Running Amateur Wrestling Thread

[franticscribe]

Somebody correct me, but I can't recall this level of dominance in any sport.

You could make the case for Arkansas Track & Field in the 80s, Carolina Women's Soccer in the 80s & 90s and Iowa wrestling in the 70s & 80s, but Cael Sanderson is certainly reaching rarified air.

Word also came out this week that Masanosuke Ono has enrolled at Penn State, likely filling the one "weak" spot in their lineup next season. He's a world champion from Japan. Just insanity. Though I am incredibly excited to see him try American folkstyle. He's a lot of fun to watch in freestyle.

The thing about PSU wrestling is that Sanderson is still young. He could coach another 20+ years if he wants and he only shows signs of getting better each year

Shifting gears: The opening day of the tournament was phenomenal. This is my favorite match, though, by far. Mac Stout (Pitt) wrestled his big brother Luke Stout (Princeton). First time brothers have ever wrestled each other at the NCAA Championships. Watching it live, I thought broadcasters Mike Couzens and Jordan Burroughs did a great job of not getting in the way of the moment, too.

 

[brn623cl]

and start Friday losing their first match

 

[jr/shotglass]

Lilledahl's a kid. He'll have his moments down the line too.

 

[franticscribe]

Day two of the tournament was absolute chaos. Penn State managed to get All-Americans in all 10 weight classes, effectively locking up the team title, but they have their fewest number of finalists in a long time. Having ten AAs in one season has only been done once before - Minnesota in 2001.

The finals are set and should be awesome. At the beginning of the tournament it was possible we would get three weights where both finalists were former champs. It only worked out in one, 184 lbs, but its a great one. PSU's Carter Starocci is the 4x defending champ at 174, now going for a record fifth D1 title. He will face UNI's Parker Keickeisen who is the defending 184 lb champion and hasn't lost in two years.

The other marquee matchup is at heavyweight where Gable Steveson is facing Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State. Hendrickson beat the defending champ in the semifinals. He's really found another gear this year with David Taylor as his coach in his grad transfer/covid year after graduating from Air Force. He looks unbeatable, to be honest, but oh yeah he's wrestling a generational talent and Olympic champ in the finals. Should be insane.

 

[brn623cl]

A record that will be hard to break (untill the NCAA or their successor allows 5 year participation)

 

[jr/shotglass]

Is this fucking color guy auditioning for WWE?

 

[jr/shotglass]

Guess Hendrickson gets to keep the flag. Holy shit.

 

[franticscribe]

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

 

[brn623cl]

Is this fucking color guy auditioning for WWE?

He was not the easiest listen for 2 + hours, that's for sure

 

[franticscribe]

He was not the easiest listen for 2 + hours, that's for sure

That was David Cormier. Former college wrestler who became an MMA fighter. He says some off-the-wall stuff.