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I got the #9 seed winning it at 174

No matter how this shakes out, let us celebrate that Peyton Robb is alive, healthy, and thriving. ESPN story yesterday about his ordeal was insane. The kid dodged a bullet of epic proportions. Besides that, this is one heck of an entertaining weight class.

I know. How can it be annual if it is the first? But here we are. Rules: Pick one wrestler at each weight with a seed between 17 and 33. Tournament scoring. 1 point for a champ bracket win, 1/2 point for a consol win, etc. The person whose "team" scores the most is the winner. Tiebreakers: Score of lowest seeded wrestler in the two teams combined. (if Team A picks all 17 seeds and Team B picks all 18 seeds, Team B wins automatically). The wrestler with the highest percentage of their college team's points. (if Team A has a wrestler from Little Rock who scores LR's only points of the tournament, and Team B has a wrestler from Campbell who scores half of Campbell's points for the tournament, Team A wins). Submit your entries here and I will track. Feel free to change as many times as you like up until Wednesday night. As @ionel knows, I may or may not notice. Awards for the top three, no, four teams. Screw you NCAA, you penny-pinching bastards. Oh, and please ignore that prior sentence, and thanks for continuing to sponsor wrestling.

125 R1: Kaylor vs Noto: both AA's Palmer vs Flynn: Palmer right off the scale is likely not gonna be at his best but I think hes a dark horse if he can manage his weight. Caleb smith vs The beard: not much to say just good match. 125 R2: Davis vs Ungar: I think ungar beats Peterson again, having watched a good bit of ungar hes rather boring on his feet but hes really good with double unders where we've seen Davis struggle a tad although it seemed patched up at big10's, and he has some nasty tilts. Figs vs Mckee: seems like Mckee is destined to lose r1 or r2 and then wrestle all the way back. Figs is by no means lighting the world on fire with his wins but hes been winning since his early season slump. 133 R1: Marlon Yarbrough vs nagao: Yarbrough is really 14-4 this year he had 3mff losses one of those losses should have been a win against Latona in the acc semis he also has a previous win over Latona earlier in the year and an 8-7 loss to ragusin. He did get teched by mason leiphart who is pretty prolific from top much like nagao so that bottom deficiency may haunt him here but I think it could be a potential upset. Nasir Bailey vs Kade Moore: kade did not look good at big 12's but maybe hes shaking the rust off he was looking great after he stuck Latona and narrowly lost to Vito. Picking Bailey but exciting one. 133 R2: Bouzakis vs fix: This kinda feels like a terrible matchup for Nic. Fix is as stingy as they come but more than likely Nic will just fire and I think that could lead to some easy points for fix, but Nic has that man strength so hes always exciting. Latona vs Ragusin: two very long boys. Ragusin is in much better form right now but Latona is a 2x AA so he knows how to get it done at NCAA's Nagao vs Bailey: Probably the least talked about TF this year. Bailey is super quick to legs and has great tilts on top (ask Evan frost) This may be my favorite r2 matchup in general going to be a lot of scrambles, I like Bailey to take it given nagaos slight lack of baseline defense this season. 141 R1: Brock hardy vs vince corbella: don't really expect Vince to wrestle he looked really hurt at conferences but purely based off name value a cool match Jordan Titus vs tom crook: just really enjoy watching both of these guys.. don't shoot a head inside single on Titus 141 R2: Beau vs Cole Matthews: Cole had this match about as close to won last year at NCAA's as you can without winning. Neither guy is going to take a leg attack more than likely so it feels destined for rideouts. Hardy vs Lemley: I mean both matches were sick and the series is 1-1 Jack vs Titus: 149 R1: Rathjen vs Williams: missed this one in the dual, Williams defaulted to Watters hope hes healthy but I think he may be a little soft to wrestle rathjen for 7 Abas vs Kasak: very much expect kasak to win this pretty easily but abas did once take Yianni to the brink 149 R2: Arrington vs Demilio: Arrington is in much better form but they did split at CKLV 157 R1: Lewan vs Saldate: Battle of the two guys that can stop Levi from majoring them DJ Mcgee vs Brayton lee: I think Mcgee is really underrated just being a MAC kid, could see him making some noise in this tournament Peyten keller vs Johnny lovett: Mac on Mac crime in r1 Mauller vs Travis: Teague took this one in the dual and they are high school teammates I believe, kinda leaning Mauller in the rematch 157 R2: Haines vs Mauller: Mauller punishes extended shots, unfortunately for him I don't know if anyone finishes better than Levi Lewan vs Robb: I think these guys both have at least two wins against each other in their careers, Lewan seems in better form but id like to hope we see CKLV Robb Andonian vs Downey: I don't really think Andonian is fully healthy, but the scrambles in this match could be absolutely insane Meyer vs Chittum: Third times the charm, hopefully we actually get to see it. I am about as biased towards Meyer as it gets so ill be picking him but his gas tank is a bit of a concern and chittum will be in his face for 7 165 R1: N/A 165 R2: Hall vs Antrell Taylor: Hall seems to have a lot of variance in his results but at his best he should AA at this weight. Taylor impressed me a lot at junior trials and most of this year. Hes super strong despite likely being an actual 157lber and holds really good position should be fun Olejnik vs Amine: Amine is another guy that just knows how to get it done at NCAA's going purely of this years results I favor olejnik pretty heavily 174 R1: N/A 174 R2: PK vs Conigliaro: I would have been more excited for this match had Conigliaro not just lost twice to benny baker 184 R1: N/A 184 R2: Sam wolf vs Bennet berge: Two guys that have really made big jumps this year Chris foca vs Dustin Plott: I thought Foca had a chance to win this weight when brooks and Trent bumped up this year, he has since disappointed me, but at his best I think he can go with Plott salazar vs Rogotzke: If Rogotzke can reach back and chin whip Salazar then he can do it to anyone 197 R1: Surber vs Deprez: This match is probably not actually all that exciting just to contrasts of styles 197 R2: Stephen B vs Stephen L: Buchannen was a consensus finalist coming into the season, he has not really looked the part this year (rumors hes dinged up) I had never heard of Stephen little until he made the u20 world team, but man is he good Jacob Cardenas vs Rocky Elam: bit of a rocky season for... Rocky. The match in the dual was a fairly decisive win for Rocky, but this feels like one Rocky probably needs to get on the podium and hes done that his first 3 years so I think he finds a way Jaxon smith vs lou deprez: this feels like a match with smith can hit a duck or two and I'm here for it 285 R1: Nash vs Schultz: this one is for the boys that miss the old heavies, gonna be a lot of beef and a lot of pushing 285 R2: Feldman vs Trephan: the Feldman that lost to trephan early in the season seems far gone, I like him to get that win back here Nathan Taylor vs Dayton pitzer: I have Pitzer getting by Doucet and this is a match he won earlier this season so 21 seed pitzer in the quarters? Ghadali vs Davison: This match should be pretty high output, two guys that can really move.

That's right. The seeds are in. I feel like the NCAA should have Burpee Seeds sponsoring all of these bracket reveal shows. Missed opportunity. Oh well. Now that the seeds are out we can see how they impact potential scoring. And there are some interesting takeaways. Pretty much all of the front runners are giving up a little bit over the final rankings. The March 12 numbers below are based on the final Intermat rankings, while the March 13 numbers come from the seeds. Among the podium favorites only Oklahoma State, Lehigh, and Virginia Tech came out better in the seeds than in the rankings. Arizona State is the clear winner in the matrix process. From only 6 ranked wrestlers they have 8 entrants in the tournament. We see you Cael Valenica and Tony Negron. As the #33 and #31 seeds at their respective weights, we are not expecting much. But, hey, chip and a chair.... Only Ohio State and West Virginia among my top 20 failed to get all of their ranked wrestlers through the gauntlet. The race for second tightened up a bit with the OK ST rally, but it is still NC State's to lose. And it sure looks like Iowa will have something to say about that. I am atingle with anticipation.

Here are ones that you have to download and it will update the team scores. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17IfMQrV0_chH-X1GH8NwS3LxquvFpeuJyMkP4pgFszA/edit?usp=sharing

149- Ethen Miller takes out #5 and #4 and gets to semi final. Fear The Turtle!!!!

Rank the #1 seeds by your confidence they will win NCAAs. My take: 1. KOT - 99% (beaten Carr over and over again and is familiar with Mesenbrink) 2. Keck - 95% (shown to be the class of the weight) 3. Brooks - 90% (10% chance is solely due to Hidlay) 4. Kerk - 80% (Yonger is on fire. Feldman took Kerk down) 5. Haines - 75% (Saldate/Lewan will give him a close match; Shapiro or Andonian could take him out) 6. Lovett - 60% (Gomez could catch him) 7. Fix - 50% (Crookham or Father Time could catch the almost 30 year old college senior) 8. Mendez - 40% (Woods, Bartlett) 9. Lewis - 30% (Assuming Stallroci is healthy) 10. Davis - 10% (Crazy weight where I think some lower seeded 125ers have better odds of willing it all, like Ayala)

We could also lower consumer food cost by eating more moose meat. Saw reported on another forum that moose meat is good and we all know they are big so feed a lot of folks. Who doesn't like free food?

Cut spending. And then cut more spending.

Maybe his parents are on this year's seeding committee?

If either MM or O'Toole win 165 & finish the season undefeated and don't get OW id be flabbergasted.

They do have a history of falling apart in the post season.

I feel like you’re cheating, or have access to super secret data that informs your choices. Hardly a level playing field. On a more personal note, your relative lack of confidence in KOT is a trigger. Please provide a warning prior to posting any similar hate speech. If you’d like to reply, I’ll be in my safe space.

1. Brooks - 95% 2. Keckeisen - 85% 3. O'Toole - 80% 4. Kerklivet - 70% 5. Haines - 69% 6. Mendez - 50% 7. Lovett - 45% 8. Lewis - 10% 9. Davis - 5% 10. Fix - 2% I just feel like Fix is destined to not have an NCAA title at this point.

1. Keck - 99% 2. Kerk - 70% (Bastida could give issues) 3. Brooks - 60% (Hidlay is that dude) 4. Mendez - 50% 5. Haines - 45% 6. Lovett - 45% 7. KOT - 40% 8. Fix - 26% 9. Davis - 20% 10. Lewis - 15%

with all the self help books available im surprised more people dont realize that this may help many people. these wrestlers found something to help them through their lives. they are just trying to help someone else who is having trouble finding meaning in life. Fame and success don't do it. Just ask all those hollywood actors/actresses in rehab. i dont see what the problem is. i mean, we could have ferrari out there all the time... better right?

I want Jacori or Meyer so badly but I believe Cael has his boys ready under the bright lights

I am really hoping to see O'Toole v Mesenbrink in the 3rd place match.

As long as it's what God intended for them, then I am ok with this.

With that type of performance they could still win it.

This was exactly my feeling when I saw the brackets. They're so concerned about adequately punishing Starocci and putting high conference finishers above him, all in the name of fairness -- but how fair is that to a guy like Lewis, who busted his butt this season to earn a top seed? His reward is Starocci in the quarters. I mean, does anyone seriously think Carter cares where he's seeded? I'm not saying you make Starocci the 1 seed, but I think they took it took far. Sure, put him behind the B10 and ACC and B12 champs, those guys are legit and didn't face Starocci. Behind Griffith too, if only because Griffith showed up at the PSU dual and Carter didn't. But after that it all sort of falls apart. Most of these guys seeded ahead of Starocci I had to Google to figure out who they were. I think 5 is right but at least give Carter the 6 seed (not Welsh, who Carter beat), so he's opposite the Big 10 champ Ruth in the quarters, and the true King of the B1G can move to the semis.

Haven’t been able to get out to play for a bit, but finally got those wagyu on some fire….

Bracket information is loaded into the Google Sheet. Here is the link. (I recommend you bookmark it in your browser) Reading through the thread, I show the following as paid: @flyingcement @Gage @GreatWhiteNorth @Idaho @JVStateChamp @MizzouFan01 @MPhillips @nhs67 @Perry @Truzzcat @VakAttack and Me (lu_alum) The following are committed, but have not paid: @Antitroll2828 @jajensen09 I see that @steamboat_charlie has been offered a spot, but cannot determine whether they've accepted the invitation and/or paid. I'll make another post to walk through the rules and offer suggestions on how to make the draft go smoothly.

You'd really be impressed with me. I think I could go four.

In my impartial opinion based upon years as a respected wrestling journalist, I've got Edmond Ruth for the win here. Before I change my mind, I want to see proof of life videos from Stall Rocky and Griffith. Earlier today, somebody posted a video on social media of Starocci giving an interview in front of a window showing PSU wrestlers practicing in the background. Not proof. I demand a video of both of them practicing, then walking over to the camera while picking up that day's newspaper. This is nonnegotiable.

It was baffling what he did in that match at least 3 baffling moves that I recall.

I think you could wrestle 125 back to back 4 times and have a different result every time.

A wrestler from Askren Wrestling Academy will win.

Really dislike Fix over Crookham for number 1. Crookham wrestles and beats the returning NCAA and World champ twice and Fix ducks Crookham in the dual and is rewarded with the #1 seed.

125 - 29th seed, McCrone. Gets Ramos (PUR) first rd. Loses he gets either Poulin or Surtin. 133 - 16th seed, Bouzakis. Gets Brown (MD) first rd. A win gets him Fix(OKST). 141 - 1st seed, Mendez. Gets the winner of Carter (GW) or Miller (MD). 149 - 14th seed, D'Emilio. Gets Zargo (WIS) first rd. A win probably gets him Arrington (NCST). 157 - Pigtail match, Wilcox. Gets Stampoulos (BUFF) first rd. A win gets him Haines(PSU). 174 - 6th seed, Welch. Gets Wasak (NAVY)first rd. 184 - 18th seed, Rogotzke. Gets Heller (PITT) first rd. 197 - 23rd seed, Geog. Gets Allred (NEB) first rd. 285 - 9th seed, Feldman. Gets Kluever (HOF) first rd.

It seems a little too convenient that CarStar gets a revenge match in the first round of his murder tour. But I'll take a feisty PK over a banged up Griffith and Starocci, if Starocci can get past Mekhi.

Crookham is no sloth. His first TD against Vito at EIWA shows his quickness. https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxatAdeORS2Y93acMbV6z4N4ax27dDUWq0?si=uF5YOL4jOFXCAWZS

Qtourney place was sort of my point. Conigliaro got thumped twice by an otherwise non qualifier. I don't know if he got 4th or 6th but he was embarrassed at EIWA. Starocci standing on the mat for three total seconds at BIG ten seems more impressive to me

Because it is his best option to compete for himself and his country. Pursuing his competitive goals in the face of adversity should be respected.

Good to see Penn State’s “third seed” at the beginning of the season get the top spot. 125 is so unpredictable this year that I expect the unexpected. And the unexpected is every wrestler placing exactly as they’re seeded. Like the hairs on Shane sparks’ head, not a single 125 pounder is out of place.

I understand what you guys are saying, but there is a rich tradition at Northwestern of hosting the MIdlands Championships, Big Tens and even the NCAA Championships in 1970 as well as the first ever USA/USSR dual meet in America held in what used to be McGaw Hall, renovated into Welsh-Ryan Arena. The director of the Midlands used to be the head coach for a long time at NW/Tim Cysewski. I'm sure if it ends up in Welsh-Ryan Arena, there is a reason for it.

Hamiti has to be kicking himself that he did not just belly out on that last td - his path is quite challenging!

Iowa got some funky seeds but in good positions in the bracket.

No conference placement and no RPI is 20 points lost right out of the gate.

And it's still asinine to seed him 9th, although it's hard not to mention that they gave him the de facto No. 1 seed after he beats Mekhi.

@1032004 might get your Beard Brooks match!!!

Seems like punishment for not having an RPI

165 - 1. O'Toole 2. Mesenbrink 3. Ramirez 4. Carr 5. Hamiti 6. Caliendo 7. Olejnik 8. Taylor

"Looking forward to a new chapter. Thank you Penn State forever."

"Ready for the next chapter, Thank You Forever Penn State"

If a wrestler was Hindu or Muslim, doing that would make people lose their shit in about .03 seconds.

Sincerely, I don't care about their religious beliefs and don't want to hear about them. And if someone gave all glory to satan, I think a lot of you would show your hypocrisy.

He took silver at Yasar Dogu at 70. He still has some juice with him. mspart

A few fair points. I think the word 'defect' stands out a bit. As if it is bad or that person is inferior for having been born this way. It could very well be a benefit in the long run that these conditions become more normal. Not sure its necessarily a mental health issue across the board. Some people are perfectly happy expressing their gender as different from how they were assigned at birth. With no ill effects, mentally. Not sure that analogy fits. You're not asking someone to celebrate you dunking a ball when you clearly haven't done it. Transgender people are asking that they are not harassed for not wanting to dunk the ball even though they 'clearly' can. Have you heard the expression, 'If everything is a priority then nothing is.'? It seems as if that is what you're advocating for. All those other things are wrong and should and hopefully are being investigated. Are you questioning the reason for this post because you are uncomfortable with the subject matter? A reason for this post would be two fold: 1. that this is happening. We might not know for sure the reason for this attack, but people have and are being attacked for no reason other than they buck the norm and make people uncomfortable as being transgender. Lawmakers in Oklahoma saying that transgender people ARE mentally ill, which you mentioned. That carries a stigma to it as if they are dangerous and need to be separated from society for their and our benefit. 2. Although the numbers are growing, akin to when gay individuals started feeling safer to come out and more were found to have always existed, they still represent a vanishingly small number of people. Those people find push back, sometimes violently, for merely choosing to exist in far too many places. And state governments look to target transgender people by disallowing them access to health care options.