Running Amateur Wrestling Thread

[User 4332]

So he made it all the way through the season, and now the NCAA could say, "Nah, you're done"?

UALR's head coach put out a statement today that provided more detail than we've seen so far. Apparently at the Pac-12 championships an opposing coach complained. The Pac-12 investigated and at some point in the last 10 days declared him ineligible. He appealed to the NCAA's Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, which denied his appeal today.

The tournament starts tomorrow.

According to Coach Neil Erisman's statement, he was certified twice during the season and the certifications were ratified by the Pac-12. So basically everyone with oversight - Little Rock's compliance office and the Pac-12's - completely missed it until the season was over. That's pretty ****ed in my opinion.

He's not really a threat to make the podium. I mean he's seeded 29th out of 33. But it's a bad situation all around. Unless you're Michael Wilson from Rider who was the alternate for that weight class and now gets to go.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Something doesn't pass the sniff test here.

Shouldn't there be some paper trail, then, that he was certified and it was approved by the Pac-12? And how in the world could they certify him, then declare him ineligible here in the last couple of weeks, and have the NCAA deny the appeal?

Feel for the kid - even if he should have been ineligible, a lot of people failed him at various points along the way - seemingly UALR's compliance office and the Pac-12 at the top of the list.

 

[brn623cl]

Penn State had a Penn State type day 1 in Philly

 

[jr/shotglass]

Penn State had a Penn State type day 1 in Philly

Somebody correct me, but I can't recall this level of dominance in any sport.

 

[User 4332]

Somebody correct me, but I can't recall this level of dominance in any sport.

You could make the case for Arkansas Track & Field in the 80s, Carolina Women's Soccer in the 80s & 90s and Iowa wrestling in the 70s & 80s, but Cael Sanderson is certainly reaching rarified air.

Word also came out this week that Masanosuke Ono has enrolled at Penn State, likely filling the one "weak" spot in their lineup next season. He's a world champion from Japan. Just insanity. Though I am incredibly excited to see him try American folkstyle. He's a lot of fun to watch in freestyle.

The thing about PSU wrestling is that Sanderson is still young. He could coach another 20+ years if he wants and he only shows signs of getting better each year

Shifting gears: The opening day of the tournament was phenomenal. This is my favorite match, though, by far. Mac Stout (Pitt) wrestled his big brother Luke Stout (Princeton). First time brothers have ever wrestled each other at the NCAA Championships. Watching it live, I thought broadcasters Mike Couzens and Jordan Burroughs did a great job of not getting in the way of the moment, too.

 

[brn623cl]

and start Friday losing their first match

 

[jr/shotglass]

Lilledahl's a kid. He'll have his moments down the line too.

 

[User 4332]

Day two of the tournament was absolute chaos. Penn State managed to get All-Americans in all 10 weight classes, effectively locking up the team title, but they have their fewest number of finalists in a long time. Having ten AAs in one season has only been done once before - Minnesota in 2001.

The finals are set and should be awesome. At the beginning of the tournament it was possible we would get three weights where both finalists were former champs. It only worked out in one, 184 lbs, but its a great one. PSU's Carter Starocci is the 4x defending champ at 174, now going for a record fifth D1 title. He will face UNI's Parker Keickeisen who is the defending 184 lb champion and hasn't lost in two years.

The other marquee matchup is at heavyweight where Gable Steveson is facing Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State. Hendrickson beat the defending champ in the semifinals. He's really found another gear this year with David Taylor as his coach in his grad transfer/covid year after graduating from Air Force. He looks unbeatable, to be honest, but oh yeah he's wrestling a generational talent and Olympic champ in the finals. Should be insane.

 

[brn623cl]

A record that will be hard to break (untill the NCAA or their successor allows 5 year participation)

 

[jr/shotglass]

Is this ****ing color guy auditioning for WWE?

 

[jr/shotglass]

Guess Hendrickson gets to keep the flag. Holy ****.

 

[User 4332]

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

 

[brn623cl]

Is this ****ing color guy auditioning for WWE?

He was not the easiest listen for 2 + hours, that's for sure

 

[User 4332]

He was not the easiest listen for 2 + hours, that's for sure

That was David Cormier. Former college wrestler who became an MMA fighter. He says some off-the-wall stuff.

 

[jr/shotglass]

That was David Cormier. Former college wrestler who became an MMA fighter. He says some off-the-wall stuff.

Let's just say that when he gets into bed, he's the screamer.

 

[micropolitan guy]

So, Penn State and Nebraska are co-champions? Or is there some criteria to break the tie?

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Was this a bigger upset than Larry Owings beating Dan Gable?

 

[User 4332]

So, Penn State and Nebraska are co-champions? Or is there some criteria to break the tie?

Oklahoma State had two champions, too, if you're going by that, but Penn State ran away with the team title, breaking their own record from last year for most team points scored at the tournament. Having All-Americans in every weight class basically locked it up early in the consolotion medal round. Matches won are worth 1 point in the championship bracket and 1/2 point in the consolotion. Escalating bonus points are awarded for major decisions, technical superiority (tech fall), and falls (pins). Then there are placement points. All ten PSU guys making the podium was insurmountable.

 

[User 4332]

Was this a bigger upset than Larry Owings beating Dan Gable?

I don't know if I can properly chracterize the difference between the two because I wasn't around when Gable was still wrestling. He was already coaching by the time I was born a few years later and my perception of his loss is from hearing about it growing up.

On the one hand, I think Steveson's loss is bigger because it's probably a career-ender. He already has his Olympic gold and I suspect this will push him toward pursuing an MMA career instead of going after another gold at the LA Olympics.

On the other hand, Gable was considered the GOAT at the time he lost. Steveson belongs in the conversation but there are a lot of candidates now, and no one has touched Cael Sanderson's four undefeated seasons.

I think Steveson's forays into WWE and the NFL the last two years probably hurt his perception here. I wonder how things would be different if he stayed and wrestled those two years. Having him back this year was fun, but also felt like he was only there to cash in.

I also would not be surprised if Hendrickson has success at the international level given how well he is wrestling and the announcement that he's going to be able to continue training as an officer in the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program. If that were to happen, it may change how big of an upset this is perceived to be. I don't think Owings wrestled much after beating Gable, though he did become a longtime and successful high school coach.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Oklahoma State had two champions, too, if you're going by that, but Penn State ran away with the team title, breaking their own record from last year for most team points scored at the tournament. Having All-Americans in every weight class basically locked it up early in the consolotion medal round. Matches won are worth 1 point in the championship bracket and 1/2 point in the consolotion. Escalating bonus points are awarded for major decisions, technical superiority (tech fall), and falls (pins). Then there are placement points. All ten PSU guys making the podium was insurmountable.

Somebody told me today Nebraska was a co-campion, I just accepted it at face value even though I knew Penn State was killing it.