Match of the Week-November 2, 2011
Stanford vs Northwestern @ Chicago, Illinois
We get to kick off the 2011-12 season with a battle of the brains, Stanford vs Northwestern. Everyone knows the academic reputation of both of these schools, but lately they have both taken steps to becoming wrestling powers as well. Combined the two schools produced three All-Americans a piece in 2010-11, and three of them are returners who will compete this weekend. Both of the schools have young coaches (Jason Borrelli-Stanford, Drew Pariano-Northwestern) who have been able to take recruiting to new levels. Last year the teams met with Northwestern winning 18-16.
125-Matt Sencenbaugh (Stanford) vs Levi Mele (Northwestern)
Northwestern will have the early advantage as they will be favorite in the opening bout. With the graduation of 3x All-American Brandon Precin, it gives Levi Mele a chance to wrestle at his optimal weight class. Even up at 133 Mele qualified for the 2011 NCAA Championships and won two matches at the Big Dance. Although he recently lost a wrestle-off to blue chip True Freshman Evan Silver, the more experienced Matt Sencenbaugh likely gets the nod for the Cardinal. Sencenbaugh also spent most his Sophomore season wrestling up a weight class because he was behind an All-American (Ryan Mango) as well. Expect Mele to be able to pick up bonus points.
D1CW Projection: Mele By Major Decision; Northwestern leads 4-0
133-Ryan Mango (Stanford) vs Jameson Oster (Northwestern)
The aforementioned Ryan Mango had a breakthrough 2010-11 campaign which concluded with him on the podium finishing 6th in the nation. Mango did so as he battled injuries most of the year. Healthy and up a weight class expect a huge year from Ryan. The Wildcats will send out a promising true freshman Jameson Oster. Jameson is very talented but he will likely take his lumps wrestling in a brutally deep Big 10 weight class. He will probably take some lumps here also facing a defending All-American in his first collegiate match.
D1CW Projection: Mango By Major Decision; Dual Tied 4-4
141-Donovan Halpin (Stanford) vs Colin Shober (Northwestern)
Northwestern will send out another Freshman this match, but this time he will likely be the favorite. Colin Shober enters his first season ranked #23 in the nation by D1CW and compiled a 12-3 record while redshirting last season. Donovan Halpin is Stanford’s representative. In limited action he was 4-5 during his initial season.
D1CW Projection: Shober By Decision; Northwestern Leads 7-4
149-Timmy Boone (Stanford) vs Kaleb Friedley (Northwestern)
Another ranked wrestler for Northwestern takes the mat, this time it’s #22 Kaleb Friedley. He moves up to 149 this season. In 2010-11 Friedley finished sixth in the Big Ten which allowed him to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. As a true freshman last year, Kaleb won 25 matches. Stanford will mat Junior Timmy Boone. Last season, Boone had a winning record finishing 16-13. Along the way he picked up wins over one NCAA Qualifier.
D1CW Projection: Friedley By Decision; Northwestern Leads 10-4
157-Garrett Schaner (Stanford) vs Jason Welch (Northwestern)
The third All-American competing in this dual is Northwestern’s Jason Welch. A highly touted recruit from the Class of 2008, Welch returned to the mat in 2010-11 after redshirting the previous season. Jason was very close to defeating eventual NCAA Champion Bubba Jenkins in the NCAA Semi-Finals. He is a heavy favorite over Stanford Sophomore Garrett Schaner. Garrett competed last year as a true Freshman and won 9 of his 27 bouts.
D1CW Projection: Welch By Technical Fall; Northwestern Leads 15-4
165-Matt Schneider (Stanford) vs Kevin Bialka (Northwestern)
This will probably be the most competitive out of the first six weight classes. Northwestern veteran Kevin Bialka will likely be the entrant at 165. In two seasons wrestling for the Wildcats Bialka has ran up a 22-33 record. Stanford’s wrestler could be Matt Schneider, a redshirt Freshman from Georgia. Schneider did not compete in any opens for the Cardinal so it’s hard to tell what kind of impact he will have. It should be noted that Stanford could also start Mike Kent either here or at 157.
D1CW Projection: Bialka By Decision; Northwestern Leads 18-4
174-Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) vs Lee Munster (Northwestern)
At 174 Northwestern will send out one of the top redshirt Freshman in the nation, #13 Lee Munster. Initially most people expected Munster to compete at 184. Wrestling in a shallow 174lb weight class, Lee could fight for All-American honors this season. All of that being said, Munster will get thrown into the deep end by wrestling top ranked Nick Amuchastegui his first match of the season. Amuchastegui was brutal in his run to the NCAA Finals last season, injuring Penn State’s Ed Ruth and controlling Cornell’s Mack Lewnes. He is on track to become only the second 3x All-American in Stanford history.
D1CW Projection: Amuchastegui By Decision; Northwestern Leads 18-7
184-Spence Patrick (Stanford) vs Brian Roddy/Marcus Shrewsbury (Northwestern)
This is another matchup which could be labeled as a toss-up. At this time it is uncertain exactly who will take the match for the Wildcats. Coach Pariano will select one of his tag team of 184lbers, Marcus Shrewsbury and Brian Roddy. Both wrestlers finished their 2010-11 campaign with losing records. Stanford’s wrestler will be Spence Patrick, the returning starter at 184. Just a hunch but I’m guessing that the Cardinal take this one.
D1CW Projection: Patrick By Decision; Northwestern Leads 18-10
197-Alan Yen (Stanford) vs John Schoen/Alex Polizzi (Northwestern)
At 197 Northwestern again has a decision to make about exactly who is the starter. This competition should be very heated as in one corner you have the veteran John Schoen, a wrestler who spent some time in 2010-11 in the national rankings despite not earning a trip to Nationals. His competition comes from a talented redshirt Freshman Alex Polizzi. The Wisconsin native Polizzi, had an impressive redshirt season which saw him win 18 matches, 3 of which came at the Midlands. Their opponent will come in the form of Sophomore Alan Yen. Alan competed at 197 and even 285 for a portion of his true Freshman season. It would be considered a big upset if he were to defeat either of the Wildcats 197lbers.
D1CW Projection: Schoen By Major Decision; Northwestern Leads 22-10
285-Dan Scherer (Stanford) vs Mike McMullan (Northwestern)
Don’t be fooled by the age, Northwestern’s Freshman heavyweight Mike McMullan will likely emerge as an All-American candidate and sooner than later. While redshirting McMullan won 19 matches, placed at the Midlands and defeated an eventual All-American (Ricky Alcala). He will face off with a wrestler in Dan Scherer who has bumped up two weight classes. Scherer sort of flew under the radar winning 18 bout while competing in his true Freshman campaign.
D1CW Projection: McMullan By Decision; Northwestern Wins 25-10