Crotalus

Lee does have a higher average place in senior level tournaments than Gilman does....

Went there once when I was a kid. Didn't really like the shoulder to shoulder fishing.

I would argue that's a reason to get more of our refs on the international scene. It would be better if the refs that work our domestic tournaments (at least our top tier refs) had international experience and training, then they would call the domestic matches the way they would be called overseas. And hopefully that would precipitate down to our less experienced referees. (Trickle down. Doesn't work in economics, but might work in refereeing.) It was on the edge of the mat. But regardless, if Ukr gets 4 (the right call imo), then that became his move, and he is allowed to expose his back in the process. Zahid needed to do something to earn exposure pts after that. They should not just be giving away free points for aggression (though perhaps now there is some sort of emphasis to do so). One thing that really separates free from folk that a lot of our guys struggle with is the need to maintain control throughout those positions so you don't get exposed. If you are over aggressive, you will give up points. I also think we typically see 4-2 when the guy taking the shot gets a 4 pt feet-to-back but then gets wrapped over for 2 from the defensive wrestler. That is how the ref originally scored it, but was switched upon review.

I don't think the screenshot tells the story here. I think Zahid would have had to do something to earn the exposure, such as stopping the motion of the roll while Ukr was in danger. But they rolled through the chest wrap about a cleanly as you can. You wouldn't give the defensive wrestler 2 on a gut wrench if the offensive wrestler broke his lock while on his back but continued through the motion unimpeded by the defensive wrestler. He would have to stop the offensive wrestler's motion. (Not completely analogous situations, but you get my point.) But, as I mentioned above, the only scenario I see as possible, barring a more egregious scoring error, is for them to have given Zahid a 2 pt exposure after the 4 pt throw. So perhaps you're right, and while watching frame by frame during the challenge, they saw something that didn't really happen.

Maybe that was the justification. I don't see any way Zahid could be given 2 pts (TD or exposure) prior to the 4 pt throw. I think the only way for Zahid to have earned 2, if scored correctly, would be if he was given credit for exposing Ukr after the 4 pt throw. But he would have had to hold him there and not just a continuous roll through, which I don't see.

This is the women's style we're talking about. The competitors are not manly enough to stand there and hug until the ref tells one of them to lay down. (Boom, roasted)

Adorable, for sure. But the guy spent more time getting his thumb in the right place than he did actually trying to get off his back. Seriously, who gets pinned in that position? Desanto had no hold whatsoever.

Not even slightly emotional. Just answering the question about what happened to Desanto's eyes. If you choose to believe the thumb was on the forehead and Desanto is faking it, that is your prerogative. I have no blind allegiance (and don't give two shits about Desanto) and am quite capable of impartially assessing a wrestling match regardless of the name on the front or back, and have done so here.

Hey, we agree on something.

If his thumb is in his eyeball, it's a gouge whether malicious or not. But watch the video at 0.25x speed from 5:26-5:28 and tell me that's not intentional? (I know full well you will hold your position and not actually rewatch the clip, but posting for the benefit of others.) Adding a screenshot, but the video is more telling.

I'm basing it mostly off of Desanto's reaction, but just rewatched in slowmo. The dude was definitely digging in and it doesn't take a whole lot of finger in your eye to hurt like a motherf*$ker.

I'm a bit confused on the scoring of that. The ref originally called 4 blue 2 red. Which indicates she was giving Zahid credit for feet to back and then 2 to Ukr for exposure. After the challenge, they switched it to 4 red 2 blue. If they are giving Ukr credit for a 4 pt feet to back chest wrap (which I think was the right call, there was a very slight hesitation and it was more of a lift than just rolling Zahid through on a continuation of the double), then what did Zahid get 2 points for? He didn't get a takedown, and it wasn't his exposure. If Zahid is given 2 for exposure, then it couldn't be a 4 pointer for Ukr, right? Should that not have been 4 red 0 blue, or 2 red 2 blue?

The guy was gouging his eyeballs during the pin. Very surprised Desanto did not retaliate in any way.

I saw he finished in 3rd, losing in the semifinals 2-1 to the eventual champ (who won in OT). Still a great finish for a freshman.

It seems weird to consider all four weekends as part of one tournament. How is it any different from other states that have various qualifying tournaments, whatever they may be called (districts, sectionals, regionals, etc.), prior to the state tournament? Is there any state where your season record is considered in whether you get to wrestle in the first round of qualifying tournaments? The only difference I see from most other states is that there are not multiple divisions for school size.

I agree, but maybe he also gets a boost when you adjust for intact ligament percentage per NCAA title? That would also boost Yianni a bit.

Looks like he was going for an elevator, ala Nickal vs. Martin or Ness vs. Alton. He just made a really shitty attempt at it against one of the best in the game.

I think he'd still have won even if he lost one or two.

Nice. I'm a Columbia native, myself. But I left in 2008.

Yes, I think Teshya had a younger sister, maybe, but she was the one hyped like Spencer Lee was in high school.

What happened to Alo? I remember her being hyped as the next big thing in women's wrestling and being competitive against senior level competition while still in high school.

Has me curious how you became a tiger fan. Not that we're not happy to have you (unless that refers to something other than Mizzou).

In the wheelhouse or out, it was one of the best game planned matches I've ever seen. He was prepared for everything Keegan was going to do and executed to perfection. He was better in all three phases of the game. Keegan will need to be equal as prepared with a game plan in future matches in order to flip the script, but I think it's a good thing he got a feel for Carr before it really matters.

I think he got picked on because a lot of us don't like the leg pass all day version of offense. That said, he at least always continued to work towards a score and didn't lay on his back like Dean Heil did.

No, it's legit. I'll give Flo some credit for posting this up free so quickly.