174 looks like a huge hole to me. Unless Young can take over and be a major improvement.
I thought Young looked on the smaller side even as a 65 pounder today. In my opinion he definitely would be a small 74 pounder this year.
Any chance of kem and bull swapping next year based on everyone saying how much bigger kem looked?
I dont know man. Amzing isn’t a word I’d use to describe Gunther last year. Mediocre might be. I honestly hope he improves greatly and can get a lot of wins or 174 will be another weak spot.
Show me a freshman with credentials similar to Gunther in high school that did as much on the big stage. He came from nowhere and nearly made the podium. I was amazed. The progress he has made in a short time to me is amazing.
Kem is such a great wrestler!!! Being a big PA wrestling fan, I always envisioned Kem and Joseph scrapping for 4 years. Toss up in my opinion. I would love to see that come true for 2 years anyway. I doubt it happens
The Bull is more than a worthy opponent though and hope he gets back healthy soon!To me if a freshman almost made the podium, the next year shouldn't be considered a hole. He's already shown he has a good chance to be AA level.
I don't think anyone disagrees that he has made great strides relative to his talent level coming out of high school. The issue is that "good chance to be AA level" is worth 2-4 points at NCAAs. To be in contention for a team title, a team must score >100 points, or an average of 10 points per weight class. Even a 3-time AA like Evans barely pulled his weight when it came to NCAA points, because he was a 3-time low AA. An individual scoring 2-4 points is a hole. We have too many guys like that, which is why we're predicted to score 40 points at NCAAs this year instead of 100. None of that takes anything away from the accomplishments of Gunther. We just need a Zahid or Mark Hall instead if we plan to win any more team titles.
Also who says it couldn't win? PSU and okie state and Ohio state all have to deal with each other. I doubt that psu comes down with 5 more champs. 165, 184, 174 all can go another way. They are weak at 125 and 197. And unproven at 141. We need to stop acting like they are invincible and slay this giant.
I'm all for it - hawk fan through and through.
YES. My point exactly. They aren’t posting all these huge pt totals if we start stripping away titles from the Fab Five From Last Year. How outlandish is it really to think that #2 can take out #1 when a title is on the line? SorenEagle damn near did it during the Big10 final last year.
I think we'll get good help from Turk at 141. He looks to be doing all the right things.
He can win it this year and the next two. I think Nolf is prob the 2nd best p4p this year after Snyder but any given sunday. The Dog wil have his day
The thing that separated Iowa in years past and probably PSU now, is that you don't rely on others to win your Team Titles. You take out the closest competition when the opportunity presents itself, and Iowa under Gable did that on a very consistent basis. Iowa under Brands has been poor at it and the proof is in the pudding.YES. My point exactly. They aren’t posting all these huge pt totals if we start stripping away titles from the Fab Five From Last Year. How outlandish is it really to think that #2 can take out #1 when a title is on the line? SorenEagle damn near did it during the Big10 final last year.
We take away two of 3 at 49, 57, and 84, and we are right in it for team title. PLus of course the title at 25.
FREE THE LEE
That is why I want Cornell on the schedule. They are Iowa's NCAA Kryptonite. They wrestle a style that Iowa doesn't see much. You can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Perry might help.The thing that separated Iowa in years past and probably PSU now, is that you don't rely on others to win your Team Titles. You take out the closest competition when the opportunity presents itself, and Iowa under Gable did that on a very consistent basis. Iowa under Brands has been poor at it and the proof is in the pudding.
Optimism is a wonderful thing, until reality rears its ugly head. Until Iowa as a team changes their NCAA performances up and down the lineup, the reality is we aren't winning it. Here's to hoping change is on the way!
