MidwestMan

Ah yes, to be 16 again and just getting my drivers license. Gas was cheap then, but so were wages.

1. Kerk, 2. Batista, 3. Hendrickson, 4. Schultz, 5. Feldman, 6. Elam I'm a Miz homer but Elam has shown he has problems with quick heavys that can attack legs. Davison could also be a problem for him. I don't think Batista beats Hendrickson again, but give him the benefit of the win in how I would seed them.

Can't wait to see the rematch between these two. Swiderski should have received one more point for the stall at the end. Regardless who wins this match, Ty Watters is looking like a "bad dude" right now. Uses that length well with leverage for those bars and tightwaist. West Virginia program has some "hombres" that can scrap. I like Swiderski's fire. All these tough underclassmen. Gonna be some good battles down the line in the Big 12. Now add Arizona State in the mix.

My father and stepfather were both Marine veterans of the Korean War. My stepfather had a USMC with the Marine symbol: eagle, globe, and anchor, tattooed on his left upper arm. He was one of those guys that got into weight training during the 50/60s and really had some jacked arms, and that "tat" was pretty intimidating. My step dad was a bad ass. Believe me, I know, when he told me not to pick on my sister or there would be consequences, there was. We lived in urban KC when I was growing up and there was a tavern on the corner that my parents frequented often. I once saw my step dad put those popeye arms into action in a "little disagreement" in the tavern. My youth was never boring. As dad eventually lived into his 70's and his muscles atrophied and shrank, that tat didn't age too well, but the legacy behind the tat left a lifetime impression.

The "click bate" that keeps on giving.

Got to admit, I don't know what to expect out of my home state Miz Tigers. Maybe coach Smith can pull a Houdini and have the Tigers healthy and ready to wrestle. Sure ended the season on a down projectory. I realize injuries and illness do happen, but I was really optimistic about this year with what was coming back, and having nats in KC. I want to believe, but I have'nt had anything to lead me to think Miz might turn a corner. Only positive is to see the Big 12 continue to get more competitive as a wrestling conference. Will be even more interesting to see Arizona State in the mix next year, and makes no sense that Arkansas-Little Rock is not in the conference. Of course, "common sense" with reference to location for conference affiliation is a thing of the past.

Thanks for posting this. Yes, it was a "fun stroll down memory lane" for this old man. I started a wrestling club in my hometown while in college. Our club traveled and we wrestled all over the Midwest. Got to see several of the wrestlers on this list when they were in youth programs. My first year at the HS level, I started a youth program in the community. I'm proud to say that I coached 2 All Americans on this list that started in that club. It has been a joy to see the continued development of wrestling in Missouri as some of those previous wrestlers have become great coaches. When I go to the state meet, I can't help but feel I have my fingerprints on some of what I'm watching.

Me, my senior year in HS. Lost 3-2 in finals and then had to wrestle one more match for true 2nd. That was in Missouri over 50 years ago. They quit wrestling for true 2nd a couple of years after I graduated.

Just finally got around to watching the MU flu vs Iowa State dual and Zach Elam looked like a Dom Bradley coached Hwt. Those of you that have followed Bradley over the years know he is the master of doing hardly nothing to win and lose 1 pt matches. Those days are over as athletic hwts (see Bastida) are becoming more the norm and will win matches using speed, offense, and technique. As long as Bradley is coaching hwts at Mizzou, this will be your product. It may be good enough to get on the bottom steps of the podium, but the top steps are going to be filled by men that are big, quick athletes. Kinda like going to the HS state and watching the fat Hwts titty fight for 3 periods and go into overtime. Sampson Stillwell didn't have a match last a period at state in Missouri because he is a man among boys and wrestles like a lighter weight. He is committed to wrestle at Mizzou. I hope Bradley doesn't ruin him when he gets there. I only can imagine what Mizzous upperweights would be like if Cox was in the room. Now let's take it one more step while we are dreaming. How about an Askren and a Cox in the same room. One could only wish.

And to think this OSU squad ruined Mizzou's record attendance "Senior Night" because they out tuffed the Tigers in that dual. Tougher and better were terms I was using for OSU that Sunday. Maybe both Miz and OSU are overrated. The only team not getting it's ears boxed this year is Penn State, the rest are taking turns finding their identity and determining their pecking order on the "bully board!" Smith mentions the fact that Iowa had gotten roughed up a couple of times and toughed up. That is why we love this sport, as every wrestler and team is in constant pursuit of improvement to learn, toughen up, make adjustments to win, as long as they are motivated to do so. It is the American ethos. Dual season is over. Now let the fireworks begin.

Going to be a "must watch event" for the hard core collegiate wrestling fan. Just hope both teams stay healthy and don't come down with "Mizzou flu!"

Great conversation here, but isn't it all about winning? Must as in politics, a lot is tolerated to accomplish the big "W!" The end is what counts, regardless the means. The programs with the biggest checkbooks will remain relevant. Coaches at traditional college power house wrestling power programs will feel the heat, and sometimes it impairs their better judgement. NIL can flip a roster in a heartbeat. Okie State benefited from some transfers, but is also developing some young talent and Oklahoma is a hotbed of talent. Not sure if Okie State still mining NJ like they have in the past. Also have a California pipeline. Adding Coleman Scott to the staff does breath some new air in the program and synergize the old with the new.

I hear that Cael Sanderson guy was pretty good wrestler, HS level in Utah, and held his own collegiately and Internationally. Do we need another topic concerning "Best coach from each state?" Could even be broken down categories: HS, College, International, or combination of all.

Just saw this and wanted to share a recent experience I had with an older gentleman at a humane society pancake breakfast we hosted. I was volunteering as a server and approached this senior couple about their order. The gentleman was wearing an Oklahoma State cap and I commented that I was a former wrestling coach and very familiar with Okie State wrestling/John Smith. He proceeded to tell me he had played football for Oklahoma State and asked me if I knew who Myron Roderick was. I told him that any astute follower of wrestling was familiar with Roderick. He then shared that he and Myron played racquetball together and even paired up for some doubles. They were close friends up to the time of Myron's death. This gentleman had married a lady from our area and sold his real estate business in Tulsa and moved to smaller town Midwest Missouri. Just a chance meeting that ended up being an interesting story. They also left a very generous tip for our local shelter. Sorry about the highjack.

Mizzou homer here. Smith will retire sometime. And yes, I've read all the comments on the other thread about possible Miz assistants taking over. If that happens, Miz stays status quo. Askren would take that program to the next level. Sorry about crashing in.

Just add 4x world champ or Oly champ and we'll call it good. Looking forward to seeing all these young studs taking it to the next level. Reloading USA wrestling.

The Mesenbrink story can serve as a motivational tool for any coaches to share with their athletes. Regardless of what level you are now, keep "chopping wood" and working toward achieving your goals. Sometimes the improvements are micro, but they are still measurable. In Mitchell's case, he made a big jump. But when you listen to his interview explaining why he was looking to transfer, he points out the work he had to do to make the jump. He went home and trained his ass off and was privy to some pretty good coaches and workout partners. I forwarded the link to the Mesenbrink interview to one of the HS kids I work with in the off season. Sports/competition is such a head game. We all know you have to "believe to achieve, then sweat to get!"

Mizzou was one of the teams. I had actually heard he was leaning that way and I was attending a MU dual when some of my wrestling buddies and they were pondering the 23-24 lineup when Jacques would be gone. They started coming up with scenarios and then I told them about Mesenbrink and the Askren (AWA) tie in. I was thinking it was a done deal and how cool it would be for those guys (Mitchell and Kegan) to be workout partners and what a solid addition to MU Wrestling. Then NIL came knocking at the door, disguised as Penn State, and what is "Tiger Style" compared to hanging out with the likes of Starocci, Haines, Bartlett, Brooks, etc.... and etc.... and coached by, just a step below jesus, Cael Sanderson and staff. Those Mesenbrink glasses became shaded, and both mascots may have claws, but Mitchell decided he'd rather hangout with Lions instead of Tigers. Money=Leverage=Power=Control=Dynasty (arrange the order anyway you want) Dynasties eventually end, but maybe not in my lifetime.

Gus, you are absolutely correct. I was watching some YouTube footage of Cook hitting gator bacon, as they call it today. I actually learned this technique at a Granby camp in Virginia back in the early 80's. The front headlock became a key part of our takedown arsenal after that camp. Rafted the New River Gorge in West Virginia on the way home from camp. Those kids, now grown men now, still talk about that trip and how much fun it was. 4 of those kids ended up state place finishers (1 state champ). Building family in the wrestling room with experiences like this was always important to me.

Isn't Sloan kinda known for throwing a "cement mixer" or similar scenario, Gator roll, in the past? Our HS team had a good kid pancaked from a whizzer and 1/4 Nelson (whipover) at District yesterday. It was a hard lesson as he was leading by 3 in the 3rd period and didn't need to be in the position to get pancaked. No stalling warnings, etc... just being overly aggressive and not tactically intelligent. I was actually in the stands screaming to watch out for the whipover. Not so much from the coaches sitting right next to the mat. I'll be kind and say I had a better view. I'll be look Iooking forward to the next "Rocky and Sloan" chapter.

Not making excuses for MU, and certainly everyone is dealing with injuries at this time of the year. Mocco, Hawks, and Elam lost to the higher ranked wrestlers today, regardless of what they have accomplished in the past. The regression is not a good look for the Tigers, but hopefully time to get everyone healthy and get their heads right for Big 12s. Also I've harped on the fact that Tiger Style wrestlers are simply not as "tough" culturally (hard nosed) as some of the other programs.

Big Elam wins by fall and saves face for Mizzou. Final 21-19 MIZ

Could be HEW from an extra covid year. Out coached, meaning other wrestlers still improving and motivated. Maybe competitors have them figured out or just better wrestlers. Some seem to be going backwards for sure. Better figure it out fast.

Berger over Hawks 10-6. MIZ 15 SDSU 13. Getting down to the gritty.

DeVos over Mocco 5-0, MIZ 15 SDSU 10