April, thanks for the updates! Smith's win over Brunson is impressive. He is ranked #7 by Flo.
Ethan Anderson has won his first three matches at Heavy weight. Lincoln Olson suffered his first loss in the semis by major dec. He was wrestling Zane Richards of Illinois. Tristan Moran is in finals with a 5-3 dec. of Will Roark of Mo. Jonce Blaylock in the finals winning 9-6 in the semis and the two Cowboys will meet in the finals. Geo Martinez is in the finals as is Jacobe Smith who won his semi match 18-12.
Carr UTC dec. Marsden 6-3 In semis. Anderson is in the semis in the Fr./So division against Tommy Helton of SIU/Edwardsville. White is in the finals with dec. of 6-2 over Rudy.
Olsen 6th, Anderson in the finals in the fr./So division, Tristan Moran 1st at 141 with fal in the finals, Jonce Blaylock dec. AA Geo Martinez 5-2 to win 149, Jacobe Smith is first at 174 with 3-2 win over Xavier Montalvo Il in the finals. White and Anderson yet to wrestle in the finals.Three champs so far and 2 more to go.
I watched some of the matches on FLOW. I wish we would have sent more wrestlers. I thought Olson is a good backup. Moran wrestled well and is a very good backup, who possibly could take over when Heil graduates but it is more likely that Brock will take over when Fix comes into the lineup. Obviously Blaylock wrestled well and has starter possibilities. Martinez was who I thought would take over when Collica graduates but I saw his last 2 matches and they raised questions. Basically he did not seem that quick or explosive. Smith wrestled well and seemed upset in the finals that he did not distance himself in that match. In our wrestling room hopefully he keeps developing into a high all American or possible a national champ. Marsden can throw but otherwise seems limited, hopefully Moore( who should have been here along with Sheets) develops and takes the 184 position next year. White wrestled solid and beat a top 20 wrestler in the finals. At this point weigel looks better to me. Anderson was okay but I am not very hopeful for him as a HWT. However I did not see any of his matches today. The Juco HWT got injured and he does not seem to be a future quality answer . Reaching 35 this year would be very nice.
I'm excited about the team (starters and backups). The coaching staff has made big improvements in all our wrestlers. Magaldo didn't go, but he's the top backup at 133. As for Moore, Marsden pin him already and the better wrestler. We can't have AA backup all along our lineup, but we can have wrestlers that are getting better all the time. We do, some of the wrestlers you called out has made major improvements from last year and even the last 3 months. I will use Moran as a example= wins the tournament, looks good doing it, but more likely Brocks going to be the next 141. You have your right to post how you do but I have my right to tell you way off base on judging some of the wrestlers and who will be starting next week, let alone next year. Brock has his hand full with what's in the room at 133 let alone talking about him moving up to 141.
Some wrestlers transition to college life different then others, and as for wrestling D1 even more so. It's even harder the heavier they are, only been a few months into his redshirt year so passing judgement at this time would be foolish. He's working hard in the room and for sure has some great workout partners. You have Boyd who is a meat and potato kind of wrestler (always shows up to work 15 minutes early and never leaves until you tell him too) who every once in a while goes brain dead on the mat. Has gotten better in the last year and half in that department. Then there is Marsden (Mr Funk), can pin you 100 different ways if not more but need to improve on his positioning. I see big improvement in him from last year, no more baby fat on him and excited to see in the next year how much better he can get. Coaches are high on him and so am I. Dark Horse Moore, to early to say, a high recruit who has to prove himself at the next level. Boyd wasn't a high recruit, and most of us counted him a room guy coming in. Now a AA and ranked around 5 in all polls at the deepest weight in college. So how is Moore doing early in his first season= taking his lumps like all incoming wrestlers and getting right back up and doing it all over again.
Mike, thanks for the update on 184. Very cogent and well articulated. Where is the real Mike Tognetti?
