Journeymen Wrestling has brought together quite a field for this year’s version of the National Collegiate Duals - which will take place Dec 20-21 in the panhandle of Florida. We are going to take a quick look at the field in 4 different stories over the course of this week. The teams are broken down into two pools and then within each pool 3 teams in a group each. The pools will not have a crossover - which means no Penn State vs. Iowa matchup, but that isn’t surprising given that the two teams will have their dual in January. This is an unbelievable opportunity to watch some of the best college wrestlers in the nation compete over 2 days.
The Schedule:
How to Watch:
There are two ways to watch the event. First, if you are close - you can get tickets at Journeymen. Monday is going to be a banger with 12 duals featuring many of the best teams in the country. Day 2 (Tuesday) will be a crossover within the pools - so if Penn State wins the Blue Pool “A” and Arizona State wins the Blue Pool “B” then that will be the final on Tuesday evening. Can’t make it to northwest Florida? You can also watch it live on Rokfin. Simply click the picture above.
What to Watch Day 1 - Red Pool “A”:
Little shifting by some programs this week as we get closer to the matches on Monday. Looks like Lee will be there (and probably split some matches with Jesse Ybarra at 125). Doesn’t look like Kemerer will be there and will once again be replaced by Nelson Brands. We in the SE are hoping to watch Malyke Hines wrestle (he is an Osceola grad), but he may be replaced by Sheldon Seymour. This is completely expected as teams battle through the season. Still this should be a fun set of duals to watch. In all my years of watching wrestling I’ve never seen Iowa compete in a dual (I’ve seen them countless times at NCAA’s and other places in a tournament setting, but never as a dual team).
The 5 matches within this pool I am interested in watching:
Malyke Hines (Lehigh) vs. Austin Desanto (Iowa)
If, and it is a big if, we get Hines back in the lineup then this is the match I want to see. Desanto likes to push people all over the mat and really bully them into bad positions (and then he takes advantage) … can Hines use his speed and smarts to stay with Desanto?
The 157’s: Lovett, Humphreys, and Young
Outstanding weight for these duals. Johnny Lovett is another former Florida hammer doing an outstanding job up north for the Chippewas. He is exciting to watch and it will be fun to see him take on both Humphreys and Young.
The 285’s: Wood, Stencel, and Cassioppi
All three are ranked high enough to really make a run at the podium in March and each has a plethora of experience. Not sure if any of the duals come down to their matches, but these big boys will bring it.
Dresden Simon (Central Michigan) vs. ?
Not sure we will see Eierman. But that would be fun. Whoever Iowa puts out there will be a battle. I don’t know much about McConagle, but if he works with Hines, Seymour, and Bryant … I expect he will be fun to watch. But I’m really here to watch Dresden Simon. Simon is a Michigan native and 2x NCAA Qualifier that has been close to making the podium, but hasn’t quite been able to breakthrough.
Jaret Lane (Lehigh) vs. Spencer Lee or Jesse Ybarra (Iowa)
This is the match I’m most interested to see at 125 … will we see the Hodge Trophy winner or will they go with Ybarra here? Lane is a Senior (well given the extra year - not sure, but you get my meaning) and has been around the block … knows his stuff and will be a dangerous draw at NCAA’s in March.
SE Connections:
Brock Herring (Lehigh) from Tennessee
Malyke Hines (Lehigh) from Florida
Matt Rodriguez (Lehigh) from Florida
Paul Watkins (Lehigh) from Georgia
Chandler Amaker (Central Michigan) from South Carolina
Trey Bates (Central Michigan) from Tennessee
Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) from Florida
Bretli Reyna (Iowa) from Florida
Don’t think we will see any of those SE hammers in the lineup except Lovett, but it would be awesome.
