Leaderboard

However you celebrate the holidays, I hope your friends and family are all enjoying the season. Merry Christmas….Happy New Year!

... we would just like to say that we will be on our best behaviour. See, we even used the English spelling of behavior just now. Very classy. Does this mean that our **** doesn't stink. Well, yes. Kinda. We're so excited about this sponsorship deal that we've added a "Plus" to our corporate name: The ILLINI Wrestling Blog & Forum & Beyond Plus. If you want to see our ILLINI Midlands Preview, it's at this link. As always, it is free without advertising. All you will ever get from us is top notch journalism from respected and impartial journalists. That's our promise to you. The ILLINI had two champions at last year's Midlands, Zac Braunagel and Edmond Ruth. Can Zac wrestle unattached? Yowzers, I just thought of that. What about Danny? Wouldn't it be cool if the Brawlnagels just wrestled Greco holds at this year's Midlands? That would be so epic! Edmond Ruth is undefeated against the field, at least 7-0, including 3-0 against the other highest seeds at the weight. Heavyweight should be a blast with Cohlton Shultz and Yaraslau Slavikouski and Luke Luffman entered. You can expect ILLINOIS to show off some of their true Freshmen wunderkinds to see how they do against a field with 48 teams in it. The younglings did pretty darn well at Fargo last year, but how does that translate to the greatest folkstyle tournament in the world? Finally, what would an ILLINI Midlands Preview be without a cartoon about the Iowa Hawkeyes? .

6. 25 years or older. Any younger and the liability is too high to wreck the country like they wreck a car. I will see myself out.

All times Eastern, with local times in parenthesis. *-indicates event is believed to be eligible for a one-pound weight allowance. Please note that the Southern Scuffle will be in next week’s version. Friday, December 29: Arizona State, Buffalo, Cal Poly, California Baptist, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason, Harvard, Illinois, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio, Penn, Princeton, SIU Edwardsville, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin at Ken Kraft Midlands, Hoffman Estates, IL, 10:30 AM (9:30 AM) Bellarmine, Columbia, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, VMI, Wyoming at Soldier Salute, Coralville, IA, 11:00 AM (10:00 AM) Saturday, December 30: *Bellarmine, Columbia, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, VMI, Wyoming at Soldier Salute, Coralville, IA, 12:00 PM (11:00 AM) *Arizona State, Buffalo, Cal Poly, California Baptist, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason, Harvard, Illinois, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio, Penn, Princeton, SIU Edwardsville, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin at Ken Kraft Midlands, Hoffman Estates, IL, 12:00 PM (11:00 AM)

Well ok then ... that makes sense.

Wrestling in America has historically been more popular in rural / suburban places that have an appreciation for hard labor - whether agricultural or industrial. Those communities have tended to be less racially diverse on average than urban communities which may lend to the stereotyping that wrestling is defined by being a racist community. I would argue against that being the case, while also acknowledging, there may be a higher likelihood of minorities facing cultural challenges because of the natural demographics of the sport. This is why when the black wrestlers took a photo together a couple years back, I found it was in recognition of their success in the face of a shared experience and I thought that was really cool and worth taking the time to celebrate. I don't think it's racist in a negative sense for them to take such a picture. If white people did the same, it would be racist in a negative sense to me. It would be celebrating success from the position of shared privilege instead of shared challenge. If this was a basketball team, it gets more complicated, because white players are not typically as successful in the sport than their black counterparts. I think it is also worth pointing out that from a long-term perspective, there was more of wrestling country in the union than the confederacy (and a significant portion). Not that it matters specifically today, but often times, there are lots of invisible walls that take hundreds of years to tear down. Our current media structure which has the urban and rural sides pretty firmly aligned with the two major political parties, there is another dynamic in play, where we fall victim to viewing the other team as the enemy, and using visual cues like race, fashion choices, etc. in order to make those determinations. So that acts as an amplifier to an already sensitive situation. In summary, I think wrestling is not a racist sport, but there is a decent amount of nuance to consider how each race may experience the sport in its current form.

Only 1/2 true. If we die and nothing happens then none of this exists. That's why I keep myself a little open to the concept of God. A) if there is no god and we die we could never tell someone, "I told you so" 2) and if there is a god and I spent my life talking shit it's going to be reallyyyyy awkward

I agree...just like when people claim it is racists to require ID's to vote...however, you then turn around do exactly what you claim others do by writing the last sentence.

Here's a disheartening game that my wife and I play when we watch duals on Sunday: keep a tally of times "explosive" and "athletic" are used to describe a wrestler, making demographic notes as you go.

Only 5%? Doesn't everybody eat? Maybe its the whole vegan etc thing or America is getting skinny skip'n meals?

Agree, however it does seem that wrestling, particularly at the elite level, is becoming more and more of a "wealthy" sport. For example last year 3 of the 10 national champs (including one black one) were products of private high schools. This could be yet another barrier to minorities achieving success.

In cycling, the Tour of California was once sponsored by Amgen (maker of EPOGEN, or synthetic EPO). The irony...

Hahaha, how many people do the whole religion thing just to cover their bases?

This is a class picture. He's still in their grade and this is the class picnic. That is my story to myself and I'm sticking to it. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.

Mulleted Murican. Sub-species. Not many procreating opportunities so it might die out. Or evolve to improve its mating opportunities. In a rural, bible-honoring, Christian-y way, of course.

Murican ....

Wow yall are really over the place. Keep on arguing about the “right” way to define an omnipotent creator lol

Are you willing to raise the military age, age to which you start paying taxes, etc up along with raising the age to vote? If not, that seems to lend more toward “my wishes” than “individual rights”.

You're always going to get this when you have a sport where most of its fans call themselves "christians"

If no H2H i propose a virtual deadlift and flex off completion to settle seed positions.

If you could guarantee that everyone that voted could have their vote counted, sure. That would require enough voting locations so that you never, ever have to wait in a line. Kind of amazing how the number of voting locations in majority-minority or high-density locations never, ever meets demand. Almost like the powers that be want to make it as hard and inconvenient as they can. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Christ, we need some wrestling and quick...

There's your walk out song.

Merry Christmas to all! And here's to a great New Year!

Word.

Love (most of) y’all. Merry Christmas folks!

Merry Christmas and I wish you all great health so we can keep this fun banter up!

^^^ All kidding aside... I just want to say posting on this forum is fun and engaging. Some good nuggets of info do flow from you all. It's a pleasurer to post with you all... MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and a Happy New Year! D3

Toxic religion (especially Christianity) is a real problem in wrestling. Faith over facts. Loyalty over truth. It's fed by narrow individualism, the blind belief in a simplistic struggle of good vs. evil, and all kinds of utter nonsense. It's been going on for decades and anyone awake and aware enough can see it. It's amazing that so many people are in denial about this embrace of authoritarianism and religiosity, and the fact that a large swath of international wrestling culture (Russia, Iran, major parts of the U.S., etc.) is extremely reactionary. It's also there not just in these "Jesus trained" zealots but also in the very culture. It's embarrassing and dangerous. We see it with all kinds of figures from Marinelli to Brooks to Nickal, and so many more. They need something to seize upon to justify and rationalize their "sacrifices," but there is of course no (zero, nada) evidence that the fictions they subscribe to exist. Evolutionarily, these delusions might help them to believe they are destined to win. But if you step outside this tiny, ghetto culture and have even a half decent understanding of biology, history, philosophy, or psychology, you will see how delusional it all is. Ferrari is simply a laughable form of it— a clown like others in a larger community who trump-et themselves in pathological ways.

Does it matter?

They aren't defecting. They keep American citizenship or move to obtain citizenship in their new country. it isn't like Cubans and Russians defecting. Not even close.

"Superior Belief in Godand Jesus Christ " What does this have to do with anything? Believing in myths won't give him any takedowns.

I hope Brooks smashes him.

how about the fact that PSU prepares their athletes for individual matches better than anyone in wrestling? And Ferrari has a fairly specific style? how big an advantage is that.

Honestly I thought about putting this thread in the “Non Wrestling Topics” section, but: 1) It is related to wrestling, as many would argue there is a racism problem in wrestling. Is it moreso than the general population? I’m not sure, but I’d lean yes. 2) The Non Wrestling Topics forum is pretty much all politics. Racism conversations shouldn’t really be about politics…and honestly even as this thread has veered slightly off topic there hasn’t been a ton of political talk

Look at the Bidens' tax return, they don't even donate that to church &/or charity.

Accused rapist. Almoset kills friends and others in dangerous driving vehicle accident. General Scrote. Love how the God and Jesus junk comes out so easily.

Watch the clip. Trump misspoke on one word in an entireley lucid speach. Biden has a gaffe every other word in every speach he does. Trump also has exponentially more public engagements than Biden. Think about doing 2 or more speaches a day and tell me you wouldn't screw up a word here or there. Trump is under a microscope.

honestly I'd rather drink paint

Top 5 dumbest things ever said on this forum. Ever.

racist behavior is bad. they discriminated against any white person who wanted to be in the picture

That doesnt make it racist. Being racist is being prejudice towards a different race. Regardless of how "united" you think we all should be, people of other skin color will ALWAYS exist and some races history aren't as long as others. For them to be proud of their progress, again, isnt racist. What an absolutely horrendous take.

True in most sports

who cares

The % may be lower, but I think it’s clear the number of a holes in the wrestling world is not insignificant. And those 4 comments are not even counting others that were not quite as drastic, such as calling him a thug or saying he should be kicked out of wrestling forever which is laughable.

In all seriousness I had been very hopeful for McKee leading up to this year. Finally got the knee surgery he needed, rules on weigh ins changed to allow more time before competition, etc. Then he wrestled the worst match I’ve ever seen out of him and got his ass whooped by Tanner Jordan, who he’d beaten almost double digit times before. McKee is the definition of Had Enough Wrestling. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Update for the rest of Week 8 and the Sheridan Invitational hosted by Lehigh 125: Sean Spidle (CMU)- Sheridan Invitational Greg Diakomihalis (COR)- Sheridan Invitational Sheldon Seymour (LEH)- Sheridan Invitational Dylan Ryder (HOF)- @ Morgan State, Vs Bloomsburg, Vs Edinboro [+12] Drew West (GWU)- Vs Gardner-Webb , Vs Ohio [+7] Jack Maida (AMER)- Vs Navy [+4] Joseph Fischer (CLAR)- Vs Cleveland State [+4] Noah Surtin (MIZZ)- Vs Illinois [+4] 133: Vito Arujau (COR)- Sheridan Invitational Brendan Ferretti (NAVY)- @ American [+3] 141: Connor McGonigle (LEH)- Sheridan Invitational Malyke Hines (LEH)- Sheridan Invitational Mitch Moore (RUT)- Sheridan Invitational Nathan Higley (GMU)- @ Gardner-Webb , @ Queens [+8] Dylan Layton (CSU)- @ Clarion [+4] Joshua Koderhandt (NAVY)- @ American [+4] Josh Edmond (MIZZ)- Vs Illinois [+3] 149: Corbyn Munson (CMU)- Sheridan Invitational Joshua Saunders (COR)- Sheridan Invitational Graham Rooks (IND)- Sheridan Invitational Nick Vafiadis (NAVY) - @ American [+3] 157: Johnny Lovett (CMU)- Sheridan Invitational Max Brignola (LEH)- Sheridan Invitational DJ McGee (GMU)- @ Gardner-Webb , @ Queens [+7] Peyten Kellar (OHIO)- @ Gardner-Webb [+5] Alejandro Herrera (CLAR)- Vs Cleveland State [+4] Brock Mauller (MIZZ)- Vs Illinois [+4] 165: Brevin Cassella (BING)- Sheridan Invitational Gunner Filipowicz (ARMY)- Sheridan Invitational Evan Maag (GMU)- @ Gardner-Webb , @ Queens [+8] Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ)- Vs Illinois [+5] Andrew Cerniglia (NAVY)- @ American [+5] Garrett Thompson (OHIO)- @ Gardner-Webb [+5] 174: Ben Pasiuk (ARMY)- Sheridan Invitational Donell Washington (IND)- Sheridan Invitational Ross McFarland (HOF)- @ Morgan State, Vs Bloomsburg, Vs Edinboro [+12] John Worthing (CLAR)- Vs Cleveland State [+4] Danny Wask (NAVY)- @ American [+4] Sal Perrine (OHIO)- @ Gardner-Webb [+4] 184: Roman Rogotzke (IND)- Sheridan Invitational Cameron Pine (CLAR)- Vs Cleveland State [+4] David Key (NAVY)- @ American [+3] Zayne Lehman (OHIO)- @ Gardner-Webb [+3] 197: Lou DePrez (BING)- Sheridan Invitational Gabe Sollars (IND)- Sheridan Invitational Ben Smith (CSU)- @ Clarion [+4] Rocky Elam (MIZZ)- Vs Illinois [+4] 285: Nathan Taylor (LEH)- Sheridan Invitational David Szuba (RID)- Sheridan Invitational Keaton Kluver (HOF)- @ Morgan State, Vs Bloomsburg, Vs Edinboro [+12] Chad Nix (GMU)- @ Gardner-Webb , @ Queens [+7] Daniel Bucknavich (CSU)- @ Clarion [+4] Grady Greiss (NAVY)- @ American [+4]

I for one am sad to see the demise of the EIWA. I competed 3 times in the tournament and qualified for the NCAA twice. I am on the EIWA Hall of Fame committee. It is the oldest conference in the country. Ivy athletic directors are gravitating towards Ivy League tournaments in every sport and wrestling I believe, got caught up in this new philosophy.

There are many which are really interesting, matter of fact, and informative from Dave. This is the one I always think of first though.