Poll: Who wins the 2025 Hodge?

[Gus]

3 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

Mekhi and Griffith both dealt with injuries

The difference in that scenario is that Gable beat a healthy Parris in '21. Parris was a wrecking ball that year with a 100% bonus rate (including over Kerk and Cassiopi) outside of his two matches with Gable.

[BruceyB]

17 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought past accolades were removed from the hodge criteria? Jesse having the close one with Vombaur definitely dings him but if he wins 141 it will be hard to argue with that strength of schedule at least in my opinion if he puts up above an 80% bonus rate. Mitchell is going to be the most dominant guy besides Gable but is probably also at arguably the weakest weight in the country. If gable were to bonus Kerk at big 10's or NCAA's he would be my odds-on favorite. Carter beating Pk with a 90% bonus rate will also be a great resume. 

Gable
Carter
MM
Jesse 

Thats the order I would go with, but I think all have certain arguments going in their favor. Darkhorse Wyatt if he somehow won heavy.

I am really curious how voting would go if Keckeisen were to pull off the upset. Would voters ding him for losing in the All-Star? Or would they reward him for ending Carter's streak and quest for 5?

[PortaJohn]

21 minutes ago, Gus said:

The difference in that scenario is that Gable beat a healthy Parris in '21. Parris was a wrecking ball that year with a 100% bonus rate (including over Kerk and Cassiopi) outside of his two matches with Gable.

I'm being subjective here but it is hard for me, almost impossible, to compare a middle weight to a heavy.  I'm always going to believe the skill sets required to win at the lower or middle weights far surpass the skillsets needed to win at heavy.  So, at least for me, beating Mekhi Lewis is far greater than beating Parris.  I'll take Mekhi's redshirt freshman championship over a 2x Vincenzo Joseph over anything Parris did.

[Elevator]

7 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

I'm being subjective here but it is hard for me, almost impossible, to compare a middle weight to a heavy.  I'm always going to believe the skill sets required to win at the lower or middle weights far surpass the skillsets needed to win at heavy.  So, at least for me, beating Mekhi Lewis is far greater than beating Parris.  I'll take Mekhi's redshirt freshman championship over a 2x Vincenzo Joseph over anything Parris did.

As a bigger guy, this is offensive.  But as a wrestling fan, it is accurate.  One Hodge is not enough.  Probably should be three: lower, middle, and upper.  

[Gus]

8 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

I'm being subjective here but it is hard for me, almost impossible, to compare a middle weight to a heavy.  I'm always going to believe the skill sets required to win at the lower or middle weights far surpass the skillsets needed to win at heavy.  So, at least for me, beating Mekhi Lewis is far greater than beating Parris.  I'll take Mekhi's redshirt freshman championship over a 2x Vincenzo Joseph over anything Parris did.

Mekhi was lights out in that championship run. Obviously there is a much different skill set that is required to win a title at 125 vs 165 vs 285. Yes, it is all subjective. In my subjective mind, I see the Parris win as the best of the bunch. 

[bnwtwg]

This is where I volunteer and run for

 

So it pains me to say that after what went down with Natalie's dog, I am separating the art from the artist and saying that Mesenbrink is "My Girl" and should win the Hodge as long as he wins out. Terminator on another level at his weight class. Of course, if KOT stayed or MM bumped up (and don't get me started if Carr was around another year after last year's attempted Patrick Mahomes level of ref jobbing for PSU...)

[ionel]

If Hendrickson beats Kerk & Steveson then he is your Hodge. 

[headshuck]

Has anyone ever felt Steveson might lose a match since his true freshman loss to Cassar in 2019? The only time for me was his semifinal match with Kirk because they knew each other so well and Cael might coach Kirk up to repeat the Cassar feat.

[ionel]

15 minutes ago, headshuck said:

Has anyone ever felt Steveson might lose a match since his true freshman loss to Cassar in 2019? The only time for me was his semifinal match with Kirk because they knew each other so well and Cael might coach Kirk up to repeat the Cassar feat.

That Olympic gold match looked a little ify tell ...

[bnwtwg]

3 hours ago, Gus said:

The difference in that scenario is that Gable beat a healthy Parris in '21. Parris was a wrecking ball that year with a 100% bonus rate (including over Kerk and Cassiopi) outside of his two matches with Gable.

Doesn't even include that was the beginning of the new generation taking over - Parris beat Gwiz in the offseason when the RTC cards put the wrestling community on their back.

[bnwtwg]

38 minutes ago, ionel said:

That Olympic gold match looked a little ify tell ...

Thank goodness for the fairytale ending. Eggum correctly held the challenge brick when Steveson should have been awarded amplitude instead of step out 1 but was fully in control, both that match and the entire Olympic tourney to that point. But if Steveson lost after the gut ride from hell because he didn't get the final takedown and Eggum didn't challenge 4 vs 1, well hoooo budddyyyy....

[bnwtwg]

59 minutes ago, headshuck said:

Has anyone ever felt Steveson might lose a match since his true freshman loss to Cassar in 2019? The only time for me was his semifinal match with Kirk because they knew each other so well and Cael might coach Kirk up to repeat the Cassar feat.

Steveson lets Kerk stay close. I will die on this hill among the other molehills I will also succumb to.