fbpx
29 Jun 2020
PODCAST
June 29, 2020 Ryan Warner

#144 Trailer for Assembly Fall (Audio Documentary)

  • Share:

Airing next Tuesday, Assembly Fall. An audio documentary brought to you by Wrestling Changed My Life.

In a match dubbed as the biggest upset in Illinois history, Matt Kucala defied the odds and pinned the previously unbeaten Eric Tannenbaum at the 2001 IHSA state finals. Assembly Fall takes an in-depth look at that match and answers the question: is it the biggest upset in state history?

*Summary

On February 17, 2001, Illinois wrestling fans witnessed one of the most shocking upsets in state history as Eric Tannenbaum and Matt Kucala wrestled for the 125 lbs crown. Heading into the match, Tannenbaum 86-0 and the defending state champion. He was aiming to become the first undefeated, 4x state champ in Illinois history. Kucala had other plans.

*Director’s Take

If you were a wrestling fan in 2001, you’ll never forget where you were when you heard about the Tannenbaum-Kucala match. But most know almost nothing about the Tannenbaum and Kucala stories, as well as what happened in the hours and minutes leading up to that fateful match. Our mission with ‘Assembly Fall’ was to bring Eric and Matt’s stories to life. Most important, we wanted to show just what it takes to achieve something incredible, and how to respond after your lifelong goal is ripped from your hands – as it was for Tannenbaum.

We also set out to answer the age-old question – is this the biggest upset in finals history? Was the pin a fluke? Was Eric even pinned? Did Kucala really choose top in the third period with a 1-point lead?

Assembly Fall, I hope, answers these questions and shows a behind-the-curtain look at this incredible match.