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here is a little teaser since I just finished EIWA. The following are the only 23 states which have a D1 wrestler at all ten weights in the sense that they claim their hometown within this state. This is only one of the fun outputs from the data, but a number of the states below will be significantly impacted as I add the SoCon and the MAC to complete the list.

There are folks talking about some dual on Friday, but my friends, the Big One is Saturday between ILLINOIS and Minnesota. It will be the only wrestling match on BTN that day, while on Friday, you have Ohio State versus Michigan and Iowa versus Penn State. In other words, a bunch of fluff replete with bad haircuts and people who belong on the set of Deliverance. There's an award-winning preview of the Big One at the ILLINI Wrestling Blog and Forum and Beyond. It starts out a little something like this: WHO: Minnesota Golden Gophers WHAT: Dual WHERE: 1925 University Ave SE, Maturi Pavilion, Minneapolis, Minnesota WHEN: Saturday, January 28 at 1:00 pm (Central) WHY: Destroy the Gophers! TV/STREAMING: BTN TICKETS: $10 Youth, $10 Senior, $15 Public A DAY IN HISTORY It is Friday, February 12, 2016. The Billboard charts are full of unpleasant music. For example, Justin Bieber holds the numbers one and two spots with his hits, Love Yourself and Sorry. At the movies, your day is much better because Deadpool opens in 3,558 theaters and makes an incredible $47,335,592 that night. Assassin's Creed: Chronicles was released three days ago, and your kid brother has been playing it for the last 72 hours straight. The people having the best time, though, are at Huff Hall for the ILLINI dual with Minnesota. It's Senior Night, and befittingly, Senior Jeff Koepke seals a dual win for the good guys. Other winners for ILLINOIS include Francis Edelen, Zane Richards (tech), IMAR (major), and Steven Rodrigues (major). This was how that dual looks on paper: #12 Illinois 19, #16 Minnesota 16 (Full Play-By-Play: http://bit.ly/1KgaCFs) 197: #3 Brett Pfarr (MINN) dec. Emery Parker (ILL), 10-5 | 0-3 HWT: #10 Michael Kroells (MINN) major dec. #20 Brooks Black (ILL),8-0 | 0-7 125: Francis Edelen (ILL) dec. Skyler Petry (MINN), 3-2 | 3-7 133: #2 Zane Richards (ILL) tech fall Sam Brancale, 17-2 (MINN) | 8-7 141: #9 Tommy Thorn dec. Mousa Jodeh (ILL), 6-2 | 8-10 149: #14 Jake Short dec. Kyle Langenderfer (ILL), 8-3 | 8-13 157: #2 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) major dec. Brandon Kingsley (MINN), 15-6 |12-13 165: #4 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) major dec. Brandon Krone (MINN),21-8 |16-13 174: Nick Wanzek (MINN) dec. #2 Zac Brunson (ILL), 13-10 | 16-16 184: #15 Jeff Koepke (ILL) dec. Chris Pfarr (MINN), 8-4 | 19-16 THE BIG TEN NETWORK The dual is scheduled for 1pm (Central) on BTN. It is the only wrestling match scheduled for Saturday, so you can expect to see and hear from the network's dream team of Gibbons and Johnson, as Sparks may be in the studio whipping up some content. The important news is that there's a stupid and completely inconsequential basketball game between Northwestern and Minnesota scheduled at 11am (Central), right before the dual. Choose your TIVO options wisely. THE TEAMS The ILLINI are now 5-4 in duals. They got there by starting off the season with a win over Buffalo (28-9), then lost to NC State (12-27), whupped Chattanooga (32-9), then in the same afternoon, got whupped themselves by Pitt (6-30). After a nice showing at the Midlands, the ILLINI gave Iowa a scare (19-25), beat Wisconsin (18-17) and Purdue (31-9), lost a controversial match with Northwestern (17-17), and, most recently, beat Maryland (29-11). Minnesota has a very nice 10-2 record that includes a win over Oklahoma State. Here's what they've done this season: Beat Binghamton (19-15), South Dakota State (19-16), Augustana (37-4), Oklahoma State (18-12), North Dakota State (24-9), Lindenwood (48-6), Cal Poly (22-12), had consecutive losses on the road to Northwestern (11-18) and Nebraska (9-21), then beat Michigan State (21-11), Indiana (28-6) and Purdue (20-12). ... THE WRESTLERS 125. Maximo Renteria (#82, 3-8) versus Patrick McKee (#4, 9-2) McKee has been nails at the NCAA tournament the last two years. He's the Gopher's Lucas Byrd. During the regular season, though, he has been less sharp, losing seven last year, six the year before and eight the year before that. In other words, he can take some unexpected losses during conference. Still, he will be the huge favorite in this match with wrestlestat.com calling for a major decision. Maximo is 1-8 against common opponents, while the Gopher is 13-7. Last year as a true Freshman, the ILLINI went to the UNI Open and McKee pinned him. I believe Renteria was still recovering his wind from Covid at the time. I expect Maximo to start getting McKee-like results but perhaps not yet. PREDICTION: Minnesota is the huge favorite; regular decision. 133. Lucas Byrd (#7, 19-3) versus Aaron Nagao (#15, 14-3) The ILLINI will return the favor and send out a huge favorite against Nagao, who's having a nice season himself. You see, I would consider Byrd to be a massive favorite over Nagao, but in the last two duals this season, it has been Jake Gliva (#83, 10-5), who's suited up for the Gophers. Gliva has started for Minnesota in conference duals in two preceding years. He even lost to Byrd 3-8 last season. The Gopher would go on to earn an NCAA bid but lose two straight and finish up with a 13-15 record. I would not expect the Minnesota brain trust to send out an injured or recovering Nagao to face the ILLINI two-time All American. Lucas is 13-0 versus common opponents with Nagao, who is 4-3. Wrestlestat.com predicts only a two-point win for Byrd, but given what we know, and given scouting reports from his teammate from Cali, I expect it would be much worse. The wrestlestat.com algorithm favors the ILLINI by major if he faces the backup Gopher. Lucas is 21-7 against the same guys who have a 4-13 record versus Gliva. PREDICTION: ILLINOIS is the heavy favorite, regular decision against Nagao, possible major against Gliva. Below, you'll find a super cool video showing Maximo Renteria beating Nagao for one of his Cali state championships. You get a takedown-fest and a tilt-fest, and then you get to see Maximo hug his coaches, ILLINI alums Troy Tirapelle and Gabe Flores. Love this!

It's such a crazy standard Lee is held to vs. literally any college wrestler i can remember. "Yeah, sure, he reversed and pinned his returning AA, top 10 ranked opponent while being up huge, on the tail end of a streak of pinning 7 wrestlers in the first period. Including two separate third ranked guys,.but I see flaws...."

ahh ... if he really wanted a challenge by bumping up do you think he would've spent 3 years on 8th grade?

Iowa fans are convinced Lee pins RBY. For a real challenge Lee should take on Starocci.

He isn't the goat of anything at this point so what in the world are you talking about?

When RBY "goes", it's breathtaking to witness. I want to see more of that. I could use less of the shuffling and strategic back pedaling.

Wikipedia is not his worst source, by a large margin.

... while I enjoyed the interesting flashbacks to junior greco matches from the aughts, I wanted to give a thought about the topic question ... ... And with reference to the other thread and the "GOAT" question. He's not a GOAT at anything - even PA high school. The injuries and illness have made that impossible. I think what Brands is saying is that when Lee isn't burdened by a major injury or illness, no one he's seen is better. Such as freshman year NCAA, 2019 senior nationals, the last few weeks. I don't think it's a ridiculous statement, if you view it in context -- obviously he hasn't had a chance to wrestle senior world tournaments. That's the injuries and illness. But when he's been able to wrestle freely, against the competition he's been able to wrestle, he's a force of nature. It reminds me a little of Sandy Koufax. Extraordinary injury problems, a pitcher's elbow is somewhat akin to a wrestler's knees. His 5 or 6 years before he retired, no one ever was better. But he wouldn't be a GOAT because he had half the wins of others in his category. The difference between him and Lee now is that Lee hasn't wrestled at worlds and shown his stuff there whereas Koufax had a 0.95 ERA in four World Series, two of which he was the MVP of.

Neither of us know exactly how much Lee was cutting, I was going by the eye test and so are you. However, if he was cutting “as bad as anyone you have ever seen”, and still managed to make weight and pin/tech his way through the world championships, isn’t that even more of a testament to how good he really is? You are picking out one stat that 50kg results don’t translate. I don’t have time to look that up so I’ll have to trust you on it. If you’ve got the time, can you check the stats on how well 3x age level champs do at the next level? Or maybe how well guys that pinned/teched their way through twice do? Or maybe how well 4x Ncaa champs do? Getting ahead of myself with that one, but you get my point. They guys talent is undeniable, but I guess you can keep denying if you want. I’m done trying to prove that point.

Fun stuff. Definitely some states I would not have expected to be on this list.

This is why I really enjoyed rooting for Hamiti last year as a true freshman who had been in high school the year prior. Also major props to Spencer Moore at UNC last year who started at 125 at 17 years old after skipping a year of high school during covid. He wrestled Liam Cronin at one point who was old enough to be his babysitter

That's a lot of asterisks! Current top guys: 125 Lee 24 * 133 RBY 24 * 141 AlLIREZ (Class of 2019) ? 149 Yianni 23* 157 Robb Class of 2018? 165 O'TOOLE 21 174 Starocci was 22 over the summer ??? Wonder when his birthday is? 184 Brooks 23 197 Dean Class of 1987***** 285 Mason Parris 23** So of the #1s only O'Toole will be definitely be under 23 by this years nationals. Maybe Robb (but probably not), maybe Starocci, maybe Alirez. It isn't going to get much better in the next couple of years. Then we have the crop of 17 year old high school freshmen coming up in a few years, too.

If he was just talking about college wrestling, although incorrect, I could at least understand his perspective. Iowa wrestler, 4xer, extremely high bonus rate, etc. But when he starts talking about all time?? That's when I have to wonder if he's got CTE. Maybe all that jumping around begging for stall calls and watching his guys melt in big matches has scrambled his brains? Spencer Lee has zero senior international accolades. Zero. Nobody cares what he did when he was 17. He needs to stay healthy (which is a big ask apparently) and be dominate on the senior level for at least 10 years if he wants to enter that conversation.

That makes one of us.

I'll leave the speculation up to the Brands and others on here about his overall greatness compared to the Ruskies...but what I will say is he is one of the best in the NCAA's that I have ever seen. Even wading through all the nit picking that some on here like to do, to see him dismantle Top 10 competition like he is is once in a lifetime stuff...much like watching Cael. My prediction on the international front, he will win a gold or two and be done, again much like Cael, and then take over the Iowa program. Despite loathing the Hawks, Lee is someone I would pay to watch.

Project Veritas? Come on.

Okay @Wrestleknownothing here are my final predictions if you are still keeping track: 125: Lee by fall over Steen 6-0 133: Bravo-Young by decision over Teske 6-3 141: Woods by decision over Bartlett 9-3 149: Van Ness by decision over Murin 9-6 157: Haines by decision over Siebrecht 9-9 165: Kennedy by decision over Facundo 12-9 174: Starocci by decision over Brands 12-12 184: Brooks by decision over Assad 12-15 197: Dean by decision over Warner 12-18 285: Cassioppi by decision over Kerkvliet 15-18, Nittany Lions win by three

for average athletes i would agree... for the absolute best on the planet you want them to know they are the destroyer of worlds before they even step on that mat... they should be pissed that someone else even thinks they have a chance... false bravado or not, if you don't have that amount of psychosis then just stick to small pond of folk...

Bigger? Yeah. Stronger? I doubt it, especially grip strength. Longer reach? Yep. Faster? Yes, especially backing up. The way you make it sound, Bravo-Young ought to be dominating everybody, pins, mostly first period, kind of like... Spencer Lee. Will we see it? Very doubtful this year. Maybe somewhere down the road...

Attacking the source so as to not have to address the facts is so left wing. Silence opposition with cancel culture and attack the source is nothing more than intellectual dishonesty. When you can't win the debate Silence and discredit the opposition.

you all forget Lee's first time at cadets... got rolled up... then he beat up a bunch of little kids at 50kg... then got chased down from 55 to go beat up some more little kids... it is a laughable assertion that Lee is among the all time greats... technically, Lee has never separated himself as a wrestler... but he can definitely beat up some runts and mids in the c league...

I was a little taken back when Brands compared him to the Russian greats as well. Clearly, he has no where near the accomplishments. However, I guess he was referring to the talent that he sees in him. Lee was dominating international competition too at age level, so he certainly has that capability. He just sacrificed his body for NCAA wrestling, so unfortunately we never got to see it.

He didn’t say everyone at 57 is a punk. He said there isn’t a “big bad” there. Compare the top guys at 57 to the top guys at the other Olympic weights, and I think you will see his point.

Well, in case you didn't know it, there's a book "Two Guys Named Dan" for Dan Hodge and Dan Gable.....they need to come out with another one....but only one of them is a swimmer......they are 2 of my pix for "GOAT"......"Two Guys named Michael" .....Michael Jordan and perhaps theeee GOAT Michael Phelps.......28 Olympic medals/23 Gold.....you need a calculator to add up all of his World and Olympic medals.

I gave both in my post. Both were an "NCAA champ over 157 since the Brands Bros took over," which was the statement in question. Perry twice. Borschel of course couldn't have been more Brands - he went through the whole Va Tech ordeal with him. And Perry, in addition to meeting the definition in question, is a nice feather in the Brands coaching cap. A lengthy film was made about the hurdle he cleared between his 2-3 under Zalesky and his 1-1 under Brands -- particularly that first "1," a big upset over Hendricks.

He doesn't seem like he needs a coach to motivate him.

Most countries have abolished the death penalty entirely or use it only under the most extreme of circumstances. Frankly, I don't want in the group that regularly carries it out. I want it abolished in all circumstances and am satisfied my state has done so. Norway has a real dilemma coming their way. They can't impose a life sentence, much less a death penalty. Their infamous mass shooter (a fascist who killed 77) will have served his term of 21 years and could then be a free man.

I know would still never happen, but Askren's idea of doing it as an extra match would be pretty cool... Side note, but I didn't realize RBY was held back twice in 8th grade (for athletic reasons)? He says that at 5:25 in this video (cool video though): It does look like he's only about 9.5 months younger than Fix, with Fix having been in college for an extra year.

The death penalty is not flippant about human life. I can't think of anyone that would rejoice when the death penalty is employed, but it is the government’s right to execute the perpetrators of the most evil of crimes, and we can wear our big boy pants and talk about it. It isn't weird, rather, it is quite common for folks to support capital punishment. For some like me, support comes from a deep care for protecting innocent human life.

Not better. False.

not to split hairs, but... sad went from winning "cadets" to winning seniors...

Dr. Pragle's prescription is a 55 gal drum of Prep H.

Should be amusing as long as you have the right perspective.

He's a dingaling. I've never seen an armored assault on a sandwich shop.

I did some work a while ago as a software guy on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Just how much commodity prices move for seemingly insignificant events was pretty eye opening.

Brands lost me when swept in freestyle, saying he was better than Fadzaev and Belaglazov. In folk, Lee will be in the all-time-greats conversation, probably top 5, but in freestyle he's yet to make a senior world team, let alone win 8 World/Olympic golds like those other 2.

He's a pinfall wizard There has got to be a knee twist A pinfall wizard's Got such a supple wrist

I don’t suffer from the tragedy of perfection but I’m much better lol

I saw it many duels. Never at states.

George and Barack are probably enjoying a nice campfire [emoji91] tonight.

It would certainly be magical to score both a pin and a fall in multiple states at the same time.

Some say it is a virtue to learn from your mistakes.

If the pastry wrestles at 157, I've got Siebrecht winning.

Word. Rare is the kid you just isn't trying. They want to win and want to please you. Yelling is frustration and frustration is contagious.

I was young and dumb. Just like now but younger

I ordered an Irish car bomb in Dublin and the guy looked at me and said 'Da mudder in lar, eh?'

I strongly suspect that simply means the defense contractors' lobbyists are better at filling the pockets of the scumbags we (somehow) keep sending to DC than some other lobbyists. Those others are pretty good too though.

Trump screwed up "EVERYTHING" but Fauci and Obama tried to save us all. How can anyone who isn't delusional actually believe any part of that sentence? When it comes down to it, the government can't save you from covid or anything else, NOR DOES IT CARE TO. Twitter and the internet aren't the real world. The democrats and republicans don't give a shit about you. Take a break from politics, find a little perspective, seek help if needed. Maybe even watch some wrestling.