[Herky] Wrestling Recap - Pre Big Ten Tourney - Read only if you like wrestling!

Tue Feb 20 03:33:49 PST 2018

Not in my lifetime. I think that one was a pipe dream from the start, but  we will survive!  ;-D

From: Herky [mailto:herky-bounces at lists.herky.net] On Behalf Of Gwen Enokian
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 7:26 PM
To: Herky <herky at lists.herky.net>
Subject: Re: [Herky] Wrestling Recap - Pre Big Ten Tourney - Read only if you like wrestling!

thanks very interesting 

and Pat Downey will never wrestle as a Hawkeye? 

On Feb 19, 2018 3:39 PM, "Curtis Frazier" <cfrazier at ceoexpress.com <mailto:cfrazier at ceoexpress.com> > wrote:

All,

I am out of hibernation and now it is time for my annual recap going into the lull before the Big Ten tournament. Contrary to what everyone is hearing, I think that is an impressive team. I would venture to say that the talent in many weight classes is some of the best we have had in a long time. The problem is that PSU and tOSU have incredible teams (and are in conference), and Michigan is very respectable. 

I think we have a legitimate shot at 5 finalists (or at least 4 and a dark horse), and 2 with a pretty good shot to win it all - 125 (Lee), 149 (Sorenson, or SOAR), 157 (Kemerer, or KemDawg), 165 (Marinelli, or The Bull), and 285 (Stoll) all are some of the best we have. That is the good news. The bad news is that each of these guys have almost an unbelievable/unbeatable talent ALSO in their weight class, and ALSO in their conference! Here is MY view of their toughest competition:

Our Strong Potential Finalists

125:   Lee (IA)               vs.     Nathan Thomasello (tOSU) – National Champion in 2015, 3x All American (1st,3rd,3rd ). Spencer beat him, but it is not an easy feat to repeat. 

149:   Sorenson (IA)       vs.     Zain Retherford (PSU) – Returning 2x National Champion. Hodge Trophy winner, and probably the best wrestler (or 2nd best) in college. Sorenson has NEVER beat him, but has come close last year. 

157:   Kemerer (IA)        vs.     Jason Nolf (PSU) – Returning National Champ and 3x All American. There is a strong chance that he will not wrestle due to injury, which could be huge. Kemerer just needs to work on his conditioning and last until and through the 3rd period with the same intensity and no one else will beat him

165:   Marinelli (IA)       vs.     Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) – Returning National Champion. Thick and quick, The Bull just beat him in their last pairing, but I do not see that as an overly easy feat to repeat.

Hwt  Stoll (IA)              vs.     Kyle Snyder (tOSU) & Adam Coon (UM) – Kyle is an Olympic Champ, World Champion, 3x All American and finalist, and a 2x National Champ. And arguably the best wrestler in the world at this weight. And…….Adam Coon just beat him. Adam is a 2x All American (3rd & 2nd ) and just beat Sam In the last dual. Both guys are beasts and Sam will face one of them prior to the finals.

Our remaining lineup

133:   Paul Glynn           He is scrappy and tries hard, but is not ready to come out of the oven yet. He could have 1-2 upsets, but I honestly do not think he will be ready to win more than 1-2 at the B10’s and probably the same at NCAA, if that. This is one of our focus areas for next year and hope is that Max Murin can cut to this weight and backfill here. It is a hole in our lineup, most definitely. Bummer that Senior Philip Laux could not show more consistency. Another likely guy is Justin Stickley (sorry, but all 3 options are quite interchangeable, thus the problem). 

141     Vince Turk           Similar to the above – not quite ready for Prime Time. He has a single ‘go to move’ that is easily shut down. If he keeps his intensity and tries other things, he may do 1 match better than our 133lb class. Outside chance that they would put in Carter Happel instead (4x Iowa State Champ in IA) as they have been splitting time in the lineup. Happel has knocked off a few ranked guys, but just does not have the maturity to be consistent. However, I think Brands prefers Turk. 

174    Joey Gunther       People like him and I do as well, but I don’t think he has the talent to make the podium……yet. He will do well and stay close to most, but he just does not have the offense to beat the elite right now. Another wrestler that may make this spot is Kaleb Young. He has been inserted into the lineup a few times and I, personally, like him. I think he has a bigger engine and sense of urgency and could do slightly better. 

184    Mitch Bowman    He is a scrapper and is a little hot & cold, but he hangs in there. Could finish middle of the pack at B10’s and might be a round of 12 at NCAA’s. Could slip in as low All American. 

197    Cash Wilcke         Another good wrestler with a bad mojo right now. He has not been wrestling good as of late – no gas at end, letting others finish moves at end of period, etc. if Brands (x2) can get him out of his own head and wrestling with aggression, he could be an AA (he was 1 match away from All American last year). Easily the best athlete on the team (look at his bio!), and can do really well. 

So, My predictions? Here they are:

Weight                 Big 10 Tournament                 NCAA Tournament

125                                 1st                                             1st 

133                                 8th                                            DNP

141                                 5th                                            DNP

149                                 2nd                                            2nd 

157                                 1st                                             1st 

165                                 2nd                                                                         2nd

174                                 4th                                            8th 

187                                 6th                                            DNP

197                                 3rd                                            5th 

HWT                             3rd                                            3rd 

Team:         4th Place (1=PSU, 2 = tOSU, 3 = Michigan)

Bad news:  We lose only Brandon Sorenson (149) to graduation

Good news: We can reload at 149 with slight caliber loss (Pat Lugo)

                   We get Jacob Warner in the lineup

                   We get Anthony Cassioppi in the room and ‘on deck’ at HWT

Looking FAR ahead to next year:

125              Spencer Lee (Solid)

133              Max Murin (or unknown transfer)

141              Carter Happel (could be the go forward with a little more room time)

149              Pat Lugo (Edinboro transfer – should be immediate All American candidate)

157              Michael Kemerer (and Brands coming in as a true freshman for backfill)

165              Alex Marinelli (Solid)

174              Mitch Bowman (wouldn’t surprise me if Kaleb Young gets the nod, though)

184              Cash Wilcke (dropping weight, keeping muscle, kicking a**)

197              Jacob Warner (VERY good freshman waiting his turn)

HWT          Stoll (Solid) (and we are bringing in a stud in Anthony Cassioppi to backfill)

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