Day 1 thoughts...

[a_mshaffer]

Thought Keener was coming back to make it a match. He was down big on riding time. Desperation move with the cradle as he was losing it – too high. Wishing he was cleaner in the wrestle backs… almost had a fall with his headlock… Needs to have a good day Friday.

Nick. Another lesson learned. Great match against Alber – made the scuffle a non-fluke. He also needs to have a good day tomorrow.

Zain.

Nolf looks good. Unsure how much he can push off – my only concern about Kem on Friday.

Cenzo – Hall-Bo – looked solid. Think they all could have scored more bonus points but their opponents were set against opening up.

Shaq – Concern he isn’t sticking his cradle. Hope he can move very well on Friday – don’t like him tying up. Thought it was funny after his injury time out that the guy chose neutral. Don’t see that every day!

NN – hard to believe you win without a TD and giving up one. But he did ‘get out’ and rode when it was his turn. Big match Friday noonish!

tOSU – Moore would have lost without the lunger. Thought Hayes lost is regulation. BoJo was on the ropes as well. TanTom does more verbalizing than coaching. He must like his image – nice suit and running all over. Can’t believe how their brackets have fallen for them. PSU simply has to win big tomorrow!

OSU – talk about a quiet day. Smith can’t be happy.

Good venue. Upper deck is way too far away... few lower bowl seats and a lot in the club section (2nd level really).

 

[PSUbluTX]

Keener -- Where I expected him to be.

Lee -- I'm never confident when NL takes the mat. Always feels equally likely that he will pin or be pinned. He has the talent to win his next 5 matches and finish 6th overall, but I'll be holding my breath the whole time.

Nolf -- If he can absorb Kemerer's physical strength and win that match without aggravating his injury, I think it's smooth sailing to another championship. I suspect that the lingering effects of his injury will impact his options and strategic choices, resulting in few if any bonus point wins for the remainder of the tourney. Of course, he's Jason Frickin Nolf, so I won't be surprised if he pins all his remaining opponents.

Sugar Shaq -- Major pucker factor for me when he went down with that injury. Looked serious for ~60 seconds. But he somehow recovered and still got the MD. Impressive! I think he looks better so far than he did at B1Gs. Seems like the swagger is coming back. I believe he's on pace to finish no worse than 3rd.

Zain -- Only question is how much bonus he will rack up on the way to Saturday night's coronation. Sorensen's early exit from the top bracket should increase that number.

Cenzo/Mark/Bo -- Held serve well today and seem to be wrestling with high confidence, especially Mark. I get the feeling Bo is about to unleash some devastation on an opponent or two.

Nevills -- His Boykin match seems like such an aberration from what we've seen from Nick since the Scuffle that I'm hoping Boykin is just a bad matchup for him and he'll be back on track tomorrow.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Keener -- Where I expected him to be.

Lee -- I'm never confident when NL takes the mat. Always feels equally likely that he will pin or be pinned. He has the talent to win his next 5 matches and finish 6th overall, but I'll be holding my breath the whole time.

Nolf -- If he can absorb Kemerer's physical strength and win that match without aggravating his injury, I think it's smooth sailing to another championship. I suspect that the lingering effects of his injury will impact his options and strategic choices, resulting in few if any bonus point wins for the remainder of the tourney. Of course, he's Jason Frickin Nolf, so I won't be surprised if he pins all his remaining opponents.

Sugar Shaq -- Major pucker factor for me when he went down with that injury. Looked serious for ~60 seconds. But he somehow recovered and still got the MD. Impressive! I think he looks better so far than he did at B1Gs. Seems like the swagger is coming back. I believe he's on pace to finish no worse than 3rd.

Zain -- Only question is how much bonus he will rack up on the way to Saturday night's coronation. Sorensen's early exit from the top bracket should increase that number.

Cenzo/Mark/Bo -- Held serve well today and seem to be wrestling with high confidence, especially Mark. I get the feeling Bo is about to unleash some devastation on an opponent or two.

Nevills -- His Boykin match seems like such an aberration from what we've seen from Nick since the Scuffle that I'm hoping Boykin is just a bad matchup for him and he'll be back on track tomorrow.

I had to leave for a meeting right after Rasheed had the injury. After thinking the worst, it was such a relief to find out he was ok and won the match.

 

[ptomaselli]

Keener has winnable match against Montoya. He needs to focus. Could go either way. Same for Lee with Mason Smith.

High expectations for Zain. Obviously one of the key matches of the day is Nolf-Kem. Cenzo has to be workmanlike against White...favored and very winnable. Same for Hall with Lujan. But he's funky too. Let's hope Bo can pack up the younger Dean. Shak's done his job so far with bonus in both wins. Lets hope he can get by Macchiavello. Nick should also be favored over Dhesi.

Here's hoping for another 9-0 session.

 

[johnstownsteel]

I have a bad feeling in my gut with the Cenzo/White bout. Hope it was just my wife’s shitty cooking....

 

[rmg78]

Keener -- Where I expected him to be.

Lee -- I'm never confident when NL takes the mat. Always feels equally likely that he will pin or be pinned. He has the talent to win his next 5 matches and finish 6th overall, but I'll be holding my breath the whole time.

Nolf -- If he can absorb Kemerer's physical strength and win that match without aggravating his injury, I think it's smooth sailing to another championship. I suspect that the lingering effects of his injury will impact his options and strategic choices, resulting in few if any bonus point wins for the remainder of the tourney. Of course, he's Jason Frickin Nolf, so I won't be surprised if he pins all his remaining opponents.

Sugar Shaq -- Major pucker factor for me when he went down with that injury. Looked serious for ~60 seconds. But he somehow recovered and still got the MD. Impressive! I think he looks better so far than he did at B1Gs. Seems like the swagger is coming back. I believe he's on pace to finish no worse than 3rd.

Zain -- Only question is how much bonus he will rack up on the way to Saturday night's coronation. Sorensen's early exit from the top bracket should increase that number.

Cenzo/Mark/Bo -- Held serve well today and seem to be wrestling with high confidence, especially Mark. I get the feeling Bo is about to unleash some devastation on an opponent or two.

Nevills -- His Boykin match seems like such an aberration from what we've seen from Nick since the Scuffle that I'm hoping Boykin is just a bad matchup for him and he'll be back on track tomorrow.

Lee - because he lost in the first round and Jack was upset in the second, which dropped him to the bottom side of the consolation bracket his path to the 5/6 match couldn't be better as he will not have anyone seeded higher than him until the consi semis where they would meet most likely the lower of Eirn and Yianni. If Lee wrestles well 5/6 is a great possibility.