Just maybe

[broth87]

Don't ask me why, there probably isn't a ton if reason to support this, but I have a good feeling about this weekend and how our guys are going to perform. I think Gilman is pissed. I think he's the most talented at 125 and I think he's gonna terrorize the weight class this weekend on his way to a NC.
I think Clark got a huge confidence boost winning Big Tens and I have a hunch he and Gilman have been at each other getting prepared. Iron sharpens iron. I think Clark is on his way to a NC match too and I think they're really gonna set the tone for the whole team.
Sorenson will do what he does. He'll be a very tough beat for anyone because of his defense and he has a great chance to make his way to a NC match but top 3 is a must.
I think Cooper is a HUGE x factor for the hawks. We just need him on the podium. Score points and find your way on the podium. Certainly not impossible for him.
Just need points out of Rhoads. Win a couple of matches, look for bonus points when you can, just score us some points.
Meier is a lot like Cooper but personally I trust cooper's ability a little more than Meier. Score points for us, look for bonus whenever possible, and if you can find a way to all American, that would be big.
Brooks has a brutal draw but if anyone other than Gilman in our lineup could navigate it, it's Brooks. I'm gonna step out on a little bit of a limb and say Sammy wrestles to his seed and finds his way to Saturday night, the NC match against Dean, and I'm gonna predict he gives Dean ALL he wants in that match.
Burak, he's an enigma to me like DSJ was or Mike Evans. Talented kid but you watch and just go why isn't he accomplishing more? This is his chance. I don't think the difference between any of the top 4 is much at all and I honestly think they are all capable of being each other. Burak could be the guy that puts Iowa in contention for the team title and maybe over the hump. But he's gotta be Morgan Mac, and he's gotta get to Saturday night. I don't know how to predict this one.
And I think Stoll is gonna surprise some people this weekend. He's had some time to heal. Her has a decent draw for a wild card. I think he'll finish 5th and get us some big bonus points and be a factor for us.
I feel good about this weekend. I just think whenever we've been a let down ay Big Tens, we usually wrestle well at nationals. Penn state is due to have a tournament where they stumble a little or things don't go their way, and this'd is no where near the dominant team they've had. This is a great opportunity for the Hawks.

 

[Stanley75]

I like the way you think. Give me PSU and 10 points?

 

[Azchief32]

Well...it's a better team than we took in last year

 

[LaxHawk174]

Well...it's a better team than we took in last year

A combination of this years team and last years team would probably win it

 

[broth87]

Well...it's a better team than we took in last year

You know FAR more about wrestling than not only me, but most if not all around here. And saying that gives me some confidence because I honestly don't think this Penn State version is as good or dominant as last year.
We need a good start Thursday, bonus points, build some momentum, and guys gotta wrestle with urgency and aggression. Take Burak for example, every match is your last big man. This is the last go around. Leave it all out there every match. Worry about the next round when it comes. That's what I'm truly hoping and praying we see out if our guys because that's the recipe for success. Need Gilman and Clark to set the tone and set the pace and everybody needs to just flat out get after it and let the chips fall where they may after you've ALL given everything you got, your literal best effort.
I just have a good feeling.

 

[artradley]

I feel good about this weekend. I just think whenever we've been a let down ay Big Tens, we usually wrestle well at nationals. Penn state is due to have a tournament where they stumble a little or things don't go their way, and this'd is no where near the dominant team they've had. This is a great opportunity for the Hawks.

I'm not familiar with any recent cases of us doing poorly at Big Tens then doing well at Nationals. No shade, I just don't see it.

I'd say we may do well compared to current expectations, but that's mainly because current expectations have been so lowered. At the start of the season we at least had some hope that we might AA at 141, now we don't even have a qualifier. We hoped 157 might at least get R12, now that would be a pleasant surprise. We thought AM was a shoo-in for AA, now we have almost zero expectations. And it's great that Stoll has had a couple of weeks to recover, but based on Big Tens his injury looks more like something that needs a couple of months; which is a huge blow.

 

[SPOONER]

You know FAR more about wrestling than not only me, but most if not all around here. And saying that gives me some confidence because I honestly don't think this Penn State version is as good or dominant as last year.
We need a good start Thursday, bonus points, build some momentum, and guys gotta wrestle with urgency and aggression. Take Burak for example, every match is your last big man. This is the last go around. Leave it all out there every match. Worry about the next round when it comes. That's what I'm truly hoping and praying we see out if our guys because that's the recipe for success. Need Gilman and Clark to set the tone and set the pace and everybody needs to just flat out get after it and let the chips fall where they may after you've ALL given everything you got, your literal best effort.
I just have a good feeling.

PSU was what...8th last year? And didn't have Nico, Nolf, Rethorford or Nickal in their lineup...and they were actually better last year? No.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

You know FAR more about wrestling than not only me, but most if not all around here. And saying that gives me some confidence because I honestly don't think this Penn State version is as good or dominant as last year.
We need a good start Thursday, bonus points, build some momentum, and guys gotta wrestle with urgency and aggression. Take Burak for example, every match is your last big man. This is the last go around. Leave it all out there every match. Worry about the next round when it comes. That's what I'm truly hoping and praying we see out if our guys because that's the recipe for success. Need Gilman and Clark to set the tone and set the pace and everybody needs to just flat out get after it and let the chips fall where they may after you've ALL given everything you got, your literal best effort.
I just have a good feeling.

PSU is way better this year than last year. Ohio State was the winner last year, PSU fell back a ways as they red-shirted studs and saved up for this year, so to speak.

That being said, Iowa is going to have to wrestle well to place 2nd IMO. It would take several somewhat improbable events for PSU not to win...but here's hoping!!

 

[SPOONER]

[QUOTE="broth87, post: 2438361, member: 5652"I just think whenever we've been a let down ay Big Tens, we usually wrestle well at nationals. Penn state is due to have a tournament where they stumble a little or things don't go their way, and this'd is no where near the dominant team they've had. This is a great opportunity for the Hawks.[/QUOTE]

Iowa wasn't a let down at the Big 10s. We wrestled very well. We just lacked a 141 pounder and Stoll is wrestling on one leg.

 

[goiahawkeyes]

You know FAR more about wrestling than not only me, but most if not all around here. And saying that gives me some confidence because I honestly don't think this Penn State version is as good or dominant as last year.
We need a good start Thursday, bonus points, build some momentum, and guys gotta wrestle with urgency and aggression. Take Burak for example, every match is your last big man. This is the last go around. Leave it all out there every match. Worry about the next round when it comes. That's what I'm truly hoping and praying we see out if our guys because that's the recipe for success. Need Gilman and Clark to set the tone and set the pace and everybody needs to just flat out get after it and let the chips fall where they may after you've ALL given everything you got, your literal best effort.
I just have a good feeling.

Man, I hope you're right. Last year's PSU team finished 6th. If that team shows up we're going to walk away with it. I agree with Chief, this is a better Iowa team this year. I think we have anywhere from 2-4 finalists. A couple matches go our way and we're right there with PSU.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

I love the way you think, broth, and hope like heck you're right. With a healthy Stoll, I do think we'd have a shot if some things went our way. However, I'm afraid that his knee is far too bad off for a couple of weeks to help much at all, so I think he'll be a shell of himself, through no fault of his own whatsoever.

Frankly, I don't see how PSU doesn't win this one. I think they'll win it by at least 20. They'd have to really fall apart not to win it. We really needed everyone healthy, Meyer with a good seed, and Brody with a decent seed to have a legit shot, IMO. Unfortunately, we have none of those three things.

So while I do hope like heck that you're right, I think we're competing for 2nd place this year. Still looking for the Hawks to fight like crazy and hoping for the best, of course. I think we'll have to wait until next year to have a legit shot at the team title. Hoping to be in STL to see it happen!

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

PSU is way better this year than last year. Ohio State was the winner last year, PSU fell back a ways as they red-shirted studs and saved up for this year, so to speak.

That being said, Iowa is going to have to wrestle well to place 2nd IMO. It would take several somewhat improbable events for PSU not to win...but here's hoping!!

I'm guessing broth meant to compare this year's PSU team to the last PSU team to win a title. As for which one's better, I'd say it's pretty close.

 

[ih8iast8]

Burak has wrestled lightyears better than dsj his senior year

 

[hawknut]

Problem is that PSU has Nolf, Nickal, McIntosh, who all will get to semis for sure with lots of bonus points.

 

[FineMaterial]

Problem is that PSU has Nolf, Nickal, McIntosh, who all will get to semis for sure with lots of bonus points.

Yeah but at least we still have a shot since Retherford and Megaludis walked into the wrong bar in Iowa City and had their kneecaps smashed.

 

[SPOONER]

Problem is that PSU has Nolf, Nickal, McIntosh, who all will get to semis for sure with lots of bonus points.

* Retherford and Niko

 

[#10Hawk]

Problem is that PSU has Nolf, Nickal, McIntosh, who all will get to semis for sure with lots of bonus points.

Retherford and Megaludis will score a ton of points as well...

 

[broth87]

I wanna see megaludis get upset early. That would make my day tomorrow if that happened. Get gulibon and megaludis in the consos on day 1. How sweet would that be?

 

[moug]

I wanna see megaludis get upset early. That would make my day tomorrow if that happened. Get gulibon and megaludis in the consos on day 1. How sweet would that be?

Gulibon possibly but Megaludis you can write into the semis. When was the last time he was legitimately upset by a lesser wrestler? Don't see it happening. We need some breaks but don't see this wish coming true.

 

[Omahahawk86]

Burak has wrestled lightyears better than dsj his senior year

True but didn't he beat a pretty decent kid from okie state that year?

 

[moug]

He did beat Ringer in the dual. I believe his loses were to I Jordan in Madison and then Realbuto and Ian Miller at NCAAs. Disappointing for a returning champ but not like he lost to chumps. Doesn't seem like DSJ gets enough credit for being a champ and 4xAA. Or maybe it's just me.

 

[ih8iast8]

True but didn't he beat a pretty decent kid from okie state that year?

I am just saying that Burak started his career dull & boring, & has been much more offensive his senior year. I truly enjoyed DSJ but his senior season was a snore fest.