Hear Me Out: Jack Mueller Will Beat Roman Bravo-Young
Hear Me Out: Jack Mueller Will Beat Roman Bravo-Young
Bratke breaks down why he believes Jack Mueller will beat Roman Bravo-Young Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
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I think it's safe to say there won't be a shortage of points Saturday night in Austin when Jack Mueller and Roman Bravo-Young square off. Both are multiple times NCAA All-Americans, age group world team members, and both wrestlers mentioned in promo interviews how they believe it will be a high-scoring affair. I'm here today to explain to you why I believe Mueller will come out on top of what is sure to be a fun showdown.
Watch Jack Mueller vs Roman Bravo-Young LIVE on FloWrestling
Saturday, July 25 | 8:00 PM EST
Freestyle Savviness
It's crazy to think that a three-time All-American and NCAA finalist may be better at freestyle, but Jack Mueller said it himself when we spoke with him a few weeks ago.
Enjoy the full Jack Mueller interview.
Mueller's freestyle success started back in high school when he made three straight Fargo finals from 2013-15. In 2013, Mueller beat Andrew Nieman in the Cadet finals, in 2014, he beat Matt Schmitt on the big stage, and in 2015 he fell to Daton Fix.
Mueller's freestyle success would continue during his time at the University of Virginia. At the 2017 Junior World Team Trials, Mueller would finish in third place notably teching Montorie Bridges and Luke Pletcher. Mueller's lone setback of the tournament came in a wild one to Vito Arujau who is of course wrestling on this card as well.
A year later, Mueller would make the U23 World Team after beating Rayvon Foley in straight matches. Mueller followed that performance up with a fifth-place finish at the U23 World Championships after losing in the bronze medal bout.
Last summer, Muller made the jump to the Senior Level when he finished fourth at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament and picked up a win over Zane Richards.
Watch Mueller take out Richards at The World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Short Offense
What makes Muller much more dangerous in freestyle than folkstyle is his ability to turn a front headlock or headpinch position into big points. A perfect example of this came at Beat The Streets last summer against Nick Piccininni. At the 2:36 mark of the video below, Mueller blows the match wide open with a big headpinch for four.
Mueller also uses his headpinch as one of his main leg defenses in freestyle. As you'll see in the clip below against Wyoming All-American Montorie Bridges, at the 2:41 mark, Mueller immediately goes to his headpinch, is able to get his legs back with it, and then ultimately scores off of it.
Roman Bravo-Young should be looking to finish quickly or by trying to finish up high and off the mat.
Top Game
Much like in folkstyle, Mueller is a hammer on top in freestyle. The newest resident athlete at the New York City RTC has two go-to turns he can score with: a high gut wrench and a leg lace.
Mueller is so dangerous in folkstyle on top with legs as Sebastian Rivera found out in the NCAA semifinals and Mueller uses some of those same techniques with his high gut wrench in freestyle. At the 1:28 mark of his match with Paul Glynn below, Mueller gets his lock under Glynn's chin and then throws a boot in to help leverage Glynn over to score exposure points.
While Mueller is good with his high gut wrench, his leg lace is even better. I could show you match after match that ended early due to Mueller's lace, but since he's wrestling on the card as well, I figured I would show you the time Luke Pletcher fell victim to Mueller's deadly turn. Beginning at the 0:34 mark, Mueller starts working for his lace and 10 seconds later, he's got it so tight that Pletcher can't move and the match is over before you know it.
Both Mueller and Roman Bravo-Young have spoken openly about putting up points and I don't think we'll see either wrestler sit around and wait. If Mueller comes out on top in his home state Saturday night, I believe it will be because of the reasons I laid out above.