ILLINI v. SIUE DUAL RECAP
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
THE OFFICIAL RECAP
Here is how the ILLINOIS Athletic Department started their official recap of the dual:
"The No. 13 Illinois wrestling team won their season opening dual in dominant fashion 41-3 over SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday (Nov. 2). This marks the first time Illinois has scored 40 or more points in a dual since Nov. 15, 2015, where they beat SIU-Edwardsville by the same score 41-3. They tallied one fall, four tech. falls, three major decisions and one decision in their triumph."
That is some top-tier classy analysis. Nothing about bullying them like they were a bunch of Computer Science majors, or saying that they rag-dolled the yokels like they were the supposed-to-lose guy in a WWE match. Scoreboard:
| 125: | #Drew Davis (SIUE) dec. #17 Ramazan Attasauov (ILL), 8-5 | ILL 0 I SIUE 3 |
| 133: | #3 Lucas Byrd (ILL) major dec. Marcel Lopez (SIUE), 12-3 | ILL 4 I SIUE 3 |
| 141: | #19 Danny Pucino (ILL) major dec. Danny Martinez (SIUE), 14-2 | ILL 8 I SIUE 3 |
| 149: | #10 Kannon Webster (ILL) tech. fall Hayden Whidden (SIUE), 18-3 (6:15) | ILL 13 I SIUE 3 |
| 157: | #23 Jason Kraisser (ILL) pins Brock Woodcock (SIUE), 2:18 | ILL 19 I SIUE 3 |
| 165: | Braeden Scoles (ILL) tech. fall Bradley Gillum (SIUE), 17-2 4:01 | ILL 24 I SIUE 3 |
| 174: | #20 Danny Braunagel (ILL) tech. fall Griffin Ray (SIUE), 19-4 (3:58) | ILL 29 I SIUE 3 |
| 184: | #8 Edmond Ruth (ILL) dec. Deron Pulliam (SIUE), SV-1 7-4 | ILL 32 I SIUE 3 |
| 197: | #10 Zac Braunagel (ILL) tech. fall Nick Nosler (SIUE), 23-7 (5:58) | ILL 37 I SIUE 3 |
| 285: | #13 Luke Luffman (ILL) major dec. Bryson Buhk (SIUE), 14-3 | ILL 41 I SIUE 3 |
The ILLINI Team Captains for the coin toss were the Brawlnagel Twins and Edmond Ruth. As a reminder, Wrestlestat.com had predicted a 34-0 win for the ILLINI. As it turned out, the ILLINI would score seven more points than that, and the Cougars would end up with three more.
INDIVIDUAL MATCHUPS
125. Ramazan Attasauov v. Drew Davis. It was a bit of a disaster start to the season for Attasauov. The question was whether he could acclimate to 125 after wrestling at 133 so many years. So far, the answer is no. He was a little shaky in the first period. He hit a low single and even had his opponent's leg on his shoulder, but he somehow lost it, and the Cougar came around to score the takedown.
We think that two-time IHSA State Champion Drew Davis will someday be a leader of, and the best wrestler on, the Cougar squad, but this result was a surprise. At the end of the third period, it looked like Attasauov gave up a takedown because he was too weak to fight it off. The match ends 8-5 in Davis' favor because of that late takedown.
We've been in this position before, losing so much weight you're almost light-headed. It can be overcome eventually. What Ramazan has to do is get comfortable and STRONG at 125. The loss will cost him some seeding lines at the Big Dance, and he can't afford many more like it.
In one week, he will have to wrestle the defending National Champion.
133. Lucas Byrd v. Marcel Lopez. In the first period, Byrd is the Wyrd had a beautiful ankle pick and treetop takedown that we put in the video above. He also had over :50 of riding time. In the second, Lopez made the mistake of trying to ride Lucas. MARCEL, HE'S GOING TO REVERSE YOU FOR TWO POINTS. JUST LET HIM GO!
Lucas Byrd reversed him for two points.
Byrd added a takedown in the second and another takedown in the third along with riding time to earn the major decision. We know Marcel Lopez is a very good wrestler, having won his match against the ILLINI last year, and having finished third in the MAC tournament, which was the best showing by a Cougar.
141. Danny Pucino v. Danny Martinez. Early in the first period Danny Pucino hit a misdirection single that was rude. Got three back points out of it, too! That's got to go in the video. Poor Danny Martinez was PUCINO'D!
Danny is looking bigger, especially in the shoulders and arms. That could be the secret ingredient to his season. His gas tank appears unaffected. Edmond Ruth and Danny Pucino are the hardest working men in show business! This was a 14-2 major decision. By the end of the match, Pucino broke him.
Zane Richards is on the bench with the coaches. He gave Danny a nice low five after the victory!
149. Kannon Webster v. Hayden Whidden. It was Webster pushing Whidden around like a baby stroller throughout the first period punctuated by a couple of ankle pick takedowns. You can see one in the video above. With his constant movement, pushing and shoving, long arms and strong hands, ankle picks will score him a lot of points.
Did we mention that this was Kannon's first match as a full-time starter!
First period ends 6-1 with a ride-out from Webster. That'll make the coaches happy! Through the second and third periods (well, part of the third period), we celebrated Kannon Takedown Saturday, a national holiday in Washington, ILLINOIS. He finished with a tech fall.
157. Jason Kraisser v. Brock Woodcock. As a rule, we're against having your first name rhyme with your last name. Jason Kraisser doesn't have to worry about that. Brock Woodcock on the other hand ...
Within :20 of the start of this match, Woodcock hit an ankle pick for three. Another :15 seconds and Woodcock had added four back points. His fatal mistake after that? Continuing to wrestle on the mat with Jason Kraisser. Eventually the ILLINI got the reversal and rolled him up like a Jamaican super doobie for the pin. See the video.
Like we've said before, trying to predict Kraisser matches will be difficult all season. And that was against the person we believe is the best wrestler on the Cougar team.
165. Braeden Scoles v. Bradley Gillum. We like the SIUE boys who wrestled for Team ILLINOIS in high school on National Dual teams and who helped the state win Fargo titles. Gillum is one of them, but Scoles was on the hunt here.
Right off the whistle, Braeden was just so measured in his attack. It was a very methodical takedown that was impossible to stop. We had to put it in the video above. Like a chef serving his best dish, all we need say is, "Enjoy." He started with a two-on-one, then used his far leg and foot to trap Gillum's leg, scooped it up high with a hard trip finish.
Another takedown, then four back points with an arm bar. First period ends 10-1. In the second period it was a Scoles escape, takedown, release and takedown for the 17-2 tech fall. Like Webster, Braeden set a vicious pace and was still technical throughout his match.
174. Danny Braunagel v. Griffin Ray. We also hate it when a person's first name should be his last name, and his last name should be his first name. No way Danny Braunagel suffers from that affliction, but Griffin Ray ...
Let us say before watching this match that we are very happy Danny is back and healthy. Zac, too! In this day and age of NIL and unlimited transfers, it is special for fans to get to know their athletes over the span of years and not months.
Danny has a lightening-quick high crotch for three within :30 of the whistle. A release, then a throw by to a single. Turked the leg! (The ILLINI are leg riders now!). A release and another Brawny takedown and a ride out that included a bow and arrow to finish up the first period 9-2.
The second period was a series of catches and releases until Danny secured the tech fall.
184. Edmond Ruth v. Deron Pulliam. Last season, Pulliam lost by a point to Dylan Connell. The first period here saw him pushing off Ruth and trying to avoid the underhooks. Edmond with an escape within :07 of the start of the second. Pulliam gets a takedown with a shrug-by pancake motion off a Ruth attempt. Then, Edmond answers with a takedown of his own. But no ...
We got homered in Edwardsville!
The refs waved off the takedown. We'll put this takedown in the video above and let you decide. Then, with about :10 to go in the third period, Edmond locks up another bear hug and takes him down. IT TOO WAS WAVED OFF BY THE REFS. We'll also put that takedown in the video above and let you decide.
We got homered in Edwardsville TWICE!
The East German judges were out in force last night. Although they waved off the second takedown, they do put about :05 back on the clock. Ruth charges, and Pulliam backs up across and then around the mat and was called for stalling.
We go to sudden victory. In the sudden victory frame, Pulliam finally takes a shot and within a second or two, Ruth has defended and earned another takedown and the thrilling win.
197. Zac Braunagel v. Nick Nosler. Still another ILLINOIS schoolboy on the SIUE team who we loved to watch. But, Zac, man. Nosler in on a single but couldn't finish. Zac does finish a spin behind and locks up a cradle to get the takedown. First period ends 3-1.
Zac releases Nosler in the second to go on a catch and release program. Two takedowns and two releases. That second release showed the Brawlnagel's moxy, as he let him up with about :26 seconds to go in the period. It was not in vain, as he scored a beautiful head-inside single. We're gonna put that one in the video above.
The announcer called it "a beautiful shot by Zac Braunagel."
A quick reversal for Zac to start the third, then it is back to the catch and release. Three more takedowns and two releases and there's the tech fall. The last one reminded us of Cal Naughton, Jr, the Magic Man from Talladega Nights, "Now you see me, now you don't." Tough lesson for the Tolono Unity product.
285. Luke Luffman v. Bryson Buhke. The latter is another ILLINOIS schoolboy from Dekalb. Luuuke starts off the scoring with a spin behind, then rides hard, even throwing in the legs to control his opponent.
After a release, Luffman hits a sweet low single that was quick and sure-handed. He rode him out the last few seconds of the first period. 6-1. In the second, the ILLINI with a quick escape. They hand fight the rest of the period, although Luke tries a footsweep at the end of the period, and we always give a shout out for that!
Then, in the third, Buhke escapes and Luke HITS THE FOOTSWEEP FOR THREE! The final is a 14-3 major decision for the Pride of Urbana.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
WOW! They looked great. Sure, Ramazan needs to acclimate, and he's given up some seeding lines with that loss, but he can still do it. Everybody else was on point. Yes, Edmond Ruth had an SV win over an opponent ranked in the 60s, but add two more takedowns to his total, and that would've been a near major. Overall, the ILLINI were aggressive, rode legs hard, took great angles, and provided constant pressure on their opponents.
It was a very good day.
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