goheels1812

Great interviews continue! Picking on pops mid interview may be another first.

Oh my goodness he’s smoking him. WOW

That’s about as raw of an interview as you’ll ever see. Really happy for Glory to be able to break through.

Nino is weird in the best possible way. Guy does it differently. Really happy for him.

Man that felt like danger…

I personally know a ton of guys that have wrestled and do wrestle for John Mark Bentley. They have a lotttttt of loyalty to him. He gives kids a chance when no one else would (Milner was a 1 time North Carolina state champion). Those kids would do just about anything for him. It’s why they don’t leave. I knew Austin Trotman well back in the day and was the first one that started that ball rolling.

Btw, was Starocci talking about Usman? That’s even crazier to call out a guy like that on ESPN. I respect the cajones.

Seemed to me like he’s setting himself up to try and advance quickly through the MMA ranks. But yeah, not every day you see the trash talk start after a wrestling national championship lol

Well that’s not the cookie cutter, thankful interview we are used to Man said a D2 champ is lightweight where he comes from

*whispers* I think Humphrey’s was the 2nd best 157. He physically matched O’Connor in the semis.

He’s gone through a lot. Last year he tore his ACL and MCL and gutted out the season to still all American. I heard it was a hard decision to come back, but he wanted to prove himself at 157 and boy did he do it. So happy for the guy.

TJ Jaworksy had 3 and is still the best UNC wrestler ever. O’Connor is 2nd for me now.

Really happy for Austin O’Connor. Guy is a warrior. I’m glad he took over from neutral in the 3rd so I didn’t have to hear about the second round ankle ride lol

Haven’t seen it posted, but starting at 157. I’ll know by 7:15 ET if I’m going to be in a horrible mood for the rest of the finals or in a great mood.

This is a really good, level headed post that should land for everyone regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum.

I’ve watched AOC wrestle every match in his career at UNC and if you asked me to tell you a bad style for him to match up against, I wouldn’t be able to. He’s so positionally sound from all 3 phases of wrestling. He never overextends and he can execute a game plan to perfection. Personally I’m very nervous, because it’s penn state in a national championship. There’s a very real chance O’Connor loses, but I can’t imagine it’s a style thing. No specific style really bothers him or throws him off what he is going to do in the match.

I think Gadson says it better than I could have. Maybe not “sore loser,” but bigger than 6th place is a better descriptor.

Wrestling is a cruel sport that gives and takes. If Spencer doesn’t show to the podium I’ll remember his college career as him being graceful when it gave to him and a sore loser when it took from him. I genuinely feel bad for him that what is probably an impulsive decision will leave a stain on his legacy. Edit: if Spencer is still at the BOK and takes the podium, disregard my post. His legacy as one of the best to ever step on the mat won’t change in any way to me.

Something tells me there’s not a lot of enjoyment for him in the coming days and weeks…

UNC fan coming in peace. O’Connor completely lost his brain at the end of the match (which is so rare for him). I genuinely would’ve been ok with the refs ruling that as stalling for 1 and an escape for 1. I do think O’Connor earned the win, but he also almost blew it at the end by just letting go of Humphreys leg. It would’ve been totally justifiable for the refs to send that one to OT and have them decide it there. Humphrey’s is a hell of a wrestler and I’m glad you guys got to watch him place 3rd this year. I do hate there was some controversy at the end of the semi’s match though.

I think Mekhi can be added to the long list of guys whose bodies just can’t handle the nonstop grind. Which is unfortunate because his talent is undeniable. But he’s essentially been hurt nonstop for what, 3 years now? He just can’t get his body fully healthy at this point. It might do him some good to take a full year off before deciding if he wants to pursue the national team.

He’s the first dude O’Connor has wrestled all year that made me wonder if O’Connor is a small 157. I was looking at that dude last night like this

Bartlett is a stud. I thought when McNeil got to the leg in the 3rd he would be in business. Then Bartlett all of a sudden ends up on top and rides McNeil out.

I know it’s popular to dump all over Shane Sparks, but I’m in the opposite camp. He’s a guy that was forced into this by espn. He could’ve puckered up and did a crappy job with it, but instead he’s invested himself in wrestling and he’s become a fan of the sport. I’ll be the first to admit some of his interviews are awkward (and I’m sure espn makes him do them), but I’ll take it over someone being forced to do it and not caring about wrestling at all. I respect that Sparks took this in stride and decided to become one of us.

As long as Spencer takes the podium with the other 125s I have no problem with any of it (not that my opinion really matters in the grand scheme). Now if he big times the podium tonight… that’s a tough look.