We got a nice side with your left over turkey: The 2008 Brute Northeast Journeyman Duals brought to you by Frank Popolizio in albany NY. Flowrestling will be there all day Saturday and cover some key matchups. FOLLOW ALL COVERAGE HERE ON FLOWRESTLING

This dual tournament is big for schools like Bucknell, Drexel, American, Harvard, Lehigh, NC Greensboro ect. These schools are fighting for qualifiers and with the new qualifing system if they can knock off a top ranked wrestler early and have a solid rest of the year they could be in store for a trip to NCAAs even without winning their respective conference championship. This is a huge opportunity for a lot of wrestlers around the country. This tournament can be considered a path to the NCAA tournament in March. 

We got some interesting storylines: University of Iowa Hawkeyes will be facing their first test within the top 20 with Central Michigan. In past years there were upsets at the Northeast duals. Remember when Hofstra upset the untouchable Minnesota? This year the only team that could feasibly do that would be Central Michigan but the odds are stacked against them. Obviously all eyes will be glued on Brent Metcalf to put on a performance. 

It will be interesting to see what Missouri does. They are ranked in the top 5 again this year after getting bumped down last year. They are favored in all their duals but it will be interesting how Nick Marable does. He was ranked #1 preseason but is battling in every match for the victory. In his first match of the year he lost to a Bucknell wrestler. His last couple of bouts have come down to the wire. Also interesting to see howBrian Smith deals with their heavyweight controversy is going. Mark Ellis, round of 12 in 2008, may have earned his spot back after winning the Missouri Open. Dominque Bradley took 3rd after being the starter for the last couple of dual meets. Dorian Henderson, Max Askren and Raymond Jordan are other wrestlers to watch.

Oklahoma State will come to this tournament after beating ODU in 7 of 10 bouts. They will be facing Pat Santoro's Lehigh first round. We will keep an extra close eye on Clayton Foster 197lbs. A top recruit in 2007, he failed to qualifier for NCAAs. He followed that up with placing 3rd in the world this summer at Junior Worlds. How will he wrestle? He could be a huge "unforeseen" weapon for the Cowboys if he can wrestle up to his potential. Keep an eye on Rosholt to see how he performs...Should he be ranked #1 in another year of a wide open Heavy Weight division? 

The many more teams and many more matchups and story lines to follow. Follow all week as we build up to the NorthEast Journeyman Duals.

Iowa will be facing: Binghampton, Maryland, CMU and Bloomsburg

Missouri will be facing: Old Dominion, Maryland, Harvard and Brown

Oklahoma State will be facing: Lehigh, Virginia, App St, and American

Central Michigan will be facing:Bucknell, Iowa, American, and Drexel

Virginia will be facing: Oklahoma State, Harvard Bucknell

Lehigh will be facing: Oklahoma State, NC Greensboro, Binghampton, App St

Maryland will be facing: Drexel, Iowa, and Missouri 

Harvard will be facing: Old Dominion, Virginia and Missouri

American will be facing: NC greensboro, Brown, CMU and Oklahoma State