Clearly failing grade for the staff. Not just for this performance, but for the last few years. I get there were some bright spots, but come on. It's not only adjusting and preparing each wrestler, but getting a grasp on the landscape and adjusting to that. Wrestling has changed, and other teams seem to have a better grasp.
Near fall changes- no change to top wrestling despite having one of the greatest top wrestlers of all time in the room.
Neutral danger- while every other team improved scrambling, Iowa did not appear to at all.
Three point takeown- no additional focus on aggressive neutral wrestling. Still push and plod forward begging for a stall call. On this point it's infuriating. Hell, even at the top high school level I've seen the difference that rule change has made. So many kids are aggressive on their feet. I've seen more matches where a kid may have been overly aggressive and got taken down only to continue that pace and come back.
All these changes are designed to reward the wrestler going after the win/ bonus. This staff appears to create wrestlers that are out there to not lose. I'm not a part of that awesome Carver atmosphere, but wouldn't you much rather yell "THREE" than "STALLING"?
Near fall changes- no change to top wrestling despite having one of the greatest top wrestlers of all time in the room.
Neutral danger- while every other team improved scrambling, Iowa did not appear to at all.
Three point takeown- no additional focus on aggressive neutral wrestling. Still push and plod forward begging for a stall call. On this point it's infuriating. Hell, even at the top high school level I've seen the difference that rule change has made. So many kids are aggressive on their feet. I've seen more matches where a kid may have been overly aggressive and got taken down only to continue that pace and come back.
All these changes are designed to reward the wrestler going after the win/ bonus. This staff appears to create wrestlers that are out there to not lose. I'm not a part of that awesome Carver atmosphere, but wouldn't you much rather yell "THREE" than "STALLING"?
