Posted this on the "other" forum...thought there'd be interest...
The Mood
Different than the past 3 years. I don't include 2011, because we were not expected to win, with most thinking we were a year away. Anyway, among the Penn State faithful, who again showed up in big numbers, the expectations of a National Championship just were not the same. Hopeful? Yes, but it was evident early we just didn't have the guns to compete for the team title. All eyes and the rooting was for individuals with an occasional glimpse at the team standings, as much to see how Ohio State, Edinboro, Iowa and others were doing, as how Penn State was faring. Many of my friends said it was still incredibly fun, but maybe a little more relaxing. To them, I say, get ready for next year!!
Injuries
My personal feeling is sadness for all the wrestlers that miss out on their dream because of injuries. Jesse Delgado, Hunter Stieber, Josh Kindig, Ian Miller and Dylan Ness come to mind, but there were others. Jesse couldn't walk off the mat without assistance, Ian showed guts in his match with Realbuto, despite an obviously serious leg injury, Hunter's elbow pain showed in every offensive and defensive move he made, and Dylan couldn't even get his singlet on without obvious pain when he went out to the mat for the 5th place, which he forfeited. Great move, as he earned a standing ovation from much of the arena for 4 years of entertainment. The respect and appreciation for this wrestler, who NoVa calls his favorite non-PSU wrestler, was obvious
I'm glad he went out one last time!
Of course Penn State has faced their share of injuries this year too. It has the potential to change a team's fortunes, and it certainly affects individuals. It's an inevitable part of this brutal sport.
Sportsmanship
It was great to see the sportsmanship. I'll focus on the positive here (though Barry Davis has never moved so quickly, for those that know what this is in reference to). The Ness ovation was heartfelt, as college wrestling will be without one of its most entertaining wrestlers, now that his eligibility is done. J'Den Cox's 2nd handshake and pat on the belly to Snyder after losing in the semi's also stood out. Schopp and Dardanes mutual respect after their Third Place match was obvious, and the Houdashelt / Habat hug after their final's battle was good to see. There were many other instances, like Dean / Brown, etc.
Just an opinion, as I've read several threads over the years from fans that want the "required" handshake removed from the rulebook. To me, it's the essence of this sport. Battle hard for 7 minutes (or more), with the winner and loser congratulating each other, then moving on to battle another day. Running away after losing a match, or jumping off a podium because you didn't get 1st Place is equivalent to a 6 year old child that doesn't get their way and whines and cries
except it's a learning opportunity for the child, who maybe doesn't know better. The wrestler's know better. Rant off.
Our Team
At the social Saturday night, several of the wrestlers spoke. There was a common theme, 1) gratitude for their teammates, 2) gratitude for the fan support, 3) excitement about next year, and 4) immense happiness for Matt Brown. Every Penn State fan should be proud of the way these young men carry themselves and represent our University.
I also talked to several of the wrestlers, and just as in past years, the battle scars were obvious. A slightly black eye, cuts on the cheeks and foreheads, and I can only guess how their knees and shoulders felt. I'm sure they're relieved it's over, so they can get refreshed, heal up, and start the whole process over again.
Overall Tournament
I'll never be an Ohio State fan, but their winning is good for the sport. Seems there's an eastern shift, after 88 years of NCAA Wrestling, with the last 5 champions from this side of the Mississippi. Several teams look to be in great shape next year, with Ohio State and Penn State among them, so the streak may continue.
The wrestling was excellent, again! Upsets galore, with 26 guys earning All-American that were seeded outside the top-8. That's almost 3 per weight class!! And the story of the tourney (other than Matt's Championship) was unseeded Zeke Moisey making the finals. Keep in mind, they're seeding to 16 now, so that's a great accomplishment
and the pin of Gilman was impressive.
Time to start planning for New York City and Madison Square Garden!!
