For me, this was the most enjoyable Cowboy wrestling season in a long time. Just wanted to share my top 10 thoughts about the past year before going into wrestling hibernation over the summer.
1. John Smith flat out impressed me once again. A 2nd place finish to a stacked PSU team with an injury riddled young lineup. Wish I could think of one move he could have made that would have produced a better outcome for 2015/16. Bravo coach.
2. I will miss Ringer. I don't know how many times I said to myself "owww, I bet that hurt" while he was wrestling some 165 pound deer looking into the headlights. He is now officially the fourth member of my most enjoyable Cowboy to watch group with Mocco, Z, and Jordan Oliver.
3. Austin Marsden was really pretty good, just not the best. Same for Eddie. I will miss them too.
4. What finally clicked on inside Nolan Boyd's head? How impressive were his low shots and riding skills? Nearly the same reaction for Collica. I'm not sure either will be the best, but they are both pretty good and I'm glad they are Cowboys.
5. Chandler Rogers may have the best understanding of leverage of any wrestler I have ever seen. Ditto for his brother. He will be a tough match up for anyone at 65 if he can make the weight, including Chance if he stays. I see him as having the greatest upside potential of any wrestler on the team next year.
6. Kaid Brock pinning Brewer was the pivotal moment of the year; the point at which the whole ship turned around. It looked bleak up to that point. See #1 above...
7. Dean Heil is definitely the Rodney Dangerfield of NCAA wrestling at the moment. Got no respect at all this year. I suspect he will get some next year, especially after another year in the weight room. I keep forgetting that he was only a Soph this year....
8. I wasn't really sure what to expect from Joe Smith based on his HS career. After seeing him wrestle this year, how he has reshaped his body, and how tough he is, I have upgraded my expectations for him. He impressed me, especially given how many young people never manage to get out of a successful parent's shadow. He and Heil have inherited the program's mantle as the face of OSU wrestling for the next few years.
9. I'm not worried about Penn State. They are obviously cheating and skirting the rules and will be caught by the NCAA and their program given the death penalty. Oh well, I can dream can't I?
10. Until next year, my hope remains that Kaid Brock returns to full health, Austin Schafer is the second coming of Nick Gwiazdowski, Crutchmer heals fully, and Nic Picc is truly as quick, strong, and well-conditioned as he looks in the videos I have seen of him. I'm getting more optimistic about our future teams by the day!
What a great year it was...
1. John Smith flat out impressed me once again. A 2nd place finish to a stacked PSU team with an injury riddled young lineup. Wish I could think of one move he could have made that would have produced a better outcome for 2015/16. Bravo coach.
2. I will miss Ringer. I don't know how many times I said to myself "owww, I bet that hurt" while he was wrestling some 165 pound deer looking into the headlights. He is now officially the fourth member of my most enjoyable Cowboy to watch group with Mocco, Z, and Jordan Oliver.
3. Austin Marsden was really pretty good, just not the best. Same for Eddie. I will miss them too.
4. What finally clicked on inside Nolan Boyd's head? How impressive were his low shots and riding skills? Nearly the same reaction for Collica. I'm not sure either will be the best, but they are both pretty good and I'm glad they are Cowboys.
5. Chandler Rogers may have the best understanding of leverage of any wrestler I have ever seen. Ditto for his brother. He will be a tough match up for anyone at 65 if he can make the weight, including Chance if he stays. I see him as having the greatest upside potential of any wrestler on the team next year.
6. Kaid Brock pinning Brewer was the pivotal moment of the year; the point at which the whole ship turned around. It looked bleak up to that point. See #1 above...
7. Dean Heil is definitely the Rodney Dangerfield of NCAA wrestling at the moment. Got no respect at all this year. I suspect he will get some next year, especially after another year in the weight room. I keep forgetting that he was only a Soph this year....
8. I wasn't really sure what to expect from Joe Smith based on his HS career. After seeing him wrestle this year, how he has reshaped his body, and how tough he is, I have upgraded my expectations for him. He impressed me, especially given how many young people never manage to get out of a successful parent's shadow. He and Heil have inherited the program's mantle as the face of OSU wrestling for the next few years.
9. I'm not worried about Penn State. They are obviously cheating and skirting the rules and will be caught by the NCAA and their program given the death penalty. Oh well, I can dream can't I?
10. Until next year, my hope remains that Kaid Brock returns to full health, Austin Schafer is the second coming of Nick Gwiazdowski, Crutchmer heals fully, and Nic Picc is truly as quick, strong, and well-conditioned as he looks in the videos I have seen of him. I'm getting more optimistic about our future teams by the day!
What a great year it was...
