Ok done!
I really don't like any if us coming across as dissing on Jarod. His personal story is one of success and perseverance. He had built a pretty impressive resume before PSU. I trust, none of us could have acheived so much under similar circumstances. He is a great example for the team and I suspect a lead by example kind of guy with his dedication and no quit attitude.
That said his need to manage matches has absolutely cost the team and limits our potential. I remain surprised that we didn't recruit this weight harder over the past 2-3 years as it was a known gap (start the Sasso train here).
I would rather Jarod go balls out for the first two periods racking up points and looking for falls only to crash in the 3rd. I assume such an approach must carry some pretty significant health risks.
He is very hard to score on and can scramble so I suspect winning a wrestle off against him is no easy feat, most especially with guys with whom he is familiar. Then again we simply can not expect him to go out and win matches with regularity in tourneys against top competition.
His winning percentage has declined each year, and his bonus rate is down as well. In short he is a very established collegiate wrestler who's contribution potential is now entirely predictable, and when going up against Iowa in the dual or tourneys will most likely not get it done.
The opportunity vs risk is pretty clear. Gardener, Bear Claw or Bartlett are all unknowns but in the end probably will not cost the team anything in terms of tourney points. Maybe the risk is higher in the dual by giving up a major or worse but that is not a given either.
I suspect for the Iowa dual we will see Verk unless he is still injured, but for the tourneys I would like to see Beau or one of the others. IMO, Beau is the only one capable of catching lightning in a bottle, but he should have been managing his ascent for weeks now, so his inexperience and weight both count against him going forward.
Cael is an eternal optimist, and is so supportive of Jarod and how 'close he is'. Unfortunately, I see another Jimmy Giillibon in Jarod, which for the fan is somewhat torturous to see play out week after week, year after year, while Cael remains eternally hopeful.
Jarod's Indiana match was the poster child for missed opportunities, sqandering 4-5 easy positions into no points and a loss at the end, against a kid he should ideally take to the woodshed.
Let's hope the 141 'nonsense' (and yes I said nonsense) is settled during this extended week and we see Beau give it a college try for 149 thereafter, and may the most aggressive man win.
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