So how's the wrestling team going to be this year?
- Thread starter Cosmos
- Start date
I cant seem to find that thread. I flipped though the first three pages. Was it buried in another thread?
This is early in a 2 page thread so someone may have already posted a reply. So if I duplicate a response, sorry.
This year's line has 3 former NCAA champions in the lineup. Heavyweight Anthony Cassar is back and is last year's 3rd place finisher Minnesota's Stevenson. 165, 3 time finalist and 2 time champion Vincenzo Joesph returns as does Iowa' Alex Marinelli. Marinelli has a 2 - 0 record against Joesph and is a 2 time all-american finishing 6th 2 years ago and 7th last year. However, Mehki Lewis last season's 165 pound champion is taking an Olympic redshirt.
At 174 three time finalist (1 championship) Mark Hall returns, but last year's 174 champion Zahid Valencia is competing at 184 this season.
The lineup also has 4 other all-Americans returning. 133 Roman Bravo-Young (8th), 141 2 time AA (5th and 5th) Nick Lee, 184 Shakur Rasheed (2018 197 5th) and 197 Kyle Conel (2018 3rd 197 for Kent State). There is a possibility freshman Mike Beard may wrestle 197, and if he does it will be because he has a higher ceiling compared to Conel. Part of this year's drama yet to unfold.
The other 3 weights are 125 Brody Teske, redshirt freshman who was a 4 time Iowa HS state champ.
149 redshirt sophomore Jarod Verkleeren who while in HS was a cadet world champ and last year's 149 pounder red shirt sophomore Brady Berge will wrestle 157 free from sucking weight.
Assuming PSU kids maintain good health and contrary to Iowa fans' beliefs, as well as more than a couple PSU faithful, PSU will be difficult to knock off the King's mountain.
Who was the 185 lb guy who trained at the Olympic Training last year while red-shirting? I thought he would replace Bo.
Aaron Brooks. Just a FYI, 184 is the weight class. He is most likely replacing Shakur Rasheed at 184. Beard will go 197. Chances are both Brooks and Beard redshirt this year.
FYI, Brooks competed at Junior Worlds this summer at 79kg (173.6 pounds). He is expected to wrestle at 184 for Penn State.
buried in another thread: https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/frl-thursday-morning.245093/#post-4298782
Cosmos: there is zero evidence of Rasheed gassing after the first period since he left the Skeletor weight of 165. He does have a tendency at NCAA’s to forget the match situation and make a tactical mistake and it’s cost him. He has the ability to be top 3.
Lee is Lee. Not exactly sure what that means but he does score bonus in waves, just not the pin. A year older...wiser...pins are coming.
Vincenzo and Hall: Cenzo went on a pin rampage last year and I’d expect it to continue. Hall doesn’t seem to like that approach throughout but he is incredibly match aware. In both cases, however, the field has not caught up with them. Hall has one guy in his face for his entire career and its Valencia. Mark is 1st 2nd and 2nd so far. Cenzo was Cenzo’d by Freshman Lewis last year and came in second. He’s been in an annual battle with Marinelli. Hardly could say the competition has caught up with either of our two guys. They will be 4th year wrestlers and as leaders with Caesar, you can expect that scoring gas to be turned up this year. For that matter, I would be very surprised if Caesar doesn’t go complete animal with Major or better in 90% of his matches. If one can do what he did to Stevenson and White.....that’s field separation and blistering confidence.
Fun season again and I fully expect a repeat championship.
Amateur opinion: We have a very good shot at 4 finalists (who could all win) and 8 AA.
If we were allowed enter more than 1 guy per weight we'd probably have 2 AA at every weight 165-heavy on the roster, with J. Lee, Starocci, Brooks, Beard, and S Nevills redshirting. In fact, if those 5 were a team they'd probably get top 7 at nationals as a team. Any team that thinks they can get one over on Cael better take their best shot this year otherwise we will be on our way to 9 straight.
