PA well represented and several D4 kids to boot
https://www.flowrestling.org/rankin...386-the-best-incoming-freshmen-in-the-america
https://www.flowrestling.org/rankin...386-the-best-incoming-freshmen-in-the-america
Flos Freshman big board
- Thread starter dunkej01
- Start date
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Always take these initial rankings with a grain of salt, but I do enjoy seeing the initial rankings. Willie isn't able to see all these kids in person, and FLO looks at end of year and big tournament results, which is a fair measuring stick. However, some of the prep kids have other commitments or aren't even allowed to wrestle in PJW States, because they've already wrestled matches on a high school team. I think Flo barely had Beard ranked in their initial Top 50 rankings, but he had been wrestling high school matches since 7th grade and did not attend McDonogh (He went 5-5 there in 6th Grade), War at the Shore, and other big events. I'll put money on Gavin Garcia jumping up this board over time. He's been competing at a high level since he's been little. Also Ryan deserves that #1 and is a great kid. He's from the same club that produced the Cruz's and Parker's from Lehigh.
Also I can tell you that Malvern Prep's incoming 8th Grade Class has a chance to be the best they've ever had. Better than this graduating class that sent 7 wrestlers to D-1 schools (Beard-PSU 197, Karoly-UNC 184, Hisey-Navy 149, Crane-Navy 141, Salvatore-F&M 125/133, Devine-NW 197, Visuwan-PSU preferred walk-on 133/141 (turned down an offer from Mich St.)). They beat Young Guns straight up at the 2015 Wildwood Elementary Duals when they were 5th Graders, if that tells you anything for what the future has in store. Now obviously they have to work and progress like the 2018 Class, but the wrestling program has been waiting for these kids to hit the high school level.
Does anyone know how old Crookham really is? I know he isn't your typical 14/15 year old Freshman. Personally I think he is 16 and will turn 17 during his "Freshman" year.
I know a kid that will be a Junior in High School that wrestled Crookham every weekend while they where in the 8U, 10U, 12U brackets. If he isn't 16, he is pretty close to it. The kid I know, parents believe Crookham will be 17 this year. If that's the case. Does he do 2 year PIAA then go to Prep's?
I know a kid that will be a Junior in High School that wrestled Crookham every weekend while they where in the 8U, 10U, 12U brackets. If he isn't 16, he is pretty close to it. The kid I know, parents believe Crookham will be 17 this year. If that's the case. Does he do 2 year PIAA then go to Prep's?
Crookham is younger than Teasdale was entering 9th so there's no issue with him being eligible.
He just beat PA state champ and 2x finalist Ryan Sullivan 10-6 at the JR club duals in a wildly entertaining match, so he'd be pretty darn good no matter what grade he is in.
I'd imagine if he picks PSU in a few years you guys will be less concerned with his birth date.
He just beat PA state champ and 2x finalist Ryan Sullivan 10-6 at the JR club duals in a wildly entertaining match, so he'd be pretty darn good no matter what grade he is in.
I'd imagine if he picks PSU in a few years you guys will be less concerned with his birth date.
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Him and Teasdale both old for their grades and enjoyed that advantage early in their careers. Sometime around 10th grade that starts to even out I think. Both are very talented and would be good regardless but there is defin an advantage that has to be factored in to evaluations early in a high school career. As far as big board rankings I’m guessing there is always a younger kid out there that is going to jump up the board when they reach some similar point of physical development as these kids that are higher ranked and held back for whatever perceived benefit. *factored in when considering career trajectory. No so much when ranking the top 50 freshman
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Maybe @smalls103 can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong, but at this point - incoming frosh, maybe even sophs - the big board is more credential based. When they start getting later in their career I think there is more college projection involved. Right now it is impossible to project that far ahead. As far as credential based rankings, he has earned the spot.
I agree that physical maturity for hold backs plays a big part in early success. Crookham is very physically mature and it certainly allowed him to be very successful earlier than most could have been. I would point out, however, he has successfully made the jump to the "big boy" weights now, competing at 120, and still showing that he is nationally relevant. Much harder than beating up on the younger kids that hover below 110.
So for now, its a good spot for him. When somebody else jumps up and grabs the #1, let them have it. He's certainly got the work ethic and attitude that he's going to end up very high on that board in the end, unless something drastically changes.
#1 Ryan Crookham, Saucon Valley
#12 Kolby Franklin, St. Joseph's Catholic
#17 Erik Gibson, Johnstown - no HS listed
#20 Gavin Garcia - Southern Columbia
#28 Cole Weightman - Belle Vernon
#35 Kole Biscoe - Southern Columbia
#36 Brayden Crocker - Oil City
#37 Brandon Chletsos - Notre Dame Green Pond
I only count 8 but there could have been a couple ranked low in the first publication that dropped after reviewing omissions. I feel like there was but @smalls103 could tell you.
Good post. You clowned me. I was mostly trying to ruffle some PA feathers.
You know, now that I think of it I can't figure out what state you are from. Care to share? NY? NJ?
I don't think I clowned you. Despite your bad rap from some on this board, it's obvious that you know what you're talking about when it comes to wrestling. I might be a little more knowledgeable about Crookham than most on here, given that he's wrestled for us a few times in the past and will do so in the future. I'm pretty high on him given some insight on intangibles. He might not be Spencer Lee or an athletic freak, but as I posted above, really good kid, great attitude, hard worker, huge gas tank, seeks out the best competition, and, man, he really has some grit. Big time. All things that add up to great success in wrestling.
Texas. I have zero ties to PSU, which is why I can't go full homer. I was a huge Cael fan in high school and love a good bandwagon (see: Roger Federer). You'll occasionally see me making a post about Ferrari, Jack Mueller, Nick Reenan, or others.
Nickal obviously one of my favorites.
First off who cares how old they are if they are eligible all 4 years? There is an age cutoff. Some kids get held back in 8th grade and sit out the season or now a days don’t wrestle jr high at all. Not crazy about that trend but it’s all up to what parents think is best and can’t argue that.
Gibson was Forest Hills last year and beat Garcia at Trojan Wars. Heard some rumors of kids from there ending up at McCort but have no idea who or if it will happen.
Gibson was Forest Hills last year and beat Garcia at Trojan Wars. Heard some rumors of kids from there ending up at McCort but have no idea who or if it will happen.
Bo one of your favorites. I am guessing most favorite Nit Lion wrestler not named Anthony?
I’m sure Erik Gibson has been out to Iowa multiple times already in his young career. He’s a very tough athletic kid. He probably has that kind of potential.
Turk called it: Iowa's not getting another PA kid until the Class of 2022.Which one of those top kids will be the next Hawkeye?
We all know that can't be true. Hard working Iowan's dug that pipeline deep
. Talent is Floing in
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If iowa doesnt win a NC during SLees run, they will fall real far in the eyes of many future recruits.
#bankonit
#poach'nainteasy
#bankonit
#poach'nainteasy
Definitely. My nephew was once a national top 10 or 15 prospect as a sophomore. By his senior year all of his fire was gone, and he lasted one half of his freshman year in college (miraculously, was a starter as a true freshman) before officially to be never seen on the mat again.yes. always take rankings with a grain of salt
A few ranked kids will be wrestling tomorrow at Bison duals on the Bucknell campus. DT has his M2 high school team over there along with Shutt, Dark Knights, and Nauman among others. Should be some good match ups. http://register.gimpsoftware.com/GimpTeamEntry.php
Crookham is 15. His birthday is at the end of the year. He has 4 years of eligibility in HS. Zero of the kids success to this point has to do with age.
Being a Federer fan is only a matter of recognizing greatness.
Annieat285 and I had the good fortune to be at the US Open a couple of years ago and saw Federer play in person on what is Flushing's center court. It was a blessing. People in the seats near us included David Dinkins, the former mayor of NYC, and the former head of the USTA. Good stuff.
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