No. 18 Rutgers at No. 20 Purdue: Wrestling Preview

After a nice win over Indiana on Friday, Rutgers is getting back to work this afternoon at No. 20 Purdue.

This has close match written all over it, so let’s get down to business and breakdown the match ups.

Preview and Predictions:

125: Shane Metzler vs. No. 17 Devin Schroder

-Rutgers has to avoid bonus points in the first bout of the dual. Metzler has been on a seven match losing streak. If he can stop the bleeding, it will help in the long run.

Prediction: Schroder by DECISION

133: No. 4 Nick Suriano vs. No. 15 Ben Thornton

-Suriano technically has a loss against Thornton, but that was due to a medical forfeit when he was at Penn State. Don’t expect Thornton to have that chance this time.

Prediction: Suriano by MAJOR DECISION

141: Peter Lipari vs. Nate Limmex

-Lipari’s common opponents record is 2-6 compared to 5-5 with Limmex. Limmex has generally hung in there with some of the tougher opponents at this weight. Mike Van Brill weighed in at 149 on Friday, so it’s Lipari or bust now.

Prediction: Limmex by DECISION

149: No. 1 Anthony Ashnault vs. Parker Filius

-Ashnault avoided disaster on Friday, winning 8-7. I’d expect a nice bounce back performance today with bonus points.

Prediction: Ashnault by MAJOR DECISION

157: No. 17 John Van Brill vs. No. 11 Griffin Parriott

-This is the marquee matchup of the dual. Van Brill defeated Parriott 4-2 at the Big Ten Tournament last season but obviously, a lot of these wrestlers get better year to year. This one will be close but I like Van Brill’s chances.

Prediction: Van Brill by DECISION

165: Jake Benner vs. Cole Wysocki

-It looks like Stephan Glasgow is going to be sitting again today with his nagging knee injury, so expect Benner to go here. He gave up bonus points on Friday so we’ll see what he can bring to the table today. If he can hold it to a decision or even sneak out a win, Rutgers could be in good shape.

Prediction: Wysocki by DECISION

174: Joe Grello vs. No. 11 Dylan Lydy

-Grello has always been close agains ranked opponents. He’ll need to finally come up big against Lydy, who is thinking about the podium in Pittsburgh. This will be close.

Prediction: Lydy by DECISION

184: Nick Gravina vs. Max Lyon

-It’s going to be Gravina after Willie Scott’s injury on Friday vs. Indiana. It just looked too painful for him to be able to go again today. Gravina will have to break through and the get the win in a tight dual.

Prediction: Gravina by DECISION

197: Matt Correnti vs. No. 10 Christian Brunner

-Correnti has beaten Brunner twice before but he is on a different level this season. However, Correnti has been close to some big upsets this season: Dakota Geer of Oklahoma State and just last Sunday vs. No. 3 Patrick Brucki of Princeton. He is certainly capable here, so expect a close match.

Prediction: Brunner by DECISION

HWT: Christian Colucci vs. Jacob Aven

-Colucci matches up rather evenly with Aven but holds the edge in the common opponents record (9-9 to 5-9). I’ll give the man with the cowbells the edge. The entire dual meet could come down to this bout and so far, Colucci has thrived in that situation.

Prediction: Colucci by DECISION

Final Score: Rutgers over Purdue 16-15