Brooks, Hidlay give 197 some street credibility

[JimmyBT]

197 has some top tier talent to watch this year.  It won’t be the weakest weight class again this year.  

[Mr. PeanutButter]

what is the weakest weight class then? 184/125/157?

[Hammerlock3]

i feel like the weakest weight talk is based on the idea that we've recently had HWY as the toughest weight for the first time ever...as if 97 was the default.

[JimmyBT]

1 hour ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

what is the weakest weight class then? 184/125/157?

Good question.  Might be a little early to tell but I’ll go with 125 at this point.  The highest returner and last years runner up has multiple losses already this year. 

[Ohio Elite]

125 for sure.  For now.

[JimmyBT]

1 hour ago, Hammerlock3 said:

i feel like the weakest weight talk is based on the idea that we've recently had HWY as the toughest weight for the first time ever...as if 97 was the default.

Actually had Brooks and Hidlay not moved up it easily would have been 197 again this year as the weakest.  Last years runner up has been manhandled by Brooks and looked overmatched against Smith from Maryland already this season. 

[Hammerlock3]

1 minute ago, JimmyBT said:

Actually had Brooks and Hidlay not moved up it easily would have been 197 again this year as the weakest.  Last years runner up has been manhandled by Brooks and looked overmatched against Smith from Maryland already this season. 

thats a rather large qualifier to lead with.

[JimmyBT]

1 minute ago, Hammerlock3 said:

thats a rather large qualifier to lead with.

Ok 

[JimmyBT]

3 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

thats a rather large qualifier to lead with.

Buchanan is back this year too.   Three quality wrestlers added to what was the weakest weight class last year. 

[Gus]

125 is definitely the easiest. I would go 125, 141, 157, 184, 149, 133, 174, HWT, 197, 165

[1032004]

3 minutes ago, Gus said:

125 is definitely the easiest. I would go 125, 141, 157, 184, 149, 133, 174, HWT, 197, 165

How do you define “easiest”?

[1032004]

It’s weird that the guy that beat Spencer Lee (and would have beaten him without the pin) already has 4 losses this year (3 to NCAA opponents) yet so many people keep saying 125 is weak.

Edited December 3, 2023 by 1032004

[Mr. PeanutButter]

3 hours ago, JimmyBT said:

Good question.  Might be a little early to tell but I’ll go with 125 at this point.  The highest returner and last years runner up has multiple losses already this year. 

You might be right. Is it possible that Ramos losing actually makes 125 deeper than it appears? Perhaps Ramos isn't a good early season wrestler? He had some questionable losses early last season too. Heck, he got majored by DeAug at big ten's. Maybe he's just inconsistent and had the tourney of a lifetime last march

 

[JimmyBT]

7 hours ago, 1032004 said:

It’s weird that the guy that beat Spencer Lee (and would have beaten him without the pin) already has 4 losses this year (3 to NCAA opponents) yet so many people keep saying 125 is weak.

Thanks for supporting the point.  4 losses and one to a jr in high school. 125  Lacks top tier talent.  

[1032004]

1 hour ago, JimmyBT said:

Thanks for supporting the point.  4 losses and one to a jr in high school. 125  Lacks top tier talent.  

Well this goes back to my question of how are we defining “easiest”?  Sure, if we’re defining it as how hard it would be for someone else to beat the top 1 or 2 guys, sure I’ll admit it’s probably 125.

But 125 is super deep.  133 for example has 3 studs (I’m counting Crookham), 3 or 4 pretty good guys, then kinda drops off a cliff.  In fact the 4/5/6 guys (Nagao, Orine and Latona, I’m counting Crookham as #3, silly for Intermat to have him as #5 IMO), all have losses to 3 different guys currently in the 125 field.

[JimmyBT]

1 hour ago, 1032004 said:

Well this goes back to my question of how are we defining “easiest”?  Sure, if we’re defining it as how hard it would be for someone else to beat the top 1 or 2 guys, sure I’ll admit it’s probably 125.

But 125 is super deep.  133 for example has 3 studs (I’m counting Crookham), 3 or 4 pretty good guys, then kinda drops off a cliff.  In fact the 4/5/6 guys (Nagao, Orine and Latona, I’m counting Crookham as #3, silly for Intermat to have him as #5 IMO), all have losses to 3 different guys currently in the 125 field.

Top. Tier. Talent.  

[hawkguy]

I would say 125 is probably one of the hardest to win, since you know there is like 20 dudes who could win the whole thing. Kinda like 197 past year

[JimmyBT]

1 hour ago, hawkguy said:

I would say 125 is probably one of the hardest to win, since you know there is like 20 dudes who could win the whole thing. Kinda like 197 past year

 I’d much rather be in a bracket where I don’t have to worry about ending up on the same side of the bracket as a brooks or starocci.  I’m pretty sure most would agree 

Edited December 3, 2023 by JimmyBT

[1032004]

33 minutes ago, JimmyBT said:

 I’d much rather be in a bracket where I don’t have to worry about ending up on the same side of the bracket as a brooks or starocci.  I’m pretty sure most would agree 

If my goal was to AA, I would much rather be at 133

[JimmyBT]

11 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

If my goal was to AA, I would much rather be at 133

You’re goal should be to win it all but ok. 

[CoachC]

I think 125 is the easiest as well. That's another reason why I think it should be raised a bit, maybe 130. It brings more competitive talent to the weight class. Even small guys are cutting hard. I know a 125 guy who walks around over 140 out of season. Let him cut, but not to 125. Raise all the weights a few pounds.

[ionel]

42 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

If my goal was to AA, I would much rather be at 133

How's make'n weight gonna go for ya, fun? 

[hawkguy]

3 hours ago, JimmyBT said:

 I’d much rather be in a bracket where I don’t have to worry about ending up on the same side of the bracket as a brooks or starocci.  I’m pretty sure most would agree 

Good chance if you're the number 5-8 guy at 197 or 174 you have a decent chance of placing at nationals. However if you're number 5-8 at 125 you have to probably beat 3 or 4 guys at your exact skill level to place 

[bnwtwg]

6 minutes ago, hawkguy said:

Good chance if you're the number 5-8 guy at 197 or 174 you have a decent chance of placing at nationals. However if you're number 5-8 at 125 you have to probably beat 3 or 4 guys at your exact skill level to place 

And if you’re 5-8 at 125 you have a great shot to win it all. Not a deep weight that lacks firepower this season.

[MPhillips]

4 hours ago, JimmyBT said:

You’re goal should be to win it all but ok. 

Yet here we are...