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I didn’t say you did, it was an honest question, and I honestly think Palmer does have an argument to be ranked #1 or 2. After Figs, the rest of the top 125’s all have some questionable losses (as does Palmer but at 133). But he also has a win over Nagao, not that that really factors into 125 rankings. I think one argument for him being ranked so low is in theory you could look back at some of Palmer’s losses to guys that also spent time at 125. I believe the only one last year is Lamont, who has losses to Kaylor (2022) and McKee (2021).

My picks in order of confidence: Starocci Brooks Vito Woods O’Toole Figueroa Van Ness Haines Truax Hendrickson

What does the ranker's oath say about common opponents? Should Palmer be #1 (or #2 behind Figs) because he's undefeated at 125 and has a common opponent advantage over Ramos?

I think it's really only because of the common opponent result. I would imagine if a post grad entered Midlands and beat one guy but lost to a different guy it could have impacted the rankings.

I think the reverse. I don't see why the All Star match shouldn't count on records. But I think it makes sense not to count matches against non-NCAA opponents.

Yes and I think that is fine. NCAA doesn’t count matches against high schoolers, but it still happened and is perfectly valid to include as ranking criteria. I wonder what the “ranker’s oath” or whatever would have said if Blaze had beaten Palmer…would Ramos had stayed #1?

Based on the new rule, if the top wrestler is not working for a fall (yes I get that is subjective but I still like the rule), then yes this is in fact stalling. I don’t necessarily hate the ability to score more riding time points though. But that would result in less people choosing bottom as well.

Have you two made up?

They brought it up on FRL. Apparently Marcus and Ramos had practiced together before

wasn't that the year he beat Bajrang at Beat the Streets? I'm pretty sure that was part of what started the "he's our best chance to medal" talk.

According to wrestlestat they both should have one more year after this one.

In my opinion, no. I don’t think we’ll really see any more guys choosing bottom due to the 3 point takedown. If anything, I think it could result in a few more (but probably not a huge amount) guys choosing neutral to just go for a takedown instead, and not risk being ridden. Especially since there’s now also the potential for a 3 point nearfall in addition to 2 & 4.

Of course more people would choose top and no that part of it is not a problem. I’d guess right now choices are somewhere around 60% bottom, 35% neutral, 5% top. If escapes were zero it’d probably be something like 75% neutral, 25% top, 0% bottom. So while there’s a chance the mat wrestling that does happen is more exciting, there will be considerably less of it and I’m not even convinced what’s left would be more exciting. Like I said, you’d probably just have guys trying to hang on for riding time, and another downside is I’d bet you’d see less scrambles because when the top guy senses danger he’d be more likely to just let go. I’m actually more of a fan of neutral wrestling than mat wrestling. But I don’t think a match needs to be 6 minutes and 45 seconds of neutral. And once again, if refs do actually call more stalling on top with the new rule, that alone should help make mat wrestling more exciting.

Maybe he was just sick, you’d think someone from the press or something would have asked the question at some point though

Doesn’t a “reversal” exist in freestyle at 1 point? Could be wrong. Removing the escape point would basically eliminate mat wrestling except for the best top wrestlers. Maybe a couple more guys than current would choose top, but literally no one would choose bottom. There may be a little mat wrestling with guys hanging on to try to get riding time then letting them up, but that’s about it other than a few guys and feet to back moves. I like them adding the rule about top guy must work for a fall. Already saw it in action in the Iowa CBU dual (and of course Iowa was perplexed when it was called against them).

LOL. But isn’t it odd that a team’s head coach missed their season opening dual following a tumultuous offseason and there hasn’t been a peep that I’ve seen as to why? Channeling my inner Minnow, could it be some sort of meaningless 1 match suspension for “lack of institutional control”?

Ha, I was watching the dual as I wrote that but hadn’t gotten to 141 yet. But then did hear Shane Sparks say that during 141. He wasn’t qualified for an official ORS was he, he’s just taking a “regular” redshirt to train for the Olympics?

This is a guy Askren talks about a bunch right?

Did Negron do the Sun Devil bulk job? Wasn’t he pretty skinny wrestling 157 at PSU?

Brayden Palmer of UTC over Blaze 6-4 in the finals

Well looks like you were right about Rivera starting. Appears that Hanna is redshirting as a fifth year student, he wrestled unattached at the Southeast Open

Gotcha. Any explanation given as to why?

Is it true that Terry wasn't there?

The pics I saw seemed like a good bit of Iowa fans, no?

True but technically he’ll be 25 in April. Burroughs got his first world gold at 23. (of course to be compared to Burroughs he’s doing pretty well)