ILLINI Wrestling: This Year's Nonconference Schedule

The ILLINI Coaching staff and athletic department have already posted the wrestling team roster and a schedule for nonconference opponents. This is much earlier--perhaps as much as two months earlier--than in previous years. 

I like this very much. 

It gives the fans something to talk about during an otherwise down period, and the wrestlers, well, they get to start dreaming and planning their ambitions for the season. They will be tested with some very strong nonconference teams and a number of open tournaments. There will be tough battles in the room.

We plan on publishing an article tomorrow about the roster and potential lineup showdowns. 

THE NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE 

This is from the website for Tiger Style Wrestling:

2022 TIGER STYLE INVITE

Come experience the 1st Annual Tiger Style Invite Tournament as the in-state Tigers compete against Cal Poly, Drexel, Illinois, Little Rock and Maryland.

Tickets are LIMITED and sold on first come first serve basis. Tickets are $15 each until October 29th, after that date tickets will be $20 each.

Date: November 12, 2022

Location: Staley High School
2800 NE Shoal Creek Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64156

Time: Competition Starts at 9:00am

Cost: $15/Ticket - $20/Ticket after Oct 29th

So, instead of just a dual with Mizzou, like in years past, there will be a tournament that features six teams. I don't know if this will be a dual or individual tournament, but the ILLINI and Missouri stick out as heavy favorites. Still, the other teams have some really tough individual competitors. 

The Tigers will have Allan Hart, Brock Mauller, Keegan O'Toole, Peyton Mocco, Rocky Elam and Zach Elam all rated in the top ten by Wrestlestat.com. 

So far, the team participants at the MSU Open are listed as the ILLINI, MSU, Wisconsin (unofficial) and Oklahoma. But, this tournament always seems to fill up eventually as teams get their schedules published. 

The Midlands already has a longer list, and you know it will continue to grow as well. Among the teams participating, you'll find the ILLINI, Wisconsin, Pitt, Penn, Rutgers, Princeton, Air Force, Virginia, Buffalo, SIU-E, Bloomsburg, and Franklin & Marshall. 

No Iowa. 

As for nonconference duals, there are three very strong opponents and Buffalo. Here are quick and dirty previews of Pitt, North Carolina State, and Buffalo and Iowa State.