Gantry

It really was

I think Vito is more likely to get teched or injury default out than win the next match. Would love to be wrong though as I'm a real negative Nancy in this here thread.

I'll repost what I said in the Final X predictions thread, sadly match #1 makes me fear I was right about his health: "I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues. Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe. Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds. Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. "

Vito just doesn't look right, as I suspected. Just isn't healthy, that exchange in the first where Jax got two he didn't fight it much. Plus no tank, it's not happening.

I agree that Strick will be much better at 133 this year compared to last, whole different ball game when you are not descending. He was legit one of the biggest 125s I've ever seen, so I don't think adding size will be an issue at all.

He is a u23 world champ, that's certainly trumps any Pan Am accomplishments.

That's fair, and I think we are mostly in agreement. It's using "impossible" that I really only disagree with

He could get a medal without facing any of them. Certainly not counting him out, let alone calling it impossible.

There was some talk about Lockett at 157, not sure if that has any legs though.

Yaz won his first senior world medal at 70kg, if he can do it at 97kg that would be SIXTY POUNDS heavier. Pretty incredible

There's definitely something off with how WS ranked greyshirts from Cornell. Joy is #218 and Cerchio is #188, basically near dead last, despite good seasons where they beat a bunch of top 100 D1 guys. I think it's because they don't get "credit" for last years D1 wins as they were competing for the non-D1 Spartan Combat RTC. It shows Joy as 29-1 but only 3-0 in "real" matches against people in his division. Basically he only gets "credit", and I think therefore ranking credit, for those 3 matches against unattached people who were in high school or not on any team. Cerchio was 0-0 Don't know how it works deep down but it seems like they'd be ranked a ton higher based on last years matches if they "redshirted" for Cornell instead of Spartan Combat.

Cael had Eggum 2x, Cormier and Trenge. Don't remember all their seeds but they were all top guys so there's a chance. Or was it Eggum, Vertus Jones, Cormier Trenge? Think the former, but either way I'll keep it.

Total guesses but I'll try: Quentin Wright J. Jaggers

These extra years and transfer leniency are getting out of control

Yanni was so tired coming off the mat after match 2, he tried to conserve in the first period but he gets really sloppy when he's tired. Just wasn't in good enough shape, and since it was Final X that is on him.

Are they really going to show the men's matches this zoomed out and both mats? You can't see anything, let alone no scoreboard.

I agree, choosing your opponents walk-out music might be the greatest idea of all time. The possibilities are endless...

Obviously one of the greats, but people forget that senior year JB was darn close to losing to Tyler Caldwell at the Big 12 finals. Am I crazy for thinking sophomore year Ed Ruth was his peak and he'd have a chance against senior Askren? I think Ed lost a bit of the fire by the end of his collegiate career. I wouldn't favor Ruth, but there's a chance imo. Man I would love to see it

I don't think JB is taking any job without an Oklahoma State like setup in terms of a sponsor and donor. Just having a current Rutgers or even Nebraska setup right now doesn't move the needle much for him in my opinion. I'm guessing the DT situation has made him think stronger about it, but he's not jumping in without someone to (over) pay the bills.

100% Abas over Lee

ROCK AND ROLL MCDONALDS

Appreciate Ryan's candor, he typically gives more info than your typical coach and it's always welcome.

I don't know of any specifics, but he talked recently about having nerve and stinger issues. Plus he had surgery late last year for his hand/fingers I believe. Now maybe he's fully healed and I sure hope so, but it just seems like he hasn't been right since he won Worlds. Couple all that with the time off and I just don't feel like we'll see peak Vito at Final X. But I'm 100% speculating and that's not fair, should have clarified that.

Give me Forrest over Vito, too much time off the mat for Vito and quite frankly I'm not sure he'll be 100% (or even 80%) fully healthy again. Hope to be wrong and we see peak Vito.

How can we have a mat this bad for the World Team Trials? People have been consistently losing their footing all day.