Who foresaw Brooks getting beat in the first round and having to wrestle back for third? No points from 165 and very little from 157. We had a piss poor tourney and still tied for first. We should have lost it with our performance in the finals yet here we are, B1G Dual Champs and Co-Champs against a team that wrestled above their heads (talking Mark Martin finishing 5th, Demas, last second toss by JDJ over Guilbon). tO$U had one guy who didn't score points or place. We had two but finished with seven in the top three with another getting fourth. Many predicted tO$U would win this thing throughout the season.
This is not to say I'm happy. Iowa fans are never happy unless its over by Friday night at the NCAAs or prior to the start of finals. This isn't going to be one of those years. In fact, its not going to be like that for a long time. Now, we can complain about our lack of studs like an IMAR or a Streibler but the plain fact is that we accomplished something with no real Metcalf like studs. I guess my only real disappointment is that Telford didn't win with the thing on the line. He could have taken some chances and wrestled like he had nothing to lose...because in reality, he didn't. He blew a 3-0 lead which is almost like blowing a major type of lead in HWY terms. Those mad at Jeva? He was wrestling a probable four timer in his last match in front of the home crowd. Hell, even AC Slater would have been challenged in those circumstances.
Iowa wrestling has devolved into a compete first, win second program. We are going to have ten NCAA qualifiers who wrestle tough, but are very risk adverse. This isn't the first time we have had this conversation and it won't be the last. Although "leadership" is minimal in wrestling, it would be nice to have a few guys in the room whose excellence pushed everyone to be better by example. We had it in Metcalf/McD/Ramos and Borschel/Perry. We don't have it this year but are the very definition of "solid."
There is merit in the whole stalling complaint. It's an infection in wrestling and we are just as guilty as everyone else. For example, during the Sorensen/TShirt match, they should have called it against both of those jokers on their feet. TShirt looked like a HWY laying on top of Sorensen.The 125 final was just a travesty. The little peckerwood from tO$U even lauded himself for his aggression...SMH. Our guys know that if they give up early points, then that's the ball game. However, our guys fail to make things happen.
Anything can happen at nationals. Gilman, Clark, Sorensen, Stache, and Telford all have legit shots because they have shown that they can beat all the other guys. There are exceptions: Gilman/Missouri (1 match), Clark/Minne (keeps on improving), Stache/Nebraska. If we have 7 or 8 AAs and a few points from Kelly and Nick, then I like our chances. More than likely, its going to come down to luck and momentum for anybody who wins the team title. See you in St Louis!!
This is not to say I'm happy. Iowa fans are never happy unless its over by Friday night at the NCAAs or prior to the start of finals. This isn't going to be one of those years. In fact, its not going to be like that for a long time. Now, we can complain about our lack of studs like an IMAR or a Streibler but the plain fact is that we accomplished something with no real Metcalf like studs. I guess my only real disappointment is that Telford didn't win with the thing on the line. He could have taken some chances and wrestled like he had nothing to lose...because in reality, he didn't. He blew a 3-0 lead which is almost like blowing a major type of lead in HWY terms. Those mad at Jeva? He was wrestling a probable four timer in his last match in front of the home crowd. Hell, even AC Slater would have been challenged in those circumstances.
Iowa wrestling has devolved into a compete first, win second program. We are going to have ten NCAA qualifiers who wrestle tough, but are very risk adverse. This isn't the first time we have had this conversation and it won't be the last. Although "leadership" is minimal in wrestling, it would be nice to have a few guys in the room whose excellence pushed everyone to be better by example. We had it in Metcalf/McD/Ramos and Borschel/Perry. We don't have it this year but are the very definition of "solid."
There is merit in the whole stalling complaint. It's an infection in wrestling and we are just as guilty as everyone else. For example, during the Sorensen/TShirt match, they should have called it against both of those jokers on their feet. TShirt looked like a HWY laying on top of Sorensen.The 125 final was just a travesty. The little peckerwood from tO$U even lauded himself for his aggression...SMH. Our guys know that if they give up early points, then that's the ball game. However, our guys fail to make things happen.
Anything can happen at nationals. Gilman, Clark, Sorensen, Stache, and Telford all have legit shots because they have shown that they can beat all the other guys. There are exceptions: Gilman/Missouri (1 match), Clark/Minne (keeps on improving), Stache/Nebraska. If we have 7 or 8 AAs and a few points from Kelly and Nick, then I like our chances. More than likely, its going to come down to luck and momentum for anybody who wins the team title. See you in St Louis!!
