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.

The #11 UNI Panthers are back on the mat on Tuesday November 26th at 7 pm in Hartland Wisconsin, against #6 Missouri in what should be an outstanding meet. The dual features 14 ranked wrestlers and 6 ranked head to head bouts. The main attraction is a top 10 match at 141 lbs.

Don’t Miss: 174 and 184 both feature returning NCAA Champions, both of which are always exciting to watch. The most even match of the night takes place at 141.

Keys To Victory:  The Panthers are favored in 5 of the 10 bouts, while Missouri is favored in 4, while the heavyweight bout is a complete  toss up. With a dual this close, bonus points are going to be huge. The Panthers have an opportunity for bonus points at 157 and 184. Missouri can score bonus points at 174 and maybe 197. The swing bout is a must win for both teams.

125 Trevor Anderson #21 vs  Noah Surtin #17

133 Julian Farber vs Kade Moore

141 Cael Happel #6 vs Josh Edmond #10

149 Colin Realbuto #13 vs Logan Gioffre #17

157 Ryder Downey #6 vs James Conway

165 Jack Thomsen vs Cam Steed #15

174 Jared Simma #17 vs Keegan O’Toole #1

184 Parker Keckeisen #1 vs Colton Hawks #13

197 Wyatt Voelker #17 vs Rocky Elam #3

285 Lance Runyon vs Seth Nitzel

Conclusion: This one is extremely close and could honestly go either way. I see both teams winning 5 matches and UNI walking away with a 17-16 victory. No matter who wins, there should be some fantastic wrestling.

Along with 174, these two weight classes are the most anticipating in terms of what could possibly happen at nationals. Two Juggernauts at the top, some big names leaving in Trey Munoz who finished 3rd last year and Bernie Truax graduating. There are also some big additions with Edmund Ruth, Silas Alfred, Gabe Arnold, and obviously Carter Starocci.

#1. Parker Keckeisen- Showing partiality to the returning champion, we believe that if he gets the chance to come up against Starocci that his relentless offense will be too much for his defensive style. Not many people know that these two have faced off in the past under freestyle. Parker came out on top back in 2018, but the same question for Haines vs. O’Toole still counts here, how will the match go under folk style. These two just wrestled an outstanding match at the NWCA All-Star Classic. The match ended in overtime with a 4-1 Carter Starocci victory. We suspect a different result the next time out, although either man winning is possible. 102-6 overall with a 94 percent win rate. Preseason rank of #2 with Flo and #2 with wrestlestat.

#2. Carter Starocci- Striving to become one of the greatest of all time, it is hard to place him here based off of a freestyle match that happened forever ago but a win is a win. We think we speak for all of us when we ask, will he be able to remain dominant with the move up from 74. While his losses are only due to injury, his wins are dominating and he remains control over everyone he faces but he’s not the bonus machine like Parker is. For these little things we put him in 2nd. Although, he more than proved he is capable of winning the whole damn thing. Honestly the top 2 could go either way. Preseason rank of #1 with Flo and #1 with wrestlestat.

#3. Dustin Plott- Perfect spot for him at No. 3, once again, maybe Dave Taylor has come in and introduced something new for Plott to use against Keckeisen being that they’ve faced off three times, Parker winning all three. To Plotts credit he only lost to Lenny Pinto outside of Parker, he’s a tremendous wrestler but we believe this is a two man race at the top. Unanimously preseason ranked #3 across the board and we agree.

#4. Gabe Arnold- Has already showcased three wins on the season this year in the first three duals as a freshman, took on some high profile All Americans last year in Lennox Wolak and Will Feldkamp showing he can wrestle in the top 5. Has a good chance at taking out both Bennett Berge and Dustin Plott. Also capable of pushing points against the top 2, but a win might be too much to say just yet. 10-1 overall record at 90 percent win rate. #6 with Flo and #8 with wrestlestat.

#5. Bennet Berge- Looking really solid last year at 25-7, had a great final match against Trey Munoz finishing 4th, he has to be on every podium list. He had two tough losses against Sam Wolf, once in a dual and the other in the Big 12’s which knocks him down on our list a little bit. We’ve seen him lose to Dustin Plott already, It will be interesting to see how he does against Ruth. 32-12 record overall with a 72 percent win rate. Preseason rank of #6 with Flo and #5 with wrestlestat.

#6. Edmond Ruth- Returning Big 10 champion at 174 eventually falling to Rocco Welsh at nationals but still beat him at Big 10’s. Held his own remaining within the top 5 for most of the season , is holding out okay at 84 so far with a 4-2 record. Suffered tough losses against Brian Soldanoin and Will Ebert. Bounced back defeating Dylan Fishback.

#7 TJ Stewart- even though he struggled at nationals last year, we have a spot on our list for wild cards. Losing to #9 Isaiah Salazar in the 3rd round then beating #6 Chris Foca, before losing to #4 Bernie Truax, finally finishing in 7th beating #23 David Key, he’s all over the place. We’ll see if he discovers some consistency this year but we still believe he finds his way to the podium. 28-9 Overall at 75 percent. Preseason rank of #9 with Flo and #8 with wrestlestat.

#8. Max McEnelly- Took on some quality wins last year as a freshman, #26 Brian Soldano #10 Aaron Ayzerov, #11 Colton Hawks and several other unranked guys, a lot of people underestimated this young talent, but we believe he has the capability to make it even  higher on this list. Undefeated 15-0 to date, Preseason rank of #11 with Flo and #15 with wrestlestat.

Looking back again at 184, most of us could agree it’s looking like a two man race at the top with Dustin Plott being unable to find a way to beat Keckeisen. Are one of these guys outside the top 2 able to come in and bring an upset? I don’t believe so, but stranger things have happened.