nhs67

No pony in that race, brosephino. I just don't think he is looking for clicks. Listen to his podcast(s). It's a great listen.

At the very least, mediocre middle weights isn't true, anymore - depending on your definition of a middle weight. They have beaten us at 74 KG, 86 KG, and 97 KG within the last two years.

I disagree. He isn't looking for clicks. He genuinely believes it because someone he trusts has told him this.

Also, Bartlett is(was) not a champ, so I don't think he should have been there anyways...?

Honestly, I don't know what's true anymore. Lovett was poking fun at stuff and had posted something with Starocci replaced with Johnny D. I don't know if that actually happened.

Starocci was replaced with Johnny D last I saw.

All fair points. Another one I put right there with him is ASU's Manville.

I would love to see Casey head to Central. I know Bennett is fresh, but if I am Bennett I welcome Casey coming in. Cael? Campbell. Do it.

Takahashi had a serious size advantage on Mesenbrink, it was puzzling to see as Mesenbrink had no answer to the strength disparity.

I don't think we have seen peak-form Shapiro yet. I don't typically side with tinfoil hat wearing softies, but I fully believe that concussions have given us a Shapiro that is considerably lower-peak than we have been able to witness in college (yet). Also, it was MFS and not folkstyle. That would make a huge difference in a Folkstyle match for these two.

Valencia’s freestyle résumé far outshines his folkstyle record. At 141 lbs, his folkstyle results aren’t exceptional: he dropped two razor-thin decisions to All-American–caliber opponents, and while he notched a 5-4 win over Rivera (Round of 16) and an 11-6 victory against Iowa’s JV Ryder Block, those wins alone don’t yet peg him as a title contender at that weight. He’s only stepped above 143.3 lbs once in recent years - an outing at 157 lbs against HEW Ed Scott that ended in a 13-3 major-decision defeat. Still, I believe he has a tremendous amount of upside beyond his current #26 ranking at 141 lbs on Wrestlestat, which would translate to roughly #22 at 149 lbs. Projecting to 149 lbs, I could see him matching up with the likes of Andrew Clark, Josh Edmond, and Jack Gioffre, which puts him in the Round-of-12/16 conversation. Back down at 141 lbs, similar R12/R16 matchups against Ryan Jack, Danny Pucino, and Julian Tagg seem realistic. Cracking the top 5–8 at 141 lbs feels slightly more attainable, especially since we haven’t yet seen how he adapts to 149 lbs. Stanich, Lemley, and Bailey seem more doable than McNeil, Stiles, and Williams. One more question: could Valencia wrestle EJ Parco for the starting spot? I’d favor Valencia in that matchup - but would the coaches put Parco out, who if I understand correctly the coaching staff loves? Hell, after last season, I would prefer a lineup bump from 141 - 174. That puts Monteiro out, but I don't think Monteiro is the answer for them at 184lbs (I did last year, but felt proven wrong). Ramblings of an old man... sorry.

I think Nagao (if healthy) and Davis on Redshirt is a good option for them, as well.

I think Locket CAN beat Caliendo in MFS. I don't think he WILL beat him in CFS. Also, yes. It is Messenbrink - NEXT TOPIC. To be a logical title threat, he must have more than a fart's chance in a $HlT storm to win the title. I would love to see a proper contender emerge at 165lbs, but I don't see it happening unless someone makes a leap and Messenbrink does not. The most likely candidates to make that leap would be guys coming up from 157 or current 157lbers such as Blaze, Duke (who is same team, so they would not be going against one another at a competition), or Shapiro. I don't think anyone else could make that jump to compete with him next season. Facundo might be able to keep it close.

He appears to be slotting in at 141lbs for Penn State - as of now.

Looks like Aaron Brooks - Hayden Zillmer is happening at UNLIMITED. Interesting.