Mainstream Adventures

The #1 ranked Penn State Lions return to the mat in Bethlehem Pennsylvania on Sunday December 8th at 2 PM against Lehigh. The dual features 16 ranked wrestlers, with 6  head to head ranked matches.

Don’t Miss: The 133 bout features two top 10 ranked wrestlers including the #1 ranked Ryan Crookham. This should be a fantastic matchup as Davis is the reigning Big 10 Champion. EDIT: This match will likely not be taking place and Gary Steen will be wrestling in his place. The 197 bout also features two highly talented wrestlers.

Keys To Victory: This Penn State team won’t lose, and It will take a huge effort from Lehigh just to keep the meet within 10 points.

125 Lilledahl, Luke #16 vs Seymour, Sheldon #15

133 Gary Steen or Braeden Davis #10 vs Crookham, Ryan #1

141 #3 Bartlett, Beau vs Hines, Malyke #22

149 #2 Van Ness, Shayne vs Griffin, Kelvin #29

157 #4 Tyler Kasak vs Logan Rozynski

165#1  Mesenbrink, Mitchell vs Lawrence, Thayne

174  #2 Haines, Levi vs Rogers, Rylan

184 #1 Starocci, Carter vs Wilt, Jack

197 #23 Barr, Josh vs Beard, Michael #6

285 #2 Kerkvliet, Greg vs  Owen Trephan #10

Conclusion: This is one of the best Penn State Teams I have ever seen, they have no weak links in the lineup, we could be seeing 10 all-americans on this team, with who knows how many National Champions. In this dual I see Penn State winning 8 of the 10 bouts and cruising to a 28-7 victory.

This meet figures to be a one sided beatdown as The Iowa Hawkeyes travel to beautiful St. Charles Missouri to battle the Princeton Tigers and Army on Friday December 6th at 6pm. With Iowa being the heavy favorite, I’m hoping we get to see a few of our backups get some experience. The undefeated Hawkeyes bring an absolutely loaded team to Missouri. Lead by NCAA finalists Drake Ayala and Jacori Teemer. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 while the Princeton Tigers are 2-2. The dual features 13 ranked wrestlers with 3 head to head ranked matches. The dual will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.

Don’t Miss: 149 features two top 10 ranked wrestlers as number 4 Parco battles number 8 Whalen. 125, and 141, will also be fun to watch.

Keys To Victory:  For Iowa its simple just show up. For Princeton, its tough to say. Maybe Iowa’s bus will break down on the way to the dual. That’s about the only shot they have to walk away with a win here. So without any further ado lets take a look at each match and I will do my best to give you a winner and team score.

125 Kale Peterson NR VS Ethan Rivera #32

133 Drake Ayala #5 VS Heethuis, Drew 

141 Ryder Block VS Rivera, Eligh #31

149 Kyle Parco #4 VS Ty Whalen #8

157 Caleb Rathjen  VS Coles, Danny 

165 Michael Caliendo #2 VS Bergey, Blaine

174 Nelson Brands #8 or Patrick Kennedy VS Giles, Xavier 

184 Gabe Arnold #5 VS Michael Squires #30

197 Steven Buchanan #1 VS Luke Stout #16

285 Ben Kueter #11 VS Garibaldi, Sebastian 

Conclusion: On paper this looks like a potential shut-out, with Iowa favored in all 10 matches. Like I stated above, I’m hoping Iowa lets some back ups get mat time. Which could put Princeton on the board.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Army West Point travel to Missouri for a Friday night of wrestling. These teams meet up in beautiful St.Charles on Friday December 6th at 8 pm, for the Journeymen Wrestling Uncivil War event! Both teams enter the meet with a perfect record, although the level of competition the two teams has faced is vastly different. The undefeated 5-0 Hawkeyes bring an absolutely loaded team to Missouri. Lead by NCAA finalists Drake Ayala and Jacori Teemer. The 3-0 Army team comes into the meet led by wrestling sensation Charlie Farmer of Moline Illinois. The meet features 12 ranked wrestlers with 3 head to head ranked bouts. You can watch this meet on UFC Fight Pass.

Don’t Miss: The 125lb bout will get the action started and should be one of the most closely contested bouts of the night. The 141 bout should also be competitive.

Keys To Victory:  For Iowa its simple just show up. Army’s keys to victory don’t come so easily. They need upsets lots of upsets. As much respect as I have for this Army team, I just don’t see a reasonable path to victory for them. So without any further ado lets take a look at each match and I will do my best to give you a winner and team score.

125 Kale Petersen NR VS Charlie Farmer #24

133 Drake Ayala #5 VS Berginc, Ethan #22

141 Ryder Block VS Braden Basile #25

149 Kyle Parco #4 VS McDaniel, Trae

157 Caleb Rathjen VS Morris, Dakota

165 Michael Caliendo #2 VS Filipowicz, Gunner #18

174 Nelson Brands #8 or Patrick Kennedy VS Harkins, Dalton

184 Gabe Arnold #6 VS Christie, Andrew

197 Steven Buchanan #1 VS Frable, Wolfgang 

285 Ben Kueter #11 VS Stoddard, Lucas #26

Conclusion: Young Guns prodigy Charlie Farmer and Kale Petersen will likely be the match of the night. 141, and Heavyweight also promise compiling matchups. In the end the Hawkeyes will emerge victorious. Hopefully we get to see a few of Iowa’s backups step up and compete. This will make the meet a little more interesting, plus its always fun seeing these new kids compete.

Welch Spring and Hospital, located at 22141 Highway ZZ, Eminence, MO 65466, is a historic site nestled in the heart of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This natural and cultural treasure has been a source of fascination for visitors and locals alike for centuries. For more information, click here.

The site’s rich history dates back to the Osage Native American tribe, who considered the spring a sacred healing site. In the late 19th century, the spring was developed into a hospital and resort by Dr. Creed H. Welch, a physician from St. Louis. Welch was drawn to the site’s natural springs, which he believed had healing properties. He built a hospital and several cabins, and the site quickly gained popularity as a health resort.

The hospital, which operated from 1913 to 1954, was known for its innovative approach to healthcare. Dr. Welch and his staff used a combination of traditional medical practices and alternative therapies, such as hydrotherapy and herbalism, to treat a range of ailments. The hospital’s success was largely due to its unique approach to healthcare, as well as its picturesque setting amidst the Ozark hills.

Today, Welch Spring and Hospital is a National Park Service site, open to visitors who want to explore its rich history and natural beauty. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the hospital and surrounding buildings, which have been preserved to reflect their original appearance. The site also features several hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers and history buffs alike.

In addition to its natural and cultural significance, Welch Spring and Hospital also plays an important role in the local community. The site hosts several events throughout the year, including living history demonstrations, nature walks, and cultural festivals. Visitors can also explore the site’s museum, which features exhibits on the history of the hospital and the Ozark region.

Overall, Welch Spring and Hospital is a unique and fascinating destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or culture, this National Park Service site is a must-visit destination in the heart of the Ozarks.

For more of the best adventures in the United States, click here. For the best nearby parks and amazing locations, click here. For the best Hotels, Resorts, and Vacation Homes, click here.

197 looks really good this year with some additions 6 out of the 8 guys on our list made All American last year, could just as easily mention AJ Ferrari as number 7 being that he hasn’t wrestled in a few years. and is a 2021 national champion.

#1. Stephen Buchanan- We think the only scenario working against Buchanan winning it all is the transfer to Iowa. We have seen a lot of guys come into Iowa on a sweetheart deal and underperform. More of the middle weights and lighter weights have competitive back ups with Patrick Kennedy and Caleb Rathjen, not so much at 97. We all know Iowa likes to train hard, will it affect Buchanan who’s not used to the pace? His success this year already tells otherwise, knocking out Trey Munoz who was ranked 4th and has now moved down a slot to #5. He is our pick for a title win this year. 88-25 overall at 77 percent. Preseason rank of #1 with Flo and #1 with wrestlestat.

#2. AJ Ferrari- with the exception of an injury in 2022 he’s only seen 3 collegiate matches since then. Pure conjecture but he puts out a lot of videos in the gym, in a lot of these videos we see him wearing multiple braces indicating that he may be a couple steps behind from his last title win. Do we believe that to be 100 percent truth? No, he’ll still come out and more than likely get into the title round again. he has beaten Stephen Buchanan 3 times, but the last win was in December of 2021. That’s a long time ago, so we definitely do not have the same Buchanan, Ferrari is going to have to come up and re-earn his reputation again. 31-1 overall at 96 percent. Preseason rank of #4 with Flo and #5 with wrestlestat.

#3. Jacob Cardenas- making the infamous Ivy League transfer for one final year of eligibility, Cardenas has a pretty solid career behind him grabbing 2x AA honors and 3x qualifier bids. Leaving a trail of destruction although there is one name on the backside of our list that he couldn’t seem to figure out. Michael Beard has beaten him 3-1, but with a transfer to Michigan he can kind of avoid him. Same goes for his rivalry against Rocky Elam, who he probably won’t see until the National Tournament. 70-22 overall record at 76 percent. Preseason rank of #2 with Flo and #2 with wrestlestat.

#4. Trey Munoz- the move up to 97 has turned a lot of heads, especially Ferrari who will at some point have to face him and Stephen Little so the Pac-12 Is heating up a bit. Some are saying that he’s capable of taking a title this year, we have already gotten some insight in his dual debut against Buchanan losing 9-5. If he has a dynamic year here and continues to improve we anticipate a re-match against Buchanan. Former 3X Pac-12 Champion, looks to do the same this year. 86-18 overall record at 82 percent. Had a preseason rank of #4 with Flo at 84 and #3 with wrestlestat at 97.

#5. Rocky Elam- it’s rare to see someone stay at the same school for five years, a 4X AA who has continually gotten better each year with a blight last year finishing 6th. He’s always been a solid guy, we hope to see a final re-match against Cardenas at nationals where he sits 1-2 in the rivalry. 69-17 overall record at a 80 percent win rate. Preseason rank of #3 with Flo and #4 with wrestlestat.

#6. Josh Barr- At the will of Starocci, almost forced to go up 97 as a sacrifice to the demands of Carter, we almost wonder how he feels about this personally. Impressive redshirt freshman year last season, our only reserve was the level of competition. Yes he’s at Penn but his highest ranked opponent last year was Jacob Nolan at #39. So we’ll be interested to see how he fairs against top 10 opponents. 14-0 with a perfect win rate. Recently lost a wrestle off against teammate Lucas Cochran, although the starter is far from decided, we still expect to see Barr earn the nod. Not ranked with Flo and a #19 with wrestlestat.

#7. Stephen Little- had some quality wins last year finishing out nationals with a win against Michael Beard, had an SV win against Zach Glazier. He’ll have to prove that he can compete within the top 5 after getting majored by Buchanan in the 2nd round of nationals. 37-8 Record overall at 82 percent. Preseason rank of #5 with Flo and #6 with wrestlestat.

#8. Michael Beard- Has already come in to 2025 8-0 terrorizing the back half of the list and finishing the Journeyman Classic with a big win against Zach Braunagel who was ranked #8. Had a tough nationals last year getting majored by Buchanan but did beat him a few years ago. Finishing with a loss by decision to Stephen Little, but he’s already on a streak this year and if he continues, he has the ability to push into the top 5. 90-20 record overall at an 82 percent win rate. Preseason rank of #7 with Flo and #7 with wrestlestat.

Overall we like our list, most people are debating the title between Buchanan and Ferrari but can’t count out Josh Barr who we haven’t seen against a top 10 guy or Trey Munoz who will face Ferrari at some point this year. 197 is definitely more exciting this year than it was last season.