All Activity

Why did Coach Manning post this lol?

I need to make sure Mount Rushmore keeps the actual best wrestlers ever on it. That is my motivation. If you leave it to the psu faithful they will put their peeps on it even if undeserving. I spent 5 mins looking. No more no less here are some quotes. Some are interesting as I never thought prime caliber young cstall would wrestle old legacy dake but you get what you get::: I don't get why he's behind Dake…. I think it would give Starocci an argument for greatest college wrestler of all time…. So then he's behind I believe just Cael…. I think Cael is the GOAT but Dake is right up there…… I would not argue Dake is "right up there," what I would disagree is that Starocci isn't. …. It just occurred to me that CStar has basically had three undefeated seasons already, looking for a fourth (aside from injury defaults). Would be Cael-like…..

PJ Duke is really really good

I would definitely predict it based on those lineups. I have a hard time seeing Desmond and Herring in the lineup, though. Wouldn’t be surprised if Mirasola is gone/replaced as well. So many variables and unknowns with the portal and other things. Oklahoma State looks very legit into the future for sure.

Too busy being overwhelmed by the tidal waves of success that HWC had at trials this weekend. How can you have success if you don’t even enter people?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bruce's 84 Olympic Gold is not a world level medal. I don't think it merits being mentioned over even his performances in forgotten tournaments. I guess you could try to say that about 1980, but the favorite at that weight was not an American. A wrestling tournament with no Soviets is akin to a modern ping pong tourney without Chinese players. Bruce would have been a big underdog to Salman (whose name I butchered above). Soslan was the best heavyweight of the 70s. He dominated that decade winning 5 wold level medals in a row and swept most of the soviet national championships (where he had a winning h2h over the man that Bruce could not beat). He was clearly the best at his weight for an extended period of time, Bruce was never. He always took a loss to someone or failed to defend his title. I think sustained dominance (plus the degree of dominance, thought you have to first go on unbeaten streaks for that to really matter) trump longevity and a high floor (constantly getting at least bronze). So I think Bruce is not on Soslan's level. I don't think he's even clearly the best of the group I put him in. You could make a strong case that Salman separated himself from Bruce (given their h2h results).

I'll take Duke over the field AND I think you're right, those three are a tier(a very small tier) ahead of Bassett. Though, as a recruit, Bassett may be the most valuable with his following, the potential to bring along a couple other elite Wrestlers and the energy he brings to a program. And that's of course why Iowa gave him that 5 year 265M deal...because as Jimmy tells me, they just buy all their Wrestlers(though...pretty sure PSU has the most funding, but...never mind that). It's the following he brings to the sport, it's the PA kid going to Iowa, it's the kids that might follow him. I think he wants to kinda "build" a program...well, he wasn't doing that at PSU, OSU(either) or Iowa, but he CAN in theory RE-build Iowa into a National Champ(or at least a threat). It's also just good for Iowa. Now you have Bassett, Ferrari, Keuter, Arnold, Deluca. That's a helluva group of 5. I like Estrada(he seems like just a quiet kid both in terms of his personality and how little people talk about him). But those 5 guys, I think 2 are near locks if they're healthy to win NC in Ferrari and Keuter

Everyone develops only their own tracks. DT and Dake made their first world teams at 27, and still managed to pull down some impressive hardware. It remains to be seen whether CStar sticks with freestyle, and if so how good he gets.

He reminds me a bit of Mark Hall. Both phenoms in freestyle early that relied more on holding pristine positioning and capitalizing on opponent's mistakes

How could anyone think Carter Starocci is in his “freestyle prime”? Maybe his age is his physical prime, but there’s no way you can say he’s at the best he will ever be in freestyle. He’s been focused on folk style and has done very little freestyle (comparatively speaking). I was glad to see Dake win and I believe it was the right call, but I am not confident in a rematch as Carter continues to improve

Why do you always feel the need yo do this? Can you name a single person on this board who has Starocci on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling? You say you can remember this so I am sure this won't be challenging for you, right?

I would also take the under. That doesn't change that this is a far better matchup for Hilger than it is Thomas.

lolno cmon. I'm a Hilger fan but there are levels to this. I'll field all bets for O/U 9.5 minutes total between the two matches next month and I'm taking the under. I'll happily be wrong but I'm confident.

it concerns an infamous return alright!

Well, Andiev (that's the Soslan you are referring to) has 2 olympic gold, So does Bruce, and keep in mind, we didn't go to Moscow, Andiev has 4 world gold, and Bruce has 3 world gold, Andiev has one world silver, and Bruce has 3 world silver, as well as 3 world bronze.....oh I almost forgot.....throw in an Olympic silver and bronze for Bruce as well giving him world record 13 world and Olympic Medals.......you can't put Andiev (Soslan) a "tier" above Bruce!!!! I'm old enough, I watched Andiev....he's in my "film" library (World Cups) in Toledo...he was really good, but NOT a tier above Bruce. Medved was in a different era ......watched him too.....but I won't argue him.....12 world and Olympic medals ....10 gold. Fadz

J'den Cox won gold in 2018 and 2019 when he would have been 23 and 24. He also had two bronze at 21 and 22, and a bronze and silver at 26 and 27, respectively. Just adding another data point. Seems to be plenty of examples on both sides of age 25. Time will tell about Carter. Personally, I don't think his age matters much, but don't think he's dynamic enough to become a dominant force of the senior level scene (but wouldn't be shocked if he got a medal before all is said and done).

Returning to college wrestling?

1:35!

I am, and he's one of the first Russian greats.....10 Olympic and World Gold and a silver and bronze (12 in all) Jordanov (Bulgaria has 12) Baumgartner has 13!

Actually, there are so many of them to remember. We might need an app or something.

I don't think I like steroid dealers and suspected pimps talking about children like this...

Well my memory and remembering ain't what it used to be.

I know, after putting this together, I was disappointed at how far away it feels when we'll finally get to see it. These 2025 and 2026 classes have to have the most loaded top 10s in recent history. The amount of wrestlers that are competitive on the senior level is unprecedented. It will be interesting who can continue their trajectory and who will plateau. I can't wait for an actual team race.