SUNDAY - #9 Michigan vs Rider
On Sunday, Michigan will make the short trip to New Jersey to wrestle Rider. Rider has some firepower down low, led by #16 Quinn Kinner. Assuming Fidel Mayora gets the nod for the Wolverines, that will be his second big test of the weekend. Our match of the dual here will be at 141lbs, regardless of who Michigan sends out. If it is Ragusin or Cannon, we are talking about a top-10 guy for Michigan taking on NCAA qualifier McKenzie Bell. If Sergio Lemley is in the lineup for the Wolverines, we will see a freshman phenom with an opportunity to make some noise in his opening weekend.
Prediction: Michigan 32, Rider 3
Projected Lineups
125 – #8 Michael DeAugustino (UM) vs Tyler Klinsky (R)
133 – #7 Chris Cannon (UM) vs #29 Richie Koehler (R)
141 – Sergio Lemley (UM) vs #32 McKenzie Bell (R)
149 – Dylan Gilcher/Fidel Mayora (UM) vs #16 Quinn Kinner (R)
157 – #7 Will Lewan (UM) vs Colton Washleski (R)
165 – #3 Cam Amine (UM) vs Cole McComas (R)
174 – #4 Shane Griffith (UM) vs Michael Wilson (R)
184 – #20 Rylan Rogers (UM) vs Isaac Dean (R)
197 – Brendin Yatooma (UM) vs Azeem Bell (R)
285 – #3 Lucas Davison (UM) vs #30 David Szuba (R)
SUNDAY - Central Michigan vs #25 North Carolina
CMU continues their tough dual lineup with two more contests against top-30 ranked teams. The Chippewas dropped their season opener against a tough Oklahoma team, and now they will travel to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, to take on North Carolina and Illinois on Sunday.
While there is a ranked guy at 9 out of 10 weights, there are not projected to be any ranked matches in this dual. UNC is loaded down low, ranked at the first three weights. Then CMU will be favored from 149 through 174. That said, our match of the dual will come at heavyweight. The Chippewas will likely need to win an unranked matchup at heavyweight to steal a win from the #25 Tar Heels. If Caves picks up the win at heavyweight, and Munson, Lovett, Hubbard, and Cramer take care of business in the middle, this will be a very close dual.
Prediction: Central Michigan 17, North Carolina 18
Projected Lineups
125 – Sean Spidle (CMU) vs #29 Spencer Moore (UNC)
133 – Vince Perez (CMU) vs #21 Caden McCrary (UNC)
141 – Ja’Kerion Merritt (CMU) vs #3 Lachlan McNeil (UNC)
149 – #13 Corbyn Munson (CMU) vs Jayden Scott (UNC)
157 – #15 Johnny Lovett (CMU) vs Danny Nini (UNC)
165 – #33 Tracy Hubbard (CMU) vs Isaias Estrada (UNC)
174 – #17 Alex Cramer (CMU) vs Sabino Portella (UNC)
184 – Cody Brenner (CMU) vs #11 Gavin Kane (UNC)
197 – Cameron Wood (CMU) vs #20 Max Shaw (UNC)
285 – Bryan Caves (CMU) vs Cade Lautt (UNC)
SUNDAY - Central Michigan vs #28 Illinois
The Chippewas will see host for their second dual on Sunday, with another opportunity to upset a ranked team. Like North Carolina, Illinois has ranked guys down low and up top, but the Chippewas will be favored through the middle. We are excited to see Corbyn Munson and Kannon Webster square off at 149lbs here. Webster was a Fargo champion a few months ago, but Corbyn Munson has been on a tear the last year and a half for the Chippewas. That said, 174 will be our match of the dual. Alex Cramer, an NCAA qualifier for the Maroon and Gold last season, will take on #5 Edmond Ruth. Ruth, the younger brother of 3x NCAA champion Ed Ruth, has been getting better and better for the fighting Illini. This will be a huge early-season test for Cramer, and it’s a match the Chippewas may need for an upset.
Prediction: Central Michigan 12, Illinois 20
Projected Lineups
125 – Sean Spidle (CMU) vs #27 Justin Cardani (ILL)
133 – Vince Perez (CMU) vs #27 Tony Madrigal (ILL)
141 – Ja’Kerion Merritt (CMU) vs #26 Danny Pucino (ILL)
149 – #13 Corbyn Munson (CMU) vs Kannon Webster (ILL)
157 – #15 Johnny Lovett (CMU) vs Joe Roberts (ILL)
165 – #33 Tracy Hubbard (CMU) vs Luke Odom (ILL)
174 – #17 Alex Cramer (CMU) vs #5 Edmond Ruth (ILL)
184 – Cody Brenner (CMU) vs #25 Dylan Connell (ILL)
197 – Cameron Wood (CMU) vs Isiah Pettigrew (ILL)
285 – Bryan Caves (CMU) vs #8 Luke Luffman (ILL)
SUNDAY - Michigan State @ Black Knight Invite (Army)
The Spartans will travel to West Point, NY, this weekend to participate in Army’s Black Knight Invite. MSU is coming off the Michigan State Open, but we did not see their full lineup quite yet. Three Spartans are currently in the top-12 of the rankings, including Chase Saldate at 157, Caleb Fish at 165, and Layne Malczewski at 184.
While Penn State will be at the tournament, 6 of their starters will be competing at the NWCA Classic over the weekend. Still, The Nittany Lions are bringing a loaded lineup of 15 guys, including Braeden Davis (Dundee) at 125lbs and and Josh Barr (Davison) at 184lbs.
The match we would most like to see on the weekend is at 165lbs, where Caleb Fish could see #17 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State. Mesenbrink was one of the top recruits in the country last season, and he is expected to start for the Nittany Lions this year, as Alex Facundo just announced he is taking a redshirt season. This is a big early season match with potential B1G seeding implications on the line.
Teams
Army, Binghamton, Brown, Buffalo, Gardner-Webb, Long Island, Michigan State, Northern Colorado, Penn State, Rutgers
Projected MSU Starters
125 – Tristan Lujan
133 – Nick Corday/Andy Hampton
141 – Jordan Hamdan
149 – Braden Stauffenberg
157 – #11 Chase Saldate
165 – #9 Caleb Fish
174 – DJ Shannon
184 – #12 Layne Malczewski
197 – Remy Cotton/Jacob Lee/Luke Daly
285 – Josh Terrill
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