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Hodge Trophy Still On

Nitlion6 - this whole narrative of ducking Glory is BS. The whole story of whenever a guy misses a match as automatically ducking is also BS. I was pissed when some accused Cenzo of ducking last year... I know Cenzo, I knew the comments were unfair. We don't know the whole story, so why make such a negative assertion. Lee, are you kidding me. Lee is 2-0 against Glory and neither match was close. Had Glory wanted a 3rd match he needed to wrestle well enough to earn the right to face him at the NCAA Tournament last year--and he didn't get the job done. He was beaten and didn't get to wrestle Lee. This year, Glory barely defeated the Columbia University wrestler 3-0 and needed OT against Lehigh. Lee had one decision this year which was a 7 point win and he later beat that same opponent 19-3 in two periods. Has Glory improved, yes, he's a great wrestler, but Lee was also wrestling better this year than in either of the prior two years. In the only head-to-head match up, Lee dominated Oklahoma State by a major decision and it was a dominant win with about 5-minutes of riding time and if you watch the Glory match against the same opponent, it was much closer and a scramble away from being a toss-up match and he ended up winning by a decision.

The match at Princeton that you reference was the week prior to US Senior Nationals and they didn't want to travel that week and compete, when he was tapering for the US Senior Nationals. Traveling and competing prior to the most important and most difficult tournament of the year would have been stupid. If he gets hurt or tweaks something at Princeton then the US Senior Nationals was at risk.

He could have ducked the entire NCAA season like Fix did and Suriano did...yet, he chose to balance both to give his team the best chance of an NCAA title. He took an unselfish approach and guys want to be critical of his missing a few matches. If you remember, PSU was still the favorite going into the season this year, but it was close. Tom Brands announced at the beginning of the season that Lee would not wrestle a full schedule and he also said he would not be at Midlands. They changed plans when they realized that Lee needed a few more matches to get an RPI. Without the RPI, if he got hurt and couldn't compete or finish the Big 10 he wouldn't get an at large bid and he also couldn't get RPI ranking for seeding, so they chose to wrestle the first day only. This was all discussed publicly, so I'm not making any of this up. It sounds like they had a long view of getting him through the season and the matches he missed was the week prior to the US Senior Nationals and the week after. The narrative of Lee ducking anyone is absurd. He skipped a single match at Princeton to wrestle in a bracket that featured 6 former NCAA Champions the following week. I assure you that several of those in that bracket on that day would be favored in matches against Glory as well as Lee would be a heavy favorite.

This whole narrative is wrong. What is also wrong are posters that want to tear these young men down. I read on another board, and I agree, that it is unfair to call these guys out by name, painting a negative perception and yet we hide behind fake screen names and take shots at their character. Easy to do when no one knows who we are, but we call them out by name. Seems inconsistent doesn't it? Nothing wrong with debating points, advocating for stances, but when you make accusations that speak to who someone is or their character then that is not what these boards are for. I think its BS. You're accusing a kid of ducking when he's trying to make the US Olympic Team "the hard way." Any narrative like this is self serving and vindictive, because it is such a reach there must be another motive.
 
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Nitlion6 - this whole narrative of ducking Glory is BS. The whole story of whenever a guy misses a match as automatically ducking is also BS. I was pissed when some accused Cenzo of ducking last year... I know Cenzo, I knew the comments were unfair. We don't know the whole story, so why make such a negative assertion. Lee, are you kidding me. Lee is 2-0 against Glory and neither match was close. Had Glory wanted a 3rd match he needed to wrestle well enough to earn the right to face him at the NCAA Tournament last year--and he didn't get the job done. He was beaten and didn't get to wrestle Lee. This year, Glory barely defeated the Columbia University wrestler 3-0 and needed OT against Lehigh. Lee had one decision this year which was a 7 point win and he later beat that same opponent 19-3 in two periods. Has Glory improved, yes, he's a great wrestler, but Lee was also wrestling better this year than in either of the prior two years. In the only head-to-head match up, Lee dominated Oklahoma State by a major decision and it was a dominant win with about 5-minutes of riding time and if you watch the Glory match against the same opponent, it was much closer and a scramble away from being a toss-up match and he ended up winning by a decision.

The match at Princeton that you reference was the week prior to US Senior Nationals and they didn't want to travel that week and compete, when he was tapering for the US Senior Nationals. Traveling and competing prior to the most important and most difficult tournament of the year would have been stupid. If he gets hurt or tweaks something at Princeton then the US Senior Nationals was at risk.

He could have ducked the entire NCAA season like Fix did and Suriano did...yet, he chose to balance both to give his team the best chance of an NCAA title. He took an unselfish approach and guys want to be critical of his missing a few matches. If you remember, PSU was still the favorite going into the season this year, but it was close. Tom Brands announced at the beginning of the season that Lee would not wrestle a full schedule and he also said he would not be at Midlands. They changed plans when they realized that Lee needed a few more matches to get an RPI. Without the RPI, if he got hurt and couldn't compete or finish the Big 10 he wouldn't get an at large bid and he also couldn't get RPI ranking for seeding, so they chose to wrestle the first day only. This was all discussed publicly, so I'm not making any of this up. It sounds like they had a long view of getting him through the season and the matches he missed was the week prior to the US Senior Nationals and the week after. The narrative of Lee ducking anyone is absurd. He skipped a single match at Princeton to wrestle in a bracket that featured 6 former NCAA Champions the following week. I assure you that several of those in that bracket on that day would be favored in matches against Glory as well as Lee would be a heavy favorite.

This whole narrative is wrong. What is also wrong are posters that want to tear these young men down. I read on another board, and I agree, that it is unfair to call these guys out by name, painting a negative perception and yet we hide behind fake screen names and take shots at their character. Easy to do when no one knows who we are, but we call them out by name. Seems inconsistent doesn't it? Nothing wrong with debating points, advocating for stances, but when you make accusations that speak to who someone is or their character then that is not what these boards are for. I think its BS. You're accusing a kid of ducking when he's trying to make the US Olympic Team "the hard way." Any narrative like this is self serving and vindictive, because it is such a reach there must be another motive.
Geez dude, call jammy and ask for a xanax.
I already listed Spencer as my choice. However, with two opportunities to wrestle Glory intentionally skipped and Brands' developed need to occasionally protect some of his wrestlers it is a situation that requires making fun of.
 
The funny thing about this argument is it is being waged without the last piece of Data.....the champion at each weight.

Glory/Lee. Lee Glory. What about Hall, or Deakin, or Moore? I recognize the “undefeated” shouldn’t be a focus but it not only IS, It always has been. I also know that after the Championships each year, no one is worried about a Hall quality wrestler not getting the Hodge. It always goes to a champion that is undefeated unless none are undefeated. Sometimes we have to lament the choice between Nolf and Zain or something like that.
If the championships were held, the Glory Lee argument goes away.
Moore still would have to win and he has fumbled before.

The reality is, due to past history criteria, this years Hodge belonged to Cenzo, Lee, Hall in that order if they were all undefeated. Lee is alone on that list now and he would have to lose for someone else to get it. Glory only sniffs it if Steveson or Moore fumbles.

We all have seen this award play out and have been satisfied with the result. Weird that we can my figure out, with the current data, who it belongs to. That person is the 2 time champion and undefeated Spencer Lee.
 
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The funny thing about this argument is it is being waged without the last piece of Data.....the champion at each weight.

Glory/Lee. Lee Glory. What about Hall, or Deakin, or Moore? I recognize the “undefeated” shouldn’t be a focus but it not only IS, It always has been. I also know that after the Championships each year, no one is worried about a Hall quality wrestler not getting the Hodge. It always goes to a champion that is undefeated unless none are undefeated. Sometimes we have to lament the choice between Nolf and Zain or something like that.
If the championships were held, the Glory Lee argument goes away.
Moore still would have to win and he has fumbled before.

The reality is, due to past history criteria, this years Hodge belonged to Cenzo, Lee, Hall in that order if they were all undefeated. Lee is alone on that list now and he would have to lose for someone else to get it. Glory only sniffs it if Steveson or Moore fumbles.

We all have seen this award play out and have been satisfied with the result. Weird that we can my figure out, with the current data, who it belongs to. That person is the 2 time champion and undefeated Spencer Lee.
Brands still held him out of 2 matches against Glory.:);):D:cool::oops:
They don't have an emoji showing me belly laughing.
Great post. Spot on.
 
The reality is, due to past history criteria, this years Hodge belonged to Cenzo, Lee, Hall in that order if they were all undefeated. Lee is alone on that list now and he would have to lose for someone else to get it. Glory only sniffs it if Steveson or Moore fumbles.
What if Glory won 4 titles at 4 different weights?

Seriously, would Glory absolutely be behind Steveson? He would be the undefeated wrestler at Lee's weight, presumably beating Lee and 2x beating Piccininni. He wrestled a full year with a tougher schedule, better Most Dominant and better bonus rate. Steveson wrestled half of the year, and that was due to a sexual assault allegation -- both not helping his case.

Behind Moore, agreed, unless Glory did something like tech/pin the entire field including Lee.

Also agreed that Lee wins it based on the season having ended now.
 
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Brands still held him out of 2 matches against Glory.:);):D:cool::oops:
They don't have an emoji showing me belly laughing.
Great post. Spot on.
You keep neglecting the main point that the matches Lee was held out of was the week prior to the US. Senior Nationals and the week after US. Senior Nationals and my rant was based on your accusation of ducking. The issue is your willingness to call out these guys by name while you hide behind nitlion6. If you want to offer opinions, predictions, projections whatever, but when you accuse guys of ducking without offering the full context I think that's low class.
 
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You keep neglecting the main point that the matches Lee was held out of was the week prior to the US. Senior Nationals and the week after US. Senior Nationals and my rant was based on your accusation of ducking. The issue is your willingness to call out these guys by name while you hide behind nitlion6. If you want to offer opinions, predictions, projections whatever, but when you accuse guys of ducking without offering the full context I think that's low class.
Ah dude. Please. Ph**k off.
 
Nitlion6 - this whole narrative of ducking Glory is BS. The whole story of whenever a guy misses a match as automatically ducking is also BS. I was pissed when some accused Cenzo of ducking last year... I know Cenzo, I knew the comments were unfair. We don't know the whole story, so why make such a negative assertion. Lee, are you kidding me. Lee is 2-0 against Glory and neither match was close. Had Glory wanted a 3rd match he needed to wrestle well enough to earn the right to face him at the NCAA Tournament last year--and he didn't get the job done. He was beaten and didn't get to wrestle Lee. This year, Glory barely defeated the Columbia University wrestler 3-0 and needed OT against Lehigh. Lee had one decision this year which was a 7 point win and he later beat that same opponent 19-3 in two periods. Has Glory improved, yes, he's a great wrestler, but Lee was also wrestling better this year than in either of the prior two years. In the only head-to-head match up, Lee dominated Oklahoma State by a major decision and it was a dominant win with about 5-minutes of riding time and if you watch the Glory match against the same opponent, it was much closer and a scramble away from being a toss-up match and he ended up winning by a decision.

The match at Princeton that you reference was the week prior to US Senior Nationals and they didn't want to travel that week and compete, when he was tapering for the US Senior Nationals. Traveling and competing prior to the most important and most difficult tournament of the year would have been stupid. If he gets hurt or tweaks something at Princeton then the US Senior Nationals was at risk.

H entire NCAA season like Fix did and Suriano did...yet, he chose to balance both to give his team the best chance of an NCAA title. He took an unselfish approach and guys want to be critical of his missing a few matches. If you remember, PSU was still the favorite going into the season this year, but it was close. Tom Brands announced at the beginning of the season that Lee would not wrestle a full schedule and he also said he would not be at Midlands. They changed plans when they realized that Lee needed a few more matches to get an RPI. Without the RPI, if he got hurt and couldn't compete or finish the Big 10 he wouldn't get an at large bid and he also couldn't get RPI ranking for seeding, so they chose to wrestle the first day only. This was all discussed publicly, so I'm not making any of this up. It sounds like they had a long view of getting him through the season and the matches he missed was the week prior to the US Senior Nationals and the week after. The narrative of Lee ducking anyone is absurd. He skipped a single match at Princeton to wrestle in a bracket that featured 6 former NCAA Champions the following week. I assure you that several of those in that bracket on that day would be favored in matches against Glory as well as Lee would be a heavy favorite.

This whole narrative is wrong. What is also wrong are posters that want to tear these young men down. I read on another board, and I agree, that it is unfair to call these guys out by name, painting a negative perception and yet we hide behind fake screen names and take shots at their character. Easy to do when no one knows who we are, but we call them out by name. Seems inconsistent doesn't it? Nothing wrong with debating points, advocating for stances, but when you make accusations that speak to who someone is or their character then that is not what these boards are for. I think its BS. You're accusing a kid of ducking when he's trying to make the US Olympic Team "the hard way." Any narrative like this is self serving and vindictive, because it is such a reach there must be another motive.
Or Glory could have wrestled him in the dual against Spencer Lee’s team which was on the schedule or wrestle him at Midlands which Spencer Lee weighed in for and competed.

Fix and Suriano ducked the season? Lol a redshirt is ducking? You’ve lost it man. Training to be on an Olympic team is now ducking. Guess Yianini, Micic, Eireman, and Amine all ducked.

The US Open is now the most important and most difficult tournament of the year? Lol Should have told David Taylor to rush his recovery he missed out on the most important and difficult tournament of the entire year. ;)
 
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Anyone who thinks guys duck opponents is nuts. Spencer Lee has never been afraid to wrestle anyone. The guy is as good as it gets. Come on.
 
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Ah dude. Please. Ph**k off.
Nitlion6, I wouldn't expect any other response from you. I'm totally not surprised. Also, as far as the comment regarding Fix and Suriano, I see nothing wrong with what they did--it was their earned right and I fully support their work and for chasing their dream. My point was that Lee could have done the same, but he was trying to balance both so don't be so critical. Don't you think Okie State is better with Fix or Rutgers with Suriano? Of course they are just as Iowa was better with Lee and that is why he skipped the Olympic Shirt. That is the only point I was making.
 
Nitlion6, I wouldn't expect any other response from you. I'm totally not surprised. Also, as far as the comment regarding Fix and Suriano, I see nothing wrong with what they did--it was their earned right and I fully support their work and for chasing their dream. My point was that Lee could have done the same, but he was trying to balance both so don't be so critical. Don't you think Okie State is better with Fix or Rutgers with Suriano? Of course they are just as Iowa was better with Lee and that is why he skipped the Olympic Shirt. That is the only point I was making.
Not surprised. You are seemingly unable to follow instructions.
Just for the hell of it. Did you know Glory wrestled two competitions this season against Iowa and in both, Brands did not put Spencer on the mat? Now, can you please give us all two pages of rationalizations to explain why this statement is invalid?
 
You don't listen very well do you? Or is it a reading comprehension issue? If so, I'm sorry, I fully realize that you might be at the height of your intellectual ability to understand simple rationale and I understand now. The point is not whether or not he took the mat, but why he didn't take the mat. This has been outlined in interviews by his head coach and also detailed in this thread. Also, my concern was you accusing a kid of ducking while hiding behind a screen name. Easy for you to be critical of someone by name when you're not willing to show us who you are throwing out the baseless accusations.
 
You don't listen very well do you? Or is it a reading comprehension issue? If so, I'm sorry, I fully realize that you might be at the height of your intellectual ability to understand simple rationale and I understand now. The point is not whether or not he took the mat, but why he didn't take the mat. This has been outlined in interviews by his head coach and also detailed in this thread. Also, my concern was you accusing a kid of ducking while hiding behind a screen name. Easy for you to be critical of someone by name when you're not willing to show us who you are throwing out the baseless accusations.
Thank you for being you. Can you please continue. It has become sillier than funny, but I can tell you need to. So go ahead.

Here, let me help you. Spencer should win the Wrestling Heisman (to help you out, that means the Hodge) this year.

Did everybody know that Glory competed in 2 competitions this season that presented 2 opportunities for Spencer to wrestle Glory, but Specer did not take the mat.

Go ahead. More rationalizations please.
 
You don't listen very well do you? Or is it a reading comprehension issue? If so, I'm sorry, I fully realize that you might be at the height of your intellectual ability to understand simple rationale and I understand now. The point is not whether or not he took the mat, but why he didn't take the mat. This has been outlined in interviews by his head coach and also detailed in this thread. Also, my concern was you accusing a kid of ducking while hiding behind a screen name. Easy for you to be critical of someone by name when you're not willing to show us who you are throwing out the baseless accusations.
With all of your intellectual abilities could you explain to me how the US Open is the most important and most difficult tournament? Thanks in advance.
 
Wiscowrastler, glad to help you as well, but it really doesn't take much to explain this and I'll try to be short, since I agree with the most recent post from nittincs. In an Olympic year, which this happens to be, since it is 2020 and the Olympic are once every four-years and the last Olympic Games was in 2016. The U.S. Senior Nationals qualifies the top 5 wrestlers for the trials and it's also a major part of the seeding criteria for the US Olympic Trials. Most consider the Olympic Games the pinnacle of the sport, so to make the team, one has to first qualify for the Olympic Trials to have a chance to earn a spot on the team. It's not like the State College youth open that you can pay an entry fee, show up and enter.

Of course one has the Olympic Games and World Championships as the most difficult competition, but you can't get to those events without qualifying, so from a domestic perspective, the US. Senior Nationals is the best opportunity to qualify for (what is generally considered) the most important event in the sport of wrestling, (the Olympic Games). Generally speaking, since the US Senior Nationals is an open tournament without an age restriction or time limitation, such as with the NCAA Tournament, it tends to be more difficult. In the example of 57kg. the weight had six former NCAA Champions in it and many wrestlers that are still competing 4-5-6 years past their collegiate careers, something you're not going to see at the NCAA Tournament, thus the reason why most say it is the most competitive tournament in our country --in any given year.
 
Wiscowrastler, glad to help you as well, but it really doesn't take much to explain this and I'll try to be short, since I agree with the most recent post from nittincs. In an Olympic year, which this happens to be, since it is 2020 and the Olympic are once every four-years and the last Olympic Games was in 2016. The U.S. Senior Nationals qualifies the top 5 wrestlers for the trials and it's also a major part of the seeding criteria for the US Olympic Trials. Most consider the Olympic Games the pinnacle of the sport, so to make the team, one has to first qualify for the Olympic Trials to have a chance to earn a spot on the team. It's not like the State College youth open that you can pay an entry fee, show up and enter.

Of course one has the Olympic Games and World Championships as the most difficult competition, but you can't get to those events without qualifying, so from a domestic perspective, the US. Senior Nationals is the best opportunity to qualify for (what is generally considered) the most important event in the sport of wrestling, (the Olympic Games). Generally speaking, since the US Senior Nationals is an open tournament without an age restriction or time limitation, such as with the NCAA Tournament, it tends to be more difficult. In the example of 57kg. the weight had six former NCAA Champions in it and many wrestlers that are still competing 4-5-6 years past their collegiate careers, something you're not going to see at the NCAA Tournament, thus the reason why most say it is the most competitive tournament in our country --in any given year.
Most say it is more competitive and difficult than the Trials? Lol the foolishness.....
 
Can't get to the trials unless you qualify ... So simple to understand....
Yea, but you can't. You don't have to go to the US Open EVER. Spencer didn't even have to go to the Open, but I guess the Open is the toughest and most important even though a lot of guys don't go?
 
Yea, but you can't. You don't have to go to the US Open EVER. Spencer didn't even have to go to the Open, but I guess the Open is the toughest and most important even though a lot of guys don't go?
If Spencer had not gone to the U.S. Senior Nationals, he would not yet be qualified for the Olympic Trials. The NCAA Tournament has been cancelled and then the last chance qualifier postponed. It's a damn good thing he went to the US. Senior Nationals. Why wait when an injury takes you out of circulation? You might be ready a few weeks later, but not quite healed by the last chance. The smart play was to qualify as soon as possible, so that dynamic was off the table. Great move, great coaching to get it over it. I'm sure you understand now, but then again maybe not:-(.
 
Here are the eight finalists. Let the dead horse beatings resume.

Likely to be needing some new gifs, El-Jefe
 
It's absurd that they prioritize too highly having an undefeated record. Do we really think that Glory or Adams or Tucker or Griffith is more deserving than Hall or VJ or Nick Lee ... or, for that matter, Marinelli or Pletcher?

Being undefeated matters but not at the expense of all the other criteria, including dominance, pins, quality of opponents beaten, and even past accomplishments.

That being said, I think Spencer Lee will win it hands-down and likely even deserves to win.
 
It's absurd that they prioritize too highly having an undefeated record. Do we really think that Glory or Adams or Tucker or Griffith is more deserving than Hall or VJ or Nick Lee ... or, for that matter, Marinelli or Pletcher?

Being undefeated matters but not at the expense of all the other criteria, including dominance, pins, quality of opponents beaten, and even past accomplishments.

That being said, I think Spencer Lee will win it hands-down and likely even deserves to win.

With the exception of this season undefeated also means you are NCAA champion so you have set up a straw man argument that doesn;t apply normally. If Glory had remained undefeated meaning he won 125 probably beating Spencer than YES he would be more deserving than Hall, VJ, or Nick Lee.
 
It's absurd that they prioritize too highly having an undefeated record. Do we really think that Glory or Adams or Tucker or Griffith is more deserving than Hall or VJ or Nick Lee ... or, for that matter, Marinelli or Pletcher?

Being undefeated matters but not at the expense of all the other criteria, including dominance, pins, quality of opponents beaten, and even past accomplishments.

That being said, I think Spencer Lee will win it hands-down and likely even deserves to win.


The first criteria is wrestlers “Record”

Kinda gray IYAM, being undefeated is not a criteria.

Wrestler A could be 50-1 with 40 pins and 9 other bonus wins
Wrestler B could be 20-0 with 5 pins and 3 other bonus wins.

Im votin for A.

Its a pins and dominance based award.
 
Fan voting begins Monday at 12 p.m. CT for college wrestling’s most prestigious individual honor. W.I.N. Magazine on Friday named eight finalists for the Hodge Trophy.

Here’s a look at the finalists from lightest to heaviest:

125 — Iowa’s Spencer Lee
Year — Junior

Record — 18-0

Highlights — Lee followed up NCAA titles in his first two seasons by putting together his best year yet, earning Big Ten Wrestler of the Year honors. He nearly notched bonus points against everyone he faced. The lone exception was an 8-1 win against Michigan’s Jack Medley. He later teched Medley 19-3 in the Big Ten Championships. Though he might not score Hodge points for his freestyle exploits, Lee’s blitz through the Senior-level 57-kilogram bracket at the U.S. Open in December won’t hurt his case.

Bonus rate — 94.4 percent

Pins — 4

Technical falls — 9

Major decisions — 3

Closest match — 8-1 vs. Michigan’s Jack Medley

Best win — Lee registered a 17-0 first-period technical fall in January against No. 5 Devin Schroder of Purdue.



125 — Princeton’s Patrick Glory
Year — Sophomore

Record — 24-0

Highlights — The first Hodge finalist in Princeton history has an opportunity to etch his name all over the school’s record books before he’s done with the Tigers. Glory became the first Princeton wrestler in 34 years to earn Ivy League Wrestler of the Year honors. He captured a Midlands title in December and handed four-time Big 12 champ Nick Piccininni a rare loss on his home mat.

Bonus rate — 75 percent

Pins — 4

Technical falls — 9

Major decisions — 4

Closest match — 5-3 in overtime vs. Lehigh’s Brandon Paetzell

Best win — Glory downed Oklahoma State’s Nick Piccininni 9-4 in December.



133 — Cornell’s Chas Tucker
Year — Senior

Record — 31-0

Highlights — Tucker made steady improvements throughout his career with the Big Red, going from 23-12 as a sophomore in his first year as a starter to 28-6 last season to an undefeated senior season. He beat three ranked opponents in December en route to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title.

Bonus rate — 12.9 percent

Pins — 2

Technical falls — 0

Major decisions — 1

Closest match — Tucker went to overtime twice this season, beating Lehigh’s Nick Farro 6-4 in January and Binghamton’s Zack Trampe 8-6 in February.

Best win — Tucker posted a pair of victories against Wyoming All-American Montorie Bridges, including a 4-1 win in the finals in Las Vegas.



157 — Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin
Year — Junior

Record — 21-0

Highlights — Northwestern’s first Hodge finalist since 2009 grabbed the No. 1 ranking at 157 in December and never let go. Surged to the top of the weight class after a dominant showing in Las Vegas, where he handled Junior World champion David Carr of Iowa State (9-3) and returning NCAA finalist Hayden Hidlay of North Carolina State (6-2) and followed that up in January by posting a 14-0 major decision against No. 8 Kendall Coleman.

Bonus rate — 61.9 percent

Pins — 5

Technical falls — 0

Major decisions — 8

Closest match — 3-2 vs. SIU Edwardsville’s Justin Ruffin in February.

Best win — The wins over Carr and Coleman were impressive, but the victory against Hidlay vaulted Deakin to the top of the rankings and established him as a title favorite.



165 — Stanford’s Shane Griffith
Year — Freshman

Record — 28-0

Highlights — Stanford’s second Hodge finalist and first since Matt Gentry in 2004. Griffith’s 28-match winning streak to begin his career is the best start in program history. The New Jersey native captured Southern Scuffle and Pac-12 titles during his rookie season.

Bonus rate — 64.3 percent

Pins — 9

Technical falls — 0

Major decisions — 8

Closest match — Defeated Arizona State All-American Josh Shields 5-3 in the second sudden-victory period in February.

Best win — Posted a 4-0 win against Shields in the Pac-12 finals.



197 — Ohio State’s Kollin Moore
Year — Senior

Record — 27-0

Highlights — Moore finished off a brilliant career with a superb senior season that culminated with his third Big Ten title. In addition to his four pins, he put double-digits on the board 18 times and went for 20 or more four times.

Bonus rate — 74.1 percent

Pins — 4

Technical falls — 6

Major decisions — 10

Closest match — Went to overtime before scoring a 6-4 win in November against Oklahoma’s Jake Woodley.

Best win — Notched a 16-5 major decision against Northwestern’s Lucas Davison in the Big Ten semifinals.



197 — West Virginia’s Noah Adams
Year — Sophomore

Record — 32-0

Highlights — West Virginia’s first Hodge finalist since Greg Jones in 2005. Adams made a meteoric rise as a sophomore after posting a 19-15 record as a freshman. He rocketed up the rankings in January after winning the Southern Scuffle before winning a Big 12 title and posting West Virginia’s third undefeated season in program history and first since Jones went unbeaten in 2004 and 2005.

Bonus rate — 53.1

Pins — 5

Technical falls — 2

Major decisions — 6

Closest match — Defeated Wyoming’s Stephen Buchanan 9-8 in February and North Dakota State’s Cordell Eaton 2-1 in the Big 12 quarterfinals.

Best win — Pinned Stanford’s Nathan Traxler in the Southern Scuffle finals.



285 — Minnesota’s Gable Steveson
Year — Sophomore

Record — 15-0

Highlights — After Big Ten and NCAA runner-up finishes as a freshman, Stevenson ruled the heavyweight class as a sophomore. Downed Michigan’s previously unbeaten Mason Parris in a battle of Junior World champions to capture the Big Ten title. Scored at least seven points in every full match he wrestled this season.

Bonus rate — 73.3 percent

Pins — 4

Technical falls — 1

Major decisions — 6

Closest match — Had a pair of two-point victories — a 7-5 win against No. 3 Tony Cassioppi and an 8-6 win against Parris in the Big Ten finals.

Best win — Steveson’s 8-6 win against Parris in the Big Ten finals cemented him as the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Championships and the heavyweight title favorite.

(Photos: Richard Immel and Sam Janicki)
 
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