The #1 ranked Penn State Lions return to the mat in Champaign Illinois, on Sunday February 16th against the Fighting Illini. The dual features 18 ranked wrestlers, with 8  head to head ranked matches. Including, 2 top 10 matchups. Illinois is 9-3 on the year, while Penn State, brings a perfect 13-0 record into the meet.

History: These two teams have met 38 times and Penn State leads the series 22-16 and is currently on a 7 match win streak against the Illini.

Don’t Miss:  149 and 184 will be absolutely amazing matches. The 133 match is also worth watching. I have been excited for 149 since the beginning of the season.

Keys To Victory: Penn State just needs to win the matches they are favored to win, nothing more. For Illinois, they need Penn State’s bus to break down on the way to Illinois.

125 Lilledahl, Luke #7 vs Ramazan Attasauov

133 #10 Davis, Braeden #7 vs Lucas Byrd #3

141 #3 Bartlett, Beau vs Danny Pucino #16

149 #2 Van Ness, Shayne vs Kannon Webster #17

157 Joe Sealey vs Jason Kraisser #27

165 #1 Mesenbrink, Mitchell vs Braeden Scoles #16

174  #2 Haines, Levi vs Danny Braunagel #22

184 #1 Starocci, Carter vs Edmond Ruth #12

197 #2 Barr, Josh vs Zac Braunagel #13

285 #1 Kerkvliet, Greg vs Luke Luffman #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 claiming a 30-6 victory. Illinois squeaks out victories at 133 and 149. You can watch the dual on Big Ten+.

The Iowa State Cyclones return to the mat on Friday February 14th at 7 PM to take on #22 South Dakota State in Brookings, South Dakota. The dual features 16 ranked wrestlers, with 4  head to head ranked matches. Iowa State is currently 10-4 while South Dakota State is 13-3 on the year.

Don’t Miss: The 165 bout features to former Hawkeyes and should be an entertaining match. 125 and heavyweight should also be entertaining.

History: Iowa State leads the series with 12 wins to 2 losses. Iowa State has won the last 3 meetings. This years meeting has a bit of Iowa flair to it with South Dakota State, picking up former Iowa Hawkeyes, Cobe Siebrecht, Zach  Glazier, and Drake Rhodes.

Keys To Victory: Iowa State is favored in 4 matches, South Dakota is favored in 6 matches. So it will be important for Iowa State to score bonus points anywhere they can. I could also see Iowa State pulling an upset at heavyweight. So this dual will be a close one.

125 Ethan Perryman or Kysen Terukina #14  vs Jordan, Tanner #15

133 Evan Frost #5 vs Cardinal, Derrick #26

141 Jacob Frost #9 vs Julian Tagg #22

149 Paniro Johnson #7 vs Avery Allen

157  Carter Fousek or Cody Chittum #10 vs Siebrecht, Cobe #18

165 Aiden Riggins  vs Drake Rhodes #10

174  MJ Gaitan #31 vs DeVos, Cade #10

184 Evan Bockman #14 or Fernando Villaescusa vs  Berge, Bennett #6

197 Nathan Schon vs Glazier, Zach #15

285 Daniel Herrera #30 vs Rasmussen, Luke #25

Conclusion: I can see Iowa State getting wins at 133,141,149, 157, and heavyweight. That splits it right down the middle at 5 each. So it comes down to bonus points. Iowa State can score extra points at 133, while South Dakota State can pick them up at 184. Honestly I can’t pick a winner, this dual is a complete toss up, especially with all the backups wrestling for Iowa State lately.

The #1 ranked Penn State Lions return to the mat in Columbus Ohio, on Friday February 14th at 7pm EST, against the feared Ohio State Buckeyes. The dual features 20 ranked wrestlers, with 10  head to head ranked matches. Including, 5 top 10 matchups.

Don’t Miss:  141, 174, and heavyweight should all be fantastic matches. All three were originally scheduled for the NWCA All-Star Classic. Ohio State has a habit of peaking early, while Penn State peaks at the NCAA tournament. Could that be a factor here?

Keys To Victory: Penn State just needs to win the matches they are favored to win, nothing more. For Ohio State, they need to win the close ones.  133, 141,149,157,174 and Heavyweight are all matches that they could possibly pull off an upset. While not likely, they do have a very slim path to victory. To do this they would need to wrestle almost perfect and Penn State would need to fall apart.

125 Lilledahl, Luke #9 vs Brendan McCrone #16

133 #7 Davis, Braeden vs Nic Bouzakis #10

141 #3 Bartlett, Beau vs Jesse Mendez #1

149 #3 Van Ness, Shayne vs Dylan D’Emilio #8

157  Facundo, Alex or Tyler Kasak #1 vs Sammy Sasso #19

165#1 Mesenbrink, Mitchell vs  Paddy Gallagher #12

174  #2 Haines, Levi vs Carson Kharchla #5

184 #1 Starocci, Carter vs Ryder Rogotzke #17

197 #2 Barr, Josh vs Seth Shumate #18

285 #2 Kerkvliet, Greg vs Nick Feldman #8

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 18 of the 10 bouts and claiming a 38-3 victory. Ohio State squeaks out victories at 141. Honestly it wouldn’t surprise me if Penn State wins all 10 bouts. The only real opportunity for victory exists at 141. The dual will be broadcast live on BTN.

The Hawkeyes travel North to Minneapolis Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday February 14th, for a Valentines Day Massacre. The dual has 20 ranked wrestlers and three top 10 ranked matchups. This should be an exciting dual The Gophers bring a 10-1 record into the dual while the Hawkeyes are 11-1 on the season!

Don’t Miss: 125 and 184 will be fantastic bouts. Joey Cruz has been wrestling well lately and he has another top 10 opponent this Friday. At 184 Max McEnelly is having an incredible Freshman year, and he will face another tough freshman in Gabe Arnold.

History: These two teams have have a long and storied history with 20 meetings between the two Big 10 Power houses. The Hawkeyes have emerged victorious in 15 of those 20 encounters, and have won the last 7 in a row.

Keys To Victory: Iowa is favored in 6 of the 10 matches. So they need to win the matches they are favored in. For Minnesota they need bonus points in the matches they are favored in. Upset potential exists at 125, and 157.

125 Joey Cruz #23 VS Cooper Flynn #7

133 Drake Ayala #3 VS Tyler Wells #12

141 Cullan Schivier VS Vance Vombaur #8

149 Kyle Parco #4 VS Drew Roberts #26

157 Jacori Teemer #2 or Miguel Estrada VS Tommy Askey #9

165 Michael Caliendo #2 VS Andrew Sparks #15

174 Patrick Kennedy #6 VS Clayton Whiting #21

184 Gabe Arnold #5 VS Max McEnelly #4

197 Steven Buchanan #1 VS Isaiah Salazar #10

285 Ben Kueter #11 VS Gable Steveson #1

Conclusion:  The dual takes place Friday, at 8pm and will be broadcast live on BTN. I see both teams showing up ready for battle and wrestling really hard. I have Iowa taking  the dual, after picking up wins at 125, 133, 149, 165, 174, and 197. If Teemer is ready to wrestle, Iowa will win that one as well. I would really like to see Ferrari wrestle at 184. Minnesota wins bouts at 141, 184, and heavyweight. They could also win at 157 if Teemer doesn’t suit up. Final score Iowa wins 23-13.

Located at 1149 State Park Road, Lucas, KY 42156, Barren River Lake State Park is a 10,000-acre park situated in the rolling hills of southern Kentucky. The park is nestled along the shores of Barren River Lake, a 10,000-acre lake that offers stunning views and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. With its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and wide range of amenities and activities, Barren River Lake State Park is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. For more information, click here.

One of the main attractions of Barren River Lake State Park is its stunning natural beauty. The park’s rolling hills, wooded forests, and sparkling lake offer breathtaking views and a serene atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxation and recreation. Visitors can explore the park’s many hiking trails, which range from easy to challenging and offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, and bald eagles.

Barren River Lake State Park offers a wide range of amenities and activities for visitors to enjoy. The park has a 51-room lodge that offers comfortable accommodations and stunning views of the lake. Visitors can also stay in one of the park’s many campsites, which offer amenities such as picnic tables, grills, and electrical hookups. The park’s marina offers boat rentals, fishing gear, and snacks, making it easy to enjoy a day on the lake. Other popular activities include fishing, swimming, and water sports.

In addition to its natural beauty and recreational activities, Barren River Lake State Park also offers a range of educational programs and events. The park’s nature center offers exhibits and programs on the park’s natural and cultural history, and visitors can also attend one of the park’s many festivals and events, which celebrate the park’s music, art, and outdoor heritage. Whether you’re a nature lover, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Barren River Lake State Park has something for everyone.

In conclusion, Barren River Lake State Park is a true gem of Kentucky’s state park system. With its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and wide range of amenities and activities, the park offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, recreation, or education, Barren River Lake State Park is a must-visit destination that’s sure to leave you feeling refreshed and inspired.

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.