Image courtesy of the Illinois MatMen Rokfin Channel.
On December 22, the 58th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, slated to take place on December 29-30 at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, was cancelled out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of all tournament participants.
https://twitter.com/theopenmat/status/1473771671706349576
Shortly thereafter, Israel "Izzy" Martinez, Willie Saylor of MatScouts and Frank Popolizio of Journeymen Wrestling spearheaded the effort to put on an event in place of the cancelled Midlands 58. With that, the Illinois Matmen Open came to fruition. While the dates and venue for this Midlands replacement event remain unchanged, the participant pool has shifted slightly. Still, the 2021 Matmen Open should be electric.
https://twitter.com/jmenwrestling/status/1476041272657952775
https://twitter.com/theopenmat/status/1475131577831239683
How to Watch
The Inaugural Illinois Matmen Open will take place Wednesday and Thursday, December 29th & 30th, 2021 at Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, IL. To watch this event, you must have a Rokfin subscription and also pay for the PPV ($10 one-time fee).
Click here to watch.
Event Schedule
Wednesday, DEC 29
9 AM - First Session
6 PM - Quarterfinals & Wrestlebacks
Thursday, DEC 30
10 AM - Semifinals, Consolations, 7th place matches (8 mats)
6 PM - Finals, 3rd and 5th place matches (3 mats)
*Fans will be allowed to attend and tickets will be available at the arena.*
Participating Teams
Army
Bloomsburg (Partial)
Brown
Bucknell
Cal Poly
Campbell
Franklin & Marshall
Harvard
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan (Partial)
North Carolina (Partial)
Northern Illinois
Northern Iowa
Oregon St. (Partial)
Penn
Pitt
Princeton
Purdue
Rider (Partial)
SIUE (Partial)
Rutgers
Virginia (Partial)
Wisconsin
2021 Matmen Open Pre-Seeds
125
Seed Name Team
1 Shawver, Dylan Rutgers
2 Curry, Gage Pittsburgh
3 Cardani, Justin Illinois
4 Miller, Ryan Pennsylvania
5 Molton, Anthony Campbell University
6 Bayless, Beau Harvard
7 Lorenzo, Antonio Cal Poly
8 Storm, Zurich Campbell University
9 Camacho, Colton Pittsburgh
10 Adrian, Hunter Brown University
11 West, Blake Northern Illinois-Unattached
133
Seed Name Team
1 Byrd, Lucas Illinois
2 Phillippi, Micky Pittsburgh
3 Alvarez, Sammy Rutgers
4 Colaiocco, Michael Pennsylvania
5 Mattin, Drew Michigan
6 Burwick, Kyle Wisconsin
7 Ramos, Matt Purdue
8 Skudlarzyk, Jack Northern Iowa
9 Phipps, Kurt Bucknell
10 Rhone, Cole Bloomsburg
11 Olivieri, Joey Rutgers-Unattached RS
141
Seed Name Team
1 Rivera, Sebastian Rutgers
2 Filius, Parker Purdue
3 Matthews, Cole Pittsburgh
4 Ferrante, Carmen Pennsylvania
5 Zargo, Joseph Wisconsin
6 Composto, Cj Pennsylvania
7 Gil, Wil Franklin & Marshall
8 Bell, McKenzie Unattached RS
9 Jones, Jaivon Northern Illinois
10 Munch, Drew Lehigh
11 Basile, Ethan Northern Iowa
149
Seed Name Team
1 Heil, Josh Campbell University
2 Gomez, Austin Wisconsin
3 Lamer, Legend Cal Poly
4 Artalona, Anthony Pennsylvania
5 Lamer, Chance Michigan RS
6 White, Anthony Rutgers-Unattached
7 DePron, Kolby Bucknell
8 Keller, Marshall Princeton
9 Cheloni, Anthony Northern Illinois
10 Kemerer, Luke Pittsburgh
11 Saito, Blake Brown University
157
Seed Name Team
1 Coleman, Kendall Purdue
2 Zapf, Doug Pennsylvania
3 Keating, Jake Virginia-Unattached RS
4 Cleary, Elijah Pittsburgh
5 Kanniard, Robert Rutgers
6 Carida, Alex Bloomsburg
7 Zuunbayan, Munktulga Northern Illinois
8 Jaffe, Aj Harvard
9 Noehre, Cooper Purdue
10 Model, Garrett Wisconsin
165
Seed Name Team
1 Wentzel, Jake Pittsburgh
2 Hartman, Zach Bucknell
3 Hamiti, Dean Wisconsin
4 Olejnik, Izzak Northern Illinois
5 Conigliaro, Philip Harvard
6 Braunagel, Dan Illinois
7 Revano, Lucas Pennsylvania
8 Heller, Holden Hofstra
9 Caliendo, Michael NDSU-Unattached RS
10 Bergey, Blaine Princeton
11 Buell, Stoney Purdue
174
Seed Name Team
1 Turley, Jackson Rutgers
2 Incontrera, Nick Pennsylvania
3 Nijenhuis, Gerrit Purdue
4 Kim, Josh Harvard
5 Kauffman, Mason Northern Illinois
6 Pedro, Anthony Brown University
7 Ruth, Edmond Unattached Clarion
8 Kernan, Hunter Pittsburgh
9 Heller, Reece Hofstra
10 Walker, Joe Michigan
184
Seed Name Team
1 Hall, Mark Unattached GR GR
2 Amine, Myles Michigan
3 Poznanski, John Rutgers
4 Truax, Bernie Cal Poly
5 Wilson, Brit Northern Illinois
6 Munoz, Trey Oregon State
7 Braunagel, Zach Illinois
8 Weiler, Chris Wisconsin
9 Harvey, Gregg Pittsburgh
197
Seed Name Team
1 Bonaccorsi, Nino Pittsburgh
2 Bulsak, Greg Rutgers
3 Amos, Braxton Wisconsin
4 Reyes, Ryan Oregon State
5 Urbas, Cole Pennsylvania
6 Kober, Chris Campbell University
7 Baldridge, Cody North Central College
8 Hopkins, Levi Campbell University
9 Franklin, Kolby Unattached
10 Rogers, Caden Unattached
11 Striggow, Robert Michigan
12 Tracy, Trent Cal Poly
285
Seed Name Team
1 Hillger, Trent Wisconsin
2 Laird, Ethan Rider-Unattached RS
3 Luffman, Luke Illinois
4 McDermott, Boone Rutgers
5 Slinger, Jake Pittsburgh
6 Goldin, Ben Pennsylvania
7 Carroll, Christian Unattached
8 DelGarbino, Jack Princeton
9 Woulfe, Michael Purdue
10 Aguilar, Sam Cal Poly
11 Pelusi, Vincenzo Franklin & Marshall
12 Christensen, Peter Wisconsin-Unattached
13 Cover, Matthew Princeton
Brackets and Results
Official 2021 Matmen Open brackets and results can be found on Tournaflex. Click here
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