Pa in Taiwan

Regarding the "PSU hate" or the "Iowa hate", folks just need to learn to ignore that stuff. It's a feature of modern life, at least for people who stay connected to any kind of social media. I was curiously surprised to find that Iowa wrestling news started appearing on my Facebook page, and I took a look at some of the comments after the loss. To say that it was loaded with coulda, woulda and shouldas is an understatement. Another curious phenomenon was the total lack of understanding of folkstyle wrestling; it mostly consisted of "Go Hawks". I immediately snoozed it forever. I would do the same for a PSU wrestling news thread on my page. I'd rather come online here once in a while; at least some of the people understand wrestling a bit.

Brands came into this match with a clear strategy, courtesy of Coach Brands. Slow the match as much as possible, stall as much as possible and don't give up points, and then try to steal it late with a Hail Mary takedown. Keep it a super low-scoring match. He almost succeeded. I agree with you that Starocci also contributed greatly to the snoozefest by wrestling a very conservative match. Perhaps Cael is to blame for this by telling him to make sure to get the W and not much more. In my neck of the woods, Taiwan, the match started at 10:30am. I got up and had to make a decision. Should I go climb Monkey Mountain on a beautiful, cool Saturday morning (Yes, your Friday night is my Saturday morning), or should I stay home and listen to the match on gopsusports radio broadcast. I decided to get outside and climb the mountain and come down and catch the end of the dual meet. I'm so glad that I did. I came down and immediately checked what was up. It was 174. I rode my scooter home and caught 197 and Hwt. on the online radio broadcast. I felt energized by my workout on the mountain and had zero regrets for missing this snoozefest of a dual meet live. I expect that B10s and the National Championships will feature some fireworks from both of these teams.

I was quite surprised to hear that Cael's record at PSU vs. Iowa is now 6 wins against 5 losses.

Say the score, clown: PSU 23- Iowa 14. Now, tell me how that swing works that gives Iowa the chance. Does Assad beat Aaron Brooks?

He was in that range tonight.

I look forward to Kerk as the US senior men's wrestling representative after a few more years in the room at PSU and the NLWC.

This is an extremely reasonable viewpoint, and it highlights the value of this dual meet. This value is the fact that the tight matchups and tossups in the PSU/Iowa lineups make this a dual meet that could really go anywhere. It's really good for NCAA wrestling. Homers of both stripes are excited and worried, excited that their squad could pull it off, but worried that they may lose as well, for the opposing team is formidable and capable of bringing top game. It will be decided by individual performances, especially in the weights 141-167, but also of course in the two final weight classes, 197 and HWT. To my fellow wrestling fans from both camps I say "Enjoy! This is what it's all about!". And I remind you to stay respectful on the comment boards. After all, even a loss can be revenged in B10s and the NCAA Championship Tournaments. Imagine that some of these swing matches may be taking place three times over the next two months!

He won't need to wait for the Russians or Iranians to find no hesitation in attacking those knees. Gilman, Vito, and the rest of the US field at 57kg will be all over Spencer's knees.

Dreaming bro! Woods only wrestles in the first period. Then he gasses. I've got Bartlett over Woods, and that may be a stretch, but Woods majoring Bartlett? Even more of a stretch! He led 8-0 with 2 minutes of riding time at the end of the first period against Joseph Zargo, unranked but a tough kid. He won that match by decision, 9-2. In other words, he didn't score a point in the second or third periods, and he even got dinged for stalling in the third! Woods is not in top shape, and if Bartlett can weather the first period without giving up a lot of points, he will win the match in the second and third periods.

Cael says nix to that.

That's a lot of commentary about a match that's not going to happen. SVN is wrestling 149; Woods is at 141. Bartlett will meet Woods, and I agree with one conclusion from Wrestleknownothing, namely that 17 people choosing Woods and only one choosing Bartlett is the biggest surprise here. Now if we were calling the match according to who will be in the lead after the first period, I would agree with the Woods supporters. Unfortunately for Woods, it's a seven-minute match, and I predict that he gasses.

This is true, but next Friday night against Steen it won't make much of a difference. I don't see it going to the 3rd period, and Spencer Lee will have enough gas in the tank (money in his wallet) to get the tech or pin in the 1st or 2nd period. Woods comes out really strong in the 1st period, and he DOES burn up too much energy quickly. Now that doesn't matter when you can rack up 7 or 8 points early and put things out of reach, but that's not always going to be the case. Next Friday against Bartlett, this could be the weakness that Cael will capitalize on. Bartlett is a smart wrestler, and he seems to wrestle all three periods. He has a gas tank. I'm interested in seeing how the third period plays out between Bartlett and Woods. I won't be surprised at all to see a gassed Woods give up points and even the match in the third.

Yes, you are a troll, but you make a very compelling point here about VakAttack, who may be miffed that you beat him to the punch with basically the exact same predictions. Remember my post on 141 - 165. There may be some surprises here that lean in PSU's favor. Woods may not seem so real after this match. Murin may not be able to put more in against SVN. I've got Haines all the way. 165 is more of a toss-up. Let's see if Facundo can find a way. The crowd will certainly make a difference, especially at the last two weights.

In a just world, Jimmy Cinnaclown would not be permitted to comment on this thread, especially after his prediction regarding the four weights highlighted in the post: 141: Mattin dec Bartlett 9-3 149: Lamer dec Van Ness 12-3 157: Lewan dec Haines 15-3 165: Amine dec Facundo 18-3 Cinnaclown used diversion and distraction when replying to accurate criticism and condemnation of his inaccurate predictions and statements. Cinnaclown cries out in pain as he strikes you. Cinnaclown belongs in a Cinnacircus, and although from my perch in Taiwan I see the US disintegrating into a bizarre circus in so many ways, wrestling has retained its teflon coating for the most part, remaining a part of the traditional, admirable part of our culture. Cinnaclown would have it become part of the bizarre circus. Don't play circus games with the clown.

Clown predictions. Cinnaclown. He looks at it as a win-win situation. If PSU wrestlers lose, he can say "told you so". If PSU wrestlers excel and win, he chuckles. After all, he claims to be a PSU fan.

The PSU wrestlers at these weights, Bartlett, SVN, Haines, and Facundo, performed well under pressure this evening. If Cael can follow his usual process and get them to peak in March, this year is going to be a washout, with PSU far ahead of any challengers. Let's see how these guys do against Iowa this weekend. They are showing PSU mettle, gutting out tough wins against ranked opponents.

The incredibly wrong fun has just begun. Thank you for playing the clown. It makes the circus so much more interesting.