Winners Circle

Have you not been paying attention to what's been going on with this transfer/eligibility stuff? There's no rules.

Is Takahashi favored in a match against David Carr? I genuinely don't know.

Didn't David Carr beat their #1 at that event Flo put on?

I agree if you have a realistic shot of beating the three ahead of you. Which I don't see a path for him to beat Yonger, Ferrari, and even Trumble.

No.

Anyone have any insight on what's going on with this program? Seems like it was 4ish years ago they were starting a D1 program, but the first sentence in the picture below makes me think otherwise. Seems like they're "hoping" more than anything.

I agree 100%, but which of those 7 do you predict to lose? MM and LH are locks. Barr is very close to a lock imo. I truly believe Blaze and Duke are the best guys in their weights (which is why the coaching staff is opting to not RS either of them because they have great options there in Nagao/Davis and Kasak). On the same note I think LL and SVN are the best guys in their weights too. So do I think they'll realistically have 7 champs, probably not because we all know how that tournament goes. But I don't feel comfortable to pick any of those 7 to lose.

Zain (multiple times), Nick Lee, Yianni (also medaled once), Stieber, JO, Metcalf (multiple times), Doug Schwab (multiple times), Kolat (multiple times), are among those who have failed to medal. I'd argue that those guys are all pretty good.

I don't think we see Ono this year. Think he RS's. 125: LL - Champ 133: MB - Champ 141: Nagao/Davis - R12 149: SVN - Champ 157: Duke - Champ 165: MM - Champ 174: LH - Champ 184: Rocco - 4th 197: Barr - Champ 285: Mirasola - 4th

The original point was that Stanich will not go 149 to avoid having to beat Mendez to win a title. Not whether or not he'd duck him in the regular season. If he goes 149 it's because he's a 149 pounder, not to get an easier road.

He'll be top 3 at 141. So he's probably top 30 at least.

1%er's don't go up weight classes to avoid competition.

I highlighted that to show that this weight is consistently the toughest weight in the world, and I don't think anyone would argue that. So yes, I think it is pretty relevant.

I agree that he has a high ceiling. But, during the year he had 17 losses, including to: Fernando Villaescusa (ISU backup), Gage Musser (Air Force), and Gerrit Nijenhuis (who went 12-10 on the year). So it'll be interesting to see if has a regression to his regular season, or if he stays at the R12 level he showed he can be.

He wrestled 197 this past season (RS year) and beat Cody Merrill. Fwiw.

I don't see them starting him over returning AA VanDee. Unless Ayoub is head and shoulder better, which he very well may be. But having that AA chip on shoulder give you a huge leg up on roster battles.

We have 3 medals at this weight since 2000, and only one of them is gold. I'm a Stars and Stripes homer as much as the next guy, but to say a "great shot at gold" is pushing it for me.

Because that doesn't get Mr. Pastry the clicks.

I get your point. But I don't think guys at that level think that way.

Who gets Citadel job? Luke Welch promoted?

Hand up, I was not high enough on Stanich heading into this upcoming collegiate season. This dude is absolutely a title contender in my eyes. I think he is the clear cut #3 and I'll be very surprised if he's not in 1 takedown swing matches with Mendez/Hardy.

Interestingly enough, Ismael made the Fargo finals about 3ish years ago and beat some hammers along the way. I was actually higher on him than Omar coming out of HS, fwiw. I know that's not worth much, but I always expected Ismael to do big things in college. Been stuck behind Hardy and Lovett though.

Ismael Ayoub, the older bro, is the one transferring to KSU. Omar is the one representing PR at U20s and is still at Nebraska.

I half listened while I was working yesterday. But didnt he imply there was "a middle man" between Rocco and PSU who was doing the communicating?

Let's go Bob. Write that $600 check and get this thing done baby.