Lucas Byrd in the NWCA All-Star Match

WHAT:  NWCA All-Star Classic

WHEN:  Tuesday, November 22 at 7:00 pm (Central)

WHERE:  Austin, Texas

WHO:  Lucas Byrd vs. Michael McGee

TV/STREAMING:  FloWrestling (subscription service)

WHY:  Because the Best Love to Compete

From Michael McGee, you can expect doubles, shrug-bys, and singles, almost in that exact order. He will stay low, just like Lucas Byrd, and he also has a reach out ankle grab from all fours that has to be scouted. Another attack that he doesn't use that often, although it is effective, is the re-shot double the way Jordan Burroughs does it: When the opponent is still recovering from a shot and is crouched over on his knees or squatting is when he bowls them over with a reshot. 

Lucas Byrd is #5 according to wrestlestat.com, while McGee is #4. Yet, it is the ILLINI who is the predicted winner by an 8-6 score according to that website's algorithm. The Orange-and-Blue-wearing Ohio kid has a 1-0 career mark against the Sun Devil, pinning him at 6:17 in their fifth-place match at the 2021 NCAA tournament. 

Lucas is ranked #6 by Intermat, while his opponent comes in at #4. On Flo, it's Byrd at #5 and McGee at #4. 

Both are two-time All Americans, with Byrd's (5, 5) matching up with McGee's (NQ, R12, 6, 4). This will be the Arizona State kid's sixth year in college, so he has more experience with a 115-24 career mark. Against common opposition, Lucas is 24-8, while Michael is 20-8. 

McGee has started the season at 5-0; Byrd at 6-1. The Sun Devil has beaten three pretty highly-ranked wrestlers already in #13 Michael Colaiocco of Penn, #16 Joel Heilmann of Rutgers and #17 Connor Brown of Missouri. That last wrestler is a common opponent for both this year, and McGee won 5-4, while Lucas beat Brown 7-3. 

This should be a fun one, and it will give the ILLINI young-un a look at the kind of speed he would face with RBY. Byrd loves the competition and the bright lights, so this format was made for him.