VakAttack

Got it! Just like that, @Gage, you're in!

...what are you talking about, the whole point of this thread is that Joe Biden has nothing to do with the situation, despite Katie Britt's attempts to insinuate otherwise. If you want to start a thread where you claim Joe Biden is a terrible person, feel free, it would be one of many. A refreshing change of pace from the last several months where he was senile.

This presumes we can only talk or care about one of these things. Sex trafficking is bad, nobody is arguing that. The reason that I don't tend to engage in most of those threads is because we all agree on the main point, but people on the conservative side of the aisle act as if Democrats are pro-sex trafficking, whereas people on the progressive side of the aisle believe people on the conservative side of the aisle don't ACTUALLY care and are just trying to score political points. Also people on the conservative side of the aisle like to act like sex trafficking only happens during Democrat presidencies, and thus is caused by Democrats. Let me state it clearly: sex trafficking is bad. I don't think one party is to blame for it. I don't think it's happening in nearly the numbers you do.

LOL. The victim of the crime used by Britt is literally quoted in the story. Also she didn't "declined it had not occurred" she "declined to state it had not occurred." That's not a double negative. Here's ANOTHER story confirming the identity. https://nypost.com/2024/03/11/us-news/karla-jacinto-romero-rips-katie-britt-over-stou-rebuttal/

Make sure you put your screen name on the Venmo. I figured out that's your name, @Truzzcat. Very Italian.

@steamboat_charlie, @FanOfPurdueWrestling, and @Truzzcat, you're in if you want it. Venmo me. @Gage, hold steady, there may be a spot for you.

Getting good wrestlers is job 1 for Coaches these days. I don't think the program is on the decline, I think this is a natural down time in the cycle after a powerful time. Every team has them, even Penn State. In fact, Iowa has been great at avoiding them!

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/11/katie-britt-state-of-the-union-00146221 Truly unbelievable. *said in breathy theatrical whisper*

They are literally the most recent team to win a title other than Penn State.

And who is this, o' wise sage?

At one point they may have been. I'm not so sure anymore. We'll see.

I agree. I've said from the beginning, before anything happened at Iowa or even Angelo committed, I would recruit Angelo only and not the brothers. It's the only situation I want Iowa involved with the Ferraris. And it seems more possible now, but I agree, it's a little pie in the sky.

The other thing is if Iowa had not lost the guys to suspension it also would have affected Michigan's placements, bring their point totals down. Either way, we're arguing about ephemeral things. There were factors at play that negatively affected Iowa that no other school had to deal with. I think they're solidly second, but even if it's just arguably second, it's a difference, and nobody expected them to compete with Penn State anyway this year. They've got some good recruits coming in, notably the younger Ferrari who doesn't have any individual red flags (obviously the brothers...different story, and so that may tell out, but everything I've heard about Angelo is that he is different than the two older ones, even while he loves his brothers) and Leo Deluca, plus Arnold and Kueter in the lineup next year...anyway, we'll see. My bigger concern remains the scrambling deficiencies.

I should have been more clear, they're the second best performing program, not that they have taken second every year.

All of the responders have paid, except for @Antitroll2828. We still haven't heard from @goheels1812, @Jerry Callo, and @idc2.

It was always going to be a down year after the gambling suspensions. They just won the title two years ago and were favorites for another before COVID hit. I know people love to beat up on Iowa (and I get why) but the program is fine. There are issues, like every program but PSU, but they're consistently the second best program in the nation. If they had Cass and either Brands or Assad at 184, they're a favorite for 2nd. The biggest real issue, as a fan and observer, is the scrambling deficiencies.

I think Yonger has earned the 1 and should get it. I also would pick Kerk to win the weight regardless, though I'm more open to the idea of Yonger winning than I was previously.

I'm opening it back at midnight tomorrow for those who haven't paid. Again, I'll fill the non-responder slots first.

It's definitely Haines getting hit against Lewan, but the one I just saw against Bastida 15 seconds into the third was brutal.

Never a doubt! Hamiti really poor match strategy there cost him.

Silly by Hamiti.

Let's see how Mesenbrink's tank holds up to this.

Wow!

Mesenbrink comfortably, IMO.

In Lewan's defense, he did way more than usual. I still feel like it was more window dressing than actual attacks, but have to acknowledge it.