Rocky Elam officially done for the year

[BruceyB]

1 minute ago, MizzouFan01 said:

Cassett is the only other 197 that has wrestled this year as far as I know beyond Sinclair. We lack depth in the upper weights. As much as I’d hate to punt a year, this definitely is a year to do it. How it reflects on recruiting is yet to be seen. Hopefully not much. But I do wonder if Rocky come back how it effects the lineup for next year. Sinclair I would imagine would not want to ride the bench for 2 years. We do need him in the lineup honestly. 

Sinclair at 84 and Elam at 197 isn't a bad combo. Aedon looks like he could probably spend at least a couple of years at 184 before maturing into a true 197.

[The_KC_Godfather]

If Rocky was considering medically retiring when Surtin did, it’s hard to imagine he would come back next year and go through the grind of a season again. He seemed burned out last year as it was, at least to me.

IF he comes back next year, and we sit Sinclair this year, I can’t imagine they don’t bump Rocky to heavy or send Hawks to 174…don’t want to take a chance of Sinclair being unhappy by not getting into the lineup (see: Clayton Whitting).

What I’d like to see is Sinclair come out of RS now, get the experience of B12’s and Nationals and hopefully run into AJ (and kick his a$$). Then, RS next year and be Rocky’s training partner and settle into whatever weight he’s going to go. Then come back with Walker, Mendoza, Rath, Steed, and Stillwell all in the lineup…

[MizzouFan01]

38 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

Sinclair at 84 and Elam at 197 isn't a bad combo. Aedon looks like he could probably spend at least a couple of years at 184 before maturing into a true 197.

Where does Hawks go? According to the roster he’s a RSJR, he would have another year correct?

[BruceyB]

Just now, MizzouFan01 said:

Where does Hawks go? According to the roster he’s a RSJR, he would have another year correct?

You start your best two guys.

[MizzouFan01]

15 minutes ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

If Rocky was considering medically retiring when Surtin did, it’s hard to imagine he would come back next year and go through the grind of a season again. He seemed burned out last year as it was, at least to me.

IF he comes back next year, and we sit Sinclair this year, I can’t imagine they don’t bump Rocky to heavy or send Hawks to 174…don’t want to take a chance of Sinclair being unhappy by not getting into the lineup (see: Clayton Whitting).

What I’d like to see is Sinclair come out of RS now, get the experience of B12’s and Nationals and hopefully run into AJ (and kick his a$$). Then, RS next year and be Rocky’s training partner and settle into whatever weight he’s going to go. Then come back with Walker, Mendoza, Rath, Steed, and Stillwell all in the lineup…

This would ideal and I’m am all for this. No way do you sit Sinclair for two years. My question is do you punt another year, RS Sinclair, Walker Mendoza and Rath next year and two years from now go for a trophy? Maybe they don’t want to RS, then what do you do if you’re Smith. Myself and I know Sinclair doesn’t cut, but maybe he goes 184 and hawks to 197 next year. 

[BruceyB]

21 minutes ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

If Rocky was considering medically retiring when Surtin did, it’s hard to imagine he would come back next year and go through the grind of a season again. He seemed burned out last year as it was, at least to me.

IF he comes back next year, and we sit Sinclair this year, I can’t imagine they don’t bump Rocky to heavy or send Hawks to 174…don’t want to take a chance of Sinclair being unhappy by not getting into the lineup (see: Clayton Whitting).

What I’d like to see is Sinclair come out of RS now, get the experience of B12’s and Nationals and hopefully run into AJ (and kick his a$$). Then, RS next year and be Rocky’s training partner and settle into whatever weight he’s going to go. Then come back with Walker, Mendoza, Rath, Steed, and Stillwell all in the lineup…

He's a fringe AA contender at this point.. why wouldn't you just have him RS this year (his points aren't going to matter in a rebuild) and then have 4 years following when he is more ready? Either way he is going to cover the same time frame, and this year seems like the year where a few extra team points that he might provide are probably the least important given the makeup of this roster. 

[MizzouFan01]

4 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

You start your best two guys.

That’s not how it works every time at Mizzou. Whitting beat out hawks last year, starter most of the year and Hawks got moved into the lineup at the end of the year. Now idk the details, and I won’t go into what I’ve heard about it but Whitting was 2-0 or 3-0 vs Hawks in H2H battles. Also Smith has choosen other guys over wrestle off winners in the past. 

[The_KC_Godfather]

7 minutes ago, MizzouFan01 said:

This would ideal and I’m am all for this. No way do you sit Sinclair for two years. My question is do you punt another year, RS Sinclair, Walker Mendoza and Rath next year and two years from now go for a trophy? Maybe they don’t want to RS, then what do you do if you’re Smith. Myself and I know Sinclair doesn’t cut, but maybe he goes 184 and hawks to 197 next year. 

I agree with all of this. Where my mind went with him not redshirting this year was…you fill a hole in the lineup (agreed team points don’t matter…more about experience), but it sounds like he may be better served at 184. If he goes this year at 97, then RS’s next year, Hawks will be a RS SR, as will Rocky. Then Aedon comes back after they graduate with 3 years of eligibility, a more mature body and plenty of time to get to 184 comfortably, and fills the 184 spot for his career.

My official guess, though, is Rocky retires, Sinclair stays in RS, and we see Hawks and him at 84 and 97 next year. Unless Aedon pushes Coach Smith hard to compete this year

[The_KC_Godfather]

18 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

He's a fringe AA contender at this point.. why wouldn't you just have him RS this year (his points aren't going to matter in a rebuild) and then have 4 years following when he is more ready? Either way he is going to cover the same time frame, and this year seems like the year where a few extra team points that he might provide are probably the least important given the makeup of this roster. 

I was thinking more of how we fit Hawks/Sinclair/Elam into the lineup next year. If he RS’s next year, he comes back with both of them gone and more mature.

But, I really doubt we see Rocky in a Mizzou singlet again….

[MizzouFan01]

5 minutes ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

I was thinking more of how we fit Hawks/Sinclair/Elam into the lineup next year. If he RS’s next year, he comes back with both of them gone and more mature.

But, I really doubt we see Rocky in a Mizzou singlet again….

Do you feel he retires? If that’s the case, why not announce a med retirement with or after Surtin? Does he portal and go elsewhere? I have a hard time with that route as he’s been a true Mizzou kid his whole life. But money does talk. Maybe he’s ready to go to work on the farm, and put wrestling in the past. 

[666]

19 hours ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

Mizzou has been banged up every year for the last 5, if not longer. Yet no one is suggesting Smith and his archaic training methods should be banished 

 

[Mizzou Fan]

On 1/2/2025 at 11:12 AM, 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?

With Rocky coming back next year (sounds like redshirt of some kind), there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep Sinclair on his redhsirt.  With Rocky and Colton Hawks returning next year, Sinclair can redshirt then vs wasting a year of eligability sitting on the bench.  Sinclair has shown he can be very competitive at 197 now.  Am I missing something?

 

[1032004]

7 minutes ago, Mizzou Fan said:

With Rocky coming back next year (sounds like redshirt of some kind), there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep Sinclair on his redhsirt.  With Rocky and Colton Hawks returning next year, Sinclair can redshirt then vs wasting a year of eligability sitting on the bench.  Sinclair has shown he can be very competitive at 197 now.  Am I missing something?

 

The chance Rocky doesn’t come back?

[Gus]

25 minutes ago, Mizzou Fan said:

With Rocky coming back next year (sounds like redshirt of some kind), there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep Sinclair on his redhsirt.  With Rocky and Colton Hawks returning next year, Sinclair can redshirt then vs wasting a year of eligability sitting on the bench.  Sinclair has shown he can be very competitive at 197 now.  Am I missing something?

 

Sinclair is very capable but clearly lacks size at 197. Would be best to remain in redshirt in my opinion.

[BruceyB]

23 hours ago, Gus said:

No one is getting offered 10 millions dollars lol

It was a joke lol.

[1032004]

On 1/2/2025 at 1:05 PM, ionel said:

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

Sounds like O’Toole won’t be wrestling.  Now “aiming for the end of February”

 

 

[Wrestleknownothing]

1 minute ago, 1032004 said:

Sounds like O’Toole won’t be wrestling.  Now “aiming for the end of February”

 

 

bummer

[CHROMEBIRD]

Damn

[MidwestMan]

Intresting comments concerning KO's return and getting to 100 wins.  I'm curious if Mizzou will ever have another 100 win career wrestler.  Remember when MU wrestled at Cliff Keen Vegas, Southern Scuffle, etc...?  Now, less big tourneys with emphasis on duals and strategic wrestler participation.   MU's been beat up for 2 years now and for damn sure not in the MAC anymore. This ship needs to be righted before it sinks.  March is "nut cutting time".  I hope the Tigers are not neutered.

[BruceyB]

3 hours ago, MidwestMan said:

Intresting comments concerning KO's return and getting to 100 wins.  I'm curious if Mizzou will ever have another 100 win career wrestler.  Remember when MU wrestled at Cliff Keen Vegas, Southern Scuffle, etc...?  Now, less big tourneys with emphasis on duals and strategic wrestler participation.   MU's been beat up for 2 years now and for damn sure not in the MAC anymore. This ship needs to be righted before it sinks.  March is "nut cutting time".  I hope the Tigers are not neutered.

I don't know how many wrestlers in general will have 100 wins moving forward. We have guys with 5 years of eligibility that are missing or barely hitting 100 wins. 

[MPhillips]

Starocci is 105-4 including a RS year (2020) and a MFF here and there.

D'Emilio is 89-45 in the same period.  

[BruceyB]

2 hours ago, MPhillips said:

Starocci is 105-4 including a RS year (2020) and a MFF here and there.

D'Emilio is 89-45 in the same period.  

When did we start counting RS matches on a wrestlers record? Did we just lose the only undefeated wrestler in college history?

[nhs67]

On 1/2/2025 at 7:12 PM, BruceyB said:

You start your best two guys.

The three best guys at 184-197-285 would be Hawkes/Sinclair, Hawkes/Sinclair, Elam, right?

That is your best peak potential lineup.

[Wrestleknownothing]

7 hours ago, MPhillips said:

Starocci is 105-4 including a RS year (2020) and a MFF here and there.

D'Emilio is 89-45 in the same period.  

If D'Emilio wrestled 45 fewer matches he coulda been the next undefeated 4 timer. Let that be a lesson to the kids out there.

[nhs67]

46 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

The three best guys at 184-197-285 would be Hawkes/Sinclair, Hawkes/Sinclair, Elam, right?

That is your best peak potential lineup.

To add to this, Wrestlestat has it as this (and mind you, these are metrics based off results with no opinion added to them):

Elam > Sinclair > Hawks > Nitzel > Stoner

Thought process there is that if the three 'better' wrestlers there can be in three different weight classes, you spread them to three different weight classes (providing it isn't unhealthy for one or more of them to do so - which wouldn't be the case because nobody would be cutting here).