Not specific to this dual, but with PSU and tOSU battling for 1st this year, I was hoping to see team wide improvement so we would challenge in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Instead, I think some guys have improved and some have leveled off.
Heading into the dual, I was a little concerned about the flying back from Italy and then out to Iowa, but I don't think it ended up being a factor.
Some good...
125 - yes Picc lost, but when was the last time Lee gave up 2 takedowns in a match? Like the addition of the cradle. Maybe this is my homer pick, but I still think he can beat anyone come tournament time.
157 - Jonce is a battler. Kemerer is the clear #2 at the weight and Jonce hung in there. Like to see him bulk up for next year. In the Flo pre match videos, he wasn't even wearing sweats while everyone else was cutting weight.
197 - Preston might be one of the guys that jumped levels this year. Has added some neutral offense. Controlled a solid wrestler. Possible finalist?
285 - Derek, the breakout guy. From the Flo clips, it looked like Stoll wasn't able to sumo him around the mat. Got out from bottom (which he didn't against Hughes from Hofstra). Obviously he is not Kyle Snyder (no one is), but they are both small, athletic Hwys. Get in a film room and watch endless clips of Kyle's low single off a collar tie and his snatch single. How high can he finish at nationals?
The not so good...
149 - can't give Boo a mulligan here, since I gave him one for Italy. A few years back, Flo had an interview with Eddie Klimara at the beginning of his true sophmore year. They asked him about having his redshirt pulled as a freshman and his early struggles. He said coach Smith sat him down and said to him you are not just wrestling in D1, you are in a Cowboy singlet out there and representing OSU, time to put your big boy pants on and Cowboy up. Eddie said that's when he started wrestling better as a true freshman. Maybe time to give Tristan a couple of starts and let Boo think things over.
184 - Credit to Bowman, he's tough, Iowa's version of Jonce Blaylock. But Keegan has always had a suspect gas tank. I don't know if it's due to the weight cut or not, maybe he's too big for 184. Coaches could give Andrew a couple of starts.