Recap of the Cleveland State Open and the Cougar Clash
OVERVIEW
When the schedule was first drafted, the plan was to send all of the starters and some others to the Cougar Clash. When the Big Ten offered the Fan Fest dual with Indiana on the day before, those plans were changed. The starters had to wrestle in Indianapolis, while a split squad would make its way down to Edwardsville for the Clash.
That squad turned out to be Brian Beers, Ryan Bennett, Dylan Connell, Caden Ernd, Charlie Fifield, Jake Harrier, Jackson Herman, Marko Ivanisevic and Joey Ruzic. Their task was daunting. They had to beat the well-rested starters from powerful squads like Missouri and Minnesota, along with the starters from other teams.
Although the ILLINI didn't have their starters wrestle in this day-after-a-dual match, the coaches did make the trip. A complete and full squad of coaches.
For Jackson Herman and Ryan Bennett, this was their first college wrestling matches. Bennett also got his first pin (of many). The placers in the tournament included Jake Harrier, Ryan Bennet, Caden Ernd and Dylan Connell. Complete results at this link.
THE CLEVELAND STATE OPEN
While the Fan Fest dual and the Cougar Clash were going on, we almost missed the Cleveland State Open, and the ILLINI sent a powerful squad to that tournament consisting entirely of Chris Moore.
He won it.
The top seed in his bracket happened to be Roman Rogotzke from none other than Indiana University. Rogotzke was the Hoosier starter at 184 last season, and he's wrestled duals for the Crimson and Cream this year at 174.
Moore beat him by major decision, then beat the #4 seed from Purdue, and finally, the #2 seed from Michigan in the finals. The ILLINI already has a nice 10-4 record in three open tournaments, winning Cleveland State and placing third at the Jim Koch Open.
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