Interesting that McIntosh didn't really take any shots against Cox. It does prove that if the guy is better than you, it's hard to look good. In all sports, you don't look near as good against the top competition. It does seem that we seem to fade in March, and we don't attack, and we have holes that are obvious in advance, but, again, it's hard to look good against an elite guy. We need to be the elite guys.
Hard to look good against elite guys.
- Thread starter hawknut
- Start date
So true everyone wants to see offense but when you are over matched it isn't going to happen. We were physically over matched at 149 and 133. 125 was ours to take and we just got out wrestled. Same thing happened at 174 and 197 So we were not the only ones that got beat by speed and athleticism.
A guy can work his tail off and put in the effort, but natural gifts are going to count for a lot too.
This has been an issue for a number of weights at Iowa over the last several years. The Kelly/Moore/Carton/Grothus/Rhoads etc route just doesn't go too far. No knock intended on those guys - they work their tails off. But if we are ever expecting to win a title in the future, we need some guys with high ceilings - speed and athleticism to go along with hard work, technique and a gas tank.
PSU is pulling in the thoroughbreds like no one else, and you can see the results. I still believe TnT are the best coaches in collegiate wrestling, but need to improve our recruiting.
This has been an issue for a number of weights at Iowa over the last several years. The Kelly/Moore/Carton/Grothus/Rhoads etc route just doesn't go too far. No knock intended on those guys - they work their tails off. But if we are ever expecting to win a title in the future, we need some guys with high ceilings - speed and athleticism to go along with hard work, technique and a gas tank.
PSU is pulling in the thoroughbreds like no one else, and you can see the results. I still believe TnT are the best coaches in collegiate wrestling, but need to improve our recruiting.
We make a lot out of our talent. Gilman, Clark, and Sorensen weren't top 10 pfp wrestlers coming out and all made the NCAA finals. PSU has a whole team of top 10 pfp wrestlers. Some of them made the finals while others like Gulibon got nowhere close. They can have disappointments and go unnoticed due to the plethora of talent on that team.
We need the top end talent to get it done, and recruiting is on an uptick. Will be hard to overcome the talent differential we face, but things will improve.
We need the top end talent to get it done, and recruiting is on an uptick. Will be hard to overcome the talent differential we face, but things will improve.
Like many of you regular posters......I too am a bit disappointed in the Team's results. I feel a bit sad......not for myself of course. I feel sad for the guys like Gilman, Clark , Brooks, Burak and all the rest who did not achieve their goals.
Some of them pretty much maxed out to their capabilities. Sorensen wasn't going to beat Zain. But my gosh.......2nd is still a heck of an accomplishment. Wow! Burak possibly could have gotten lucky and got by PSU, but not Mizzou. Wish he would have gotten 3rd rather than 4th. Sigh.... Clark was over matched physically, but not over matched by grit, tenacity, and heart.
And I have been greatly impressed with the improvement many of these same young men made on the mat this year. Gilman is MUCH better. Sorensen improved quite a bit. Burak was very much improved. Loved seeing the growth that both Cooper and Rhoads made throughout the season. Lots of growth took place with all the guys and was glad to be able to watch the whole season. It was a real pleasure watching these young men grow and will be fun to watch next year also.
A little shout out to BTN2GO, PLUS, Flo, and Hawkeye All Access. You guys improved also. Keep growing.....you'll finally get it right.
And thanks to Seton Hall Pirate for his Computer program and his ability to answer questions us mere fans don't know.
And GG121AND2 for..................well if you all have to be told what he does for us..............................sheeeeesssssh!
Nice post KWood! The morning after things have mellowed a bit. Iowa has a VERY long ways to go and it's going to take a few years. We all long for Metcalf type wrestlers, but the landscape has changed dramatically. Success breeds success and young kids gravitate to winning programs. Iowa high school talent has pretty much disappeared in the last few years. It's a tougher job when you need >50% of your lineup from both coast, or at least 1000+ miles away.
Iowa really needs to make a splash in terms of aggressive, offensive wrestling. It's the new norm..
Iowa really needs to make a splash in terms of aggressive, offensive wrestling. It's the new norm..
Great thread. We overachieved getting three in the finals and they hit the wall. What other D1 programs gets wrestlers like Gilman, Clark, and Sorensen in the finals?
We just need to recruit better. That's it.
We just need to recruit better. That's it.
Yes it is. Our staff has already made recruiting adjustments but it will take a couple years to reap the results.
I'd also throw Rutt in there as a change that we'll be seeing (have seen) benefits. There was a lot of talk on this board for a long time that we didn't look as strong as many of our opponents. I never thought that was the case this year.
Also, when looking at our recruiting base here in Iowa. SE Polk had three AA this year and Denver had two. Off the top of my head two high schools in Iowa produced an AA this year. Iowa has no margin of error in recruiting. Pennsylvania high schools had 32 wrestlers in the quarters.
Also, when looking at our recruiting base here in Iowa. SE Polk had three AA this year and Denver had two. Off the top of my head two high schools in Iowa produced an AA this year. Iowa has no margin of error in recruiting. Pennsylvania high schools had 32 wrestlers in the quarters.
