Another good day for the Hawks. if you can't enjoy the performance today, may god have mercy on your soul. That said, if the Hawks don't come out on top weekend after next, a B10 team title won't mean much.
125- What can you say?
133- Not many points from ADS this weekend. Its a shame that his attacking style can be negated so effectively. I almost wish he would wrestle a match vs a RBY or Gross where he just stays in the middle of the mat. All that said, was a neutral takedown/questionable push out/few seconds away from a takedown that still would have pulled it off. Seabass looks tough, but its not hard to imagine an outcome where ADS still comes out on top, especially if he only has to go through one of the Big 10 guys. Curious what ADS said (probably discussed elsewhere here, sorry I missed it) but Brands wasn't impressed.
141 - Murin battled back well after dropping the match late vs McKee, really hope he can get Red next time. Of course, its also possible Red retires, as judging by his post match celebration he seemed to have his pinnacle achievement after beating Murin again
149 - Was the match I thought/hoped we'd see. Smart and controlled. Sasso is good and dangerous, but Lugo is the favorite again. Amusing after the reffing this weekend that Lugo almost gives up a stalling point; and had that late TD been awarded (when it wasn't for ADS) I'd have been frustrated
157 - KY's losses don't look *as* bad in retrospect. Hope he make the most of the next two weeks and make the podium again
165 - Bull vs VJ matches are worth the price of admission alone. Audible gasps each time they locked upper body together. Hope the result stays the same in two weeks, Bull deserves a title (and a chance to be a multiple timer)
174 - Another neutral danger zone mess (credit to Hall for forcing it, and also playing it cool enough that Kem didn't catch out). Was obvious Kem had no idea that call was made, got out of that position as soon as he did, but the 4 point damage was done and Hall was good enough to make it hold. Like Kem's chances in two weeks.
184 - Assad isn't that far off. Very easily could have had Caffey, and then who knows vs Brooks. Glad to see him pull that off vs Lyon- was a heck of a battle. Wrestlestat doesn't have Big10 as strong at 184, but i think they might be better than advertised. A few more finishes and it wouldn't matter anyway.
197- Warner had a nice bounceback day as well; good to see him tear through the back side of a bracket (i suppose he only lost one on the backside at Midlands, but he seemed a mess) anything from 2-7 seems possible at Nats for him.
HWT- The move to stick Jensen had me hooting and hollering, and he continues to show separation from Hillger. Should be semis or bust for Cass; I think he'd need something funky or fluky to beat GS, whereas he just needs a very (very) well executed match to have a shot against Parris. Either way hope he lets the fur fly.
After this weekend, iowa is probably even bigger favorites than they were going in- PSU's margin of error got smaller with Nevills and maybe Sugar Shak's injuries. I don't think NEB is a real threat with out the high end guys, but who knows. Brands sure seemed focused on the next task, and I'm guessing the guys on the team will be done celebrating after tonight and ready to get back in the room in a day or two.
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Related: after watching Spencer Lee and Ryan Deakin's matches, I am 100% in on the top guy being able to (optionally) let the bottom guy up without giving up an escape after a 30 second rid. I'd go so far as to let the bottom guy decide he wants to go up without getting a point too, but a little less certain on that. Gets rid of riding time, values takedowns and controlling your opponent, and eliminates subjective and inconsistently called stalling calls on both top and bottom. As much as I like seeing Lee's arm bar tilts and pins, I love seeing him take guys down too. And if he doesn't have a path to a pin after a TD or working the guy for a bit, he can let him up (and effectively gain a point) and keep trying for the major or tech.
125- What can you say?
133- Not many points from ADS this weekend. Its a shame that his attacking style can be negated so effectively. I almost wish he would wrestle a match vs a RBY or Gross where he just stays in the middle of the mat. All that said, was a neutral takedown/questionable push out/few seconds away from a takedown that still would have pulled it off. Seabass looks tough, but its not hard to imagine an outcome where ADS still comes out on top, especially if he only has to go through one of the Big 10 guys. Curious what ADS said (probably discussed elsewhere here, sorry I missed it) but Brands wasn't impressed.
141 - Murin battled back well after dropping the match late vs McKee, really hope he can get Red next time. Of course, its also possible Red retires, as judging by his post match celebration he seemed to have his pinnacle achievement after beating Murin again
149 - Was the match I thought/hoped we'd see. Smart and controlled. Sasso is good and dangerous, but Lugo is the favorite again. Amusing after the reffing this weekend that Lugo almost gives up a stalling point; and had that late TD been awarded (when it wasn't for ADS) I'd have been frustrated
157 - KY's losses don't look *as* bad in retrospect. Hope he make the most of the next two weeks and make the podium again
165 - Bull vs VJ matches are worth the price of admission alone. Audible gasps each time they locked upper body together. Hope the result stays the same in two weeks, Bull deserves a title (and a chance to be a multiple timer)
174 - Another neutral danger zone mess (credit to Hall for forcing it, and also playing it cool enough that Kem didn't catch out). Was obvious Kem had no idea that call was made, got out of that position as soon as he did, but the 4 point damage was done and Hall was good enough to make it hold. Like Kem's chances in two weeks.
184 - Assad isn't that far off. Very easily could have had Caffey, and then who knows vs Brooks. Glad to see him pull that off vs Lyon- was a heck of a battle. Wrestlestat doesn't have Big10 as strong at 184, but i think they might be better than advertised. A few more finishes and it wouldn't matter anyway.
197- Warner had a nice bounceback day as well; good to see him tear through the back side of a bracket (i suppose he only lost one on the backside at Midlands, but he seemed a mess) anything from 2-7 seems possible at Nats for him.
HWT- The move to stick Jensen had me hooting and hollering, and he continues to show separation from Hillger. Should be semis or bust for Cass; I think he'd need something funky or fluky to beat GS, whereas he just needs a very (very) well executed match to have a shot against Parris. Either way hope he lets the fur fly.
After this weekend, iowa is probably even bigger favorites than they were going in- PSU's margin of error got smaller with Nevills and maybe Sugar Shak's injuries. I don't think NEB is a real threat with out the high end guys, but who knows. Brands sure seemed focused on the next task, and I'm guessing the guys on the team will be done celebrating after tonight and ready to get back in the room in a day or two.
(edit
Related: after watching Spencer Lee and Ryan Deakin's matches, I am 100% in on the top guy being able to (optionally) let the bottom guy up without giving up an escape after a 30 second rid. I'd go so far as to let the bottom guy decide he wants to go up without getting a point too, but a little less certain on that. Gets rid of riding time, values takedowns and controlling your opponent, and eliminates subjective and inconsistently called stalling calls on both top and bottom. As much as I like seeing Lee's arm bar tilts and pins, I love seeing him take guys down too. And if he doesn't have a path to a pin after a TD or working the guy for a bit, he can let him up (and effectively gain a point) and keep trying for the major or tech.
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