500 wrestler

On the topic of best wrestlers not to win in last 20 years, honorable mention to Kolin Moore. Solid 4 year career, but after Bo Nickal graduated he was unstoppable his senior year and I thought would have been gauranteed to win if tournament was not canceled. But I also thought Myles Martin was a sure thing the year before, before Dean (I think) upset him.

I see there are a lot of different ways to interpret what I wrote. What I meant was first time champ with two other returning (not future) champs in the same bracket. But even more impressive than that would be beating each of those 2 returning champs on the way to winning the championship.

Sorry posted to wrong thread! Ignore

Maybe a better name would have been Undefeated JV Wrestler as I was 3-0 at JV my freshman year (my coach took pity on me and had me duck a few senior studs)

I think I explained this a while back in another thread. I started wrestling as a freshman in high school, and I was thrown to the wolves right away as I was the best option at varsity. I won a few but lost many. Then steadily got better, finished over .500 for my 4 years but first season skewed my winning percentage

There are four seniors (among others) who have an opportunity to win their first championship if they can outplace two returning champions. In order of likelihood: Bartlett, over Menendez and Allirez (possible) Hamiti, over Haines and O’Toole (possible, I think) Hendrickson, over Steveson and Kerkvliet (very unlikely) Plott, over Starocci and Keckeisen (not really a possibility) Two questions: I’m sure there have been a bunch of wrestlers who have won over two returning champions, for example Starocci last year. But has there ever been anyone who has won their first title over two prior champions? If one of the above were to run go undefeated, continue/improve their high bonus %, and take out both previous champions in the semis and finals, would they be a frontrunner for the Hodge? Note: although I give Bartlett a higher chance because he was one scramble away from being a returning champion, my gut tells me that Hamiti has jumped levels and could take out both Haines and O’Toole. Please forget this prediction in the likely event that this does not happen.

No Kerkvliet?

Some very dumb predictions that I don't fully agree with: 125: Ramos over Ayala 133: Fix over Arujau. Arujau figures out Crookham but Fix finally gets it done 141: Mendez over Bartlett. Similar to B10 finals match. 149: Lovett over Parco. Chalk. 157: Haines over Teemer. Shapiro loses a close one in the semis. 165: Carr over Messenbrink. Nothing in the B12 finals showed me that Carr is able to do beat KOT, but just a hunch. 174: Starocci over Devos. Starocci majors his way through the field. 184: Keckeisen over Truax. 197: Hidlay over Brooks. This is just a dumb, dumb prediction. But if I am right I look like a genius. Hwt: Kerkvleit over Hendrickson. Much closer than all star match

125 | Stevo Poulin 133 | Kade Moore 141 | Cole Matthews 149 | Graham Rooks 157 | Chase Saldate 165 | Caleb Fish 174 | Peyton Mocco 184 | Ryder Rogotzke 197 | Luke Surber 285 | Dayton Pitzer

Yes KOT was solid in his answers. I always appreciate when the winner gives a shout out to their opponent. Unfortunately due to time constraints and conflicts I just got through Big 10s today. Then watched selected big12 matches, starting at 165. And that's the only interview Big12 interview I had time to watch. We'll see what the NCCA champion interviews bring. Still waiting for something that rivals Sammy Brooks from his Big 10 championship.

True. But prepared/poised respondents will find a way to answer a difficult question, not look like a deer in the headlights. Not saying it is easy. And remember, these are the official rankings. I'm just reporting them.

Kerk's saving grace was the inherent humility in his religiosity. That aside, He was probably the worst. But Davis was as ill-prepared as Nuke LaLoosh before Crash taught him how to use cliches.

Davis? He didn't show any humility at all. Talked about all of the 5-6 year guys can't handle him.

I believe post-match interview performances are a factor in NCAA seedings, so here are the official rankings. First, an explanation of the criteria: Charisma/Poise (1-5): is the wrestler comfortable, and can they communicate well? Gratitude (1-5): Did they express gratitude? Admittedly this depends somewhat on the questions asked. Emotion (1-5): How much emotion do they express? Any emotion (except for boredom, Greg) Humility (1-5): How humble are they? Negative points for arrogance (I'm talking to you Jesse) I also deduct a point for each Cliche, for example: I trust in my training We have the best coaching staff All glory to god I have a great support system I just have to wrestle through positions Here are the final, purely objective rankings: Wrestler Charisma Gratitude Emotion Humility Cliché Score Ruth 5 5 3 5 0 18 Lovett 5 3 5 4 0 17 Haines 4 4 5 5 -1 17 Mesenbrink 5 3 3 5 -1 15 Shawver 4 3 4 4 -1 14 Brooks 2 4 2 5 -2 11 Salazar 3 1 4 2 -3 7 Mendez 3 1 3 1 -2 6 Kerkvliet 1 1 1 5 -2 6 Davis 1 1 2 1 0 5 Congratulations to Edmond Ruth for being the champion of champions (I didn't even count his pre-hand raise dancing), and good effort from Lovett and Haines. On the flip side, Braeden Davis needs some works.

I’d put Sammy Sasso at 6. Even before stellar performance at US open. And his trajectory seems up as opposed to Lewis and Fix.