We’re a few days away, it’s my favorite sports weekend of the year. I’m missing it this year because of just having a kid, next year I’ll be there again. Let’s use this thread to get some conversation going. PSU will win, and it likely won’t be close. The battle from 2-9 or so will be fun.
Just looked through the brackets, here’s my predictions and some general thoughts.
125- Noto vs Ayala, Ayala winning.Flip a coin here, this weight has been upset central all year. It’s hard for me to pick an Iowa Wrestler, they were my biggest rival and I continue to hate them. I like Ayala’s draw more than the others.
133-Crookham vs Fix, Crookham winning. I don’t understand how 26 year old Fix got the 1 when he sat out when facing Lehigh, and then wrestled the next match. Crookham has the better wins too. Crookham should have the 1, and the easier path. I hear Vito is banged up, don’t understand how he got the 6 either. Rooting for Crookham here too, he’s a good kid.
141-Mendez vs Bartlett, give me Bartlett in rd 3. They’ve split the 2 bouts this season, and Mendez has looked better imo. Cael and company will come up with a better gameplan imo. Beau needs to open it up, he has all the tools. Matthews will give him all he can handle the 2nd match if Matthews makes it there.
149-Lovett vs Gomez, Lovett winning. Lovett has a great path to the finals. On the other side I can see any of Gomez, Parco, Arrington, or Kasak making it.
157- Haines vs Cardenas. Haines has a nice path to the finals. I think Shapiro gets knocked off somewhere, and I’m not huge on Teemer. Cardenas or Franek here for me.
165- KOT vs Messenbrink. KOT wins. Messenbrink the much easier path with getting the 2. KOT, Hamiti, and Carr all together, that’s brutal. Hamiti and Carr Friday morning then the winner gets KOT Friday night, wow.
174-Starocci vs Devos. Starocci gets his 4th. Ridiculous that Starocci vs Lewis will happen in the quarters. Worst time to get Starocci for Lewis too coming off his cut Friday morning. Will Starocci come back for his 5th? I say yes
184-Keckeisen vs Plott. Keckeisen wins. Keckeisen isn’t talked about enough he’s great. The other side will be fun. I think any of Plott, Truax, Salazar, and Foca can make the finals.
197- Brooks vs Hidley. Brooks gets his 4th. Hidley will wrestle on the edge and do his best to make it a one takedown match. His only hope is they get a ref who’s hesitant to call stalling. If he gets that, he can keep it close. If they have a ref who dings him early, and forces him to stay in the center and wrestle than Brooks wins comfortably. Brooks is that good.
HW- Kerk vs Hendrickson. Kerk wins. I think Kerk avenges his loss to Bastida, and makes the finals. Bastida got him on a few counters on sloppy shots. Hendrickson cleans that up, and wrestlers tighter and gets the win to make the finals.
Shapiro is dangerous at 157. Kid has a lot of talent. Can really get to his shots and is a tremendous scrambler.
Is Arujau injured and/or burned out from a long summer? It's hard to go against the returning champ or current world champ...
Lemley fascinates me at 141. If he gets to the quarters, he could give Menendez a match.
I get the feeling Kasak is going to make a run at 149. He just looks more and more comfortable each time I watch.
Pinto could be a dark horse at 184.
Shapiro is dangerous at 157. Kid has a lot of talent. Can really get to his shots and is a tremendous scrambler.
Is Arujau injured and/or burned out from a long summer? It's hard to go against the returning champ or current world champ...
Lemley fascinates me at 141. If he gets to the quarters, he could give Menendez a match.
I get the feeling Kasak is going to make a run at 149. He just looks more and more comfortable each time I watch.
Pinto could be a dark horse at 184.
Supposedly Arujau is dealing with "something", Crookham beat him both times they wrestled this year.
Shapiro is dangerous at 157. Kid has a lot of talent. Can really get to his shots and is a tremendous scrambler.
Is Arujau injured and/or burned out from a long summer? It's hard to go against the returning champ or current world champ...
Lemley fascinates me at 141. If he gets to the quarters, he could give Menendez a match.
I get the feeling Kasak is going to make a run at 149. He just looks more and more comfortable each time I watch.
Pinto could be a dark horse at 184.
I understand bumping down Starocci a bit, but it’s hurting the others more than him.
I love Lemley, he’s a handful for anyone. He will have a tough road starting with Hardy round 2.
Shapiro is amazing, but think he’s a year away. I’d love to see him vs Levi, but I think he gets knocked out before that.
All I heard was hurt on Arujau. Olympic trials is a month away, wonder if he’ll be healthy enough for that. I’m guessing we’ll hear he’s having surgery at some point.
Kasak has a rough first match, no idea how Abas is a 26 he’s a good wrestler. I think he makes it to face Parco, and loses there. Then depends on his draw in the consolations.
I’d have Pinto in the finals probably if he was on the side opposite Keckeisen, Pinto is great to watch
Quote:
If he's healthy and fit, he's going to roll the field.
Shapiro is dangerous at 157. Kid has a lot of talent. Can really get to his shots and is a tremendous scrambler.
Is Arujau injured and/or burned out from a long summer? It's hard to go against the returning champ or current world champ...
Lemley fascinates me at 141. If he gets to the quarters, he could give Menendez a match.
I get the feeling Kasak is going to make a run at 149. He just looks more and more comfortable each time I watch.
Pinto could be a dark horse at 184.
Supposedly Arujau is dealing with "something", Crookham beat him both times they wrestled this year.
I was very high on Crookham coming into the year, I didn’t see him having this much success though.
Wish my Hokies were in a better spot, and Starocci/Mekhi weren't in the same damn quarter.
My picks...
125 - Ramos over Camacho
133 - Crookham over Fix
141 (Upset pick) - Echemndia over Bartlett
149 (Homer pick that I liked more a month ago) - Henson over Gomez
157 - Haines over Shapiro
165 - KOT over Messenbrink
174 - Starocci over Welsh
184 - Keckeisen over Truax
197 - Brooks over Hidlay
HWT - Kerkvliet over Hendrickson
Incredible effort.