Ryan Crookham out for the year

[Wrestleknownothing]

6 minutes ago, fishbane said:

I think the rule changed in 2019-2020.  You use to have to mis most of two seasons to get the 6th year.  They almost never give them out to the point that they were rarely even applied for.  I think Eric Bradley was denied under the old rules.

I think you're right that it now is a routine part of the medical hardship since the rule change.  The criteria is participation in no more than 30% of competitions and the injury happens in the first half of the season.  The Cornell dual was their 8th competition date of the year and there are 16 on Lehigh's schedule so it was in the first half, but if it happened this week maybe not.

I guess the only thing that could really hang it up is if he gets medically cleared to compete before the end of the season, which he might.  Finding a doctor to not clear him/having Crookham say things that would prevent the doctor from clearing him is probably trivial.

Several wrestlers have received 6th year waivers in recent years Michael Kemerer, Boo Lewallen, Austin Gomez and Anthony Cassar to name a few, but before 2019 there aren't many.  I think Noah Surtin is out for the year and would need a 6th year.  Nagao if he out for the year would be in the same boat, but since he's not starting even if it weren't guaranteed the decision would be different than Crookham's.

I think the situation is fluid. As the NCAA accrues loses in the courts they are hesitant to enforce any of their rules that affect eligibility. They are also more inclined than ever to grant additional eligibility. For that reason, I hesitate to rely on precedence when trying to figure out what the NCAA will do now, other than to say they are far more likely to grant extra years now than at any time in the past, even the very recent past - like last year.