Last year, the Dubuque Regional Training Center hosted their first Greco-Roman event and part of the mission was to raise funds so that the emerging program could gather steam. The feature, of course, was a dual meet pitting the home club against athletes from Northern Michigan University. It was an evening that went well for the Dubuque RTC as they managed to string together win after win against NMU in front of a loud, enthusiastic crowd of supporters.
12 months later and both squads are back at it again.
This afternoon, a collection of wrestlers from Northern Michigan University’s National Training Site will take on a roster comprised mainly of Dubuque RTC competitors, but with four athletes who either reside in or originate from Eastern Bloc countries. In a sense, it will be an “NMU against the world” scenario — which is why the dual in 2024 is being billed as “Dubuque RTC/International All-Stars vs. NMU”. Several notable wrestlers from both teams are unavailable for this year’s Showcase, though the match-ups that are on the card may very well result in the dual coming down to the wire.
Dubuque RTC vs. NMU
NMU
NMU will have for themselves a powerful one-two punch right out of the gate with ’24 World Trials finalist Kenny Crosby (55 kg) and ’23 U20 World Team member/’24 Fargo champ Landon Drury (63 kg). Crosby opened a lot of eyes last month at the non-Olympic World Team Trials before falling in the finals to none other than Dubuque RTC rep (and now-two-time World Teamer) Brady Koontz. As for Drury, he has not competed since the summer; but given his growing experience and skill-set, the expectation is that he will be suitably sharp once the whistle blows.
Another Northern wrestler who impressed at the September Trials is Charlie McKune (72 kg). McKune, like most of the NMU roster on-hand this weekend, is still just learning how to navigate a higher level of competition. But — he is energetic, tenacious, and opportunistic. All three put together make him dangerous.
Riley Briggs is scheduled to appear for NMU at 77. Briggs is NMU’s most versatile entrant and one of the more underrated wrestlers in American Greco from a skill perspective. At heavyweight is Jimmy Hustoles, who has the potential to become a major player in the not-so-distant future. Hustoles has begun to develop at a rapid pace both in terms of overall Greco viability and with regards to his physical strength. If in fact this dual does come down to heavyweight, Hustoles is a solid option for NMU to have waiting to take the mat.
Dubuque RTC/Int’l All Stars
Neither the aforementioned Brady Koontz or twin brother Dylan Koontz will be suiting up today for the Dubuque RTC (Brady is amid the last phase of the training cycle for the Worlds later this month). Another Dubuque staple, Eddie Smith (72 kg), is also missing from the card — and at press time, so is ’23 Fargo champ/’24 U20 National titlist Brett Back (67 kg).
But Dubuque is still anticipated to pose NMU with all sorts of problems and that begins with Tyler Klein at 55 kg. Klein is a developing Greco-Roman athlete who requires more time on target in order to hit the next level of his progression. His competitiveness, however, is why he may be able to push the kinetically-charged Crosby in spaces.
From 67 to 77 kg for Dubuque are three native Eastern Europeans: Khusein Rakhmonov (67 kg, RUS), Loiqi Amirkhonzoda (72 kg, TJK), and Aleksandr Slobodeniuk (77 kg, RUS). Of the three, Rakhmonov is the most familiar for the Dubuque boys, for he had trained with them for a time in ’23. Amirkhonzoda had last year represented Tajikistan in the Asian Championships, this after having made numerous other starts for his home country previously. Slobodeniuk has actually taken the mat in US domestic tournaments with appearances in the Veterans division.
The Dubuque RTC’s most promising prospect, in addition to serving as the program’s upper-weight leader, is Eli Pannell (97 kg). Pannell is strong, aggressive, gaining experience, and has delivered his fair share of beatdowns in age-group as well as Senior action. Plus, in last year’s dual against NMU, he was tabbed to wrestle two matches and won both — one of which came at the expense of Daniel Eubanks, with whom he is scheduled to face again today.
Schedule & Streaming
The Dubuque RTC/International All-Stars versus Northern Michigan University/NTS is scheduled to start at 4:00pm local time (5:00pm ET) from the Stolz Center on campus at the University of Dubuque. The Wrestlers in Business Network is sponsoring the event, after which a reception will be held at the Q Casino (also in Dubuque).
FLOWrestling will broadcast the dual live beginning at 4:00pm (subscription required).
Bout Order
55 kg: Tyler Klein (Dubuque RTC) vs. Kenny Crosby (NMU/NTS)
63 kg: Everest Sutton (Dubuque RTC) vs. Landon Drury (NMU/NTS)
67 kg: Khusein Rakhmonov (Int’l All-Stars) vs. Lukas Kanownik (NMU/NTS)
72 kg: Loiqi Amirkhonzoda (Int’l All-Stars) vs. Charlie McKune (NMU/NTS)
77 kg: Aleksandr Sobodeniuk (Int’l All-Stars) vs. Riley Briggs (NMU/NTS)
82 kg: Zane Pannell (Dubuque RTC) vs. Patrick Curran (NMU/NTS)
97 kg: Alec Robeson (Dubuque RTC) vs. Daniel Eubanks (NMU/NTS)
130 kg: Georgii Bobylev (Int’l All-Stars) vs. Jimmy Hustoles (NMU/NTS)
Note: Match-ups are tentative. Alec Robeson of the Dubuque RTC is listed at 87 kilograms and may have a match. The same is true of Brett Back. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 1:00pm (CT) and there is a 3 kg allowance.
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music
