My Iowa review was really long, but the reviews of other teams will be much shorter. Here's Penn State.
125 - Megaludis will of course be one of the favorites to win it all. He's lost twice this year, both times to Garrett (6-5 and 6-4). Good chance they'll be in the final.
133 - Gulibon has no doubt been a big disappointment this year, though I hear he's an excellent wrestler who is probably still adjusting to college style. Doubt he'll score much if any points at NCAA.
141 - Retherford has been a big hit as a true freshman, beating "unbeatable" Stieber. Three guys will battle for the title - Stieber (Ohio St), Retherford, and Port (Edinboro).
149 - The Alton brothers haven't lived up to expectations in the past, and I believe they've been battling injuries this year (?). Andrew isn't in the lineup now (only wrestled 9 matches this year) and PSU is going with English, who will score few if any team points at NCAAs.
157 - Dylan Alton is 16-2 but only ranked 12th and seems to not be at his best. Can't rule him out for AA but the Altons have never performed well at nationals.
165 - Taylor. Will win easily and be best 2 time NCAA champ in history. Stats time: so far his college record is 127-3 (two losses to Dake last year by 3-2 and 5-4, and the fluke pin in the finals as a freshman). Of those 127 wins, 119 have been for bonus (pin, tech or major). WOW!!
174 - Brown's wrestling style is impressive - he's agressive and dominates, scoring a lot of bonus points, like Taylor and Ruth. 174 is really tough this year, but he has the ability to be in the finals.
184 - 3-1-1-1, that's how his college career will probably end up. Not bad! Any 3-time champ is worthy of great respect. If it weren't for Taylor getting so much attention, Ruth would be more in the spotlight. I think he'll easily win the title. Stats time: his career record is 128-3 with an 85 match win streak!
197 - McIntosh has had a very good year, with two losses (both to true freshman J'Den Cox from Missouri). He should be in the mix for finals, along with Gadsen (ISU), Cox, Schiller (MN), Heflin (OSU) and Rutt (OK).
285 - Lawson had a pretty good year going, with losses only to Telford and Nelson, but has lost last 3 duals, including an injury default. He's ranked 13th but I doubt he'll score much at NCAAs.
125 - Megaludis, 2nd
133 - Gulibon, NP
141 - Retherford, 2nd
149 - English, NP
157 - Alton, NP
165 - Taylor, 1st
174 - Brown, 3rd
184 - Ruth, 1st
197 - McIntosh, 4th
285 - Lawson, NP
Possibly 4 finalists, and two other high placers, and lots of bonus points - will that be enough to overcome a possible 9 AAs by Iowa, or the strength of Minnesota? We'll know in 3 weeks!
125 - Megaludis will of course be one of the favorites to win it all. He's lost twice this year, both times to Garrett (6-5 and 6-4). Good chance they'll be in the final.
133 - Gulibon has no doubt been a big disappointment this year, though I hear he's an excellent wrestler who is probably still adjusting to college style. Doubt he'll score much if any points at NCAA.
141 - Retherford has been a big hit as a true freshman, beating "unbeatable" Stieber. Three guys will battle for the title - Stieber (Ohio St), Retherford, and Port (Edinboro).
149 - The Alton brothers haven't lived up to expectations in the past, and I believe they've been battling injuries this year (?). Andrew isn't in the lineup now (only wrestled 9 matches this year) and PSU is going with English, who will score few if any team points at NCAAs.
157 - Dylan Alton is 16-2 but only ranked 12th and seems to not be at his best. Can't rule him out for AA but the Altons have never performed well at nationals.
165 - Taylor. Will win easily and be best 2 time NCAA champ in history. Stats time: so far his college record is 127-3 (two losses to Dake last year by 3-2 and 5-4, and the fluke pin in the finals as a freshman). Of those 127 wins, 119 have been for bonus (pin, tech or major). WOW!!
174 - Brown's wrestling style is impressive - he's agressive and dominates, scoring a lot of bonus points, like Taylor and Ruth. 174 is really tough this year, but he has the ability to be in the finals.
184 - 3-1-1-1, that's how his college career will probably end up. Not bad! Any 3-time champ is worthy of great respect. If it weren't for Taylor getting so much attention, Ruth would be more in the spotlight. I think he'll easily win the title. Stats time: his career record is 128-3 with an 85 match win streak!
197 - McIntosh has had a very good year, with two losses (both to true freshman J'Den Cox from Missouri). He should be in the mix for finals, along with Gadsen (ISU), Cox, Schiller (MN), Heflin (OSU) and Rutt (OK).
285 - Lawson had a pretty good year going, with losses only to Telford and Nelson, but has lost last 3 duals, including an injury default. He's ranked 13th but I doubt he'll score much at NCAAs.
125 - Megaludis, 2nd
133 - Gulibon, NP
141 - Retherford, 2nd
149 - English, NP
157 - Alton, NP
165 - Taylor, 1st
174 - Brown, 3rd
184 - Ruth, 1st
197 - McIntosh, 4th
285 - Lawson, NP
Possibly 4 finalists, and two other high placers, and lots of bonus points - will that be enough to overcome a possible 9 AAs by Iowa, or the strength of Minnesota? We'll know in 3 weeks!
