Just wanted to post some thoughts and impressions after a great weekend of wrestling. As much as I loved being in Miami for the Orange Bowl I was actually excited to come back and watch some wrestling. Overall I thought Iowa wrestled well considering they were little shorthanded, but it was a great oppotunity to get a glimpse of the future. I'll run down the lineup quick.
125 - I thought McD had a great weekend beating some tough wrestlers. He needs to come out a little faster out of the gate but man is he savvy. He still reaches too much and sometimes gets sucked into playing his opponents game instead of going to his stuff. He is a great finisher when he gets to the leg and just wrestles so smart.
133 - I thought Moore did well considering his lack of experience. He needs to wrestle the full 420 seconds and build leads when he gets them. He has an unreal short offense and his body structure makes him tough to score on. Still needs to improve his offense and this experience is only going to benefit him and the Hawks next year.
141 - Other than getting caught Marion really wrestled a good tournament. He beat a tough wrestler in Jones from Boise St. Would have liked him to build his lead in that match a little more but he is improving with every rep. I really don't understand the thinking of benching him in favor of Leclere for the ISU dual. Yeah he made a mistake and got caught, but he has earned and proved that he is the better of the two. Leclere had a okay win over the ISU back up Jensen, but that's what he should have done. Marion has the ability to beat anybody at 141 and I can't say the same for Leclere. I know there is a lot of things swirling about the status of Slaton, and after talking to some people as of now we have seen the last of him in an Iowa singlet. I know the there is still an outside chance, but it is very small.
149 - Metcalf was dominating when his opponents actually tried to wrestle him. Nebraska didn't put anybody out there and ISU might as well have done the same because what Meuller did out there wasn't wrestling.
157 - I thought Janssen looked good out there and I think the competition between him and Kerr as come to an end. Janssen is finally healthy and it shows in his performance. He showed great toughness all week battling in every position and he beat a very talented wrestler in Mason even though he is a 149.
165 - Morningstar had a good weekend and did something I didn't think he would do again, beat Jon Reader. He was a tad more aggressive, but we still need more out of him.
174 - Jaybo wrestled a great match against Dwyer and then had it in cruise control a little bit. After getting to see Lewnes all weekend, I think Jaybo is the better wrestler.
184 - Keddy is really battling hard, but for some reason has had a lack of confidence. He gave himself chances to win both the Smith and Ward match, but did not capitalize. I know the staff has been very diligent with Phil and I think he will turn it around. He has missed some practice time with an injury too, so that could also be a factor.
197 - I thought Lofthouse battled hard every match. The Boise St. match was a little embarassing and I can bet you we all know what Luke will be working on in practice.
HWT - I was really disappointed in the effort of Rasing. He needs to start creating opportunities for himself. I think he is lacking some confidence and when Erekson comes back maybe that will allow him some time to just focus on his set ups and finishes.
125 - I thought McD had a great weekend beating some tough wrestlers. He needs to come out a little faster out of the gate but man is he savvy. He still reaches too much and sometimes gets sucked into playing his opponents game instead of going to his stuff. He is a great finisher when he gets to the leg and just wrestles so smart.
133 - I thought Moore did well considering his lack of experience. He needs to wrestle the full 420 seconds and build leads when he gets them. He has an unreal short offense and his body structure makes him tough to score on. Still needs to improve his offense and this experience is only going to benefit him and the Hawks next year.
141 - Other than getting caught Marion really wrestled a good tournament. He beat a tough wrestler in Jones from Boise St. Would have liked him to build his lead in that match a little more but he is improving with every rep. I really don't understand the thinking of benching him in favor of Leclere for the ISU dual. Yeah he made a mistake and got caught, but he has earned and proved that he is the better of the two. Leclere had a okay win over the ISU back up Jensen, but that's what he should have done. Marion has the ability to beat anybody at 141 and I can't say the same for Leclere. I know there is a lot of things swirling about the status of Slaton, and after talking to some people as of now we have seen the last of him in an Iowa singlet. I know the there is still an outside chance, but it is very small.
149 - Metcalf was dominating when his opponents actually tried to wrestle him. Nebraska didn't put anybody out there and ISU might as well have done the same because what Meuller did out there wasn't wrestling.
157 - I thought Janssen looked good out there and I think the competition between him and Kerr as come to an end. Janssen is finally healthy and it shows in his performance. He showed great toughness all week battling in every position and he beat a very talented wrestler in Mason even though he is a 149.
165 - Morningstar had a good weekend and did something I didn't think he would do again, beat Jon Reader. He was a tad more aggressive, but we still need more out of him.
174 - Jaybo wrestled a great match against Dwyer and then had it in cruise control a little bit. After getting to see Lewnes all weekend, I think Jaybo is the better wrestler.
184 - Keddy is really battling hard, but for some reason has had a lack of confidence. He gave himself chances to win both the Smith and Ward match, but did not capitalize. I know the staff has been very diligent with Phil and I think he will turn it around. He has missed some practice time with an injury too, so that could also be a factor.
197 - I thought Lofthouse battled hard every match. The Boise St. match was a little embarassing and I can bet you we all know what Luke will be working on in practice.
HWT - I was really disappointed in the effort of Rasing. He needs to start creating opportunities for himself. I think he is lacking some confidence and when Erekson comes back maybe that will allow him some time to just focus on his set ups and finishes.
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