NM1965

Keck never "got close", true, but a match that ends 6-2 before the RT point is awarded isn't "domination". The last time I watched a match with 3 penalty points was Zalesky/Metzger, when Zalesky was beating Metzger by 2 points then proceeded to give up 3 stalling points.

Besides Plott and Fix how many points did they get from guys they recruited out of HS? There were several guys on their squad last year that were transfers, are you saying there weren't?

I'm referring to the Brooks/Keck match from last year. Somebody said Brooks "dominated" Keck in the finals, I stated 7-2 isn't "domination".

Michigan had a great season.

How about this guy?

OSU doesn't seem to actually develop talent anymore, they just ry to bring in guys from elsewhere. They got lucky with Plott.

LOL, yeah. We only encountered them at the Wagoner Invitational Tournament. Eufala wrestled those southern schools and, presumably, Texas schools if any had wrestling in the area. Their program was terrible, I'm surprised they produced a D1 wrestler.

Eufala, Oklahoma. It's near the border with Texas and they have a huge muddy lake there rich with gar and catfish. The Selmon brothers grew up there. In case you aren't 50 years old you may not know they were 3 badass linemen who were All Americans at OU then went on to NFL HOF type careers. It looks identical to all small Oklahoma towns, like a 1970s town trapped in some sort of hellish 1930s timewarp.

Wouldn't it be fun if those "extra" PSU guys all transferred to Little Rock? Immediately Little Rock would be a top 10 team.

Northern Illinois is the "Ivy of the Plains".

Eufala had a rotten wrestling program back in the 80s. I remember that seeing a Eufala guy on your schedule meant instant "W"

I remember how that guy would lose several matches a year, I don't think he ever got higher than a #4 seed (but I could be wrong!!).

If I was Tom Brands I'd be very worried about my job, actually. His team is rarely in the running for an NCAA team title, PSU always finishes way ahead. There is no presumable relief on the horizon either, Cael is in a position to dominate NCAA wrestling for as long as he wants. So as far as titles go Iowa has to be realistic and realize they aren't going to win any more NCAA titles for awhile, if ever again. I think the people calling the shots at Iowa realize the situation though and know they are powerless to compete with Cael. However the problem I see for Brands is the disciplinary issues IN ADDITION to the "poor" team performance. You know the old saying, where there's smoke there's a fire. Well the disciplinary issues are showing not just smoke, but a towering inferno. And the recent gambling issues aren't the only stuff, remember the gun incidents? Brands is running a loose, sloppy shop, and I think he might find himself out of a job for it.

I've never liked the "lock up and push" traditional "Iowa-style". It's always seemed primitive to me. Primitive, but functional. Of course not all their guys are like that.

Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Ramos not making the podium is the biggest surprise at 125 for me, even more surprising than the #1 seed not making the podium.

7-2 is a strong win but I wouldn't call it domination. Domination is when you lose by major or worse.

To be fair to Maximo he did go 6-0 this year (4-0 against D1 competition). He apparently isn't the same guy he was last year when he went 4-14. That stated guys wax and wane over the course of the season, hopefully peaking at the end of the season. Richie improved over the course of the season as well, obviously. I know there's no way I'd have picked him to win 125 and for Ramos to not place at all!

I think you have to give it to Brooks. Keck was almost as dominant through the season and was probably even more dominant than Brooks at NCAAs though. Keck will win it next year. I didn't realize there were voting blocks on the Hodge though, so maybe you are right. Keck would be a worthy winner, but I think Brooks should get it.

I don't think the Brands boys can help acting silly! He's not that much younger either, Tom and Terry are 55, and John Smith is 59.

Iowa is in the same fix that Oklahoma State is in, except Oklahoma State has been in this situation for a decade longer (or more). I think the Brands boys are better coaches than John Smith and his staff, and that's reflected in their dual meets and tournament finishes. But I also know the Brands boys are middle aged guys. They obviously still have drive and passion for the sport, unlike John Smith, but they don't have the street cred that Cael does. Cael was the greatest folkstyle wrestler, arguably, in US history. His teams win NCAA titles yearly with multiple champions. All the top notch kids know that Cael can turn them into champions and want to wrestle for him. Only the "contrary" top guys want to wrestle for somebody other than PSU. I think the only way to replace somebody like Tom Brands is by taking a chance on a guy with huge street cred among wrestlers, somebody like David Taylor or Kyle Dake. Maybe those guys would be terrible coaches (I doubt that, btw), but if David Taylor comes calling with a scholarship offer it would certainly give a kid something to think about. I think Kolat would do wonders at Iowa, btw, but he's just as old school as the Brands in all likelihood.

What can you do about it though? If a wrestler doesn't want to wrestle for his old school anymore should he be forced to stay against his wishes?

Mesenbrink is still a growing boy and will be moving up to 174 next year. That makes 165 open for Hamiti....

Nope!

I heard he was tranfering to PSU and moving up to 174.

Oh, didn't know that . Give it to Kolat Navy had a pretty decent showing.