SocraTease

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?

He might not even have won the position from Glazer

Reminder: Big 12 finals on ESPN 2 at 8:30. Carr vs. O'Toole and Bastida vs. Hendrickson, among other matches

That was a royal beat down. No comparison with the dual meet earlier this year

It's almost 7 PM and still light outside on the East Coast (even though it snowed here in Philly) A SUN-day bonus to the Big Ten wrestling'

Davis is smart, however. He was summa cum laude in high school and I seem to think he had a 4.0 at PSU his first semester if I'm not mistaken

That length of Hamiti is really a problem for just about anyone. Not sure how Carr or KOT will deal with it ... though maybe they already have.

Not sure if Mesenbrink was hyperventilating at the end of the first or just consciously gulping breathes to get more air in his lungs.

Hamiti looked like he was pinned there.

Wow. What a match.

Penn State has nearly clinched it. The drama is only now for 3rd place between Iowa and Nebraska.

2024 Big Ten Championships Team Standings Team Score # F # Consi Semi # 3rd-4th # 5th-6th # 7th-8th Max Possible Penn State 150 7 2 2 0 0 189 Michigan 122.5 4 5 4 1 0 152.5 Iowa 105.5 1 8 4 4 0 129.5 Nebraska 105 1 7 4 3 1 129 Rutgers 87.5 1 5 2 3 1 99.5 Ohio State 82 2 4 1 3 0 106 Minnesota 67 2 2 0 2 2 79 Wisconsin 46.5 1 0 0 0 4 52.5 Purdue 41.5 0 2 1 1 3 44.5 Maryland 39 0 3 2 1 1 45 Indiana 32 0 1 0 1 3 35 Illinois 28 1 1 0 1 1 37 Michigan State 23.5 0 0 0 0 2 23.5 Northwestern 14.5 0 0 0 0 2 14.5