Dark Horses

[Warm Up Champ]

21 hours ago, bnwtwg said:

197: anyone seeded 1-16 has a shot. Dean and Warner aren't dark horses as returning finalists but they aren't far off. So I'll say Braunagel even though I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't qualify either.

I agree, 197 is wild.  I am jacked to see how that plays out.  I'll throw our Beaver 197lber into that mix.  Harvey has the ability to get on a run and shock some people.

[Wrestleknownothing]

2 minutes ago, ionel said:

seeding won't matter

Seeding is everything - coach before and during seeding meeting

Seeding doesn't matter - same coach after seeding meeting

[ionel]

1 minute ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

Seeding is everything - coach before and during seeding meeting

Seeding doesn't matter - same coach after seeding meeting

ok ... well maybe I was half right

[Jerry Callo]

I would argue that just about anyone outside the top 5 in any weight who makes the NCAA Finals meets the definition of “dark horse”.

[Jerry Callo]

Having said that - the dark horse pickings are slim!

125 Barnett, Courtney or Cardinale?

133. Phillips or Mendez

141 who knows?

149  Paniro or Mauller 

157  Andonian or Milner 

165  Amine, Hamiti, Ramirez or Kharchla

174  Plott Romero Smith or Ruth

184  Loew Bolen or Munoz

197  Trimble Truax Warner or DePrez

285  Hendrickson Elam or Yaruslau  

(Colton Schultz would NOT be a dark horse but an underachiever IMHO)

 

 

[Wrestleknownothing]

2 hours ago, Jerry Callo said:

I would argue that just about anyone outside the top 5 in any weight who makes the NCAA Finals meets the definition of “dark horse”.

I'm glad you asked, even if you didn't exactly ask.

[1032004]

125: #23 Jack Medley

149: #30 Jarod Verkleeren

197: #33 Cole Urbas

[BerniePragle]

I didn't see anyone mention Jordan Titus of WVa.  He's got some good coaches, Flynn, Port.

[flyingcement]

41 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

125: #23 Jack Medley

149: #30 Jarod Verkleeren

197: #33 Cole Urbas

I am not huge on your second two choices personally (though admittedly that makes then a good darkhorse pick).  Medley is confusing to me.  He lost the starting battle to McHenry to start the season but then comes back and smokes Barnett.  Not sure if he was coming back from injury or what....

@nhs67 any ideas?

[1032004]

Just now, flyingcement said:

I am not huge on your second two choices personally (though admittedly that makes then a good darkhorse pick).  Medley is confusing to me.  He lost the starting battle to McHenry to start the season but then comes back and smokes Barnett.  Not sure if he was coming back from injury or what....

@nhs67 any ideas?

Yeah I’d definitely be most confident in Medley of the 3.  In part because the parity at 125 after Lee is crazy (and I wouldn’t even say it’s “weak” as some have the last couple years). Medley would be a great Cinderella story though.

Verkleeren can wrestle anyone to a 1 point match.  Wouldn’t be shocked to see him do it a few times in a row at NCAA’s.

Urbas I admittedly don’t think I had seen other than the Warner match.  But seeing what he did to Warner I could see him doing that to other guys and going on a run.  197 of course is another weight with a lot of parity

[Gus]

I’ll throw Jore Volk’s name in the mix. True freshman that made the U20 world team and seems to be on an upward trajectory beating a tough Noah Surtin 11-1 last week. 

 

[lu1979]

8 hours ago, Gus said:

I’ll throw Jore Volk’s name in the mix. True freshman that made the U20 world team and seems to be on an upward trajectory beating a tough Noah Surtin 11-1 last week. 

 

Not only made the U20 World team but came home with Gold

[flyingcement]

Dr. Michael Carr

[creek chub]

149 - VT’s Henson

[flyingcement]

9 minutes ago, creek chub said:

149 - VT’s Henson

149 is loaded.  Imagine if Lovett hadn't redshirted - would be madness!

[Matthew Burns]

Looks like Kordell Norfleet is back in the mix at 197.

[jmoney]

125 Ungar, Surtin

133 Ragusin, Orine

149 Paniro Johnson

174 Edmund Ruth

197 Bastida, Hoffman, Braunagel