I painfully watched a lot of the Midlands on BTN+. Anyone who has done that knows what I mean...
A few thoughts:
It was kind of a foregone conclusion that Iowa would walk away with the title. This is a very good squad. Anything less than runner-up this year would be hugely disappointing.
125 - Lee was Lee. From what I'm hearing, he's fine, BUT, he did put the leg brace back on for whatever that's worth. Cashman just looked so-so. He needs to find a little more motor.
133 - Wow. Some amazing matches there. Gross squeaked by Rivera and DeSantos in the two best matches of the tourney, but also got the benefit of pretty much every close call (his 2-point NF against DeSantos on the cradle was highly questionable IMO). Still sucks that he should be a Hawk if it wasn't for some dumbass decisions. Teasdale flashed at times. We'll see if he can dedicate himself.
141 - Hat's off to Murin. Like Lugo, he has really stepped up his game.
149 - Lugo has incorporated some new moves and an increased sense of urgency this season and it's paying off. Glosser had a great tourney. He had #1 seed O'Connor beat, then gave up a questionable stall call and a takedown all in the last 20 seconds or so to lose by one. It was almost as if he psyched himself out at the end. Overall, he really wrestled well.
157 - Young is a hard guy to figure out. The ability is there but he plays with fire too often.
165 - Marinelli just keeps marching along. Hope he can keep that edge at nationals this year. Moody isn't even in the same universe.
174 - I don't think we had anybody. We need a healthy Kemerer here.
184 - Iowa's most interesting weight class. Kudos to Wilke, but I still don't have a lot of confidence in him moving forward. Brands has a higher ceiling but needs more offense. Assad is the real deal but I doubt his redshirt gets pulled.
197 - Warner is our most frustrating wrestler IMO. I was hoping to see a more ripped intense wrestler this season but he looks exactly the same as last season. He's good enough to be an All-American and will be in the mix but the ability is there to compete for titles, period. If he can really dedicate to S&C, the sky's the limit.
285 - Cassioppi doesn't necessarily look the part, but he's got some uncanny ability and a ton of desire.
