The ILLINI & IRTC at the US Open (day four, U20)

Just when you thought the news couldn't get better. Strike that. Of course, it couldn't get any better than a National Championship for Zane Richards. Still, some pretty dadgum fantastic news for the ILLINI and IRTC on day four of the US Open. 

Two more in the Finals! 

Joey Braunagel went big with a headlock throw and pin in the semis. (IMAR and Jeremy were happy as can be)! Kannon Webster with the decision over Jesse Mendez in the same round. A counter-takedown followed by a gut wrench did it for the ILLINI recruit. 

For those of you who thought that Danny and Zac Braunagel were quite enough Braunagels, well, mister, there's another Brawlnagel, and he loves to toss people on their heads. He has a total Lucas Byrd attitude in that regard. Look for him to battle for the 197 spot after Zac graduates. 

Kannon Webster is still in high school, and he's already beaten NCAA qualifiers. Now, he's beaten an All American. He's the #10 recruit in the class according to Intermat. 

It was pretty cool for Kannon to wear the "Richards" singlet for this tournament. I can foresee the legion of Zaniacs growing. 

Gilman should forfeit maybe? 

Caden Ernd still has some work to get to the Bronze Match. Check out his leg lace technique in the video below. He knows how to do it right.

On that subject, Kole Brower was injured defending a leg lace, which is ONE OF MANY REASONS why I don't like them. Like guns or automobiles or fireworks, they are dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced person. Ernd knows how to use them. Kole wrestled his usual brutal style until the injury. See video below. 

Anthony "Joey" Ruzic and Charlie Fifield are out of the tournament, but they had some nice wins and a great experience at the US Open. Ruzic, of course, is a Junior in high school and will be bringing back Bronze in U20 Greco. Highlights from them are in the video below as well. 

A warning about the video: Most of the source film looked great, but for some reason, FloWrestling failed to fully render the Caden Ernd match, and they did an even worse job on the Kannon Webster/Jesse Mendez barnburner.  

Add that to my list of gripes about Flo: Too many commercials, commercials that get in the way of watching the match, table operators who don't nudge the camera, a "hub" that must have been designed by a toddler, brackets that are unwieldly, and, finally, hazy video. 

And, yet, the commercials are crystal clear. You can tell who gets prioritized. 

Before our video entertainment, a guy who deserves a bunch of credit for the transformation of Zane Richards (along with Medlin):

And here's your video entertainment:

Just wanted to add this about the ILLINI and IRTC success at the US Open: Credit needs to be given to the high school and year-round wrestling club coaches who get together and make ILLINOIS the number one state in the country at Fargo. 

The ILLINI Wrestling team and the IRTC certainly do their part, but there are many coaches around the state who deserve credit. Take a bow!