I was disappointed in the selection. I get the "heart warming" story with Stanford and I give the kid a ton of credit. I look at OW wrestlers as the wrestler who exceeds expectations. If Courtney had beat Lee, that is an easy call but it did not happen. If Parris had beat Gable, that was an easy call but it did not happen. I then really think CStar was probably the third biggest underdog. Really surprised he didn't get it. Redshirt Freshman underdog beating a 6th year senior who beat him handily at the Big 10's.
Outstanding Wrestling Award (OH)
- Thread starter PSU210
- Start date
I get the 8th seed but he wasn't the underdog in the finals to the extent CStar was IMHO.
Yeah, I agreed. Griffith was the beneficiary of the sympathy vote for the whole Stanford fiasco. I'm thrilled that he was able to get some airtime and point out the idiocy of the decision, but OW? No.......He was also the beneficiary of the bracket opening up through circumstances that he wasn't responsible for. Yeah, he beat those that he needed to beat and won a title, good for him, but OW? No......
Griffith faced and beat the 1, 3, and 5 seed on his way to the title.
..there were several unexpected performances and it was hard to choose one above all other... normally the 3X winner would be chosen but his torn ACL limited his normally outstanding gusto...
I’m fine with Griffith - and if he decides to leave Stanford I would love to see him join his former Bergen Catholic H. S. teammate Robbie Howard at Penn State....
I’m fine with Griffith - and if he decides to leave Stanford I would love to see him join his former Bergen Catholic H. S. teammate Robbie Howard at Penn State....
It's OW of the tourney, not OW of the finals. Griffith is a deserved winner, as he also beat a #1 seed along the way, and won from the 8 seed. I imagine it was a close call among several wrestlers.
As I said, I simply wasn't aware that he had beaten #1, #3 and #5 and as such, yes, he was an acceptable choice. I would have been fine with Carter, Spencer or maybe even Gable as well. Great wrestling in the tournament for the most part and fun.
I really think it should have been Gable. Heavyweight is loaded with great wrestlers, and he absolutely dominates that division. 125 is really not that good behind Spencer Lee. That is not his fault. He dominates everyone exactly how he should, but Gable is almost as dominant against far better competition. Carter was awesome, but the OW should go to the best wrestler, not the one who tugs at your heartstrings (Griffith) or pulls the biggest upset (Carter). The OW, IMHO, is Gable.
