Illinois-Nebraska is obviously big for Penn State tonight
Stanford plays their first ACC game at Syracuse--interesting with back-to-back eastern trips (Clemson next week) they're playing Friday this week--curious if that becomes a trend. Cal doesn't have back-to-back games in the east this year.

Here is my yearly U20 preview. I’ll try and post a few weights per week

57kg-

USA rep-Luke Lilledahl
PSU commit, #1 overall recruit
2021-Cadet worlds-2nd, 2022-U17 worlds-1st
2023-U20 worlds-2nd, U20 pan-ams-1st
2024-U20 pan-ams-1st

Contenders-

Lev Pavlov-AIN (Russia)
2023 U20 worlds-9th (lost to Lilledahl 1st round)
2024-U20 Euro’s-1st
2024-Russian nationals-2nd
Ranked #10 in FLO’s senior freestyle rankings

Vasif Baghirov-AZE
2022-U17 Euro’s-1st, 2022-U17 worlds-1st (beat Christian Castillo in finals)
2024-U20 Euros-2nd

Ankush Ankush-IND
2023-U17 Asians-1st
2023-U17 worlds-2nd ( lost to Blaze in finals)

Milad Valizadeh-IRI
2023-4th ranking series event-9th (lost to Zane Richards 17-6)
2023-Senior worlds-8th (beat #8 in seniors Rzazade 8-4)

Herbert Akapian-AIN
2021-Cadet world team
2023-U20 worlds-10th
2024-U23 Euros-5th
2024-U20 Euros-5th

Hayko Gasparyan-ARM
2022-U17 worlds-7th
2024-U20 Euros-3rd

Baiaman Kerimbekov-KGY
2022-U17 worlds-5th

Shotaro Matsumura-JPN
2023 beat Mitchell Neiner of WA 4-2 in a cultural exchange dual. That is all the info I could find

There is one huge question mark at this weight and it is the Japanese wrestler Yuto Nishiuchi. Nishiuchi won this weight last year beating Lilledahl in the finals. He still has U20 eligibility but has been competing up at 61kg where he won U20 Asians earlier this year. As of now he is not listed as competing at either 57kg or 61kg. No idea why because the 2 guys listed at those weights don’t have a ton of credentials. I’m interested to see if he does get entered as the tournament gets closer. If so, he is probably the favorite at either weight.

I think Lilledahl wins this weight. Will be challenged by Pavlov, Baghirov, Ankush, and Valizadeh. Valizadeh doesn’t have many results I can find but he did represent Iran at 57kg at senior worlds this year where he beat Olympian and world ranked #8 Razazade. He will absolutely be a contender. Lilledahl handled Pavlov at this tournament last year but he is super tough and wrestles a funky style. He just won U20 Euros so he is competing at a high level and holds wins over quite a few of the other top guys at this weight. Also took 2nd at Russian nationals this year. Ankush and Baghirov both have great results at the U17 level but are coming up to U20. I think both should be in medal contention.

Prediction-
Gold-Lilledahl
Silver-Pavlov
Bronze-Valizadeh
Bronze-Ankush

There is a tournament starting tomorrow in Atlanta, GA called the Elite 8 Duals. There are a bunch of PA kids entered. Asher Cunningham is entered at 165. The tournament is going to be streamed on the CMPTV Youtube channel (link below).

Info & list of registrants:

Live Stream:

With the Olympics ending the next major competition is the World Championships for the Non-Olympic weights. What are people's thoughts on who team USA will send for men's freestyle?
I am guessing:
61kg: Vito
70kg: Lee?, Yianni?, Alirez?, Mendez?, McKenna?, Larkin???, Sasso???
79kg: JB, Nolf or Chance
92kg: Zahid or Kollin Moore, maybe Trumble if he makes 92
Going to be interesting to see what guys like Lee and Nolf do. They are next in line at their current weight, do they stay that size and bide their time or do they try to go up a weight class for the chance at a title this year.

(MOD - this topic deserves it's own thread)

Okie St. board is saying theres a lot of smoke ab DT being an option for them. Big if true. He could flip their program around fast.

Saw this, figured we might as well start a thread. I plan to add this schedule to my google calendar I've used for session info in the past, feel free to subscribe, and or point out my timezone translation errors.

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Here is the projected line up from a knowledgeable OK ST fan Howie_Fartz over on 34:

"A couple months back I put together a line up that excluded JW. Unfortunately that is now for sure the case. From what I've heard and from the OPC's its pretty easy to put together a complete line up.

125- Spratley- how can you not be high on this kid?

133- Hughes - at least eventually and if he wants to start. Early we could see Reece or maybe JJ a couple matches.

141- Jamison- I absolutely think he'd be better at 49 but Carter is heavier. I think with the new staff closely monitoring his diet (the last staff did not) he can hopefully maintain much better. I think possibly sitting him here and there through out the season could help as well. If Carter somehow drops some more weight or craps the bed at 49 we might see them flip spots or Tagen just sliding into 49. I think Tagen scores more points at NCAAs at 49 and thats really what its all about.

149- Young- great kid, I've always been a fan. He's a LOT bigger and stronger now and has added some funk to his wrestling. Would love to see him put together a full productive year, healthy and strong.

157- Travis or Fish- When Fish arrived Travis was beating him but the gap has closed some. Fish has a RS and Travis does not. Best guy goes imo.

165- Amine- excited to see the DT factor at work in this guy. Not much available in the way of backups so staying healthy is big here.

174-Hamiti- this guy has always been fun to watch and now we get to watch him in Orange! His funky style combined w/ DT raising his technique, less of a weight cut and stud workout partners and we should see pure entertainment at this weight. Not to much in the way of backups here either. Worst case scenario of a season ending injury maybe they pull BTs shirt? I hope not but hearing BT is making great strides and I love it. Lord knows I've been hard on the guy lol.

184- Plott- hard to believe this will be his last year! Last season he made a huge jumps going up a weight. Now we get to see the DT factor w/ Dustin, maybe more than any other Cowboy. I'd look for Robb to fill in here and there if Dustin needs a rest. Hearing great things about Jersey, works hard and lives right!

197- Surber- please, please, PAH-LEEZE let Luke stay healthy this year! Always been a fan of Luke. Always ready to visit with you and the guy works his tail off. Excited to see the DT factor in him as well and would love for Luke to end his career on the podium where he belongs! Look for Haas or Robb to fill in if Luke needs a break. According to all reports Merrill is everything he was/is billed to be and I think he remains in RS no matter what. The future is bright at 197 for the Pokes.

285-Hendrickson- What a tremendous get for the Cowboys in the offseason. The previous staff did a tremendous job opening the doors for all these transfers. With DT working with Wyatt I think the chances for a title are sky high!

Stacked line up for the Pokes and it should be a crazy fun year."

Of interest.. excerpts from Andy Matter's second title 10:29-12:00. Also, Chris Taylor.

Question, were back points referred to as a "predicament" in the early 70's or is this announcer giving us his version of "going for the gusto"?

There's a second part.

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Good job ABC. I hope it was worth it to ruin your entire news division.

Carter just told Ferrari to meet him at 190 for the All Star in Rec Hall

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Unbelievable. Can’t see Carter doing anything but punking Ferrari