Coach Bono will lead the #14 Wisconsin Badgers into Ann Arbor for a dual meet against undefeated Michigan. The Badgers will face the Wolverines January 15th. Michigan will get a tune up against #21 Michigan State on January 13th in East Lansing. Wisconsin will enter the match with some stunning potential match-ups ahead.
Wisconsin aims to bring an end to the Michigan run
In a dual meet that is sure to bring the action, there are multiple matches that could light up the screen. Coach Bono leads a team that is tough as nails and refuses to back down from competition. They will surely have to bring their technical prowess and strength to the mat against Michigan. Here is a look at the potential matches that could define the meet:
- 141 lbs: #23 Cole Mattin, UM, versus #24 Joe Zargo, WIS
- 149 lbs: #20 Chance Lamer, UM, versus #2 Austin Gomez, WIS
- 157 lbs: #8 Will Lewan, UM, versus #17 Garrett Model, WIS
- 165 lbs: #6 Cameron Amine, UM, versus #5 Dean Hamiti, WIS
- HWT: #2 Mason Parris, UM, versus #11 Trent Hillger, WIS
The starting lineups for each squad haven’t been announced yet, however these are the most competitive and logical matches. The Badgers want to avoid losing three straight dual meets after falling to Penn State, and Illinois in a tightly contested dual. Wisconsin would’ve loved to have picked up the win against Illinois, but ultimately they were overpowered.
Michigan has a meet against #21 Michigan State on January 13th, and the result could impact their meet against Wisconsin. If Michigan were to lose in their next meet, they would likely throw their best wrestlers on the mat. The Badgers are hurting on their losing streak, and Michigan will likely try to take advantage of that.
Which key matches will determine a Badgers win?
The matches that Wisconsin absolutely needs to win are at 165 lbs and 149 lbs. Dean Hamiti has been sensational as a Sophomore and proved that he is more than a one-year wonder. Hamiti is going to face one of his toughest matches yet in Cameron Amine, who is ranked one spot below Hamiti. Amine hasn’t wrestled as much yet this season, with a record of 5-1, but his speed and relentlessness may prove to be difficult for Wisconsin.
Eight Badgers in the latest @InterMat national rankings
Let's keep climbing! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/XXXWYLVQwT
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) January 10, 2023
At 149 lbs, the redshirt Freshman Chance Lamer will likely take on Austin Gomez. Gomez, an NCAA All-American a season ago, beat three-time NCAA Champion Yianni Diakomihalis earlier this year in a dual win over #7 Cornell. Gomez handed Yianni his second ever collegiate loss. If Gomez wrestles against Lamer, it will be a significant match for the Badgers since Hamiti and Gomez are automatic points for Wisconsin. They win matches and put points on the board, which is exactly what the team needs right now.
The other key match for the Badgers will be at heavyweight between Mason Parris and Trent Hillger. Parris is a fifth-year Senior for the Wolverines and his style of wrestling can be defined as powerful. He aims for the double leg take-down and muscles his way through sprawls. Parris is an animal, and the only way to beat him is by outclassing him technically. The big man still has extreme technical ability, but Trent Hillger can find the gaps for the Badgers and take-down Parris. A win at heavyweight would be massive for Wisconsin and Hillger, who stood his ground against the top ranked heavyweight in Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet.
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