10 Champions?

[Phantom of the Palestra]

I'm stir crazy from the snow, so I decided to have a little fun. Here are my thoughts on what would have to happen for each PSU starter to win a National title this year. With what I think will actually happen in parentheses. Apologies to @GogglesPaizano as this sort of silly post is usually his territory.

285 Anthony Cassar: Gets to his offense against White the second time around. Wrestles from space against Gable, able to finish his shots against the imposing freshman. (Loses in the finals to Gable)
197 Bo Nickal: Show up, don't get hurt. (Pin someone in the final, win the Hodge)
184 Shakur Rasheed: Pearl harbor the field. Nobody sees him coming. Mymar chooses down in the second period and doesn't take the crossface cradle seriously. (Two time all american)
174 Mark Hall: It wasn't just that lovely Rec Hall magic. He has upped his game past Zahid, and/or Zahid is in some sort of trough this year. (What I just said)
165 Vincenzo Joseph: Continue to win the close ones against a murderous field. Mom doesn't forget the hat. (I'm nervous about him, but I always am. Finds a way to get to #3)
157 Jason Nolf: Next topic. (Supplants Ed Ruth as greatest college wrestler to never win the Hodge)
149 Brady Berge: A lot. His weight is good, brackets get busted, has the weekend of his life. (Could AA but I think he is just not there yet. Heartbreaker in the bloodround,)
141 Nick Lee: Takes smart shots against guys who can scramble, rides momentum past McKenna, then turns the tables on Yianni. (Third)
133 RBY: Lessons learned throughout the year accumulate for the true freshman. Brutal field takes out one or two studs before he hits them. His athleticism, neutral defense, and ability to get out on bottom make the difference in a few key matches. Afterward, HR starts a thread apologising to Carl for doubting his ability to coach. (AA)
125 Devin Schnupp: One of the following things happens before B1G tourney. Bitten by radioactive spider, "Accidental" blast of gamma rays, Dr. Erskine injects him with that Premium Soldier Syrup or whatever. (Gets to eat a whole cheesecake after Big 10's, enjoys a special place in all of our hearts for how hard he wrestled this year. Warwick Strong!)

 

[BrucePa]

Anybody else think that Marsteller is the dark horse at 165?

This is an interesting year. Could be 6 champs....or could be 2 champs....Nolf and Nickal are sure bets, and all of RBY, Lee, Joseph, Hall, Rasheed, and Cassar can finish anywhere from #1 to #6 in their respective weights.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Anybody else think that Marsteller is the dark horse at 165?

This is an interesting year. Could be 6 champs....or could be 2 champs....Nolf and Nickal are sure bets, and all of RBY, Lee, Joseph, Hall, Rasheed, and Cassar can finish anywhere from #1 to #6 in their respective weights.

We need 8 scoring champions.

 

[RD41]

Anybody else think that Marsteller is the dark horse at 165?

This is an interesting year. Could be 6 champs....or could be 2 champs....Nolf and Nickal are sure bets, and all of RBY, Lee, Joseph, Hall, Rasheed, and Cassar can finish anywhere from #1 to #6 in their respective weights.

Don't know I would call him a dark horse but I could definitely see him making a run to the finals. I don't believe there is anyone in the field that I think Marsteller is in not capable of beating, including VJ. That is the fun part of the tournament, we will get to see what actual happens. I would love to see a finals match-up between Marsteller & VJ.

 

[aalion]

Anybody else think that Marsteller is the dark horse at 165?

This is an interesting year. Could be 6 champs....or could be 2 champs....Nolf and Nickal are sure bets, and all of RBY, Lee, Joseph, Hall, Rasheed, and Cassar can finish anywhere from #1 to #6 in their respective weights.

165 is just great all around.... hard to believe it has a 2 time returning champion who looks stronger than past years, and still feels like any of about 6 guys could win.

 

[RLSalty]

I'm stir crazy from the snow, so I decided to have a little fun. Here are my thoughts on what would have to happen for each PSU starter to win a National title this year. With what I think will actually happen in parentheses. Apologies to @GogglesPaizano as this sort of silly post is usually his territory.

285 Anthony Cassar: Gets to his offense against White the second time around. Wrestles from space against Gable, able to finish his shots against the imposing freshman. (Loses in the finals to Gable)
197 Bo Nickal: Show up, don't get hurt. (Pin someone in the final, win the Hodge)
184 Shakur Rasheed: Pearl harbor the field. Nobody sees him coming. Mymar chooses down in the second period and doesn't take the crossface cradle seriously. (Two time all american)
174 Mark Hall: It wasn't just that lovely Rec Hall magic. He has upped his game past Zahid, and/or Zahid is in some sort of trough this year. (What I just said)
165 Vincenzo Joseph: Continue to win the close ones against a murderous field. Mom doesn't forget the hat. (I'm nervous about him, but I always am. Finds a way to get to #3)
157 Jason Nolf: Next topic. (Supplants Ed Ruth as greatest college wrestler to never win the Hodge)
149 Brady Berge: A lot. His weight is good, brackets get busted, has the weekend of his life. (Could AA but I think he is just not there yet. Heartbreaker in the bloodround,)
141 Nick Lee: Takes smart shots against guys who can scramble, rides momentum past McKenna, then turns the tables on Yianni. (Third)
133 RBY: Lessons learned throughout the year accumulate for the true freshman. Brutal field takes out one or two studs before he hits them. His athleticism, neutral defense, and ability to get out on bottom make the difference in a few key matches. Afterward, HR starts a thread apologising to Carl for doubting his ability to coach. (AA)
125 Devin Schnupp: One of the following things happens before B1G tourney. Bitten by radioactive spider, "Accidental" blast of gamma rays, Dr. Erskine injects him with that Premium Soldier Syrup or whatever. (Gets to eat a whole cheesecake after Big 10's, enjoys a special place in all of our hearts for how hard he wrestled this year. Warwick Strong!)

not saying he can't, but in Red
Lion, Shields looked better and had more tank!

 

[billrag]

Don't know I would call him a dark horse but I could definitely see him making a run to the finals. I don't believe there is anyone in the field that I think Marsteller is in not capable of beating, including VJ. That is the fun part of the tournament, we will get to see what actual happens. I would love to see a finals match-up between Marsteller & VJ.

I think Marstellar could knock off anyone in the bracket, but I don't think he can knock off 2 or 3 good ones in the same tournament and 165 has 4 or 5 really good ones. I see him as a dark horse to make the finals for sure, but he won't win a title, just too much to think he'd put it all together and run the gauntlet.

 

[Phantom of the Palestra]

not saying he can't, but in Red
Lion, Shields looked better and had more tank!

I was surprised to see Chance lose like that in basically his hometown. I had something I couldn't get out of that night, or I would have made the trip across the Susquehanna to watch live. Crazy weight.

 

[Phantom of the Palestra]

How does everyone think Cassar matches up with Gable? I think if he can get by White, that is PSU's best chance to get back to 5 champs.

 

[El-Jefe]

Anybody else think that Marsteller is the dark horse at 165?.

When a top 5 guy is a dark horse, that's a strong statement about the top guy.

 

[GogglesPaizano]

Ok that does it.

I am reregistering anonymously and changing my handle to some other childhood reference.

I'm torn between Yukon Cornelius, Uncle Fester or Corporal Agarn

https://goo.gl/images/HSJz6o

Oh crap did I say that out loud?

 

[86PSUPaul]

Then we would just say, “what happened to Goggles?”

 

[Dogwelder]

Ok that does it.

I am reregistering anonymously and changing my handle to some other childhood reference.

I'm torn between Yukon Cornelius, Uncle Fester or Corporal Agarn

https://goo.gl/images/HSJz6o

Oh crap did I say that out loud?

No respect for Ensign Charles Parker from McHale’s Navy? Or, from a later era, what about Rosco P. Coltrane? Or Boss Hogg?

 

[crablegs1]

When a top 5 guy is a dark horse, that's a strong statement about the top guy.

Not really. Here are your 5th ranked guys

Mueller,
Phillipi
Carr
Mauler
Pantaleo
Marstellar
Kutler
Zavatsky
Miklus
Wood

Chance probably has the best shot to win the title out of anyone in the 5 spot if I had to put money on it.

 

[Phantom of the Palestra]

Ok that does it.

I am reregistering anonymously and changing my handle to some other childhood reference.

I'm torn between Yukon Cornelius, Uncle Fester or Corporal Agarn

https://goo.gl/images/HSJz6o

Oh crap did I say that out loud?

Why would you do that when you are almost famous?

 

[El-Jefe]

Not really. Here are your 5th ranked guys

Mueller,
Phillipi
Carr
Mauler
Pantaleo
Marstellar
Kutler
Zavatsky
Miklus
Wood

Chance probably has the best shot to win the title out of anyone in the 5 spot if I had to put money on it.

We have wildly divergent definitions of "dark horse."

Ronnie Perry, Kyle Conel, Tariq Wilson, Jacob Holschlag, dark horses.

Top 5 rank? Not even close.