, The Daily Herald, took note:
"Prospect junior Will Baysingar (47-1) turned in another brilliant six minute performance at 132 pounds, recording an impressive 11-2 major decision victory setting up a final between the top 132-pounders in the state when he faces No. 1 Nasir Bailey (Rich Township, 40-0).
'Will does what Will can do and tonight you saw yet another great effort, which we know he'll go out in the final and do once again,' said Knights coach Dan Keller."
The image below is from his semi win over Cody Tavoso of Hinsdale Central. Note that the Flo video starts with Baysingar ahead by two points:
He went on to secure a most dominant major decision in the semifinals.
KANNON WEBSTER
The Washington product continued on his path to a trophy for Most Dominant in 2A, as he secured a semifinal tech fall in a little over three minutes against Aurora Christian's Josh Vasquez. Here is the remainder of his bracket:
Please allow me to join Christy Delaware in agreement. That would be a nice trophy and a very nice box for the cat to play in:
Kannon dominated his semi and showed it by picking up his opponent much the way Hercules held up Antaeus, the son of Mother Earth and Poseidon, in that old Greek story:
Now, I'm not aware that Ghee Rachal has decided to come to ILLINOIS, I'm just hoping so. In that vein, here is his bracket, as he has also made the finals at 220 in 3A:
Good luck, Ghee, and thanks for giving me an excuse to post another picture of Deuce. He was apparently on the loose at the Assembly Hall!
If Will can beat Nasir color me impressed, that would be a huge victory for the future Illini. I expect both Webster and Kole to win, going to watch the march and finals tonight good luck to all the finalists
ReplyDeleteHey Huff! Baysingar has some sweet juju working for him that I've never seen before. Really top-level (looks like Russian) stuff. That is probably the best final in the whole tournament.
ReplyDeleteAnd it wouldn't be a Vision Quest if there wasn't a two-time state champ to go after!
I was beyond impressed with Kole Brower's composure. Getting caught can happen to anybody, but only the smallest fraction won't panic and will win in the end. He has also had a very wide array of takedowns.
Kannon, I think, may be 174 by the time he gets to school. He also must have a grip like Hulk or Ironman. It will be fun having him in the lineup. I'll guess I'll save that daydream post for another day, but wow, the possibilities blow me away.
Do you (or does anybody) have an inkling as to Ghee Rachal's choice for college?
I do not unfortunately, if I hear anything tonight I'll report back
ReplyDeleteJust got back from the finals, here are my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteKole Brower is fun to watch, strong in any position and always on the offense, he's got points on the brain.
Kannon Webster is a stud no two ways about it. Hard to really say more since he was so much better than everyone in that bracket, there are levels to this game.
Wil Baysingar had the hardest test in the finals an while he lost as the match went on he was the better wrestler and Nasir was just trying to survive. While it's still a loss I was impressed again with him and this will drive him to work that much harder I'm sure.
Chief I know you have an affinity for the Rachal clan but please if this program wants to get better it's a hard pass on guys like him, no more wasting roster spots on his kind. Don't mean to be harsh but hes is not a legit D1 prospect at all.
Best wrestlers I saw there. Braydon Thompson, Kannon Webster, Seth Mendoza, Ben Davino and Sergio Lemley, may be leaving out 1 or 2 but those 5 guys will have a say at the next level
Congrats to all who participated it was a fun night of wrestling