The Missouri Open (Tiger Style Invite) Preview

 

OVERVIEW

The ILLINI will be in Kansas City, Missouri to wrestle in the Tiger Style Invite, a new tournament sponsored by the University of Missouri. I've seen it referred to as the Missouri Open, which is a bit confusing, but it is a new event, so there could be some growing pains. 

The Missouri Tigers have only had one dual so far this year, beating Lindenwood 55-0. They have just a few ILLINOIS schoolboys on the roster, including Ryan Boersma (Mt. Carmel), Jeremy Jakowitsch (Huntley) and Noah Surtin (Edwardsville). Missouri is rated #1 by wrestlestat.com, while the school is #4 in the current Intermat.com tournament rankings. 

WHAT:  Tiger Style Invite (Missouri Open)

WHERE:  Staley High School, 2800 NE Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO

WHEN:  Saturday, November 12, 9am to 5pm (Central) 

WHY:  To Punish Dudes

TV/STREAMING:  FloWrestling (subscription service)

TICKETS:  General Admission--$22.00 (tigerstyleinvite.ticketleap.com)

TEAMS

#23 ILLINOIS, #1 Missouri, #25 Cal Poly, #29 Maryland, #60 Drexel and #65 Little Rock. There has been nothing about split squads or individuals attending. It is an "invite" so that's to be expected. I'm hoping that backups and freshmen will wrestle, but I've seen nothing about that.  

INDIVIDUALS

125  Maximo Renteria, Sammie Hayes, Justin Cardani. 

The MSU Open provided a lot of questions and few answers at this weight for the ILLINI. Maximo Renteria and Sammie Hayes both had great starts but then were injured. Will they recover in time for this tournament? Additionally, the injuries for Maximo (ankle or foot) and Hayes (head) will probably have an effect on their conditioning even if they are allowed to wrestle. 

Justin Cardani has been a miss so far this season, recovering from shoulder surgery. I've seen him in videos of practice, so it is just a matter of time, I suspect. 

At this weight, a big time challenge will come from ILLINOIS schoolboy Noah Surtin wrestling for Missouri. The Tigers also have a couple of other freshmen on their roster, and I hope all varsity and backups are allowed to wrestle for every team. 

Maryland's Braxton Brown is at #29 with a 3-0 record already this year. He was 16-5 as a true freshman redshirt last season. Antonio Lorenzo of Cal Poly at #42 was a National Qualifier last year with a 25-11 record. 

Drexel's 125er is rated #60, but Little Rock has an interesting kid who transferred from Nebraska. Jeremiah Reno started for the Huskers last season but ended up with a 4-15 record. He's at an undervalued #89 on wrestlestat.com. He's 2-0 against ILLINI in his career (Durlacher, Contreras). 

133  Lucas Byrd, Kole Brower, Brian Beers & Hayden Halter.

Lucas Byrd will be looking to get back on track after the MSU Open. Funny how you finish second at a big-time college tournament, and you're expected to "get back on track"! The other three ILLINI wrestled in the Freshman/Sophomore bracket at the MSU Open. Will they participate in this tournament? 

This is the sixth year of college and third university for Missouri's #30 Connor Brown. He started in a bunch of duals for the Tigers last season, but finished with a 6-9 record. He did give great wrestlers like Michael McGee (L; 6-8) and Carter Young (L; 4-7) pretty good matches. 

Another familiar face is #70 Ethan Rotondo of Cal Poly, who's in his sixth year of college and second team. He spent five years at Wisconsin, and even started for them for a year at 125. He lost twice to Travis Piotrowski, who doubled up on the Badger in both matches. 

Maryland's Jackson Cockrell is rated #63 on wrestlestat.com, and he started for the Terps two years ago at 125, finishing with a 1-11 record. Jaxon Maroney at #61 is in his second year of starting for Drexel. Little Rock will be represented by either the #66 or #87 ranked wrestler. 

141  Danny Pucino & Trey Piotrowski.

Another question for the ILLINI lineup is whether Danny Pucino can return for the Tiger Style Invite. He was injured in the MSU Open and had to MFF out. Trey Piotrowski was not entered in the MSU Open. 

Allan Hart is rated #5 on wrestlestat.com and is a three-time National Qualifier and a one time Round of 12er. He's been in school now for six years. The Tigers have five other 141 pounders who could be entered in the tournament. 

Lawrence Saenz of Cal Poly is probably underrated at #52. He's in his fifth year and second school. He was at Fresno State when he lost to Travis Piotrowski but beat Trey Piotrowski. He's been a starter for four years now. 

The #150 ranking of Maryland's Kal Miller could be way off, or not. He's a true freshman starting for the Terps. He's 3-0 but has had close matches with some pretty bad wrestlers. The ILLINI wrestlers should be able to handle the Drexel (#128) and Little Rock (#254) wrestlers at this weight. 

149  Kevon Davenport, Jake Harrier, Anthony Federico & Michael Gunther. 

I hope all of the ILLINI get to wrestle. They are fun to watch! Missouri will have some brutes in this weight class with #6 Brock Mauller and possibly #28 Josh Edmond, who started for the Tigers last season and qualified for NCAAs. 

Dom Demas, formerly of Oklahoma, ended up at Cal Poly, where the past AA is ranked #11 up a weight. Ethen Miller is #27 and 3-0 this year after a 26-6 redshirt year for Maryland. Last season, Miller lost to Real Woods 1-3 and beat the #28 and #30 wrestlers. He's the real deal. 

Drexel adds to a tough bracket with three-year starter and one-time NCAA qualifier Luke Nichter at #33. Little Rock's wrestler has started for three years, but he's at #105 with a career 26-28 mark. 

157  Luke Odom, Joe Roberts, Jake Reicin, Billy Spassov & Cooper Wettig.

The ILLINI are still looking for clarification at this weight. Odom and Roberts had some nice wins at the MSU Open, but neither placed. Joe Roberts wrestled unattached. 

Missouri's Jarret Jacques seems to have been in school for a long time, but this is only his fifth season. He's started all five seasons, been to the Big Dance four times, and finished Round of 12 once. Jacques has a nice 86-33 career record. 

Luka Wick is rated #27 for Cal Poly. He's an undefeated 13-0 in college with a 12-0 redshirt campaign last year. Thing is, he has a best win over the #95 wrestler. Will he be as good as his brother? 

The ILLINI wrestlers should run over the fellows from Maryland, Drexel and Little Rock, although the Terp has started for three years. He's just lost so much. 

STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO!