Wrestleknownothing

I just talked to Meyer Rosen. He would like a word.

The first mention of criteria doesn't come until 2002. Then it was: "A number of criteria are used to select the Hodge Trophy winner as college wrestling’s most outstanding wrestler: dominance on the mat, number of pins, record, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship, citizenship and heart." again with the misspelling.

They did not list explicit criteria that first year, but they did emphasize pinfalls: "It’s a tough call because both Gutches and Jaworsky are worthy winners of the Hodge Trophy. In the final analysis, the determining factors were twofold: Hodge was one of the greatest pinners of all time and the W.I.N. staff wanted pinning to play a large role in the selection process. Jaworsky scored 24 pins this season. From what we could tell, that was the highest number of pins this season and perhaps the highest number of pins for any Division I collegian in several seasons." But for some reason they misspelled pinfalls.

Thought about it, but it would have been a lot of work to find. Maybe on other years. Or.....what have you got on your plate today? Interested in some extra credit points?

I will kick it off. It has to be Pat Smith, right? First ever 4-timer. And he wins a bracket that is pretty loaded. To the point Flo writes an article about it almost 30 years later. https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/10985424-the-158-pound-bracket-at-the-1994-ncaa-championships-defies-logic

already done

Get ye to the 1994 poll now.

Using the 10 champions as our finalists, who would you vote for to win the Hodge had there been a Hodge in 1994? In our Hodge electioneering is not just allowed, it is encouraged. Use the comments to state your case for your favorite in a naked attempt to sway the vote.

Great idea, by the way. I think we need to vote the Hodge winners for the seasons before the Hodge existed.

And when they put me in charge he will have it.

I used normalized weights for this. 141 includes 134, etc.

157 has the joint third most finalists, but has yet to have a winner. 157 Finalists include Kyle Dake, Jason Nolf (twice), and Alex Dieringer. Oof. Though 184 has the most near misses with six.

Calling bullshiit on that one

I feel like you did sugar coat that.

What the hell is that? I loved it, but what the hell?