jackwebster

So maybe I was too generous. 10 -0 more likely than 5-5. I can see Vega dropping one before Spratley, Forrest, Vega, Robideau, and Doucet all win on the same day.

Don't agree. I want Forrest on the other side of Seidel. Both are long and wild, and I'm not sure if either guy can manage the other in any predictable way. I would rather have Forrest vs one of the 'immovable objects."

Big stage got to him. I know he's wrestled in big events. I know he says he lives for the pressure. And I know that he's got a lot of that Perry-float-to-the-edge-mat-management in him anyway ... but this was different. Caliendo immediately got in this face, and DL felt something he wasn't up for. IDK Seems like he felt it could get ugly and panicked. Adrenaline dump. He gassed in the first, and not bc he's not in shape, lazy, or whatever. He fell apart emotionally. So, he conceded early and settled for making the score look close.

That's my plan. My magical thinking has willed JWS to retire, willed DT to Stillwater, and willed Forrest to compete this year. Now, stage 4

Agree, so it might be never. What incentive would he have. Not like they need to ho seed hunting. Re osu v psu dual: I know they were playing for the ESPN audience, but Rock and JB made it sound like OSU would make it a match: "Give the people what they want!" We might want it, but it would not be competitive. Psu winning 9 would be more likely that OSU winning 5.

I cant believe Im going to respond, but Ayala did some good things: he burned Forrest on that first slide-by and initially thwarted Forrest's own slide-by by hiding his left arm. So, JF attacked the other side with that hi-c. That hi-c opened the right side. DA escaped a very dangerous top wrestler two times (one in the final seconds of a period). More impressive was his ability to slip the leg. Ill have to check, but I don't remember Seidel having any luck in this position this. Re cradle: what can you say? As the announcers pointed out, DA's position (head-in-the-knee) is what we're all taught to do in the situation. But, JF apparently doesn't care .. Re fish: uncalled for, man. An argument could be made for the guy who got pinned in a half-ass navy.

I don't think the match was that close. Vega stalked Peterson all around the mat and controlled the pace. Peterson shot while backing up. Yeah, Vega ended up in a hairy position once, but ... what's the cliche? ... he was putting himself in a wrestling situation. Hot take: Peterson conceded when he chose neutral.

I have no idea. What made it worse is that Ryder paused a good second before realizing that a free-point was up for grabs. Arnold kicks out, both guys relax, and then Ryder takes the shot out of bounds. I guess I don't understand the rule. Maybe without a pause it's an "action" call? Re Arnold's throw-by: Takedown. Ryder reset before reaching back for the whizzer

This duck would make sense, but I hope Taylor makes the decision that his guys won't. He has put a lot of work into making duals a must-see events, and denying fans a marquee re-match would disappoint a lot of paying customers.

Yeah, Im not sure why I got mocked. I think Seidel can beat Blaze and Davino; but, I think the Forrest match is a crap-shoot. On the other hand, I think Blaze can slow down Forrest. Etc.

We can rank 'em, but I dont see a way to predict AAs without seeds.

Would Seidel have gone down in the third if ... A. Forrest didn't get back points B. Seidel only had one takedown in the first? So ... 4-3 Forrest.

Ftw

Yet another so skilled at stalling that they had to change the rules to beat him.

The dude so good at stalling, they had to change the rules to beat them. But, to be fair, that whole team was great.

Fair enough

He's too small to command a room.

I hope I'm not getting Lance Armstronged. I watched every stage for 3 years in a row. I watched all the documentaries. I even bought a pair of Nike Frees. 7+ champs? At what point is it too good to be true?

Idk I took my daughter (8) to B1G in College Park a couple of years ago and she found enough weirdness to keep her occupied for the entire semifinals. Whathisname's beard (from NW) was a source of endless fascination.

I just pulled up the Ragusin Fix semi and promptly aborted when I saw it was ~25 minutes. Got me thinking: How many real-time hours do you think Fix spent on the mat? In college? Total lifetime?

I wonder how that happened?

@6:40: Peak passive-aggression.

The ISU and OSU duals are legacy matches. These rivalries developed over the full history of NCAA wrestling. Laughable? These matches are for a lot of fans the essence of the sport.

Wrestlers are used to it, but it must suck for a professional athlete to compete in an empty arena.

Familiarity breeds contempt. This could be a reason Sanderson won't go out of his way to give teams multiple looks, and I don't think protecting seeds has much to do with it.