2020 Michigan vs Northwestern | Big Ten Wrestling

The 10 Best D1 Matches Live On FloWrestling This Weekend

The 10 Best D1 Matches Live On FloWrestling This Weekend

Bratke breaks down his favorite 10 D1 matches going down live this weekend on FloWrestling.

Jan 22, 2020 by Kyle Bratke
The 10 Best D1 Matches Live On FloWrestling This Weekend
Another weekend with double-digit D1 duals, another loaded weekend with at least 10 outstanding individual matchups. While I could have made this list 30 deep, these are the 10 matchups I'm most excited for and will be tuned in to. 

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Another weekend with double-digit D1 duals, another loaded weekend with at least 10 outstanding individual matchups. While I could have made this list 30 deep, these are the 10 matchups I'm most excited for and will be tuned in to. 

157: #8 Will Lewan (Michigan) vs #1 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern)

Date: Jan. 24 | Time: 8 PM ET | Where: Evanston, IL

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

We all know how good Ryan Deakin has been this year. In case you've been living under a rock, the returning All-American is 11-0 on the year with wins over Hayden Hidaly, David Carr, and Kendall Coleman — and seven of his wins are by bonus points. 

Will Lewan made headlines last season when as a true freshman he knocked off returning All-American Alec Pantaleo in the Wolverine's wrestle-offs and then beat him again at the Michigan State. On Friday night, Lewan will get the chance to make headlines again. While the transitive property means nothing, it's worth noting that Pantaleo was 1-1 against Deakin last season.


149: #3 Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State) vs #11 Max Thomsen (UNI)

Date: Jan. 25 | Time: 8 PM ET | Where: Cedar Falls, IA

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Like Deakin, Boo Lewallen has been outstanding and is unbeaten on the year. The Cowboy will have a familiar opponent waiting on him inside West Gym Saturday night. The All-Americans have squared off three times throughout their careers with the Cowboy currently holding a 2-1 series advantage. However, it has been nearly two years since their last meeting at the 2018 NCAA championships. Can Thomsen hand Lewallen his first loss of the season? Read more about the OK State-UNI dual here.


133: Joey Silva (Michigan) vs #8 Travis Piotrowski (Illinois)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 2 PM ET | Where: Champaign, IL

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

The last time I wrote about Joey Silva it was all for my boss man Christian Pyles, who LOVES the Michigan freshman. However, this time I'm genuinely excited to see him against the first top-10 opponent of his career. Piotrowski is a veteran who has been to the NCAA championships three times and will give us a good idea of where Silva stands at 133 nationally and in the Big Ten. 


184: #21 Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) vs #4 Taylor Lujan (UNI)

Date: Jan. 25 | Time: 8 PM ET | Where: Cedar Falls, IA

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

While Anthony Montalvo started the season a little up and down, since the Southern Scuffle he has been lights-out. He's picked up a pin, a win over national qualifier Alan Clothier, and an upset of Nino Bonaccorsi. However, he will have the toughest test of his career Saturday night when he takes on the dangerous Taylor Lujan. The UNI senior has been great this season up at 184 and is always one of the most exciting wrestlers in the country.


125: #4 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State) vs #9 Alex Mackall (Iowa State)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Ames, IA

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Over the past two seasons, Alex Mackall has shown he's a top-10 guy, but can he break into that next tier? A year ago in Stillwater, it was all Nick Piccininni. 


184: #20 Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) vs #6 Taylor Venz (Nebraska)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Lincoln, NE

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

How will Taylor Venz respond to a tough loss to true freshman Abe Assad? Despite being at the same weight, in the same conference last year, Caffey and Venz have never hit before. It should be an exciting one as both wrestlers are good upper body and not afraid to throw the kitchen sink at their opponent. 


157: #20 Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma State) vs #3 David Carr (Iowa State)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Ames, IA

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Apparently, all Wyatt Sheets does is wrestle the sons of wrestling legends. Of course, Sheets himself is the son of Oklahoma State legend, Mike Sheets. Earlier this season, Sheets did battle with the son of one of his dad's teammates, Kenny Monday, when he fell to Quincy Monday. Now, the Cowboy legacy will square off with an Iowa State legacy. For those who don't know, David Carr is the son of Nate Carr who was a three-time NCAA champion for the Cyclones. Read more about the OK State-Iowa State dual here.


197: #14 Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) vs #19 Tanner Sloan (SDSU)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Brookings, SD

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Another match we've seen before, but one that should be great nonetheless. The two met at CKLV in early December where at the time it was considered an upset for Woodley who knocked off the then #11 Sloan, 5-2. Can the Jackrabbit get revenge inside Frost Arena?


157: #22 Jake Tucker (Michigan State) vs #25 Peyton Robb (Nebraska)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Lincoln, NE

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Despite falling to Kaleb Young last Friday night, I could not have been more impressed with Peyton Robb. The young Cornhusker has a wide variety of attacks on his feet and is really fun to watch. The only reason he isn't ranked higher is that he has not had a lot of opportunities against ranked wrestlers. He's got a chance to move up Sunday afternoon.


141: #18 Dusty Hone (Oklahoma State) vs #8 Ian Parker (Iowa State)

Date: Jan. 26 | Time: 3 PM ET | Where: Ames, IA

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

Dusty Hone came out of nowhere this season and it appears that he has beaten Kaden Gfeller out for the starting spot. Of Hone's four losses, only one of them came to a non-top-10-ranked wrestler and he also owns wins over All-Americans Tariq Wilson and Kyle Shoop, and is coming off a win over #19 Cole Matthews. Can he add another hammer to his hit list?