The Pokes travel from Orem, Utah on Friday to Corvallis, Oregon on Sunday to bury the 25th ranked Beavers at 4 pm (CST) on Flo. The Cowboys are 6-0 against hippie OSU, including a 27-9 win last year. Of course, this year's version of the Pokes is quite a bit different, with at least 5 new starters expected to go. New Head Coach David Taylor is keeping it close to the proverbial vest and wouldn't commit to any specific lineup for the weekend and a couple of weights are up in the air. Oregon State is, of course, coached by beloved Cowboy, two-time national champion Chris Pendleton. OSU (tree version) is 1-1 in duals on the year beating North Dakota State 35-6 and losing to Iowa 30-7. Rankings are (Intermat/Flo) and expected starters and records via wrestlestat.
125: (6/6) Troy Spratley (0-0) v. (24/10) Maximo Renteria (2-0). Renteria is only 11-19 for his career, but did keep it close last year against eventual National Champ and #1 ranked Richard Figuroa (ASU), only losing 9-5. He also beat Joey Cruz (Iowa) 7-3 a couple of weeks ago. Spratley lost his match against a different OSU 125 (Brandon Kaylor) last year, but this isnt the same guy. Spratley by a major at the end (4-0).
133: (33/33) Cael Hughes (4-0) or Reece Witcraft (0-0) v. Damien Elliott (0-2). Elliott was teched by Drake Ayala (Iowa) and lost 10-7 to Kyle Burwick of N. Dakota State, so this will be an easy out for either guy. Lets call this one a major, but if Hughes goes, it will be a TF. (8-0) Note: Gabe Whisenhunt is ranked 30 by Flo but hasn't wrestled this year.
141: (14/12) Tagen Jamison (4-0) v. Nash Singleton (1-1). Singleton is 18-17 for his career but hasn't beat anyone very good. He dropped from 149 last year when we lost to Sammy Alvarez in OT. He faced Block Ryder in the Iowa dual and only lost 5-4, but no one is really sure how good Ryder is going to be. Tagen lost in this dual last year to Christian Belton, but again, not the same guy. Major decision. (12-0)
149: (18/21) Carter Young (0-0) v. Victor Jacinto (0-2). Jacinto continues his brutal start to the year after facing two ranked guys: (4/4) Kyle Parco (Iowa) keeping it fairly close 5-1 and (32/28) Gavin Drexler (NDSU) ad losing 9-2. It doesnt get any easier and he loses by a major. (16-0).
157: (8/12) Teague Travis (0-0) v. (30/30) Ethan Stiles (2-0). RS Freshman Stiles transferred from Nebraska. Stiles won a lot of matches against inferior opponents in open tournaments last year, but he's got some talent. He majored Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 12-3 and last year only lost 7-2 to top 5 guy Jacori Teemer (ASU). This one comes down to the 3rd period but Travis pulls it out. (19-0)
165: (5/6) Cam Amine (0-0) v. Kekana Fouret (1-1). Fouret pinned Brendan Howes (NDSU) in their last dual, but got teched by the similar to Amine, (2/2) Michael Caliendo (Iowa). He's a senior and has zero good wins over the last couple of years and lost to Izaak Olajnik 10-1 last year. I'd be shocked if Amine doesn't tech or pin him. (24-0)
174: (5/4) Dean Hamiti (0-0) v. (33/32) Sean Harmon (1-1). Harmon is a Senior with a 45-21 record, but anytime he faces elite competition, he usually gets smoked. He did keep it close (2-1) against (10/9) Nelson Brands (Iowa) but this one won't be. Major. (28-0)
184: (3/3) Dustin Plott (0-0) v. TJ McDonnell (1-1). This guy stinks. Sorry. He's a redshirt freshman who is 5-10 in his career and got teched by (8/6) Gabe Arnold (Iowa). TF if not a pin. (33-0)
197: (19/20) Luke Surber (0-0) v. (7/) Trey Munoz (1-1). Finally a match worth watching. Munoz is a 4 time NCAA Qualifier and 3X All American (at 184) finishing 3rd last year. Son of Cowboy Great Mark Munoz, moving up to his dad's weight for his last year. Lost 9-5 against transfer king, bag chaser and top ranked (2/1) Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) this year. Will be a TOUGH early season test for Surber. Might be a homer pick, but between Munoz moving up and Surber having something to prove, I think Surber pulls it out in the 3d. (36-0)
HWT: (2/2) Wyatt Hendrickson (0-0) v. Brett Mower (1-1). Mower was pinned 5X last year and Hendrickson does Hendrickson things and pins this guy in the 2nd period. (42-0)
125: (6/6) Troy Spratley (0-0) v. (24/10) Maximo Renteria (2-0). Renteria is only 11-19 for his career, but did keep it close last year against eventual National Champ and #1 ranked Richard Figuroa (ASU), only losing 9-5. He also beat Joey Cruz (Iowa) 7-3 a couple of weeks ago. Spratley lost his match against a different OSU 125 (Brandon Kaylor) last year, but this isnt the same guy. Spratley by a major at the end (4-0).
133: (33/33) Cael Hughes (4-0) or Reece Witcraft (0-0) v. Damien Elliott (0-2). Elliott was teched by Drake Ayala (Iowa) and lost 10-7 to Kyle Burwick of N. Dakota State, so this will be an easy out for either guy. Lets call this one a major, but if Hughes goes, it will be a TF. (8-0) Note: Gabe Whisenhunt is ranked 30 by Flo but hasn't wrestled this year.
141: (14/12) Tagen Jamison (4-0) v. Nash Singleton (1-1). Singleton is 18-17 for his career but hasn't beat anyone very good. He dropped from 149 last year when we lost to Sammy Alvarez in OT. He faced Block Ryder in the Iowa dual and only lost 5-4, but no one is really sure how good Ryder is going to be. Tagen lost in this dual last year to Christian Belton, but again, not the same guy. Major decision. (12-0)
149: (18/21) Carter Young (0-0) v. Victor Jacinto (0-2). Jacinto continues his brutal start to the year after facing two ranked guys: (4/4) Kyle Parco (Iowa) keeping it fairly close 5-1 and (32/28) Gavin Drexler (NDSU) ad losing 9-2. It doesnt get any easier and he loses by a major. (16-0).
157: (8/12) Teague Travis (0-0) v. (30/30) Ethan Stiles (2-0). RS Freshman Stiles transferred from Nebraska. Stiles won a lot of matches against inferior opponents in open tournaments last year, but he's got some talent. He majored Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 12-3 and last year only lost 7-2 to top 5 guy Jacori Teemer (ASU). This one comes down to the 3rd period but Travis pulls it out. (19-0)
165: (5/6) Cam Amine (0-0) v. Kekana Fouret (1-1). Fouret pinned Brendan Howes (NDSU) in their last dual, but got teched by the similar to Amine, (2/2) Michael Caliendo (Iowa). He's a senior and has zero good wins over the last couple of years and lost to Izaak Olajnik 10-1 last year. I'd be shocked if Amine doesn't tech or pin him. (24-0)
174: (5/4) Dean Hamiti (0-0) v. (33/32) Sean Harmon (1-1). Harmon is a Senior with a 45-21 record, but anytime he faces elite competition, he usually gets smoked. He did keep it close (2-1) against (10/9) Nelson Brands (Iowa) but this one won't be. Major. (28-0)
184: (3/3) Dustin Plott (0-0) v. TJ McDonnell (1-1). This guy stinks. Sorry. He's a redshirt freshman who is 5-10 in his career and got teched by (8/6) Gabe Arnold (Iowa). TF if not a pin. (33-0)
197: (19/20) Luke Surber (0-0) v. (7/) Trey Munoz (1-1). Finally a match worth watching. Munoz is a 4 time NCAA Qualifier and 3X All American (at 184) finishing 3rd last year. Son of Cowboy Great Mark Munoz, moving up to his dad's weight for his last year. Lost 9-5 against transfer king, bag chaser and top ranked (2/1) Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) this year. Will be a TOUGH early season test for Surber. Might be a homer pick, but between Munoz moving up and Surber having something to prove, I think Surber pulls it out in the 3d. (36-0)
HWT: (2/2) Wyatt Hendrickson (0-0) v. Brett Mower (1-1). Mower was pinned 5X last year and Hendrickson does Hendrickson things and pins this guy in the 2nd period. (42-0)
