Final X Predictions

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

On 5/19/2025 at 8:25 AM, bnwtwg said:

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.

If I'm Camp Zilmer, I show up in matching TShirts: "QV Bareback BJ"

[bnwtwg]

31 minutes ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

If I'm Camp Zilmer, I show up in matching TShirts: "QV Bareback BJ"

Whatever happened to a good old fashioned OTPHJ smh...

[wrestle87]

2 hours ago, Ragu said:

On the front side he lost to Aaron Brooks 4 times

I understand your point, that AB is a phenom and it’s dumb to hold someone else to that standard, but considering AB is clearly Trent’s roadblock, and Trent’s worst loss to AB came in their senior year, wouldn’t that serve as a decent indicator that innovation and evolution is overdue for trent?

Trent would be an amazing (and at this point sorely needed) ambassador for USA wrestling, we have certainly gone feast to famine in all of 12 months.

But he would really benefit from some more attacks.  He has the most unique underhook certainly, but he’s been doing it forever.  His underhook is like Andonian’s bodylock, 9 out of 10 can’t stop it, but those who can don’t really have a hard time winning the match otherwise once that particular technique is sidelined.

[bnwtwg]

18 minutes ago, wrestle87 said:

I understand your point, that AB is a phenom and it’s dumb to hold someone else to that standard, but considering AB is clearly Trent’s roadblock, and Trent’s worst loss to AB came in their senior year, wouldn’t that serve as a decent indicator that innovation and evolution is overdue for trent?

Trent would be an amazing (and at this point sorely needed) ambassador for USA wrestling, we have certainly gone feast to famine in all of 12 months.

But he would really benefit from some more attacks.  He has the most unique underhook certainly, but he’s been doing it forever.  His underhook is like Andonian’s bodylock, 9 out of 10 can’t stop it, but those who can don’t really have a hard time winning the match otherwise once that particular technique is sidelined.

Genuine question because wrestlestat doesn't go to youth level - has Hidlay ever beat Brooks? I know of the Fargo finals tech but that's it. Brooks is a terminator and not calling apples to apples but we have seen quality guys blocked by an elite domestic opponent before (JB vs Dake, Taylor, Howe, Nolf, Imar, etc)

[Ragu]

6 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

But he would really benefit from some more attacks.  He has the most unique underhook certainly, but he’s been doing it forever.  His underhook is like Andonian’s bodylock, 9 out of 10 can’t stop it, but those who can don’t really have a hard time winning the match otherwise once that particular technique is sidelined.

I see you have predicted him losing. I obviously have the reverse, quite confident in a sweep, so don’t be surprised when Hidlay comes home with some hardware 

[El Luchador]

11 hours ago, Ragu said:

I don't

 

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

His undertook will not be effective internationally. Technically savvy wrestlers will shut him down. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

9 hours ago, El Luchador said:

His undertook will not be effective internationally. Technically savvy wrestlers will shut him down. 

Trent is better at free than folk.  He has made two age group world finals and has had success in  tournaments at the senior level.  He has wrestled four international tourneys in the past year and a half and has medaled at all four including two golds.  I think if he is given the right draw, he wrestles for a medal.

Always so much negativity on our guys: "Gable has no shot at the Olympics! He has never wrestled anyone as big, athletic, and technical and Akgul and Geno! There is no one in our country who can prepare him for those guys!"

 

Edited yesterday at 12:12 PM by Interviewed_at_Weehawken

[Cornell Kevin]

On 5/19/2025 at 2:30 PM, bnwtwg said:

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.

Vito just turned 26 last month. He had a slipped disc in his neck and unfortunately that will always slightly hinder his performance. He has gotten much better with it however. You could clearly see it playout negatively for him in the first two crookham matches with his stance and fear of getting neck jarred.  Even at worlds last year there were two specific positions vs Ono that he did not even attempt to defend becuase they were neck related. With this being said, its something that he will get used to and outside of that, he is injury free right now and him and Yianni have beem training hard.  They have been bringing in a lot of outside training partners from Japan as well.  I think Vito will make the team at 61kg all 3 years of the quad but who knows what lies ahead for him in 2028 in regards to the weight class 

[wrestlingfan22]

2 hours ago, Cornell Kevin said:

Vito just turned 26 last month. He had a slipped disc in his neck and unfortunately that will always slightly hinder his performance. He has gotten much better with it however. You could clearly see it playout negatively for him in the first two crookham matches with his stance and fear of getting neck jarred.  Even at worlds last year there were two specific positions vs Ono that he did not even attempt to defend becuase they were neck related. With this being said, its something that he will get used to and outside of that, he is injury free right now and him and Yianni have beem training hard.  They have been bringing in a lot of outside training partners from Japan as well.  I think Vito will make the team at 61kg all 3 years of the quad but who knows what lies ahead for him in 2028 in regards to the weight class 

With Yianni moving up to 70 for now, I could see Vito going 61, 61, 65, 65 (Olympics). Obviously depends on if Yianni wants to come back down to 65 for Olympics or move up to 74. I don't think the cut to 57 will ever get easier for Vito and he is far from jacked, he could fill out 65kg in my opinion. 

[Ragu]

15 hours ago, El Luchador said:

His undertook will not be effective internationally

It has been and will continue to be. Like it was explained above, the right draw and he wrestles for a medal. He is also just straight up good so maybe he doesn't even need the good draw

[bnwtwg]

15 hours ago, El Luchador said:

His undertook will not be effective internationally. Technically savvy wrestlers will shut him down. 

That explains the lack of success from the Iran delegation

[Truzzcat]

9 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

That explains the lack of success from the Iran delegation

I fear if this is true Aaron brooks is also cooked *sigh*

[El Luchador]

1 hour ago, bnwtwg said:

That explains the lack of success from the Iran delegation

My point is internationally they are way more adept at pumelling and know when and when not to make pressure. His underhook will not be unique to  the international wrestling community. Predictable underhookers give opportunities to upper body wrestlers. I don't think he's versatile enough to be effective if he hits a guy who can wrestle off his underhook. 

[El Luchador]

1 hour ago, Truzzcat said:

I fear if this is true Aaron brooks is also cooked *sigh*

Where is Brooks? 

[bnwtwg]

2 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I fear if this is true Aaron brooks is also cooked *sigh*

idk his underhooks are powered by the holy spirit, will we confirm the same for Iran?!?!

It's the matchup we've been waiting for 2,025 years and counting!

[d3grappler]

not really predictions but just looking at possibilities at each weight I feel really good about where the US is at in what I would call a transition year.

57- Lee / Lilledahl - two of our greatest age level wrestlers ever and spencer is an olympic silver, but I think either of these guys would medal. 

61- Vito / Forrest - Obviously vito as his best is the man, but if he is off and Forrest wins I think Forrest could medal. 

65- McKenna / Woods - McKenna is a journeyman with some good wins under his belt. Woods wrestling well right now. One of our biggest ?s

70- Yianni / Duke - Yianni is obviously great and has been in world finals. I am super high on Duke. 

74- MM / Carr - I dont see any way Mesenbrink isn't the guy. If guys don't lace him up he is gonna give senior level dudes fits. But even if Carr wins he has a U20 gold.

79 - Wick / Haines - Wick I don't know anything about internationally. Haines didn't medal at cadet worlds. I have confidence in them but ?

86- Valencia / Dake - Valencia is a world medalist and Dake is an all time great. we are good either way.

92- Hidlay / Barr -  Hidlay and Barr both have age level medals. 

97- Snyder / Zilmer - If Snyder wrestles, obvious favorite. Don't have a big sample of Zilmer at 97.

125- Hendrickson / Hillger - Hendrickson has U23 medal. 

[Ragu]

20 minutes ago, d3grappler said:

we are good either way.

I much prefer Dake’s chances at medaling than Zahid’s