Eagle26

Like you said… it’s all about potential. Even the guys who are returning National champs from this year are not guaranteed to score that again next year (see Figueroa). I think it’s likely Rocky and Figs will both be high AAs next year, but you never know. Past success has generally been a pretty good indicator of future success (although this year not as much). I totally understand you have to set parameters and it’s definitely interesting to see the lack of retuning points in the portal. Maybe a fun analysis sometime would be to see how retuning AAs did at the NCAA tournament? I’ve wondered if that’s a better indicator of success than say having a top 8 seed. This year I doubt it was, but in recent years I remember some returning AAs being seeded in the teens/twenties and pulling it off again

Always appreciate the data from WKN! But I have to agree this year is a bit of an outlier with “returning points” being much lower than it should be. Welsh was a runner up as a true freshman and Elam is a four time AA and both did not even compete last year, so they add zero points. I think we all agree (except for maybe one guy) that Figs is likely to score a lot more points than he did this year too. So just those three really skew the data. Plus a lot of other guys that we know have potential but just didn’t have an opportunity yet.

Brooks is 97? I would have assumed he’s at 92

You were supposed to give others a chance first lol. Honestly, I was pretty sure that was the right answer, but I didn’t have the data to back it up. So I’m glad you chimed in to confirm it!

I saw that… definitely a result that could go either way. I wouldn’t call it a fluke though.

Here’s a good trivia question… other than Penn State, who was the last PA team to win a team trophy at D1 NCAAs and what year was it?

They’d probably get shut out, unfortunately.

I think you basically said it. There’s not much difference in creating action or getting the right winner in the idea you proposed vs what’s currently being done. The biggest difference would probably be the optics of not having a point on the score board and a winner randomly being chosen. Currently, even if the ref randomly picks who gets on the shot clock, they at least have a chance to avoid that point going to the other guy. It at least looks more fair. Why change it then? And for what it’s worth, I think it’s great to keep looking at ideas for rule changes… this just happens to be one that I think freestyle already has a pretty good system for.

Except Burroughs and Dake both have incredible technique. Early on, I agree Burroughs relied heavily on his athleticism. But everyone scouted his double and Father Time has caught up a bit. He diversified his technique tremendously and with all his international experience, I guarantee he knows a ton more technique that he doesn’t use (just knows how to defend it). Do you really think at 35, Burroughs still can compete with the best in the world only because he’s quicker and more athletic? Dake has always had amazing technique. He is probably the best I have ever seen at being able to adapt to his opponent and change his technique/strategies to fit his opponent. That takes an incredible amount of technical knowledge. These guys are some of the best wrestlers we’ve ever had in the USA because they are freak athletes AND excellent technicians. You have to have it all to be that good

I’m sure Barr weighs more than 184 walking around. So even if it may be his “ideal” weight, I don’t think it’s his “natural” weight. He proved he can be affective at 197 and now has another year to lift and grow into it even more. He made the national finals and the guy who beat him is graduating. I think it would be crazy for him to move down. Especially if AJ ends up going heavy weight. Then Barr would be a solid favorite to win 197.

Interesting idea, but I’m not sure if it makes a difference if you play it out. If red is winning 0-0 on criteria, someone still needs to go on the shot clock before the end of the first. So a 0-0 criteria lead does nothing. If you start with someone randomly up by a point, I think it is too much of an unfair advantage.

Still waiting for the downfall part…

I think that is a great idea. I like a percentage of the NIL deal has to go to the university that they are coming from. That way anytime someone AAs from a small school, they at least get something in return when someone else poaches them. But then again, PSU has the most guys transferring now, so I guess the rich will still get richer

AJ to PSU would be hilarious! I honestly think he wants to be there. Check out 14:00-16:00 of this interview https://youtu.be/W8NWxJtnAM4?si=j76dG-T27s4ysJzT

1904 and 1908 were a lot different times, so it’s hard to compare. There were no world championships then so we don’t know how many if any he would’ve won. Overall gold medal count is 2 for Mehnert and 4+ for everyone else. Olympics are weighted higher than worlds but IMO it’s not much if any more difficult of a feat. Plus, technically speaking, we all know guys today are waaaaay better than they were 120 years ago!

That’s pretty much exactly how I see it. Top 4 should be easy. 1/2 is debatable between Burroughs and Smith but I’m giving the nod to JB. 3 is Big Bruce, 4 is Snyder, and 5 is another debate between DT and Dake. DT has the all important Olympic gold which is really the only thing that keeps him the conversation with Dake. I just can’t put him over Dake in any list because of how many times Dake actually beat him. Then again, I can’t put anyone in the top 5 all time that doesn’t have an Olympic gold. I don’t know what to do lol. Maybe Dake will get it done in 2028 and make it easy for us.

They had 16 guys that won 3 or more titles, and I think close to 40 that won 2 or more. So he might be in the top 50. That’s no disrespect to Hendrickson… he had an amazing year and I’m a huge fan. Just pointing out the history of OK St is pretty crazy

If a big name enters the portal at 285, DT and Cael are going to have a bidding war! Maybe Iowa too depending on Keuters status. Could be some major cash in it

I guess that’s why DT is still undefeated in fantasy matches against Dake I get your point but I have a hard time seeing a guy that finished 2nd as “best” just because they scored more team points.

I don’t understand how Taylor is winning this poll. The OP asked about best PSU wrestler so you have to assume that means while they were in college. Not taking anything away from him but DT is getting credit for things that he accomplished 5-10 years after he graduated lol. He was amazing in college too, but when the ultimate goal is NCAA championships, how can you put 2 titles above all those guys with 3 or more?

Seriously though, can you imagine if they didn’t have Gable and Hendrickson last?! It would’ve really taken away from the rest of the night. I’m sure everyone (except Carter) is glad they made the right call

Eventually was the key word… meaning it obviously hasn’t yet, but it will. When you have guys like Davis, Nagao, Ryder, all losing their spots and then see guys like Barraclough having success elsewhere, I think things are going to change. I know they’ve done a lot of recruiting over guys in the past but this is a new level. They already have a lot more guys in the portal than I ever remember.

It really does make no sense. I can’t imagine Welsh picked PSU without getting any cash. In this day of NILs, he’s worth a lot to many schools. But he barely helps PSU (if at all). Why would they spend any money on him? Eventually this has to have an effect on recruiting.

Hayden matched up with Nolf, so that’s not much better. He beat him too if you ask me. Unfortunately, they only asked the ref, but it was definitely a controversial win for Nolf

The obvious answer is Daton Fix, but there’s a lot of incredible wrestlers on this list. I think Mike Poeta deserves a mention too