Final X Predictions

[Doublehalf]

This is my best guess at who our team will be and I'm assuming Snyder finds a way to wrestle...

Does anyone think a high schooler is going to punch their ticket onto the team?

 

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 although lilledahl gives him a run on his feet and they are somewhat close but Spencer's top game wins him the matches 

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 3 and im going to say Forrest sneaks one out because of his funkiness and the Vito wins aren't close

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 3 but Woods' recent improvement continues the upward trajectory 

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2 fun matches because all of Yianni's matches are fun plus I think Duke might have a little emotion in this one given he grew up wrestling probably idolizing Yianni a bit as a fellow NY'er

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2 blow outs 

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Haines in 2 just because of his offense

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 3 although I could see Valencia nabbing the first one and just not having the gas tank to go 3 bouts in the day with Dake but who knows... this could be a toss up 

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2 since it seems like his time and he's going to be the savvy vet but wouldn't be shocked by the opposite result 

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 3, he drops one due to recent distractions...

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Hendrickson in 2 and continues his heater without being in a whole lot of danger of losing either match 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:09 AM by Doublehalf

[nhs67]

If Snyder shows, he is the heaviest favorite.

[nhs67]

If Snyder doesn't show, Zilmer is the heaviest favorite.

[Ragu]

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 by domination me thinks. His defense is elite and when he scores his top game is suffocating.

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 2. It's all a mental game with Vito, and his health of course. When he is on his game he is one of the best wrestlers in the world.

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 2. His experience will be the edge, only way I see Woods winning is if he runs away with it early.

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2. Again with these NY guys its mental. If he blocks out the noise, Yianni coasts to 2 wins. He's savvy, experienced, and every bit as strong as Duke is and then some.

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2. Carr has not looked great but he's game planning for one guy and that's tough to bet against. That being said that one guy is Mitchell Mesenbrink who will, with this win, start his streak of multiple world team representations.

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Wick in 3. Eh.

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 2. Been a huge fan of Valencia since he was in HS and wouldn't mind being wrong here but Dake is inevitable and will get his way.

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2. Josh Barr is a second half athlete. I just wanted to say that. I've seen someone call Trent a "little Yazdani". I'll take him.

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 2. Just wrestle.

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Capt. America in 2. Mustache, no stache, Hulk smash, Lakers in 5.

[nhs67]

11 hours ago, Ragu said:

• 57- Lee / Lilledahl = Lee in 2 by domination me thinks. His defense is elite and when he scores his top game is suffocating.

 

• 61- Vito / Forrest = Vito in 2. It's all a mental game with Vito, and his health of course. When he is on his game he is one of the best wrestlers in the world.

 

• 65- McKenna / Woods = McKenna in 2. His experience will be the edge, only way I see Woods winning is if he runs away with it early.

 

• 70- Yianni / Duke = Yianni in 2. Again with these NY guys its mental. If he blocks out the noise, Yianni coasts to 2 wins. He's savvy, experienced, and every bit as strong as Duke is and then some.

 

• 74- MM / Carr = MM in 2. Carr has not looked great but he's game planning for one guy and that's tough to bet against. That being said that one guy is Mitchell Mesenbrink who will, with this win, start his streak of multiple world team representations.

 

• 79- Wick / Haines = Wick in 3. Eh.

 

• 86- Valencia / Dake = Dake in 2. Been a huge fan of Valencia since he was in HS and wouldn't mind being wrong here but Dake is inevitable and will get his way.

 

• 92- Hidlay / Barr = Hidlay in 2. Josh Barr is a second half athlete. I just wanted to say that. I've seen someone call Trent a "little Yazdani". I'll take him.

 

• 97- Snyder / Zilmer = Snyder in 2. Just wrestle.

 

• 125- Hendrickson / Hillger = Capt. America in 2. Mustache, no stache, Hulk smash, Lakers in 5.

I only disagree with Haines-Wick.  Haines is bigger, more filled out for 79 KG than he was last year and he destroyed Wick.

[bnwtwg]

57		Spencer		World champ. This is just a workout.
61		Vito		Hot take: this is the last time Vito makes a world team and that makes me sad
65		Woods		McKenna gets upset. Always so close and never catches the right bounce. 2020ne all over again.
70		Yianni		Vet savviness wins the day for Yianni but I wouldn't be surprised if Duke makes it very competitive
74		Carr		This will be the best series of the day. Either guy can bring home hardware.
79		Haines		Yep, this is a Final X matchup…
86		Dake		Zahid takes a match but Dake breaks him
92		Barr		Upsets happen, and this seems like as good a dart throw as any
97		Snyder		Snyder is no joke. He won't be caught with his pants down & this will be a QV. Luckily this will be recorded so we can all enjoy forever.
125		Hendrickson		Next topic.

[Gantry]

Give me Forrest over Vito, too much time off the mat for Vito and quite frankly I'm not sure he'll be 100% (or even 80%) fully healthy again.

Hope to be wrong and we see peak Vito.

[BigRedFan]

18 minutes ago, Gantry said:

Give me Forrest over Vito, too much time off the mat for Vito and quite frankly I'm not sure he'll be 100% (or even 80%) fully healthy again.

Hope to be wrong and we see peak Vito.

What health issues is Vito currently facing?

[Gantry]

I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues.  Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe.  Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds.  Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. 

But I'm 100% speculating and that's not fair, should have clarified that. 

Edited yesterday at 04:53 PM by Gantry

[bnwtwg]

1 hour ago, Gantry said:

I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues.  Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe.  Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds.  Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. 

But I'm 100% speculating and that's not fair, should have clarified that. 

This is unfortunately why I have a hunch that this may very well be the last time Vito makes a team. Between his injuries taking their toll and the expected development of the new blood, the reigning 2x world medalist may very well be a domestic underdog in 2026. But I think he takes it this year and brings home hardware.

[wrestle87]

57 - Spencer in two first period big brotherings
61 - Forrest, in the start of the henry cejudo 2.0 era
65 - Woods is looking fresh and really loving wrestling.  Michigan is doing good things for him.  Woods in 3, and Mckenna will be the most bridesmaid wrestler in modern history. 
70 - Yianni quite handily if he doesn’t break something
74 - This is MM’s weight for the next two cycles.  MM 12-2, 13-3.
79 - Haines in 3
86 - Zahid puts Dake away handily.  I think Dake was going to retire if his challenge against CStarr hadn’t worked this weekend.  He’s small for the weight, and I think DT has helped Zahid figure his lungs out.
92 - Barr, PSU owns this string of weights, and Hidlay hasn’t evolved his technique in 10 years.
97 - Snyder in 3.  Zilmer is a robot who is always game, and Snyder has been looking 5% worse each year that passes that he’s been at PSU.
125 - Captain America by a landslide in 2, but he gives up a 4 in each match.

[de4856]

7 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

Snyder has been looking 5% worse each year that passes that he’s been at PSU.

I don’t think he’s getting worse it might be that he’s just getting older. He was once the young guy, now he’s 29/30, and he’s facing a lot of young studs internationally. I don’t know his daily routine nor do I know who he’s rolling with, but he might need to see some different wrestlers in the practice room. 

[de4856]

Also, if SnyderMan is his usual self he will tech Hayden two in a row. 

[BruceyB]

1 hour ago, de4856 said:

Also, if SnyderMan is his usual self he will tech Hayden two in a row. 

57: Spencer in 2

61: Vito in 3

65: McKenna wins by being savvy, but leaves us doubting he is the best US rep.

70: Yianni wins in two tight matches, Duke doesn't have the offense to beat someone of Yianni's caliber.

74: Mesenbrink in two decisive victories.

79: Haines in 3

86: Zahid in 3, there will be a questionable call that swings one of the matches and it will be the biggest talking point of final x.

92: Trent in 2. Barr is tough, but he can't score on Hidlay.

97: no contest. Zillmer's spot

125: Hendrickson wins convincingly in 2.

[MJD]

57 kg - Spencer Lee

 

61 kg - Vito Arujau

 

65 kg - Real Woods

 

70 kg - Yianni Diakomihalis

 

74 kg - Mitchell Mesenbrink

 

79 kg - Levi Haines

 

86 kg - Zahid Valencia

 

92 kg - Trent Hidlay

 

97 kg - Hayden Zillmer (Snyder has to clear this with both his wife and the moral police at Safe Sport, and that's gonna be tough).

 

125 kg - Wyatt Hendrickson

[Ragu]

20 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

I think DT has helped Zahid figure his lungs out

I don't

 

20 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

Hidlay hasn’t evolved his technique in 10 years

He hasn't needed to. His underhook series is elite

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

12 hours ago, de4856 said:

I don’t think he’s getting worse it might be that he’s just getting older. He was once the young guy, now he’s 29/30, and he’s facing a lot of young studs internationally. I don’t know his daily routine nor do I know who he’s rolling with, but he might need to see some different wrestlers in the practice room. 

29 is not old for an upperweight.

[WrestlingRasta]

Just now, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

29 is not old for an upperweight.

But he's not a lifer upperweight.  Remember he started his college career, which I think we all can agree is a serious grind on the body, particularly the lower weights, at 141.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

8 minutes ago, WrestlingRasta said:

But he's not a lifer upperweight.  Remember he started his college career, which I think we all can agree is a serious grind on the body, particularly the lower weights, at 141.

He was 197. And only for one year.  Heavyweight thereafter.

Edited 7 hours ago by Interviewed_at_Weehawken

[WrestlingRasta]

Just now, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

He was 197.

Oh crap.....was thinking Dake.  Threads fusing together in my brain.   My bad, to the crap house I go....

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

3 minutes ago, WrestlingRasta said:

Oh crap.....was thinking Dake.  Threads fusing together in my brain.   My bad, to the crap house I go....

And Dake is 34! lol

[WrestlingRasta]

Just now, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

And Dake is 34! lol

Yeeesh.   Obviously I need to stay of the NWT.  It can rot the brain...

[wrestle87]

1 hour ago, Ragu said:

I don't

 

He hasn't needed to. His underhook series is elite

I think Trent is one of the best personalities in the sport, so this is not meant to just bag on trent for the sake of bagging on him.

That said, if he truly didn’t need to evolve, he would have NCAA titles and some senior world medals in his trophy case.

He doesn’t.  The game is different, and even at NCAA’s multiple people have figured him out.

[Ragu]

1 hour ago, wrestle87 said:

at NCAA’s multiple people have figured him out

On the front side he lost to Aaron Brooks 4 times

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

28 minutes ago, Ragu said:

On the front side he lost to Aaron Brooks 4 times

Yeah, that is a pretty significant roadblock.

I guess Trent would have beaten a chump like Brooks if only he evolved a bit.

It's almost as if your opponent doesn't matter.  Just evolve a bit.

Edited 4 hours ago by Interviewed_at_Weehawken