I don’t see Thompson in the lineup.
Robb just upset the #2 seed Dylan Fishback in the quarters.
U20 & U23 World Team Trials
- Thread starter okokzach
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I don’t see Thompson in the lineup.
Robb just upset the #2 seed Dylan Fishback in the quarters.
Sam Smith is wrestling great, is he just that much better in free than folk?
I agree he might not crack the lineup..but I’m not gonna get down on these kids.
Robb drops a close one in the semis the the 6th place NCAA finisher Smith from Maryland. He was right there with him.
I just watched Thompson in the 7th place match wrestle Conway. He put out a little effort and went up 5 to 0. Then he put out no energy and he lost the match 5 to 5. He seemed a beaten man not a kid who doesn't care enough to fight. Ever since to got disqualified from that California tournament and transferred to Stillwater I can't recognize him as the wrestler he was. No one will like this, but I don't recognize Merrill either. The National Champ this year at 197 could not overpower Merrill. He wrestled the top 215,s in the Country and in high school he could not be overpowered. The giant California HWT couldn't overpower him his senior year. I don't know what is going on. Recruiting is going great and we are getting guys who will compete with Penn. St and hopefully win but not all is going good. Lockett, Jax, Robideau and Ross when he gets bigger look like stars.
Merrill lost a lot of weight and looks really small. I bet he is not able to put power and be confident that he can overpower guys. He needs to learn little more offense. He will be alright.
I trust DT and co will make Merrill AA his first year at 197. From there how high he will go is up to him.
I trust DT and co will make Merrill AA his first year at 197. From there how high he will go is up to him.
Merrill is making finals of tournaments though. I get some frustrations in those finals but he has still shown some very promising signs in his time here.
Does he look like a NC contender next year? No, but he has shown nothing to think he isn’t squarely in the mix to be an AA his first year in the lineup which is fantastic.
Locket said in an interview with Zeb that he wants/thinks he's going 165 next year. That he's going to lift into it.
His 2nd match yesterday was the best match I have ever seen Dee wrestle. His cardio did seem good and he has the talent to beat Mesenbrink but he is likely the senior World team member at 74kg. So you want a giant challenge taking on Mesenbrink would sure be it. By the way I do feel much better about Merrill than Thompson. But I expected better results from Merrill also( he looks like he doesn't lift a lot of weights).
In my opinion, this does not concern me at all. Chael said it perfectly on Flo, wrestlers have a 10 year window. I would rather have a wrestler hitting his stride before college than when they are in middle school.
This may also be parroting him, but it makes sense. These wrestlers are exposed to high level wrestling much earlier than they used to be. PJ has been wrestling high-end with college wrestlers for years.
The aggressiveness and attitude is more important at the moment.
Nice job Pennstate1985. I did not watch this match but it sounds like Ross needs to put on size and get more experience. IMO, get Dreshaun in the room with the correct staff, he will be a killer
Both, probably are relying heavily on what helped them win in HS. Unfortunately for Thompson, his style probably won’t translate as well to the next level very well. Merrill has the aggressiveness but needs to be coached up more. That aggressiveness probably translates better with folkstyle anyway.
U20 Challenge Tournament results:
Villasensor: 2nd (overall)
Vega: consolation semis (challenge)
Robideau: 2nd (overall)
Routledge: 4th (challenge)
Lockett: 1st (overall)
Guerrero: consolation semis (challenge)
Merrill: 2nd (challenge)
Ross: 2nd (overall)
U23:
Smith: 4th
Burton: Consolation Rd 16
Sheets: consolation quarters
Young: consolation Rd 32
Robb: 5th
Thompson: 8th
Mower: consolation Rd 16
Simpson: consolation quarters
Psu 85 does not do the play by play. He copies them from a valued poster on the PSU board.
If I copied these posts, I would give credit to Slippery Pete. He is the man!!
In 85’s defense, he has given due credit on other occasions.
So are we officially rooting for Haines in Final X? My understanding is that Hamiti is second in line (behind Haines) for the U23 spot given his position as a member of the senior world team (3rd place at 79kg).
The pbp was from Slipperypete12 on the PSU forum, and I tried to copy/paste any match with OSU guys good or bad. He's like AI. I actually think he uses voice writing. It's amazing.
As many know, I think Ross has an exceptionally high ceiling if he can get to 250 and maintain his speed. I think he has an easier time getting there and maintaining form than Mirasola or Mocco or Merrill. Anyone notice he wrestled without a brace this weekend.
I always give SlipperyPete12 credit but forgot in this instance. It was a busy Saturday.
Yeah Hamiti needs a lot more freestyle reps until he gets comfortable in the style. You're right he's second in line for the U23 spot and your assumption that Haines would give it up if he makes the senior team might be true but far from certain.
Regardless, I'm rooting for the best guy to win in hopes they will deliver a medal at Worlds. I do think Haines is the better freestyle wrestler, but Wick will have his say.
I think you are. This past weekend showed the increasing quality of freestyle wrestling in the USA. That quality will only increase as we see the 2025/26 classes graduate into the senior/Olympic level competition. There is a ton of quality in those classes. Maybe a historian on here knows better but has there been better back to back classes than 25-26? It's been awhile.
Yeah, I mentioned the lack of a brace when he was warming up on this thread. It was good to see him without it.
