It does give us another option if he can make 184 but you don't mess with a potential star in our lineup. He was potentially a HWT.
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He's short, wouldnt be effective at Hvy. Just like Carroll.
Ross just teched his guy in the 1st.
Woah, if that happens, we can actually go after younger Merrill as well? Cody 184, Coby 197 and Ross Hwt!
6A regionals start this weekend. If you’re in or around Tulsa, the East regional is stacked.
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Coby isnt coming to Stillwater from what Ive heard.
I've thought the same as well, Salazar and Buchanan both made him look small and he liked good against those guys.
If Merrill were to be a real possibility at 184 (hard cut long term imo) then there could be a real possibility of us going after the twins imo. Conner still has sky high potential and Cole could be given a chance to hold the fort down while Ross fills out.
I’m not sure this changes anything in that department really. I think Conner could wrestle 184. Not an option at PSU because Ryder.
There was, lots of talk about him being a HWT because he wrestled HWT his senior year. I pointed out a year ago he was a fat HWT. I thought he should be at 197. This last summer he slowly cut to 197 and so when your way overweight and cut 30 lbs. you're not going to be big and muscular. This off season he should watch his weight some and lift weights and he will be a National Champ challenger next year 197. I will admit that I was 100% wrong if he goes to 184 next year. In my eyes that would be an unbelievable bad decision that could screw up his career. Cutting too much weight makes wrestling miserable and cuts into development because in practice your focus is weight instead of getting better.
He was like 235+ at one point wasn’t he? And he “loves to eat”. 197 is a good decision for him to make. Asking him to get to 184 seems risky haha
And that’s my opinion. Gods mouth to your ears.
And that’s my opinion. Gods mouth to your ears.
I’m aware. Again no different than Carroll. Carroll found out the hard way that he couldn’t compete at heavyweight. Merrill is a stud and has been amazing at 197. But like I said, he certified at 84 and it is an option. Merrill lives the life and is 100% committed to being the best he can be. He hasn’t looked big at 197 and if he goes 184 It’ll be because he and DT & Co believe he can make the weight and it’s best for him and the line up. Watch the highlights of Buchanan and when he wrestles Merrill, he’s smaller.
How did I forget he wrestled him that close?
Also with that frame I think he could “healthy” go either weight. Just comes down to how he and the staff want to build it out.
You can still find the full match videos from Soldier Salute here: https://iasportsco.smoothcomp.com/en/event/21427/schedule/brackets
I was surprised how much smaller he looked than Buchanan. I hope 184 is his future. Seems that was he's built for.
He’s not as long as guys like Buchanan and Barr but I think he’s too damn thick to ever sustain 184. Could be wrong though
IMO Merrill should go at the best weight for him personally, NOT the best weight for the team. He has shown too much success to be cutting unnecessary weight. My PTSD scenario is him having an unhealthy cut to 184 so Thompson (who's yet to prove himself) can move up two weight classes and cut very little. Now I don't know what's healthy or unhealthy or any of that, gotta trust the folks that do. Just don't want to see Merrill "take one for the team" and end up burned out and hurt.
I see another spicy poster has bit the dust, lol. Appreciate folks holding the line on basic internet decency towards each other. It'll keep this board more civil for longer. The new posters are great to have. Just not the ones that stir up trouble.
I see another spicy poster has bit the dust, lol. Appreciate folks holding the line on basic internet decency towards each other. It'll keep this board more civil for longer. The new posters are great to have. Just not the ones that stir up trouble.
I think Merrill will be at the weight where he and the staff feel his best shot to compete for a championship is.
184 is going to be a meat grinder next year with McEnelly, Ryder, Ferrari, Rocco, Berge, Allred, Sinclair, and TJ. 197 clears out a lot but they still return Barr, Elam, Little, and AJ.
Also, Merrill belongs in that top 5 group in 197 right now. And with one more year under DT, I think he will compete for championship in 197.
I’m not disagreeing with any of that. CM is a legit NC contender which is what it takes (several of them) to win a team title in the PSU era.
Wherever his body and skill sets best fit (184 or 197) is where we will see him next year.
I quoted this comment but I'll address everyone who's saying 197 is better. Merrill is short, this equates to having shorter arms which can make it difficult to go get a td (think Daton). Merrill's go behind/reattacks are elite but he will have trouble getting to legs when he has to imo. IF he can make 84 comfortably, again imo he beats everyone handily on that list not named Ferrari or McAnelly (not saying he cant beat these guys also). I think he'd be even faster and able to get to legs better at 84. He may go 197 and none of this is even an issue. But think about this, Tagen should probably be 49 but they coaches were worried about his length going up a weight.
Is it really Jamison's length the coaches are worried about and that's why he's down at 141? This is the first time I'm hearing this. I don't really feel like he would be short for 149. Strength certainly wouldn't be a issue. I was just under the impression that he was down at 141 to make room for Young so the team could have a more complete lineup.
This brings up a good debate though. Would the team be better/stronger overall if Jamison was up at 149 with Young out and Hughes at 141? Would Jamison have a better chance finishing higher on the podium than at 141? I think Hughes would struggle at 141 due to his size. I still feel his best weight is 133.
Tagen is not a "long" 41, and he's really not a huge 41. He is a big 41 with horsepower. Hughes, well, you know your stuff so I am not calling you out, but he looked enormous at 33. So my opinion, he is a HUGE 33.
Are you saying HUGE as in overall size and frame or just height? I believe Hughes wrestled some at 141 last year, but I haven't seen any of those matches. Just going off of the duals he's wrestled in this year, I just didn't see any real size difference compared to his opponents. I remember hearing J. Carl and Hardell talking about it some during the NC St. dual and maybe it was because Orine was cutting down as well, but it just didn't stand out to me. I feel like frame wise Jamison is much bigger than Hughes or at least much more physically developed.
I thought he was much bigger than Orine. Height and frame. He isn't overall super muscular, but he might be if he's allowed to eat up to 41.
I know rolling around with Fix, he looks bigger than Vito.
Only if Jamison goes up to 149 which I still think makes more sense. I agree he doesn’t have the reach he has now but he’s so strong. That should only be better at 149 you would think. Still doesn’t matter 41/49 if he doesn’t get his offense going earlier in matches.
Kinda feel bad saying this but I think we’ve seen what Carter can do and can’t do. I really like his offense but he just can’t finish at the rate needed. So if Jamison fits at 149 I think Hughes (potentially) has a better finish at 141 than Young at 149. Obviously nothing to prove that, just an opinion.
If Hughes doesn’t have it, he’s got Vega right on his heals….
