Go Iowa Awesome – Preview: No. 2 Iowa vs No. 9 Michigan

125: #1 Spencer Lee (RS SR, 12-0) vs #18 Jack Medley (GR, 17-7)

Lee and Medley have met twice earlier than, although not since 2020. Medley is likely one of the few faculty opponents to carry Lee to an everyday determination in a defeat (Lee beat him 8-1 at a twin meet in 2020)… although Lee additionally beat him by way of 19-3 technical fall a month later on the Huge Ten Match. Actually, the rationale this match is necessary is that it is Spencer Lee’s second-to-last match for Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment. There are valuable few alternatives remaining to see Lee do his factor in black and gold, and so they’re all value celebrating.

133: #16 Brody Teske (JR, 5-1) vs #12 Dylan Ragusin (RS SO, 12-6)

Solely half the matches on this twin are set to function two wrestlers ranked within the High 20 at their respective weights, and this match is certainly one of them. This match is a must-win for Michigan if the Wolverines wish to pull off an upset within the twin. It additionally gives an excellent check for Teske only a few weeks away from the Huge Ten Match. 133 is a fairly open weight within the Huge Ten exterior of Roman Bravo-Younger, however Ragusin is the kind of wrestler Teske will want to have the ability to beat so as to end increased on the rostrum.

157: #14 Cobe Siebrecht (JR, 9-3) vs #9 Will Lewan (RS SR, 14-4)

Lewan was an All-American final season, and whereas his outcomes have slipped a little bit this 12 months, they have not gotten an excessive amount of worse — two of his losses got here in sudden victory and one other was a results of an damage default. He will be a really powerful out for Siebrecht, in addition to the kind of man Siebrecht will doubtless have to beat in March to complete on the rostrum. This match is a good alternative to see how shut (or far) the Iowa junior is from having the ability to earn All-America honors himself.

165: #7 Patrick Kennedy SO, 14-2) vs #4 Cameron Amine (RS JR, 9-2)

This match has a variety of intrigue if it is Kennedy vs. Amine — and completely none if Amine would not wrestle. If it is Kennedy and Amine although, it is certainly one of two High-10 clashes within the twin and an opportunity for Kennedy to pit himself in opposition to a two-time All-American and the doable Huge Ten favourite at this weight. Kennedy’s greatest win this season has been over Penn State freshman Alex Facundo; proving that he can beat a battle-tested opponent like Amine would firmly put him within the combine for Huge Ten title and All-America honors. Frequent opponents aren’t a lot assist with this one, both — Kennedy edged Facundo, who handed Amine a slender defeat, however Amine additionally beat Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti, who beat Kennedy.

285: #3 Tony Cassioppi (SR, 16-1) vs #1 Mason Parris (SR, 22-0)

And this is the opposite High 10 conflict within the twin — and the runaway decide for match of the evening. It is a throwdown between #1 and #3 and a possible preview of the Huge Ten and NCAA finals (if Cassioppi can get by Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet in potential rematches). Cassioppi hasn’t fared effectively in his previous matches with Parris — he was pinned of their first two encounters (the second time in simply 0:58) and he dropped an 11-5 determination of their most up-to-date match, ultimately 12 months’s NCAA Match. Parris was certainly one of two heavyweight stars that Cassioppi has struggled with throughout his profession; Gable Steveson, the opposite, has departed the faculty ranks. The trail to the highest of the heavyweight ranks goes by means of Parris proper now. If nothing else, this match ought to be a wonderful alternative to see if Cassioppi has been capable of slender the hole on Parris; he was not near beating (or scoring on) Parris of their earlier encounters.

On one hand, Iowa might be solely favorites in 5 matches on this twin. Then again, they’re robust favorites in most of these matches — there’s actual bonus level potential at 125, 141, 149, and even perhaps 174 or 197 if Manufacturers or Warner are capable of get offense flowing early of their bouts. Three matches (133, 157, 165) appear to be toss-ups, or slight leans to Michigan. 184, the place Iowa could also be once more sending out Drake Rhodes (a 165er wrestling up two weights), seems to be like an actual shot at bonus factors for Michigan, although Parris’ pinning historical past in opposition to Cassioppi cannot be ignored, both. 285 is shut on paper, however Parris’ historical past with Cassioppi makes him a strong favourite in that match.

If the shut matches go Michigan’s approach and so they’re capable of safe bonus factors at a number of weights — and restrict Iowa’s skill to do the identical — it is a twin meet that might be shut heading into the ultimate weights and probably even determined by heavyweight. There’s additionally a situation the place Iowa begins quick and builds a sufficiently big lead that the second half of the twin is extra of a formality, particularly if Iowa is ready to win a toss-up match or two.

One of the vital urgent questions for Iowa on this twin issues the higher weights, although — will there be indicators of progress (and optimistic outcomes) at these weights? 174, 184, 197, and 285 have mixed to go 1-11 during the last three twin meets, which is an alarming development, even when a number of of these defeats got here from backups. The chances appear stacked in opposition to Rhodes at 184 and Cassioppi has an unlimited problem at 285, however Manufacturers and Warner ought to be favored at 174 and 197. Each males might actually use a win and a strong efficiency (particularly Warner) with the postseason looming in only a few weeks.