I stole this thread idea from one on the mat, and thought i'd bring the discussion here who you all think look to be title contenders at each weight class thus far in the season given the results we have so far.
I'll throw my early season title contenders into the hat:
125 (4): Tomasello(tOSU), Gilman(Iowa), Dance(Vtech), Megaludis(PSU.
133 (4): Garrett(Cornell), Brewer(OU), Clark(Iowa), Taylor (WIS)
141 (7): Heil(OSU), Jack(NCST), Mecate(ODU), Ashnault(RU), McKenna(Stanford), Henderson (UNC), Jordan(tOSU).
149 (3): Retherford (PSU), Sorensen(Iowa), Tsirtsis(NU). (A Healthy Hunter Stieber(tOSU) would also be added)
157 (3): IMAR(Illinois), Miller(KSU), Nolf(PSU)
165 (3): DIERINGER(OSU), Jordan(tOSU), Jordan(WIS)
174 (5): Crutchmer(OSU), Realbuto(Cornell), Epperly(Vtech), Meyer(Iowa), Nickal(PSU)
184 (3): Dean(Cornell), Dechow(ODU), Brooks(Iowa)
197 (4): McIntosh(PSU), Cox(MIZZ), Hartmann(Duke), Burak(Iowa)
285 (3): GWIAZDOWSKI(NCST), Walz(VTech), Coon(MICH).
As you can probably tell i believe the names in all caps are the prohibitive favorites in their weight class, but if anyone would be able to beat them, it would be the guys listed in my opinion.
125 the semi finals are going to be huge, seeding wont matter a whole lot between the top 4. I think Gilman makes the finals this year.
133 I think that Clark repeats his finals appearance as well, although with the way seeding might work out, Brewer and Clark could be the 2-3 seeds. Garret wont face Brewer or Clark the rest of the season, unless Iowa somehow duals Cornell at National Duals thing. Or Ryan Taylor Beats one of Clark or Brewer to put one of them at 4 to get Garrett in semi's. Either way tough road, but i think Clark can do it.
141 is one of the more wide open weights, where we might have a surprise guy make a run and do really well at NCAAs, but In my opinion one of the guys i listed will be winning the title at this weight class. If I had to pick based on gut instinct who looks the best i'd say McKenna and Jordan the freshman actually look the best. Heil, Jack, and Ashnault look really good as well. Hopefully when Brody comes back I can throw his name into the conversation.
149 This is pretty cut and dry top 3 in my opinion. Everyone thought Collica might be a 4th in this pack but Sorensen made it clear he distanced himself since their first meeting. A healthy Hunter Stieber could throw a wrench in this weight, as even wrestling injured he was pretty tricky/crafty against Sorensen.
157 IMAR and everybody else at this weight so far, even though he may have a close match, it can still be a dominating win. (I can pull up a terry brands quote for you if you'd like on that one.)
165 Same as 157. The Jordans are quite tricky though, phenomenal wrestlers, I.Jordan took out St. John and St. John has attributed for around 75% of Dieringers career losses if i'm not mistaken, which is saying something looking at how dominant Dieringer is, and has been in his career. One reason DSJ will always be one of my favorite hawkeyes. He wrestled some insanely tough NCAA brackets.
174 I think is the other wide open weight class like 141 where some guys could make a run at NCAAs, but the guys listed i think will be at the top and around the top of the podium. I'm a little worried that Meyer doesn't have the defense against top guys to make it to the finals, but i still think he'll have a top 5 finish.
184 is probably the weight i'll be called the biggest homer on, because the data doesnt necessarily back up Brooks at this point, or Dechow for that matter. But It's just a gut feeling that these are the best 3 guys at the weight. It was Dechow and Dean neck and neck for 3rd two seasons ago. Brooks and Dechow looked great early season last year, and we all know Brooks was hurt and we still saw how close he was to dean in their matches last season. If i had to guess something was wrong with Dechow too as he didnt look himself at NCAAs last year. Staying healthy will be the key for either of them to challenge Dean.
197 I maybe listed Burak/Hartmann as a formality, but really the top 4 I think are pretty solidy top 4 guys, much like 125. But maybe McIntosh and Cox have a bit of space on the other two when they are wrestling on their game. I predict a McIntosh Cox final but i wouldn't be shocked by an upset somewhere.
285 I think Gwiaz is pretty dominant and I don't really see anybody challenging him at this weight class for a title this season. This weight gets mighty interesting next season, and will have even bigger team race implications next year.
I'll throw my early season title contenders into the hat:
125 (4): Tomasello(tOSU), Gilman(Iowa), Dance(Vtech), Megaludis(PSU.
133 (4): Garrett(Cornell), Brewer(OU), Clark(Iowa), Taylor (WIS)
141 (7): Heil(OSU), Jack(NCST), Mecate(ODU), Ashnault(RU), McKenna(Stanford), Henderson (UNC), Jordan(tOSU).
149 (3): Retherford (PSU), Sorensen(Iowa), Tsirtsis(NU). (A Healthy Hunter Stieber(tOSU) would also be added)
157 (3): IMAR(Illinois), Miller(KSU), Nolf(PSU)
165 (3): DIERINGER(OSU), Jordan(tOSU), Jordan(WIS)
174 (5): Crutchmer(OSU), Realbuto(Cornell), Epperly(Vtech), Meyer(Iowa), Nickal(PSU)
184 (3): Dean(Cornell), Dechow(ODU), Brooks(Iowa)
197 (4): McIntosh(PSU), Cox(MIZZ), Hartmann(Duke), Burak(Iowa)
285 (3): GWIAZDOWSKI(NCST), Walz(VTech), Coon(MICH).
As you can probably tell i believe the names in all caps are the prohibitive favorites in their weight class, but if anyone would be able to beat them, it would be the guys listed in my opinion.
125 the semi finals are going to be huge, seeding wont matter a whole lot between the top 4. I think Gilman makes the finals this year.
133 I think that Clark repeats his finals appearance as well, although with the way seeding might work out, Brewer and Clark could be the 2-3 seeds. Garret wont face Brewer or Clark the rest of the season, unless Iowa somehow duals Cornell at National Duals thing. Or Ryan Taylor Beats one of Clark or Brewer to put one of them at 4 to get Garrett in semi's. Either way tough road, but i think Clark can do it.
141 is one of the more wide open weights, where we might have a surprise guy make a run and do really well at NCAAs, but In my opinion one of the guys i listed will be winning the title at this weight class. If I had to pick based on gut instinct who looks the best i'd say McKenna and Jordan the freshman actually look the best. Heil, Jack, and Ashnault look really good as well. Hopefully when Brody comes back I can throw his name into the conversation.
149 This is pretty cut and dry top 3 in my opinion. Everyone thought Collica might be a 4th in this pack but Sorensen made it clear he distanced himself since their first meeting. A healthy Hunter Stieber could throw a wrench in this weight, as even wrestling injured he was pretty tricky/crafty against Sorensen.
157 IMAR and everybody else at this weight so far, even though he may have a close match, it can still be a dominating win. (I can pull up a terry brands quote for you if you'd like on that one.)
165 Same as 157. The Jordans are quite tricky though, phenomenal wrestlers, I.Jordan took out St. John and St. John has attributed for around 75% of Dieringers career losses if i'm not mistaken, which is saying something looking at how dominant Dieringer is, and has been in his career. One reason DSJ will always be one of my favorite hawkeyes. He wrestled some insanely tough NCAA brackets.
174 I think is the other wide open weight class like 141 where some guys could make a run at NCAAs, but the guys listed i think will be at the top and around the top of the podium. I'm a little worried that Meyer doesn't have the defense against top guys to make it to the finals, but i still think he'll have a top 5 finish.
184 is probably the weight i'll be called the biggest homer on, because the data doesnt necessarily back up Brooks at this point, or Dechow for that matter. But It's just a gut feeling that these are the best 3 guys at the weight. It was Dechow and Dean neck and neck for 3rd two seasons ago. Brooks and Dechow looked great early season last year, and we all know Brooks was hurt and we still saw how close he was to dean in their matches last season. If i had to guess something was wrong with Dechow too as he didnt look himself at NCAAs last year. Staying healthy will be the key for either of them to challenge Dean.
197 I maybe listed Burak/Hartmann as a formality, but really the top 4 I think are pretty solidy top 4 guys, much like 125. But maybe McIntosh and Cox have a bit of space on the other two when they are wrestling on their game. I predict a McIntosh Cox final but i wouldn't be shocked by an upset somewhere.
285 I think Gwiaz is pretty dominant and I don't really see anybody challenging him at this weight class for a title this season. This weight gets mighty interesting next season, and will have even bigger team race implications next year.
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