BigRedFan

He's been looking a bit more like his old self as the season progresses. I can only guess that he's going to weigh as little as possible at NCAAs and still have a good chance of winning, so as to make the cut to 57kg in a month as easy as possible. We will know all we need to know at the EIWA tournament!

Temper your excitement. No Arujau or Cornella. Cornella will be back the final dual next weekend before EIWAs. No explanation for Arujau's expected absence. Oddly enough, Josh Saunders is the expected guy at 141 for his first dual of the year. Dual won't be close as a result. Do you recall that Ramirez TF'd Fields 16-1 in the first period in November? (from Cornell's just-posted match notes for the weekend)

Cardenas has not committed to Arizona State, nor any other school. The hope is Michigan, but other schools are in play (or, more precisely, are in the bidding). This is from an unimpeachable source.

Nope.

Cornell starters include Fernandez, Ramirez, Cardenas, and Fernandes.

Went to the Cornell-Princeton dual tonight. Spoke to the main guy in "Foca's Army," who indicated that Foca will be deferring a semester in order to wrestle for Cornell next year. Yee-haw! Cardenas is moving on, as we all know. The above guy said that he's getting lots of offers, and is looking at Michigan. Fernandes told me this is his last year, and next year he'll be working in finance in NYC (not being a farmer any more!). So like Shapiro/Ramirez/Ruiz/Foca in the middle of the lineup.

Just spoke to someone who knows (hint: he was wearing a "Foca's Army" sweatshirt). Jacob is getting a bunch of "offers," and would like to go to Michigan, but whatever works best for him is what he'll do.

Of course. It is only the Ivy League schools for whom he cannot wrestle. Them, and Bucknell, I believe, which doesn't allow for red shirting (don't hold me to that!) or grad students.

Kemerererer was at the Spartan Combat RTC, not Cornell. Cornell has four (different) coaches (Grey, Vinson, Russell, Gwiz).

Hmm. North Carolina: urban planning and Rob Koll...

Any top wrestling programs have graduate degree offerings in urban planning?

Chris Foca comes out to "Who let the Dogs Out".

"Not that there's anything wrong with that"

And the status of Crooham and Stanich?

This aged well.

Foca to Lehigh: when what freezes over? Cardenas and Fernandes do appear to be using the last of their Ivy eligibility this year; Cardenas is in the portal as a grad student, but I don't think Fernandes is going to continue (just my vague opinion). It's possible that Foca still can compete next year at Cornell prior to graduating (taking the Palacio path). He'd be looking at a Shapiro/Ramirez/Ruiz/Foca 157-184 lineup. Maybe I'll try to annoy them at the Princeton dual next weekend and get some inside skinny.

Tanner Sloan, who won 197, would like a word.

Why not? Is not part of the job of a head coach to attract top tier talent?

Pretty much! Cornell/Mike Grey has a great NJ pipeline. Ungar: PA Vito: NY Cornella: CO Fernandez: NJ Shapiro: MD (but Wyoming Seminary in PA) Ramirez: FL (but Blair in NJ) Canoyer: NE Foca: Joisey! (Bergen Catholic) Cardenas: NJ (Bergen Catholic) Fernandes: NJ

I asked you a couple of questions, and you chose not to answer. So, we're done.

I'm not offended, thanks. And thanks for giving your reasons. Wrt the lawyer thing: was their appeal successful, and therefore justified? If they thought they had a sound basis for an appeal, should they not have appealed? Do they not owe it to their wrestler to support him to the best of their ability? Honest questions. In 2021-22, they lost to Penn State, Lehigh, and Wisconsin. All with full, expected lineups. So, no ducking and losing that year. In 2022-23, they lost to Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Ohio State (without Ungar (who missed the previous dual)/Yianni/Cornella (who missed the previous *three* duals)/Foca (whose replacement won)). Only the Ohio State dual might have been won, but not easily, if Yianni had been there. Do you think Yianni was ducking Sasso? IIRC, Yianni didn't duck McKenna at their dual the year before. So, Ungar missed the previous dual, Cornella missed the previous three duals: were they ducking? This year, they have lost to Iowa State (with the disputed injuries), Ohio State (with their best available team), and Lehigh (also with their best available team) None of those matches would have been "easily won," had everyone been available. Which duals did I miss that they would have won "easily" if not for ducking? Honest question, again.

Shocking that Cornell is your least favorite program. You always have such nice things to say about them. Vito has twice in his career lost to someone that he earlier beat in a dominant way: future NCAA champion Patrick Glory, whom he pinned in the dual and then lost to in the EIWA final one year, then majored in the EIWA final and lost to in the NCAA semis the next year. His only other career losses are to Rivera (who he never beat), Latona (who he beat 6-1 and then lost to when injured), and Crooham in their only meeting.

Bigger than Dean vs. Nickal?

I'm done here.

So, in his previous match, Ramirez was faking a hurt ankle in preparation for ducking? You guys are just too much.