JASON KRAISSER and OLIN WALKER

 

NAME: Jason Kraisser

HOMETOWN:  Ellicott City, Maryland

HIGH SCHOOL: Centennial High School

CURRENT RANKINGS: #27 Wrestlestat.com

LOOKS: Like He's Gonna Steal Your Girl

HIGH SCHOOL ACCOLADES: 4x State Champion; Fargo All American; 159-4 Record

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: NCAA Qualifier; Round of 16; UNI Open Champ

QUESTIONS: Can He Beat Logan Swaw and Danny Nini in the Wrestle-offs

HOT TIP

Jason was a state medalist in cross country in high school. If he wants to bet you on who finishes first in the preseason five-mile run, I would decline. He also played lacrosse, which is a lot of running as well, but with a stick in your hands. 

WRESTLING STYLE

We watched a number of Jason's matches, and can say that he is very talented, likes to roll in the standing position, and if that doesn't work, a standing switch. Kraisser can hit both on quality opponents. 

He's inclined to ride legs. When was the last time the ILLINI has had a big-time leg rider? Help us out in the comments. If we read your comment and smack our heads and say "D'oh," we'll send you a free t-shirt.

We saw that he was adept at the waterfall position, quickly transitioning into some excellent "Delgado" wrestling. He will be in top shape, and if his opponent isn't that will be a HUGE advantage. 

Overhead shot of Kraisser hitting a spladle on his Cal Baptist opponent (screengrab from YouTube)

Kraisser also can tilt with the legs in, and not just the roll from side to side tilt, but he's comfortable going over the top, or going back, maintaining the crab ride all the way. 

Collar ties mostly, but also some 2-on-1, and an underhook. He will hit the go-behinds where available, some ankle-picks and knee-picks, but Jason likes to wrestle on the mat, where he is exceptional.  

COLLEGE BACKGROUND

The Iowa State transfer actually started out at Campbell, where he was on the SoCon all-Freshman team and was "21-8 overall with a 9-2 dual record and a 5-2 mark in conference outings with 11 total pins, plus three major decisions and a tech fall." 

After redshirting his Sophomore year with the Camels, Kraisser moved on to Iowa State. There, two seasons ago, he qualified for the Big Dance as the #25 seed and made it to the Round of 16. He finished with a 22-15 record on the year. He wrestled in Opens last season and compiled a 16-6 record. 

AN ILLINI CONNECTION

Those ILLINI fans who pay close attention will remember Jason Kraisser as the opponent in Mikey Carr's last dual match. That match was memorialized on these pages by FSL ILLINI, who wrote:

Perhaps due to divine recognition of the significance of this match on this day, the music that happened to be playing during the first period of Carr vs. Kraisser came from none other than the star of that evening’s Super Bowl halftime show.

As Rihanna’s -ella, -ella, -ella echoed through the building Mike Carr was snatching up single legs like a starving man at the KFC buffet, notching takedown after takedown before finishing the first period with a rideout as the Rihanna party moved on to “Needed Me” and a lead of 8-3 for Carr.

Photo by FSL ILLINI

Kraisser fought back hard, but eventually lost 8-10 to Carr. That comeback must've made an impression on the ILLINI staff. 

BIG 10 COMPETITION

Major competition will come in conference from #3 Tyler Kasak of PSU, #4 Jacori Teemer of Iowa, Antrell Taylor of Nebraska (finally at 157), Tommy Askey of Minnesota (Jason beat him in his NCAA tourney run 2 years ago), Paddy Gallagher of OSU, Chase Saldate of Michigan, Joey Blaze of Purdue, Trevor Chumbley of Northwestern and Kal Miller of Maryland. 

That's a lot of top quality wrestlers at this one weight. Holy cow! 

On the schedule he will catch breaks against Indiana, with a hole in the lineup, and Rutgers' Al De Santis. Arizona State doesn't appear to have much at this weight, Bloomsburg will have a hole, but North Carolina has Sonny Santiago, who Kraisser has lost to in the past. 

OUTLOOK

Jason Kraisser will have a tough schedule ahead of him. As good as he is, he'd still be an underdog against well over half of his currently scheduled opponents. We expect him to get an upset or two as well as a passel of wins at the Midlands and any other opens. 

He will frustrate a lot of people with his intense and well-executed riding skills. 

Healthy, look for Jason to qualify for the NCAA tournament and win some matches. An All-American finish is not out of the question, but he'll need to listen to IMAR and AOC and the Head Coach, who will provide excellent advice and instruction for him. He'll probably need an upset as well. 

Olin Walker is a new recruit to the ILLINI squad coming out of Saint Patrick High School. ILLINI fans are very familiar with another Shamrock alum named Joe Rau, who wrestled for the IRTC for a time and went on to make a name for himself in comedy. 

You can see some of Olin's accomplishments set out by the Saint Patrick program's Instagram channel, which we just started to follow:

Congratulations to Olin, his family and friends, practice partners and coaches. Also, congratulations to the ILLINI staff. Now go out and go for a vicious headlock or footsweep against the first ranked opponent you meet!  GO ILLINI!!!