It started with the likes of Quentin Wright, and Frank Molinaro, then really picked up steam with arguably the best 1-2 punch (same team) in the history of college wrestling, Ed Ruth and David Taylor. Nico Megaludis and Matt Brown added their mark on the program, and while opposing fans were waiting for the departure of these guys, especially DT and ER, little did many know that the pipeline of talent would continue and…was it possible…be better? Too early to say THAT, from an individual stand-point, as the guys on this year’s team, except Jimmy, still have eligibility. The overall TEAM talent IS better than ever, but this review features individual results only. Here we go;
Career Wins and Career Win %
The Career Wins record won’t be touched for a long while imo, given the reduced schedules compared to “back in the day”. Zain, with 95 wins, sits at 33th all-time, and could be top 10 all-time when he finishes (he needs 26 wins to be tied for 10th), but is 60 wins behind #1 Jimmy Martin (or should I say Dr. Jim Martin). No wrestler in the Cael era will reach even 40 bouts/year, so the top guys at this metric are untouchable. Jason and Bo have 60 and 59 wins respectively, so they’ll have to wrestle 31 matches per year, and win them all, just to be top-10. Others (Hall, Cenzo, etc.) are just getting their careers started.
More impressive is Career Win %. Ed and David sit #1 and #2, separated by a couple hundredths of a %, both having 3 losses in their career, but Ed has 2 more wins. Zain sits at #3, winning 96.9% of his bouts, but will not, even if he is undefeated in 2017-18, overtake the top 2. With 3 losses (same as ER and DT), he simply won’t get enough bouts to have more wins, and will likely be a couple hundredths of a % less than DT. Jason is #4, and Bo #6 currently, at 96.8% and 95.2% respectively, and are separated by Andy Matter’s 96.8%. Bo will surely end top-10, as will Jason, but both have 2 years to wrestle, so this metric is unfinished for them. Jason, with only 2 losses in his career, is the only current wrestler that can overtake the #1 spot. No more losses, and 31 more wins, and he’ll sneak by ER by the slimmest of margins.
Hard to believe that five of the top 6 spots for Career Win % are wrestlers that have come through the program in the past 7 years, and this story, with Zain, Jason, and Bo with eligibility left, is still being written. Add Mark Hall (#11 on the list), at 91.2% wins, and one can understand the overall recent success.
Career Falls and Career Fall %
The pinnacle of a wrestling win is the Fall. Some do it better than others, and evidence suggests that some on our recent and current roster are the best in our history of registering Falls.
The Career Fall record is owned by David Taylor and Josh Moore, at 53, and seven ahead of #3 Ed Ruth. Zain sits alone in 5th, with 36, needing to match his 2016-17 total of 17 to tie for first. With 4 in his true freshman season, he got off to a slow start, but looks poised to challenge for the top spot. At 29 Falls, and only just finishing his sophomore season, Jason currently sits tied for 14th, and has the best shot of securing #1 all-time...if his current rate continues. Bo, with 25, sitting tied for 19th, also will approach, if not exceed the current top stop. Could we be witnessing the top-3 PSU pinners all-time, and all in the same PSU line-up?
Career Fall % can rise or fall sharply, as it’s a percentage, so the following info can fluctuate wildly as the next couple of seasons unfold. #1 is Ross Shaffer (1936-38), #3 is S.S. Rumbaugh (1925-26), and #5 is Charley Ridenour (1941-43). Great accomplishments, though I’ll be focusing on the modern era. Nolf is #2 all-time, at 46.8% (29 of 62), ahead of #4 Cary Kolat (42.4%), for the highest in the modern era. All-time, Bo (7th), Zain (17th), and Mark (18th), are in the top-20.
Career Tech Falls
The 3 guys going for the Career Fall Record, also are top-20 in Career Tech Falls. With 42, and the master of the Tech Fall, David Taylor may never be touched, as he’s 15 in front of #2 Jimmy Martin. Still, Jason sits #5, with 19, Zain sits #7, with 17, and Bo sits tied for #17, with 8. Jason could end up vying for the #2 spot by the time his career is over, Zain should easily be top-5, and Bo should approach top-10. The mind-set appears to be “if I can’t win by Fall, I’ll Tech the guy”.
More to come… Career Bonus Point Wins and Win %, and Single-Season Records to follow
Career Wins and Career Win %
The Career Wins record won’t be touched for a long while imo, given the reduced schedules compared to “back in the day”. Zain, with 95 wins, sits at 33th all-time, and could be top 10 all-time when he finishes (he needs 26 wins to be tied for 10th), but is 60 wins behind #1 Jimmy Martin (or should I say Dr. Jim Martin). No wrestler in the Cael era will reach even 40 bouts/year, so the top guys at this metric are untouchable. Jason and Bo have 60 and 59 wins respectively, so they’ll have to wrestle 31 matches per year, and win them all, just to be top-10. Others (Hall, Cenzo, etc.) are just getting their careers started.
More impressive is Career Win %. Ed and David sit #1 and #2, separated by a couple hundredths of a %, both having 3 losses in their career, but Ed has 2 more wins. Zain sits at #3, winning 96.9% of his bouts, but will not, even if he is undefeated in 2017-18, overtake the top 2. With 3 losses (same as ER and DT), he simply won’t get enough bouts to have more wins, and will likely be a couple hundredths of a % less than DT. Jason is #4, and Bo #6 currently, at 96.8% and 95.2% respectively, and are separated by Andy Matter’s 96.8%. Bo will surely end top-10, as will Jason, but both have 2 years to wrestle, so this metric is unfinished for them. Jason, with only 2 losses in his career, is the only current wrestler that can overtake the #1 spot. No more losses, and 31 more wins, and he’ll sneak by ER by the slimmest of margins.
Hard to believe that five of the top 6 spots for Career Win % are wrestlers that have come through the program in the past 7 years, and this story, with Zain, Jason, and Bo with eligibility left, is still being written. Add Mark Hall (#11 on the list), at 91.2% wins, and one can understand the overall recent success.
Career Falls and Career Fall %
The pinnacle of a wrestling win is the Fall. Some do it better than others, and evidence suggests that some on our recent and current roster are the best in our history of registering Falls.
The Career Fall record is owned by David Taylor and Josh Moore, at 53, and seven ahead of #3 Ed Ruth. Zain sits alone in 5th, with 36, needing to match his 2016-17 total of 17 to tie for first. With 4 in his true freshman season, he got off to a slow start, but looks poised to challenge for the top spot. At 29 Falls, and only just finishing his sophomore season, Jason currently sits tied for 14th, and has the best shot of securing #1 all-time...if his current rate continues. Bo, with 25, sitting tied for 19th, also will approach, if not exceed the current top stop. Could we be witnessing the top-3 PSU pinners all-time, and all in the same PSU line-up?
Career Fall % can rise or fall sharply, as it’s a percentage, so the following info can fluctuate wildly as the next couple of seasons unfold. #1 is Ross Shaffer (1936-38), #3 is S.S. Rumbaugh (1925-26), and #5 is Charley Ridenour (1941-43). Great accomplishments, though I’ll be focusing on the modern era. Nolf is #2 all-time, at 46.8% (29 of 62), ahead of #4 Cary Kolat (42.4%), for the highest in the modern era. All-time, Bo (7th), Zain (17th), and Mark (18th), are in the top-20.
Career Tech Falls
The 3 guys going for the Career Fall Record, also are top-20 in Career Tech Falls. With 42, and the master of the Tech Fall, David Taylor may never be touched, as he’s 15 in front of #2 Jimmy Martin. Still, Jason sits #5, with 19, Zain sits #7, with 17, and Bo sits tied for #17, with 8. Jason could end up vying for the #2 spot by the time his career is over, Zain should easily be top-5, and Bo should approach top-10. The mind-set appears to be “if I can’t win by Fall, I’ll Tech the guy”.
More to come… Career Bonus Point Wins and Win %, and Single-Season Records to follow
