OSU Wrestling: Iowa Dual Preview (Part 1): Lower Weights Have Hands Full

Since the Iowa dual is this week and Iowa-Oklahoma State is the biggest rivalry in the sport I’m going to break this preview down into twp parts and go a little more in depth on it than I have most of the other previews.

Here we’ll preview 125 pounds through 157, starting with Nick Piccinnini.

125 — Nick Piccinnini (Oklahoma State) vs. Spencer Lee (Iowa)

Probably the marquee matchup of the dual with sophomore All American Piccinnini taking on true freshman and the 2nd overall recruit from the 2017 recruiting class Spencer Lee. This will be Lee’s second match out of redshirt after making his debut against Michigan State last week. #Freethelee had become the social media cry for Iowa fans hoping for this all year. The true freshman out of Pennsylvania has only lost one match this season to Ronnie Bresser from Oregon State in a really controversial match that many believe Lee got a takedown on in the last seconds that would’ve given him the match.

Piccinnini is coming off a loss to NC State’s Sean Fausz. I’ve felt Piccinnini has looked really solid all year but Fausz was able to pull off the upset here.

To me this is a fairly even matchup. Both guys are good on their feet and good on top. Different styles on the mat. Pich works arm bars and tilts and Lee is a leg rider but both are really effective with what they do on the mat. I’d almost say this is a coin flip to me. It could go either way. Carver-Hawkeye will be rowdy but in a weird way I think that helps Pich here. Puts more pressure on the true freshman. Really big match as far as the overall dual goes.

This is a video of Thomas Gilman. He was a senior last year and a bit of a “character” in the sport. He graduated but to give you an idea of some things to expect here and how heated this rivalry can be, a brawl was almost started over some words between him and Piccinnini.

Piccinnini taking out their true freshman with his incredibly high expectations would be a huge blow for Iowa.

133 — Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State) vs. Phillip Law or Paul Glynn (Iowa)

Brock should win this comfortably. These guys have rotated starting but neither are on Brock’s level. Brock did some work on top that I’ve never seen out of him vs. NC State. Hope for more here. Bonus would be big in this one.

141-Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) vs. Carter Happel (Iowa)

Heil has dropped his last two but will be favored here and should win. Hopefully he shakes those last two off and wins out. I still am pretty confident in him winning in March. I do think the depth at this weight may be a bit stronger than originally thought.

149 — Boo Lewallen or Geo Martinez (Oklahoma State) vs. Brandon Sorenson (Iowa)

Sorenson finished 3rd at the NCAA tournament last year and is the # 2 ranked guy at this weight. He will be the favorite here. Both Martinez and Lewallen have the talent to pull the upset though. It would be a huge win for either of them. I expect the match to be close but on paper you have to think Sorenson takes it.

157 — Jonce Blaylock (Oklahoma State) vs. Michael Kemerer (Iowa)

Back to back No. 2 ranked guys for Iowa. Kemerer will obviously be favored and likely to win this but Blaylock does a tremendous job of keeping matches close. Even when he’s wrestling top talent. You really just want to see him keep this one close and avoid any bonus.