Recap of ILLINOIS versus Wisconsin

WHAT A WEEKEND FOR THE ILLINI! 

So many great stories, so many heroes, so many reasons to believe. It was bigger than the program turning a corner, though it was that. It was more like a new star was born in the center of the galaxy.

From the near-miss against #2 Iowa on the road to the rousing win over highly-ranked Wisconsin at home, from ILLINI recruits making huge news across the Midwest to ILLINI varsity heroes up and down the lineup, these are the days to point to as the real beginning of the Poeta era. 

DANNY PUCINO WITH THE PIN!

The ILLINI holding down 141 had a breakout weekend with two big wins, the dismantling of a Hawkeye on Friday, then the pin to win the Badger dual. Wisconsin was leading 14-12 at the time Pucino forced his Badger opponent's shoulders to the mat. That gave the ILLINI an 18-14 lead, and a final victory of 18-17. 

This is from the article at FightingILLINI.com:

"Danny Pucino undoubtedly answered the call when the lights were the brightest. Knowing he couldn't lose he went out and put on an absolute show. Securing multiple takedowns of [his Badger opponent]. He had a four point near fall which secured the major decision..., but that wasn't enough. He wanted the pin and got it at 5:40. The Illini needed that as those six points won the dual and gave them their first Big Ten win."

A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT!

The ILLINI provided a total team effort over the weekend, starting on Friday against Iowa, but especially on Sunday versus Wisconsin. Each wrestler who took the mat yesterday can take pride in either winning crucial points for the Orange and Blue, or denying crucial points to the Cardinal and White. 

The scoresheet above does not lie. 

I'm 100% serious about this, as Matt Wroblewski held a three-time All American in Trent Hilger to a three-point decision, while Maximo Renteria kept two-time AA Eric Barnett to a regular decision. Tony Federico held a ranked wrestler and best-gas-tank-in-America Garrett Model to a regular decision. 

Then, there was Jake Harrier sealing the dual win against a national qualifier. 

Of course, there were the big wins on Sunday from Lucas Byrd (Byrd is the Wyrd) against All American Taylor LaMont, as well as wins from Edmond Ruth (20 in a row), Dylan Connell (now in full belief mode) and Zac Braunagel, all of whom stopped the early Badger momentum and started the ILLINI rolling. 

Lucas also had the crucial pin against Iowa on Friday when he went on "wolf hunt" mode.

Coach Poeta seems to have arrived at the same conclusion as the brain trust at the ILLINI Wrestling Blog and Forum and Beyond, as he was quoted at FightingILLINI.com:

"Today was a great day for our program," said head coach Mike Poeta. "The last three weeks I can't tell you enough how proud I am of our guys. We've been on a roll. We've been climbing, fighting and wrestling hard. The guys are doing exactly what we asked for. I can't say enough good things about Danny Pucino and Zac Braunagel. Zac has put together some of the best wrestling he's ever had. Dylan Connell is starting to get on a roll. Lucas Byrd is still Lucas Byrd. When he walks out there, I'm confident he can beat anybody in the country. Today was a fun day for Illinois wrestling."

ZAC BRAUNAGEL WITH THE WEEKEND!

Two massive wins. You have to start thinking that these are no longer "upsets." It is now the natural course of things. What you see in the above photograph is the Brawlnagel LOCKED ON TARGET. He is heading for Jacob Warner's right leg, and he will not be denied! His defeat of the Iowa NCAA Finalist on Friday was the preface to a rematch with his Badger nemesis on Sunday.

Big Brawny followed the huge win at Carver Hawkeye Arena with another exciting victory over Braxton Amos, the 2021 Junior World Champion in Freestyle at 97 kg. Is there another 197-pounder with as many big wins so far this season? What earns the respect of all wrestling fans is that the Brawlnagels always wrestle hard, turning each match into a Dublin street fight. 

Back to that takedown in the picture above: That was an amazing combination of speed, technical proficiency, leverage and fluidity. There was the speed to secure the leg, then the technical use of his shoulder to impose a magnified degree of leverage, forcing Warner to the mat. 

That will go in this year's ILLINI Wrestling NCAA hype video, for sure, either set against the dulcet tones of Pavarotti or Snoop Dog. 

THE ILLINI WRESTLING RECRUITS! 

To keep the momentum going, the ILLINI need top-notch recruits. There is great recruiting news this weekend, as you can see in the photograph above. Future teammates and high school beasts William Baysingar (left) and Logan Swaw (right) won their brackets at the Cheesehead. Brandon Morvari (center) finished third and helped his team to a first-place trophy. 

What a great weekend for ILLINI Wrestling!

These are the studs who will soon stand on podiums for the ILLINI. And below, you see another of their number, Kannon Webster, who crushed it at the Clash! (I saw he wrestled at 138 and 145 and was unbeaten at both weights). 

Friends, I know I'm not getting everything posted about recruits, and that pisses me off. Please send me a message on Twitter or Instagram about what your favorite future ILLINI is doing because I want to include everybody. 

ALUMNI REUNION! 

There is nothing more special for me than to see the faces of the ILLINI who I've cheered for through the years. As it was Alumni Night at the dual, a whole group of them showed up, and there were ILLINOIS coaches in the mix! 

A picture that I especially wanted to post showed Jesse Delgado in the ILLINI practice room holding his little booger-face up to the mural of his Dad winning a national championship. The smallest Delgado was pointing up to his Father's image on the wall. 

But I can't find it! Ugh! Well, that may have been the best photograph of all time, but this is a worthy second place:

A NEW VIDEO SERIES

I intend to continue the series called "Great ILLINI Takedowns" and "ILLINI Legends," but I want to introduce a new set of videos. These will be the "ILLINI Versus" series, and they will be so stupid that you'll love them. 

Remember, the first axiom of the ILLINI Wrestling Blog and Forum and Beyond: We want to bring eyes to ILLINI Wrestlers, coaches, recruits and alumni. We will try anything legal. Even if it sometimes means throwing in some cuteness. 

Tentative titles for the upcoming second generation of the IWB&F&B Cinematic Universe include "Lucas Byrd versus Tiny Kittens," "Edmond Ruth versus Baby Goats" and "Zac Braunagel versus the Robot from that Robot Movie, I Think He Was Called the Iron Giant or Something." A draft title picture for episode one:

THE ANGELS WANNA WEAR MY ORANGE SHOES

I asked Coach Poeta about his iconic orange shoes in an interview, and he said that he saw them in a catalogue and picked them out, but they arrived in a different color. Ha! How lucky for all of us! My prediction is that they will become as legendary as Lou Henson's orange suit jacket. As Elvis Costello sang in that song: 

"But since their wings have got rusted

You know, the angels wanna wear my orange shoes"

NEXT UP!

The ILLINI face the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, January 14 at 7:00 pm (Central). There will be youth duals before the match. There will be a pre-match youth clinic before the meet. For additional information, contact via email: JKREIND@ILLINOIS.EDU. 

As a final celebration of a great ILLINI weekend, here's a photo from our friend, Huff, who got to watch the action against Wisconsin: