What 2 Watch 4: Rivalry Week!

What 2 Watch 4: Rivalry Week!

We highlight the most important NCAA DI wrestling dual meets to watch this weekend and include every potential ranked matchup.

Feb 8, 2018 by Andrew Spey
What 2 Watch 4: Rivalry Week!

It's the penultimate week of duals, which means rivalry time for a lot of teams. Next week is also rivalry week for yet more teams, so stay tuned for part two.

In the meantime, check out all the potential ranked matchups of the 15th week of the 2017-18 NCAA wrestling season.

FRIDAY, FEB. 9

Cornell at Drexel (7 PM ET)

The only ranked matchup is at 197, but the Dragons also have Austin DeSanto perhaps the most electric wrestler in the NCAA. Cornell's Chaz Tucker will try and slow down the relentless DeSanchize.

Projected ranked matchups:

197: #3 Ben Darmstadt, Cornell vs. #16 Stephen Loiseau, Drexel


#6 Michigan State at Michigan (7 PM ET)

Michigan takes on two of its rivals this weekend, starting with an intra-state opponent in the battle for the oven mitt! FYI the state of Michigan looks like an oven mitt, minus the upper peninsula.

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #20 Rayvon Foley, MSU vs. #10 Drew Mattin, Michigan

WATCH LIVE HERE


#15 South Dakota State at Pittsburgh (7 PM ET)

It may not be a traditional rivalry but it still makes for a heck of a wrestling match. The Jackrabbits invade western PA as Seth Gross looks to stay undefeated at 133 and take out another top 10 wrestler in Dom Forys. 

Projected ranked matchups:

133: #1 Seth Gross, SDSU vs. #10 Dom Forys, Pitt


Northwestern at Purdue (7 PM ET)

Three top 20 matchups headline a stellar dual at Purdue's Mackey Arena. It's going to be MACKEY MAYHEM.

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #11 Sebastian Rivera, NW vs. #17 Luke Welch, Purdue

174: #18 Johnny Sebastian, NW vs. #9 Dylan Lydy, Purdue

285: #17 Conan Jennings, NW vs. #18 Shawn Streck, Purdue


#19 Minnesota at #13 Rutgers (7 PM ET)

Yet another brutal matchup for last year's 125-pound finalist Ethan Lizak. Suriano and company will try and take out one of college wrestling's blue bloods at home. These teams match up incredibly well, so expect a close one on senior night for the Scarlet Knights. 

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #8 Ethan Lizak, Minnesota vs. #1 Nick Suriano, Rutgers

133: #13 Mitch McKee, Minnesota vs. #16 Scott Delvecchio, Rutgers

149: #19 Steve Bleise, Minnesota vs. #12 Eleazar DeLuca, Rutgers

165: #7 Nick Wanzek, Minnesota vs. #11 Richie Lewis, Rutgers

WATCH LIVE HERE


North Carolina at NC State (7:30 PM ET)

Now that's what I call a rivalry! Make sure you stay tuned until the end of the Tussle in the Triangle (I just made that up BTW), because the last three weights feature top 20 matchups. 

Projected ranked matchups:

149: #8 Troy Heilmann, UNC vs. #13 Beau Donahue, NCSU

157: #13 Kennedy Monday, UNC vs. #3 Hayden Hidlay, NCSU

184: #18 Chip Ness, UNC vs. #3 Pete Renda, NCSU

197: #14 Daniel Chaid, UNC vs. #7 Michael Macchiavello, NCSU

285: #20 Cory Daniel, UNC vs. #10 Michael Boykin, NCSU


Edinboro at #7 Oklahoma State (8 PM ET)

It may look like a tune-up before Bedlam on Sunday, but don't sleep on this gritty Edinboro squad. Its mettle will be tested at historic Gallagher-Iba Arena. 

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #14 Sean Russell, Edinboro vs. #6 Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State

133: #18 Korbin Myers, Edinboro vs. #3 Kaid Brock, Oklahoma State

285: #19 Billy Miller, Edinboro vs. #12 Derek White, Oklahoma State

WATCH LIVE HERE


#18 Nebraska at Wisconsin (8 PM ET)

The Badgers will be upset minded at home against the favored Cornhuskers. These teams match up well though, so expect a dogfight on Military Appreciation Night. 

Projected ranked matchups:

157: #8 Tyler Berger (Nebraska) vs. #19 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin)

165: #12 Isaiah White (Nebraska) vs. #5 Evan Wick (Wisconsin)

184: #7 Taylor Venz (Nebraska) vs. #9 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin)

WATCH LIVE HERE


#8 Lehigh at #9 Arizona State (9 PM ET)

The most slept-on top 10 dual meet of the year? Lehigh travels across the country to a warm but hostile environment for the Sun Devils' last home dual of the season. 

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #2 Darian Cruz, LU vs. #12 Ryan Millhof, ASU

133: #9 Scott Parker, LU vs. #17 Ali Naser, ASU

174: #4 Jordan Kutler, LU vs. #1 Zahid Valencia, ASU

285: #13 Jordan Wood, LU vs. #7 Tanner Hall, ASU


Utah Valley at #11 Wyoming (9 PM ET)

You've only got a few chances left to see Bryce Meredith and his fellow Cowboys seniors compete in the NCAA. Take advantage of them!

Projected ranked matchups:

165: #16 Demetrius Romero, UVU vs. #13 Branson Ashworth, Wyoming

WATCH LIVE HERE

 

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

#12 Cornell at Penn (12 PM ET)

It's another test for freshman Ben Darmstadt as these ancient Ivy rivals square off in Philadelphia — that is, assuming the city survives the Eagles victory parade. 

Projected ranked matchups:

197: #3 Ben Darmstadt, Cornell vs. #9 Frank Mattiace, Penn


Oregon State at Stanford (6:30 PM ET)

Pac-12 foes lock horns in Palo Alto as the heavies headline the dual.

Projected ranked matchups:

285: #9 Amar Dhesi, OSU vs. #5 Nathan Butler, Stanford


Iowa State at #16 Northern Iowa (8 PM ET)

Northern Iowa coach Doug Schwab is pumped for the Panthers' budding rivalry with the Cyclones. 

Projected ranked matchups:

141: #16 Ian Parker, Iowa State vs. #9 Josh Alber, UNI

197: #19 Sam Colbray, Iowa State vs. #15 Jacob Holschlag, UNI

WATCH LIVE HERE


Edinboro at Oklahoma (8 PM ET)

The Fighting Scots complete their tour of Oklahoma as they take on the Sooners before OU heads to Stillwater for Bedlam. 

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #12 Sean Russel, Edinboro vs. #16 Christian Moody, Oklahoma


#3 Iowa at #1 Penn State (8 PM ET)

It's this week's Dual of the Century!

Projected ranked matchups:

141: #19 Carter Heppel, Iowa vs. #8 Nick Lee, PSU

149: #2 Brandon Sorensen, Iowa vs. #1 Zain Retherford, PSU

165: #4 Alex Marinelli, Iowa vs. #1 Vincenzo Joseph, PSU

197: #8 Cash Wilcke, Iowa vs. #5 Anthony Cassar, PSU

285: #3 Sam Stoll, Iowa vs. #6 Nick Nevills, PSU


Northern Colorado at #11 Wyoming (8 PM ET)

One more of your dwindling opportunities to catch Bryce Meredith before he runs out of eligibility!

WATCH LIVE HERE


Utah Valley at Air Force (9 PM ET)

It's senior night in Colorado Springs!

WATCH LIVE HERE

 

SUNDAY, FEB. 11 

Northwestern at Indiana (1 PM ET)

The Wildcats head to Bloomington to face the up-and-coming Big Ten rival Hoosiers. 

Projected ranked matchups:

174: #18 Johnny Sebastian, Northwestern vs. #20 Devin Skatzka, Indiana

WATCH LIVE HERE


Virginia Tech at Virginia (1 PM ET)

Who owns the Commonwealth? The Hokies or the Wahoos? The question will be answered in Charlottesville. 

Projected ranked matchups:

133: #19 Dennis Gustafson, VT vs. #8 Jack Mueller, UVA


Drexel at American (2 PM ET)

These two EIWA rivals match up perfectly with their best wrestlers meeting at 133 and 197. 

Projected ranked matchups:

133: #4 Austin DeSanto, DU vs. #7 Josh Terao, AU

197: #16 Stephen Loiseau, DU vs. #10 Jeric Kasunic, AU


Wisconsin at #14 Illinois (2 PM ET)

Another senior day, this time for the Illini in Champaign.

Projected ranked matchups:

165: #5 Evan Wick, Wisconsin vs. #2 Isaiah Martinez, Illinois

184: #9 Ricky Robertson, Wisconsin vs. #6 Emery Parker, Illinois

WATCH LIVE HERE


Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (3 PM ET)

WE'VE GOT BEDLAM!

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #16 Christian Moody, OU vs. #6 Nick Piccininni, OSU

174: #15 Yoanse Mejias, OU vs. #10 Jacobe Smith, OSU


Ohio State at Michigan (6 PM ET)

No shortage of rancor or ranked matchups for these longtime rivals. It's the second Dual of the Century of the week!

Projected ranked matchups:

125: #4 Nathan Tomasello, OSU vs. #10 Drew Mattin, UM

133: #2 Luke Pletcher, OSU vs. #6 Stevan Micic, UM

149: #5 Ke-Shawn Hayes, OSU vs. #18 Malik Amine, UM

157: #5 Micah Jordan, OSU vs. #7 Alec Pantaleo, UM

174: #3 Bo Jordan, OSU vs. #6 Myles Amine, UM

184: #2 Myles Martin, OSU vs. #5 Domenic Abounader, UM

197: #1 Kollin Moore, OSU vs. #13 Kevin Beazley, UM

285: #1 Kyle Snyder, OSU vs. #2 Adam Coon, UM


Oregon State at CSU Bakersfield (9 PM ET)

Wrap up another insane weekend of wrestling with the last potential matchup between two top 20 wrestlers. The Beavers take on the Roadrunners in Bakersfield!

Projected ranked matchups:

197: #18 Corey Griego, OSU vs. #17 Matt Williams, CSUB