Big 10 Tournament Preview & Predictions - The Lightweights
Big 10 Tournament Preview & Predictions - The Lightweights
A preview and predictions for 125-141 at the 2022 Big 10 Tournament.
The Big Ten tournament will go down March 5-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and will feature some of the most intriguing matchups of the post-season. 125-141 is especially interesting with a number of past Big 10 champs and worthy contenders. Take a look below at a breakdown of these lightest weights at the Big 10 tournament
125 - Is Nick Suriano A Lock For The Title?
The Favorite
Nick Suriano has compiled an 8-0 as a Michigan Wolverine and is currently ranked #1 in the country. On top of that, 7 of Suriano’s 8 victories have been bonus point wins - 4 major decisions, 2 tech falls, and 1 fall. Suriano will be the favorite to win the Big 10 tournament but Drew Hildebrandt showed he’s capable of competing with the Wolverine. In their match during the Penn State- Michigan dual, Suriano narrowly defeated Hildebrandt, 2-1. We’d likely have to wait until the finals to see that rematch as Hildebrandt will likely be the 2 or 3 seed at the Big 10 tournament.
Nick Suriano's win over Drew Hildebrandt from earlier this season (first match of video below):
Other Contenders
Drew Hildebrandt and Eric Barnett proved they know how to perform when the lights are brightest at last year’s NCAA tournament when they both took home All-American honors (Hildebrand 4th, Barnett 8th). Hildebrandt and Barnett might be underdogs against Suriano but they have put together great seasons and have been the most consistent of those in this field. On top of his 8-1 record, Hildebrandt has only surrendered a combined 6 points in his nine matches this season. Barnett has put together a 13-2 record with ranked wins over #16 Brody Teske, #9 Devin Schroder, #11 Patrick McKee, and HM Dylan Shawver.
Sleepers And Landmines
While the Big 10 is LOADED at 125 with the likes of #7 Malik Heinselman, #8 Drake Ayala, and #10 Michael DeAugustino, they don’t necessarily fit the qualities of a “landmine.” #11 Patrick McKee and #9 Devin Schroder are more of the style of wrestler that fit that criteria. When Patrick McKee is wrestling his best, he can hit a big move and pin anyone at any moment. When Devin Schroder gets on top, he has the potential to rack up back points at a high pace. If there’s going to be a “shocking” Big 10 champ - my pick is Patrick McKee or Devin Schroder.
Highlights from Patrick McKee's win over Drew Hildebrandt at last year's NCAA Tournament:
Prediction: 1) Nick Suriano, 2) Drew Hildebrandt, 3) Eric Barnett, 4) Patrick McKee
Number of allocations at 125: 10
Pre-Seeds
Nick Suriano, Michigan
Drew Hildebrandt, Penn State
Eric Barnett, Wisconsin
Malik Heinselman, Ohio State
Devin Schroder, Purdue
Drake Ayala, Iowa
Michael DeAugustino, Northwestern
Patrick McKee, Minnesota
Dylan Shawver, Rutgers
Justin Cardani, Illinois
Tristan Lujan, Michigan State
Jacob Moran, Indiana
Jeremiah Reno, Nebraska
Zach Spence, Maryland
133 - Roman Bravo-Young Looking To Repeat
Roman Bravo-Young, the defending 133 pound National Champion, is the clear favorite to win Big 10s. RBY is 14-0 this year and is currently on a 28 match winning streak. On top of defeating Austin DeSanto this year, RBY is 4-2 in his career against the Hawkeye and has won their last 4 meetings. If Roman Bravo-Young wrestles his best in Lincoln, no one is stopping the Nittany Lion from winning his second straight Big 10 title.
Hear RBY talk about what's different this year as the defending national champ:
Other Contenders
Of 133 pound wrestlers in the Big 10, Austin DeSanto and Lucas Byrd have put together the best seasons. DeSanto has only lost to #1 Roman Bravo-Young (3-2) and #2 Daton Fix (5-3). Desanto’s incredible pace and pressure make him a nightmare matchup for anyone in the field and will likely lead to a finals matchup with Roman Bravo-Young. In their match last month, DeSanto was able to get to the legs numerous times against RBY but was unable to finish. If he solves that puzzle, DeSanto is absolutely capable of winning the title in his final Big 10 tournament.
Illinois Lucas Byrd might be an underdog to Austin DeSanto and Roman Bravo-Young, but he’s shown consistent improvement in his college career. For instance, last year Byrd went from getting majored by Desanto (18-6 in January) to only losing 5-4 at the Big 10 Tournament. Byrd continues to show improvement this year as he’s put together an 18-1 record and is on a 16 match winning streak entering the Big 10 tournament.
Byrd's win over Dylan Ragusin from this year's MSU Open
Sleepers And Landmines
There are two wrestlers in this bracket who I’d classify as a “landmine or sleeper” - Dylan Ragusin and Rayvon Foley. Ragusin might have five losses on the year but has a style that makes him dangerous to anyone in the country at 133. The wolverine has big move potential and could blow up this bracket with a huge upset.
Rayvon Foley is a more conventional pick. He does have two odd losses to lower-ranked wrestlers - #10 Brock Hudkins and #17 Anthony Madrigal. However, Foley has been wrestling his best over the past few weeks with controlling wins over #9 Chris Cannon and #8 Dylan Ragusin. If Foley gets hot, he’s capable of making a run to the finals.
Prediction: 1) Roman Bravo-Young, 2) Austin DeSanto, 3) Rayvon Foley, 4) Lucas Byrd
Number of allocations at 133: 10
Pre-Seeds:
Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State
Austin DeSanto, Iowa
Lucas Byrd, Illinois
RayVon Foley, Michigan State
Dylan Ragusin, Michigan
Brock Hudkins, Indiana
Chris Cannon, Northwestern
Joe Olivieri, Rutgers
Matt Ramos, Purdue
Dominick Serrano, Nebraska
Kyle Burwick, Wisconsin
Jake Gliva, Minnesota
King Sandoval, Maryland
Dylan Koontz, Ohio State
141 - Will Nick Lee Win His First Big 10 Title?
The Favorite
Nick Lee has lost two straight years in the Big 10 Finals - could 2022 be the year for Lee to bring home the title? All signs point to the defending national champion taking home first-place from Lincoln, Nebraska. Lee is 14-0 on the season and is riding a 19 match winning streak into the Big 10 tournament. On top of that, Lee has ranked wins this year over the likes of HM Quinn Kinner, HM Cael Happel, #11 Chad Red, #18 Dylan D’Emilio, #9 Grant Willits, and #2 Jaydin Eierman. Nick Lee is the best 141-pound wrestler in the country and will likely get the job done at Big 10s.
Highlights of Nick Lee's NCAA finals win over Jaydin Eierman:
Other Contenders
Jaydin Eierman’s only losses the last two years have been to Nick Lee - both in overtime - one from this year’s dual and one from last year’s NCAA finals. Eierman does, however, have something Nick Lee doesn’t - a Big 10 Title. Eierman defeated Nick Lee, 6-5, in the finals of last year’s Big 10 tournament and will be looking to replicate that outcome again in Lincoln.
Sebastian Rivera has been dominant this season! Rivera is 22-0, leading the country in tech falls (13), and has had only 1 non-bonus point win on the year. However, Rivera hasn’t wrestler Nick Lee or Jaydin Eierman yet and he appeared to suffer an injury in his final regular-season match of the year (where he still remarkably recorded a tech fall). If Rivera is healthy and wrestling his best, he’s capable of defeating both Eierman and Lee and winning the third Big 10 title of his career.
Hear Eierman talk about his perspective on his final collegiate season:
Sleepers And Landmines
141 has 11 total wrestlers ranked in the top 24 but two perfectly fit in this category - Stevan Micic and Chad Red. Micic is an Olympian but has struggled to make the adjustment back to folkstyle. Because of his up-and-down regular season, Micic will likely have a low seed at the Big 10 Tourament - no one in the top 3 seeds wants to see a wrestler like Micic in the quarter-finals. The wolverine is outstanding at match execution and will be a dangerous match for anyone in this bracket.
The last time I checked, the Big 10 tournament is being competed in the month of March and that means one thing - it’s Chad Red’s favorite time of the year! For three years, Red has wrestled his best when it mattered the most and is a 3-time All-American because of that. If anyone other than the top 3 makes the finals, my money is on Chad Red.
It’s also important to note that neither Chad Red nor Stevan Micic earned an allocation for the Big 10 at 141. That means it’s crucial for both to place in the top 7 (the number of qualifying spots allotted for the Big 10 at 141) to guarantee a spot at the NCAA tournament. The pressure is especially on Stevan Micic who, unlike Red, would likely not earn an “at-large bid” if he doesn’t place in the top 7 at the Big 10 tournament.
Prediction: 1) Nick Lee, 2) Jaydin Eierman, 3) Chad Red, 4) Stevan Micic
Number of allocations at 133: 7
Pre-Seeds:
Nick Lee, Penn State
Jaydin Eierman, Iowa
Sebastian Rivera, Rutgers
Chad Red, Nebraska
Jakob Bergeland, Minnesota
Stevan Micic, Michigan
Dylan D’Emilio, Ohio State
Joseph Zargo, Wisconsin
Dylan Duncan, Illinois
Franki Tel Shahar, Northwestern
Parker Filius, Purdue
Matt Santos, Michigan State
Cayden Rooks, Indiana
Danny Bertoni, Maryland
You can watch the Big 10 Tournament live on the Big 10 Network but be sure to join in with the FloWrestling crew on the weekend watch party for extra commentary and match breakdowns.