Rocky Elam officially done for the year

[Gus]

Coach Smith announced that Elam is done for the year and KOT is out for the month of January with an injury.

 

https://mutigers.com/news/2025/1/2/brian-smith-announces-wrestling-lineup-updates-ahead-of-beauty-and-the-beast.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawHjpxdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTpkhJOXgKTJkTvsA25DYaYb89pdjx-GzDacwhyRpu7r4K84I38JLkv7kw_aem_tksQ4oULSNzjNFfZ7QbIrw

[Konquest]

Where will Sinclair land in rankings?  Wins over Salazar and Braunagel point to a top 15 ranking IMHO...

Or does Mizzou keep Sinclair in RS and put someone else in?  Do they have depth at 197 behind Elam and Sinclair?  They are not going to challenge for a trophy so does it make a difference?

[Gus]

22 minutes ago, Konquest said:

Where will Sinclair land in rankings?  Wins over Salazar and Braunagel point to a top 15 ranking IMHO...

Or does Mizzou keep Sinclair in RS and put someone else in?  Do they have depth at 197 behind Elam and Sinclair?  They are not going to challenge for a trophy so does it make a difference?

They do not have depth behind Sinclair. I hope they keep him in redshirt as he seems to be better suited for 184. 

[Le duke]

Iowa fans are already penciling him into their lineup at 197 for next year.

[Wrestleknownothing]

29 minutes ago, Konquest said:

Where will Sinclair land in rankings?  Wins over Salazar and Braunagel point to a top 15 ranking IMHO...

Or does Mizzou keep Sinclair in RS and put someone else in?  Do they have depth at 197 behind Elam and Sinclair?  They are not going to challenge for a trophy so does it make a difference?

Wrestlestat has him at #13 (really #12 as Elam is #4).

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

10 minutes ago, Le duke said:

Iowa fans are already penciling him into their lineup at 197 for next year.

If he had gone to Iowa in the first place, he wouldn't be dealing with all of these injury issues.

[BarSeries]

KOT and Hamiti really going to go their full careers without wrestling each other besides all-star? If KOT misses Feb 2 against OSU and is #1 seed and Hamiti the #3.........

[The_KC_Godfather]

So I wonder if this means Rocky is done done, or if he’s coming back next year…

[ionel]

54 minutes ago, Gus said:

Coach Smith announced that Elam is done for the year and KOT is out for the month of January with an injury.

 

Ok but what about Feb 2?  I already purchase flight.  That dual will be a total blow out without KOT. 

[BruceyB]

16 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

If he had gone to Iowa in the first place, he wouldn't be dealing with all of these injury issues.

Didn't you listen to the Askren plan? If you want to wrestle for Iowa, you have to commit somewhere else first, that way they have to pay you to wear the black and yellow. Aedon was a wise pupil, indeed. He'll have himself a nice little nestegg.

[1032004]

30 minutes ago, Gus said:

They do not have depth behind Sinclair. I hope they keep him in redshirt as he seems to be better suited for 184. 

I believe Askren said on FRL that he was likely to redshirt regardless of Elam’s situation.

[ionel]

15 minutes ago, BarSeries said:

KOT and Hamiti really going to go their full careers without wrestling each other besides all-star? If KOT misses Feb 2 against OSU and is #1 seed and Hamiti the #3.........

They will meet Big 12. 

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

Didn't you listen to the Askren plan? If you want to wrestle for Iowa, you have to commit somewhere else first, that way they have to pay you to wear the black and yellow. Aedon was a wise pupil, indeed. He'll have himself a nice little nestegg.

Can KOT get a medical and $5M from Iowa next year?  Asking for a friend BA.

Edited Thursday at 06:08 PM by ionel

[1032004]

Seeding wise I don’t see the downside to O’Toole wrestling in the dual against Hamiti.  If he wins B12’s he’s still likely the #1 seed

[666]

29 minutes ago, BarSeries said:

KOT and Hamiti really going to go their full careers without wrestling each other besides all-star? If KOT misses Feb 2 against OSU and is #1 seed and Hamiti the #3.........

The crazy part is that I think Hamiti moved to 174 to get away from KOT! Would love to see those guys wrestle in the finals. Hamiti has such slick takedowns, but KOT has insanely tough defense. 174 is going to be super fun at NCAAs with Haines, KOT and Hamiti. Those guys have all separated from the rest, imo, even though I have Haines and KOT a little higher than Hamiti. 

[ionel]

The coach says he will "miss the month of January."  So if he skips the Feb 2 match with Hamiti will Wkn acknowledge this is a big fat duck?  

[666]

10 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Seeding wise I don’t see the downside to O’Toole wrestling in the dual against Hamiti.  If he wins B12’s he’s still likely the #1 seed

Each will be a top 3 seed at NCAAs, and on opposite sides of the bracket in all likelihood. Yeah, shouldn't be too much downside. 

[BruceyB]

Just now, ionel said:

Ok but what about Feb 2?  I already purchase flight.  That dual will be a total blow out without KOT. 

Idk what airline you used, but the NCAA should make a disclaimer where you can be fully reimbursed when the matchup you made an entire trip for is cancelled. 

I jest, but I don't. It is just a major disappointment and kind of a waste when the feature matchup is cancelled. 

I really hope KOT is fully healthy come NCAAs though. I think 174 if the top 4 are healthy (I'm now including Norman as a wildcard for a possible upset) is probably the weight I am most looking forward to at NCAAs. I love watching Hamiti, Haines, and KOT wrestle. Without KOT, 174 will feel empty.

[1032004]

4 minutes ago, 666 said:

Each will be a top 3 seed at NCAAs, and on opposite sides of the bracket in all likelihood. Yeah, shouldn't be too much downside. 

If anything Hamiti probably has more incentive to duck the dual (although I’d be shocked if he did).  If O’Toole wins the dual but loses at Big 12’s then Haines likely has an argument for the #1 seed

[666]

26 minutes ago, ionel said:

Ok but what about Feb 2?  I already purchase flight.  That dual will be a total blow out without KOT. 

It's going to be a blowout even if KOT pins Hamiti

[ionel]

Just now, BruceyB said:

Idk what airline you used, but the NCAA should make a disclaimer where you can be fully reimbursed when the matchup you made an entire trip for is cancelled. 

I jest, but I don't. It is just a major disappointment and kind of a waste when the feature matchup is cancelled. 

I really hope KOT is fully healthy come NCAAs though. I think 174 if the top 4 are healthy (I'm now including Norman as a wildcard for a possible upset) is probably the weight I am most looking forward to at NCAAs. I love watching Hamiti, Haines, and KOT wrestle. Without KOT, 174 will feel empty.

Actually I'm flying AA so can just cancel and use the flight $ later.  Dissapointing cause also had a hammer fest machine shed pickleball match set up against some local youngsters, done so the last 3 trips into Stilly.   I think I'll do it and book my flight to Iowa.  Shirley the hawkeyes will show up for their own home dual at CHA ... although hawks & chickens are related ...

[okokzach]

2 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

If anything Hamiti probably has more incentive to duck the dual (although I’d be shocked if he did).  If O’Toole wins the dual but loses at Big 12’s then Haines likely has an argument for the #1 seed

Dumber things have happened with seedings, but no I don't think Haines has an argument in any scenario where Hamiti/KOT have lost only to one another and Haines has wins over neither. 

[ionel]

4 minutes ago, 666 said:

It's going to be a blowout even if KOT pins Hamiti

Yeah but that one match worth the trip.  

[BruceyB]

11 minutes ago, 666 said:

The crazy part is that I think Hamiti moved to 174 to get away from KOT! Would love to see those guys wrestle in the finals. Hamiti has such slick takedowns, but KOT has insanely tough defense. 174 is going to be super fun at NCAAs with Haines, KOT and Hamiti. Those guys have all separated from the rest, imo, even though I have Haines and KOT a little higher than Hamiti. 

If you listen to FRL, Ben Askren has said for the last three years that once Peyton Mocco graduates (one of KOT's best friends) that KOT was planning to go 174 all along. Askren even hyped the potential of KOT going up into Starocci's weight before it was known that Starocci would be moving to 184. So I would assume everyone in college wrestling knew that last year was Keegan's last year at 165.

[Spencerlee]

1 hour ago, Le duke said:

Iowa fans are already penciling him into their lineup at 197 for next year.

Yep