1) There should be no doubt after the Scuffle, who’s the team to beat for the national championship. This was a dominating performance by PSU. Five champions, a second place, two fifth place finishers and a seventh place finisher. –All that without a viable heavyweight.
2) You’ve got to be impressed with PSU’s backups. With Moss, Beitz and the two 165 backups (whoever that turns out to be).
3) Conaway really impressed me. This goes to show how much he has improved over the year. Sure, he was dominated in the finals, but it was against Garrett who absolutely destroyed everyone else in the draw. Conaway actually gave him his toughest match, losing 14-4.
4) Retherford is a devastating wrestler. If he kills someone in a match, can they arrest him for manslaughter?
5) Nolf is awesome, but seemed a little tense in his match with Smith. Still Smith didn’t have enough to take Nolf in one of his least impressive outings. That says a lot about Nolf.
6) Even before this tournament I felt that Nickal was greatly underrated. He impressed me more than anyone else in the tournament. The guy made some amazing moves. He is clearly the fastest (quickest) wrestler in the heavier weights. He is not afraid to make some risky moves (which may cost him someday), but he scrambles as well as anyone and usually comes out on top. Nickal won the outstanding wrestler and I am not surprised.
7) The 165 question may not be settled after this, but I am impressed with each of them. I think Rasheed has the most upside. He is very quick and flexible. He was toe to toe with the finalist Massa until he tried to fix his head gear and Massa dove in and took him down for the winning points. In the consolations he defeated #5 seed Faust. Morelli is a bull. He got one round further in the championship draw and took fifth overall. Not to be overlooked, Hammond pinned three opponents and majored two others in route to a 7th place finish.
8) I usually don’t award a tournament jerk award, but this year’s winner was a compelling choice. Joseph Smith (son of Oklahoma State coach Smith) wins this award hands down. At the beginning of the championship match, when Nolf reached out to shake hands, Smith just slapped Nolf’s hand away. (Was he taking a clue from the Maryland football players?) Then during the match he grabbed and pulled Nolf’s hair and scalp. I believe that’s supposed to be a 1 pt. penalty, but the ref didn’t do anything. Finally, at the podium presentations, guess who didn’t show up? Mr. Smith. Now, that’s real sportsmanship – Oklahoma State style.
9) The rumor going around the Scuffle was that Marsteller was kicked off the OSU team for drinking and smoking. What? When the coach cannot even control his own son, how can he manage others on the team?
10) This was my first time at the Scuffle. This is a great tourney and I’m planning to return again next year.
2) You’ve got to be impressed with PSU’s backups. With Moss, Beitz and the two 165 backups (whoever that turns out to be).
3) Conaway really impressed me. This goes to show how much he has improved over the year. Sure, he was dominated in the finals, but it was against Garrett who absolutely destroyed everyone else in the draw. Conaway actually gave him his toughest match, losing 14-4.
4) Retherford is a devastating wrestler. If he kills someone in a match, can they arrest him for manslaughter?
5) Nolf is awesome, but seemed a little tense in his match with Smith. Still Smith didn’t have enough to take Nolf in one of his least impressive outings. That says a lot about Nolf.
6) Even before this tournament I felt that Nickal was greatly underrated. He impressed me more than anyone else in the tournament. The guy made some amazing moves. He is clearly the fastest (quickest) wrestler in the heavier weights. He is not afraid to make some risky moves (which may cost him someday), but he scrambles as well as anyone and usually comes out on top. Nickal won the outstanding wrestler and I am not surprised.
7) The 165 question may not be settled after this, but I am impressed with each of them. I think Rasheed has the most upside. He is very quick and flexible. He was toe to toe with the finalist Massa until he tried to fix his head gear and Massa dove in and took him down for the winning points. In the consolations he defeated #5 seed Faust. Morelli is a bull. He got one round further in the championship draw and took fifth overall. Not to be overlooked, Hammond pinned three opponents and majored two others in route to a 7th place finish.
8) I usually don’t award a tournament jerk award, but this year’s winner was a compelling choice. Joseph Smith (son of Oklahoma State coach Smith) wins this award hands down. At the beginning of the championship match, when Nolf reached out to shake hands, Smith just slapped Nolf’s hand away. (Was he taking a clue from the Maryland football players?) Then during the match he grabbed and pulled Nolf’s hair and scalp. I believe that’s supposed to be a 1 pt. penalty, but the ref didn’t do anything. Finally, at the podium presentations, guess who didn’t show up? Mr. Smith. Now, that’s real sportsmanship – Oklahoma State style.
9) The rumor going around the Scuffle was that Marsteller was kicked off the OSU team for drinking and smoking. What? When the coach cannot even control his own son, how can he manage others on the team?
10) This was my first time at the Scuffle. This is a great tourney and I’m planning to return again next year.
