Most interesting potential NCAA finals matchups

[1032004]

1 hour ago, flyingcement said:

Bartlett probably going to be third, but as good as he is, I think he has a higher chance of being upset because how how close he keeps matches.  He reminds me of the pre-injury Sammy Sasso in that way

Bartlett has a higher chance to win than he does of finishing lower than 3rd IMO

[flyingcement]

1 hour ago, 1032004 said:

Bartlett has a higher chance to win than he does of finishing lower than 3rd IMO

Not to me he doesn't.  Respect your opinion though

[Konquest]

On 12/13/2024 at 4:47 PM, BruceyB said:

What are the potential NCAA finals matchups that you think would be the most intriguing come NCAA's? This isn't a prediction, but weight by weight, the final that garners the most interest. Mine are...

10. 165 Mesenbrink vs Barraclough

We've seen Mitchell vs Caliendo several times and the gap just seems to be widening. Nothing is likely to be exciting in the weight with how big of a favorite Mesenbrink is, but the off chance of the transfer taking down the superstar (ala Taylor vs Jenkins) would be the most interesting storyline.

9. 285 Steveson vs Hendrickson

Until we see someone be truly competitive with Steveson, it's hard to get too excited over a match that seems like a foregone conclusion. I put in Hendrickson because I think the match is much more likely to be a snoozer if it's Greg and Gable.

8. 133 Bailey vs Crookham

Not a lot of heat in this weight as it's really the dawn of a new age after the years with Desanto, Fix, RBY, and Vito as the top dogs. But Crookham winning a title after staying home at Lehigh or Bailey becoming the first NCAA champion from Little Rock would be big for both programs.

7. 125 Spratley vs Lilledahl

A little bit of a curveball here, but (depending on the finals order) starting off the finals with pupil Taylor's Ok St vs the master Cael and Penn St is the most interesting matchup. For the most part, we've seen many of the matchups at this weight over the last handful of years, and none of them have the juice of a penn st vs ok st final.

6. 157 Shapiro vs Kasak

I don't know if everyone gets a little fatigue from the 6th and 7th year guys, but I think to matchup between two young super studs that both finished 3rd in their true freshman season is the most exciting potential matchup in a weight without a real "final boss" type guy.

5. 149 Henson vs Van Ness

Returning national champion vs young PSU stud. I don't have too much to say, but both guys are absolute dogs and this is the most interesting matchup of 149 this year.

4. Alirez vs Mendez

Two super talented undefeated national champions that have yet to meet in college.

3. 174 O'Toole vs Haines

Two NCAA champions that have hopes of becoming 3x champions when their careers are over.

2. 184 Keckeisen vs Starocci

The unheralded recruit turned NCAA champion from UNI vs the man looking to become the first ever 5x champ. The potential of the upset makes this the match-up with the most on the line as it would likely be remembered for decades to come.

1. 197 Ferrari vs Buchanan

I admittedly hate to put this as the most interesting potential matchup at NCAAs, but I believe it cannot be denied. From a purely on the mat perspective, I actually think would likely be the most boring match on this list. However, if AJ steps on the mat for round 1 at NCAAs, who isn't tuning in? Every match will grow the anticipation of him facing Buchanan, the man who stepped into "his" spot at Iowa after last year's events. The entire arena at NCAAs cheering or jeering as the match goes on. The reaction of AJ to the crowd (regardless of outcome) and the potential interview after. I truly believe if this is the 197 final it should be the last match of the night for two reasons. One, everyone who is a real fan of college wrestling either loves the Ferrari antics or is absolutely disgusted by them, so fans won't want to miss the match. Two, who knows what will happen during and after this match, and it would be a shame for those events to overshadow the wrestling still to come. 

Thoughts?

Parker was the #1 guy in his weight on the USA dream team poster and had a win over Starocci (among others) in high school.  He was a huge, huge recruit for UNI, far from "unheralded".  I think this perception is because UNI doesn't have the legacy and media share like the other two big programs in Iowa, and because he's an "eat/sleep/wrestle" kind of guy who never pops off on social media about anything other than food and Bible verses.   

[BruceyB]

1 hour ago, Konquest said:

Parker was the #1 guy in his weight on the USA dream team poster and had a win over Starocci (among others) in high school.  He was a huge, huge recruit for UNI, far from "unheralded".  I think this perception is because UNI doesn't have the legacy and media share like the other two big programs in Iowa, and because he's an "eat/sleep/wrestle" kind of guy who never pops off on social media about anything other than food and Bible verses.   

Sorry, he was more of a sleeper until his senior year. Askren has talked about it many times. Parker never won a junior high state title, and didn't start notching big wins until later in high school. No big schools were on him until after he committed to UNI and started knocking off big names.

[1032004]

On 12/17/2024 at 6:57 AM, 1032004 said:

 

Hipolito vs anyone

 

^.  Needs to work on his gas tank though