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Hidlay does not get nearly the respect he deserves, and he absolutely is a legit threat to Brooks. Yes, if he pulls it off the Hodge still goes to Starocci, but the Hidlay-Brooks matchup is still a great storyline. For three years in a row, Hidlays has lost to Brooks in the NCAAs finals/semis. All close: 3-2, 6-4 SV, 6-3. If Brooks didn't exist, then Hidlay would be, at minimum, a 3x finalist and 1x champ, and might even being going for his 4th right now (if he won in the finals in '22-23). The main difference is that this year, Hidlay seems to have level-jumped and, more importantly, opened up his offense. He went from a 25% bonus rate when he lost to Brooks as a freshman, to his current 85%. Before this year, he'd never bonused a top-10 opponent. This year he majored #3 Beard and #5 Cardenas. Of course, Brooks isn't exactly standing still, and is still the favorite. But the question I want to know is -- how will Hidlay wrestle him this time? Brooks has made no secret of the fact that he hates wrestling Hidlay since he won't open up, making for a defensive battle. Does Hidlay stick with that game plan, or does he open it up more this time -- more like his other matches? I hope he opens it up. He's a senior, and if he really wanted his title he could have stayed at 184. But he decided to make another run at Brooks. If you're going to lose to the man 4x, at least go out on your shield. My own guess is we see a different Hidlay this time around, and the match ends up being very entertaining.

yiannis is "have some nuts" which went viral after he beat sasso in the semis and they asked how he can improve upon his performance essentially. I think the context is very different at least to me.

They definitely "get" more calls than they get screwed on. Reputation is a thing, but I think they also good cop bad cop the ref. Cunningham is sort of abusive and cael is mute, when its challenge time the deity in the corner politely asks the ref something, ref feels all fuzzy....better tactic than having two clones going nuts...

Do you not see the pic below my name...

You go to the NCAA website for wrestling updates?

Mizzou homer here. Smith will retire sometime. And yes, I've read all the comments on the other thread about possible Miz assistants taking over. If that happens, Miz stays status quo. Askren would take that program to the next level. Sorry about crashing in.

A little off topic but didn’t Brooks get beat by Myles Amine in the Big 10s a year or two ago

The Mesenbrink story can serve as a motivational tool for any coaches to share with their athletes. Regardless of what level you are now, keep "chopping wood" and working toward achieving your goals. Sometimes the improvements are micro, but they are still measurable. In Mitchell's case, he made a big jump. But when you listen to his interview explaining why he was looking to transfer, he points out the work he had to do to make the jump. He went home and trained his ass off and was privy to some pretty good coaches and workout partners. I forwarded the link to the Mesenbrink interview to one of the HS kids I work with in the off season. Sports/competition is such a head game. We all know you have to "believe to achieve, then sweat to get!"

Man, if I’m Askren I am not taking on the stresses of being a D1 head coach when I am already loving what I do and rolling in big money with all the camps he’s set up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Leigel from Wisconsin is a grad transfer from D3, was 3,1,2 at D3 tournament. He's been ranked in the teens most of the second half of this season. Obviously he has the benefit of being in a B1G room this season, but this will give a glimpse on how a D3 stud might fair in D1.

Or he’s just tired of seeing someone who is trying to stir up drama when others would like to just discuss the topic…

Maybe worth pointing out that OSU had 3 upsets and Mizzu none. Fix prob gets the major at 33, he majored the #5 so ... A 100% Jamison prob wins at 41 but he was dinged up hence the bump otherwise Mizzu likely wins 41. But bottom line the pokes look sharp the tigers look flat, it happens.

Extend Bono. I love the impact he’s having.

Yo, this right here. Princeton was an absolute doormat for a long time. He built teams around having Monday and Glory, who he was able to get bc both their parents said "Princeton? Really? Yeah choose life my child, not wrestling" It is two seasons too early to bag on Dubuque when Ayres just bounced less than two months before the start of the season and just handed Dubuque the keys saying "Hey dog...here ya go!" Dubuque is a 2x NCAA champ who is homegrown Jersey. Ayres going all the way across the country to go to Stanford WHILE HIS DAUGHTER IS STILL AT PRINCETON very likely was a big dollar signs move. Those moves are usually great for one person, but they burn everyone else involved in their environments. I know guys love Ayres, and I hope this wasn't exactly the situation, but...it's Stanford, and they have a pointed track record of operating with duplicity, so...yeah, I'm going to say Dubuque was at least surprised in September. Give Dubuque a few recruiting classes and a few full off seasons before you throw him under the bus. Princeton beat the crap out of Columbia. They won 26-7. Let's not go making stuff up to throw a new coach in the dirt. Especially dirt that doesn't exist.

Here's one measure -- Princeton won its first dual under Ayres in his third season as head coach.

I enjoy the fact that you claim all of them. Got one from England?

To be fair, I believe it might be just having too few life experiences. Have you ever considered being a mentor? I have seen others here who could benefit from a sage elder...

Check out the NCAA.com site for wrestling and it is frustrating. Articles are old. Not kept up to date. Their Basketball site is apparently updated daily - maybe even more than that. They don't seem to care about wrestling. Not sure about other "minor sports" as I don't follow them. Any way to push these jokers to do a better job?

The week of NCAAs, Ruth visits to make a motivational speech. He takes Bartlett, Haines, Messy Brick, and Kerk out on a drive to Taco Bell. The boys get arrested and miss the tournament. But, even this catastrophe isn't enough and a 5 way tie for 1st ensues (PSU, Iowa, OkSt, Cornell, Nebbie). However, because of budget cuts nobody gets a trophy since there is not enough to go around

My last in GIA versus Iowa was when met Ferrari in line for burgers prior and was the one with 14k where Picc pinned Lee, electric! But speaking of getting the calls. Recently rewatched 1998 vs Iowa in CHA, I was there third way up lone orange shirt in sea of black. Best dual ever seen back and forth Schwab almost stalls out Guerrero, Ironside pins Kelly, next Schmidt pins McGinness, Mark Smith v Joe Williams went SV, came down to coin flip hwt. But watch all the times Iowa backed off the mat and no call. Also listen to Tim Johnson's biased broadcast, Tim's a friend and not an Iowa fan but gets caught up in it at CHA. https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7399495-the-greatest-dual-ever-wrestled-oklahoma-st-vs-iowa-on-valentines-day

You are correct Fadzaev2. BTW, I always enjoy your posts and appreciate your historical comments. If you get a chance, stop by our booth at the WIN Show/Fan Festival in KC and have your photo taken with the Dan Hodge Trophy. -- Mike Chapman, creator of the Dan Hodge Trophy

yeah but I like him so didn't mind that much.... Hall got a Valencia TD turned into a one point headgear pull in his favor, and his TD in the finals was actually a Jordan TD (imho) that the ref waited too long on, thus turning Halls reversal in a TD. Sorry i know thats a terrible description.

Lol, no I don't watch college basketball.

I don’t know if it’s a significant difference, but that Davis/Kilkeary call was one of the worst in recent memory, so much so that they even admitted it was wrong after the fact.

Definitely has the Ivan Drago look

Where is the block feature?

No bones about it, anyone who wins a 4th NCAA title is also winning the Hodge this year.

It's a funny post, but if it were any other team, some of these could be real possibilities. I do think Haines is looking better than earlier in the season, and Mesenbrink is pretty bad@ss. I like to think about Hidlay pushing Brooks but don't see the latter getting beat. Otherwise, who knows--strange things happen at the big show.

Thanks for that. I would imagine the opportunity to wrestle for Cael would out weight NIL money anyway for a lot of wrestlers that want to be in the sport long term.

I think the main issue for whoever is in charge, whether it’s Bono or someone else, is if they can tap into the AWA pipeline of recruits. Clearly, that’s not happening with Bono. I don’t know if it’s fair to say he isn’t a developer of talent. But if he’s only getting mid-level recruits, it might look that way compared to the upper echelon programs. If UW gets rid of Bono and Askren doesn’t like the new guy, it’s the same issue all over again.

I follow D2. My son was a D2 All-American at Pitt Johnstown. What a great experience. The D3 Finals are wild. A lot of crowd involvement. Kind of like a British soccer match. I think this is a great idea.

Mizzou was one of the teams. I had actually heard he was leaning that way and I was attending a MU dual when some of my wrestling buddies and they were pondering the 23-24 lineup when Jacques would be gone. They started coming up with scenarios and then I told them about Mesenbrink and the Askren (AWA) tie in. I was thinking it was a done deal and how cool it would be for those guys (Mitchell and Kegan) to be workout partners and what a solid addition to MU Wrestling. Then NIL came knocking at the door, disguised as Penn State, and what is "Tiger Style" compared to hanging out with the likes of Starocci, Haines, Bartlett, Brooks, etc.... and etc.... and coached by, just a step below jesus, Cael Sanderson and staff. Those Mesenbrink glasses became shaded, and both mascots may have claws, but Mitchell decided he'd rather hangout with Lions instead of Tigers. Money=Leverage=Power=Control=Dynasty (arrange the order anyway you want) Dynasties eventually end, but maybe not in my lifetime.

all the soy boys on this board staying away from this thread like the plague despite fully believing her prior.

I'm finally getting around to seeing the 141 match. The Penn State referee bias is now at an elite level. It makes me as a fan root against them as much as possible. Hardy won the match

Just off the top of my head for this season there are several starters that came from the JUCO ranks... McDermott, Crosby, Strickenberger, Morton (D2), Ricks, Spangler. More distant Joe Colon, Deron Winn, Covington, Jones, Lesnar come to mind.

I'd imagine Mirasola twins and Messenbrink would have gone to Wisconsin if Askeen was coach.

As an alumnus who follows the program closely, I see encouraging signs for the future. McGowan (125) is greyshirting. Whalen (who won Midlands) and Mulhauser are taking a year off. Their current 125 pounder (Heethuis) is very good, but dropping a lot of weight. They have three freshmen starting who just need time to develop. Not only did Ayres leave on short notice, their associate head coach Sean Gray also followed him. Give Dubuque a few years to develop this team.

Idk man, how long did it take Ayres to get Princeton to be competitive? I recall a lot of years with plenty of rough beatings. Plus, Princeton just lost 2 hammers. Give Dubuque some more time to try and (re)build something

DeAugustino should not be allowed in the top 10 until he shaves, he got beat by a 13 yr old for Pete's sake.

are you clinically insane? your assessment of candidates has to be based on occasionally walking past a stack of newspapers

Well first: speaking of lying they are only $399 but Second: what is the alternative, another guy who lies all the time but can't even remember what lie he told yesterday? No matter how you look at it its gonna be 4 more years of hell!

I follow Cayden Henschel on youtube. Lol

Garret had trouble getting international experience because airplanes can't fly around a flat earth. They would fall off the edge and he wasn't about to risk his life for junk science.

I think Dake continues until he has more gold than JB. I think Taylor is riding off into the sunset after this Olympics. He's said before the training is getting a bit old and he's done everything except beat Dake.

I plan on leaving a pair of men's size 48 tighty-whities on the mat and retiring as a fan of the sport.