Running Amateur Wrestling Thread

[Smallpotatoes]

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Was this a bigger upset than Larry Owings beating Dan Gable?

 

[franticscribe]

So, Penn State and Nebraska are co-champions? Or is there some criteria to break the tie?

Oklahoma State had two champions, too, if you're going by that, but Penn State ran away with the team title, breaking their own record from last year for most team points scored at the tournament. Having All-Americans in every weight class basically locked it up early in the consolotion medal round. Matches won are worth 1 point in the championship bracket and 1/2 point in the consolotion. Escalating bonus points are awarded for major decisions, technical superiority (tech fall), and falls (pins). Then there are placement points. All ten PSU guys making the podium was insurmountable.

 

[franticscribe]

Was this a bigger upset than Larry Owings beating Dan Gable?

I don't know if I can properly chracterize the difference between the two because I wasn't around when Gable was still wrestling. He was already coaching by the time I was born a few years later and my perception of his loss is from hearing about it growing up.

On the one hand, I think Steveson's loss is bigger because it's probably a career-ender. He already has his Olympic gold and I suspect this will push him toward pursuing an MMA career instead of going after another gold at the LA Olympics.

On the other hand, Gable was considered the GOAT at the time he lost. Steveson belongs in the conversation but there are a lot of candidates now, and no one has touched Cael Sanderson's four undefeated seasons.

I think Steveson's forays into WWE and the NFL the last two years probably hurt his perception here. I wonder how things would be different if he stayed and wrestled those two years. Having him back this year was fun, but also felt like he was only there to cash in.

I also would not be surprised if Hendrickson has success at the international level given how well he is wrestling and the announcement that he's going to be able to continue training as an officer in the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program. If that were to happen, it may change how big of an upset this is perceived to be. I don't think Owings wrestled much after beating Gable, though he did become a longtime and successful high school coach.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Oklahoma State had two champions, too, if you're going by that, but Penn State ran away with the team title, breaking their own record from last year for most team points scored at the tournament. Having All-Americans in every weight class basically locked it up early in the consolotion medal round. Matches won are worth 1 point in the championship bracket and 1/2 point in the consolotion. Escalating bonus points are awarded for major decisions, technical superiority (tech fall), and falls (pins). Then there are placement points. All ten PSU guys making the podium was insurmountable.

Somebody told me today Nebraska was a co-campion, I just accepted it at face value even though I knew Penn State was killing it.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Somebody told me today Nebraska was a co-campion, I just accepted it at face value even though I knew Penn State was killing it.

"Consolation" prizes aren't heralded in some sports. In wrestling, they are. The most impressive thing about Penn State's record performance may have been how the guys who were knocked off steamrolled their way through wrestlebacks.

The places for all 10: 3-5-3-3-3-1-3-1-2-6. And the "6" was only because Kerklivet defaulted out.

 

[franticscribe]

Masanosuke Ono made it official today: He's going to Penn State.

WIth Ono and Marcus Blaze coming in at the same time, there's a very real possibility that one of those returning All Americans (Braeden Davis at 133) is left out of the lineup next year. Presumably Ono will take his spot and Blaze will likely fill senior Beau Bartlett's spot at 141. Aaron Nagao, who was an All American two years ago but has battled injuries since and used a redshirt this year, is also likely out of the lineup.

 

[cjericho]

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

think it's Daniel. also Olympic Greco-Roman in between college and UFC

 

[franticscribe]

think it's Daniel. also Olympic Greco-Roman in between college and UFC

You are correct. Typo in my part.