SocraTease

How about an Old Timer's match before the finals on Saturday: A. J. Ferrari vs. Pat Downey The Brand Brothers vs. Angel Rivera Ben Askren vs. Chris Pendelton Amine's Dad vs. Robin Ficker Brent Metcalf vs. Darrion Caldwell Austin DeSanto vs. His shadow Gym Jordan vs. john Smith Christian Pyles vs. Willie Saylor

I can pretend to be ... but only if you illuminate the reference

Ben Askren vs. Dylan Palacio (match in the stands or on the sidelines) https://www.tiktok.com/@flowrestlingtv/video/7332964302569164074

Some guys who didn't qualify or get at large bids: 125 Spencer Moore, UNC (15-5) Colton Camacho, Pitt (11-12) Trever Anderson, UNI (11-12) Dominic Mendez, Cal Poly (15-12) Jack Maida, American (15-5) Anthony Molton, Campbell (21-5) 133 Vincent Santaniello, Pittsburgh (15-4) Anthony Madrigal, Illinois (7-5) Gabe Whisenhunt, Oregon State (10-11) Mason Leiphart, Franklin & Marshall (22-11) Blake Boarman, Chattanooga (18-6) 141 Jason Miranda, Stanford (17-10) Haiden Drury, Utah Valley (16-10) Cole Brooks, Wyoming (14-8) Jacob Brya, NIU (13 - 4) Ryan Sullivan, Clarion (12-5) Tyler Vasquez, Princeton (14-15) Jack Gioffre, Virginia (13-7) Pat Phillips, Franklin & Marshall (21-13) 149 ayden Scott, UNC (17-13) Nash Singleton, Oregon State (12 - 12) Maxwell Petersen, NDSU (20-10) Javion Jones, NIU (12-7) 157 Alejandro Herrera-Rondon Clarion (18-8) Michael North, Maryland (14-15) Nathan Lukez, Army (26-11) 165 Chance McLane, Arizona State (11-10) Cody Walsh, Drexel (25-11) Cael Carlson, Oklahoma (15 - 12) Bryce Hepner, Ohio State (13-7) 174 Bubba Wilson, Nebraska (16-12) Donnell Washington, Indiana (14-8) Tate Picklo, Oklahoma (14-14) Tyler Brennan, Little Rock (19-5) Sal Perrine, Ohio (17-11) 184 Troy Fisher, Northwestern (12-11) Dennis Robin, West Virginia (16-9) Zayne Lehman, Ohio (14-7) Nathan Haas, Cal Baptist (14-11) Jacob Armstrong, Utah Valley (9-8) 197 Gabe Sollars, Indiana (20-14) Kael Wisler (24-14) Blake Schaffer, Kent State (25-11) Logan Deacetis, Bucknell (20-13) 285 Ryan Catka, Virginia (24-14) Jacobi Jackson, NIU (12-6) Tyrell Gordon, Northern Iowa (8-6) Josh Terrill, Michigan State (25-15)

Are there any guys with a losing record who qualified?

Fix is a Fixture. Perhaps they should let him in every year with an honorary at large bid. He turned 26 yesterday (March 11) and I suppose he could actually wrestle against someone who is 8 years younger if he gets a true freshman. He probably has "old man" (Dad) strength.

He pulled a Starocci. Went AWOL and comes back for the Big Dance and March Mat-ness.

Wrestleknow-something comes through again with the relevant facts and stats I'm telling you, somebody better hire this guy. Or maybe you should start a website and monetize it. FLO or Intermat might need a reliable hand. Or perhaps some teams can "Billy Beane" (Cael Sanderson) you to do data analysis to help their programs.

This is what happens when religious belief is added to stubborn ideology and far too much alcohol. Is Jajensen the father of David Jensen, who wrestled 285 for Nebraska? If so, it might help to explain the blind passion. Perhaps he hasn't gotten over this match last year, which I'm sure he characterizes as a lucky fluke. Labriola was "right there" with Starocci, right? https://www.ncaa.com/video/wrestling/2023-03-18/carter-starocci-vs-mikey-labriola-2023-ncaa-wrestling-championship-174-lbs

I think Penn State got the B1G tournament during Covid when no fans were allowed. There has been some talk of giving them another host opportunity before they are technically due again because of that fluke year.

Swiderski got robbed. Williams should have been hit with a two point stall and lost.

Starocci had a speech ready and prepared for the interview, but he left Maryland early and chose to give it at the Academy Award Ceremony that Sunday night. Unfortunately, his plane didn't arrive in Hollywood on time, so he just tweeted out a couple of the more memorable lines. There was a large partisan crowd cheering his remarks from Erie, PA. And a much larger crowd boo-ing him on the Intermat forums. Starocci plans to have a few additional things to say after NCAAs and also indicated he will thumb wrestle anyone anytime anywhere, including Ben Askren, whose fingers aren't as funky or proficient at scrambling as his legs.

I think Starocci would be crazy not to wrestle if he is healthy enough to go. Winning NCAAs is probably his only realistic way to qualify for Olympic trials. Winning a 4th would cement his legacy in the sport. Otherwise, he would likely be forever stuck behind Brooks and only in the conversation with three-timers like Nolf, Nickal, and Retherford. Winning a 4th would likely provide him with some endorsement money and further opportunities. Not wrestling would likely end his ties with NLWC, the best place to train. Not wrestling would likely alienate him from the coaches and many guys on the team with whom he is connected for the past 5 years. And, last but least, not wrestling would make him the subject of conversation for who-knows-how-long on wrestling forums. For a while, references might surpass Downey, Ferrari, Spencer Lee, and of course Jimmy Cinnabon

Who wants to take a stab at the top four seeds at each weight? Here's a template (below) to copy, paste, and fill in. An opportunity for a contest: e.g., one point earned for each seed that correctly matches what is announced on Wednesday after the official seeds come out. Total possible points: 40. 125 1. 2. 3. 4. 133 1. 2. 3. 4. 141 1. 2. 3. 4. 149 1. 2. 3. 4. 157 1. 2. 3. 4. 165 1. 2. 3. 4. 174 1. 2. 3. 4. 184 1. 2. 3. 4. 197 1. 2. 3. 4. 285 1. 2. 3. 4.

The announcers speculated (oddly) it was a good thing for Haines and the match because the ref was calling them quickly. The implication was that he would call a second one on Lewan if it merited it. I'm glad the match ended with a takedown and not a stall call.

Kerk, Bastida, Hendrickson, Feldman or Schulz

Don't think anyone will ever touch 200 points by Iowa. If Penn State had a healthy Starocci (and possibly Van Ness), they might have approached 195 points. I'm wondering, though, if the Big Ten in the 1980s and even mid-1990's was weaker overall competitively then than it is now across the board. In the last decade or so, it is utterly and completely the dominant conference. Not to take anything away from those Iowa teams but of course comparing across eras is problematic and controversial.

"This Starocci stuff has the potential to rival all the drama around Spencer Lee's last match ... especially with 10 days without wrestling between conference championships and NCAAs. Though it has a long way to go to reach A. J. Ferrari proportions." Thus spoke:

I think they only lost a total of 4 matches: Nagao in semis, Kasak in semis, Bartlett in finals, and Truax in finals.

Kerkviliet has the laid back "Easy Ed Ruth" personality -- "wrestling is okay but it's not that important" sort of view.

They end up with 170.5 total points with 9 scoring wrestlers

What's the Big Ten team points record? Penn State currently has 166.5 without Starocci and without 285 being contested?