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#18 Noah Surtin (3-0) vs. #11 Brody Teske (3-1)
Thoughts: This is a huge potential first match in conference for Noah Surtin. Surtin has been solid thus far this season, but has yet to meet a ranked opponent in the young season.
Surtin is really talented and generally is solid at getting to legs early in bouts and finishing low level picks, singles and doubles. Surtin is solid on top and can turn with a basket or two on one tilt rather proficiently. Surtin tends to surge early in bouts and will likely do most of his work in the first few periods.
Surtin has struggled at times with fading hard in the third period of bouts. This happened in both of his losses at last years NCAA’s against two opponents who would go on to become All-Americans in Patrick McKee, Minnesota and Killian Cardinale, West Virginia, as well as his 9-6 win over Jace Koelzer of Northern Colorado this season.
Surtin was well on track for the major before giving up a takedown and cradle late in the bout. Surtin has the technical ability of an AA and has a chance in most any bout he wrestles, but potential questions about his gas tank loom large. Brody Teske is off to a bit of a slow start as he took a 4-3 loss to Iowa State’s Corey Cabanban, whom Surtin has a career win over.
Teske is an excellent scrambler and leg attacker who wrestles at a really fast pace. Teske was the Big 12 champion at this weight class last season. This should be a good test for Surtin.
It is imperative for him that he jump out to an early lead, as Teske is a goer and will keep coming for the entire bout. I believe that Teske’s gas tank will allow him to secure a win in the third period here in a bout that Surtin will lead up to that point.
Prediction: #11 Teske Dec. #18 Surtin 8-7 (UNI 3-0)
133
#27 Trey Crawford (2-1) vs. Kyle Biscoglia (5-2)
Thoughts: Crawford wrestles a really deliberate and controlled pace. Crawford will attack early and look to utilize his strong Greco background to set-up his leg attacks and slide-bys. Crawford has a really compact build for the weight class and will likely have a strength advantage here. Crawford is solid on top and bottom but can struggle with length on top. Biscoglia is a solid wrestler who is a borderline rankable competitor.