Thoughts from the dual

[Chickenman Testa]

#1 highlight - Antknee’s ”whattayagonnadoaboutit” gesture. I’m a sucker for Italian hand gestures. The only thing to top it would be for him to pop a toothpick in his mouth

I feel like I’m cheating on Nolf, but Im climbing on the RBY train

Mark’s fire reminded me of his WNO match with Anthony Valencia. Mark heard all the doubters back then, internalized it, and went out and proved a point - rode AV like a pony. The guy has a long memory as his tweet to IMAR 2 years ago showed.

Waiting for the Scuffle is going to suck

 

[jschrantz]

#1 highlight - Antknee’s ”whattayagonnadoaboutit” gesture. I’m a sucker for Italian hand gestures. The only thing to top it would be for him to pop a toothpick in his mouth

I feel like I’m cheating on Nolf, but Im climbing on the RBY train

Mark’s fire reminded me of his WNO match with Anthony Valencia. Mark heard all the doubters back then, internalized it, and went out and proved a point - rode AV like a pony. The guy has a long memory as his tweet to IMAR 2 years ago showed.

Waiting for the Scuffle is going to suck

“It’s just Wrestling Isaiah”, this after Imar talked junk following Mark’s loss. In the end Marky laughed as he won as a frosh and Imar thrown to his back

 

[psuflyguy]

#1 highlight - Antknee’s ”whattayagonnadoaboutit” gesture. I’m a sucker for Italian hand gestures. The only thing to top it would be for him to pop a toothpick in his mouth

I feel like I’m cheating on Nolf, but Im climbing on the RBY train

Mark’s fire reminded me of his WNO match with Anthony Valencia. Mark heard all the doubters back then, internalized it, and went out and proved a point - rode AV like a pony. The guy has a long memory as his tweet to IMAR 2 years ago showed.

Waiting for the Scuffle is going to suck

I very much did not like Cassar’s gesture. To me it came off arrogant in a humiliate your opponent way. I know - get off my lawn...

 

[PSUranger]

What was RBY's gesture at the end? Was he acknowledging the ASU fans, pointing out the coach, or just a "yea me" kind of thing?

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

What was RBY's gesture at the end? Was he acknowledging the ASU fans, pointing out the coach, or just a "yea me" kind of thing?

Dunno, but some have suggested it was directed at Zeke Jones. Sort of a "Still think your ranked 125 pounder has a shot at beating me?" gesture.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Dunno, but some have suggested it was directed at Zeke Jones. Sort of a "Still think your ranked 125 pounder has a shot at beating me?" gesture.

Like a Dikembe Mutumbo finger wag

 

[dmm53]

Headline: Cael wants Crowd to Call for the Stall

From today's article on Mat.com:

Sanderson, as usual, praised the Nittany Lion faithful.

“We love Rec Hall. We love our fans, they do an awesome job. They need to yell 'stalling' more. We have to train them a little bit. They're always great,” he said. “They come here to watch good wrestling and as long as we can give them that they'll keep coming back, so we appreciate it.”

 

[jammenz]

Cenzo's fat.

 

[manatree]

Like a Dikembe Mutumbo finger wag

More like if one of Dikembe's legs were to wag a finger.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Cenzo's fat.

No, he's phat!

 

[tabenn]

I believe that ASU

What was RBY's gesture at the end? Was he acknowledging the ASU fans, pointing out the coach, or just a "yea me" kind of thing?

I believe that ASU fans were pretty harsh on social meeting when RBY committed to PSU instead of ASU

 

[Cowbell Man]

Dunno, but some have suggested it was directed at Zeke Jones. Sort of a "Still think your ranked 125 pounder has a shot at beating me?" gesture.

And yet, this move by Jones gave every wrestling fan something more to look at instead of two “ho hum” matches. It worked well for us and won’t hurt their #7. Great for wrestling. I’m all for it.

I’m also all for Scnhupp. When we get to see kids improve....it’s all thumbs up. We may never get to see what he might turn into but his improvement is easy to see even if he wasn’t ready for the pace in the 1st period.

The ASU sleeper at 184 sure put the ref in an awkward spot to not call a final stall in favor of giving Shak a chance to end it.

I thought there was a point of emphasis this year about the corner coaches staying....in the corner? Or was it that they just have to stay in the building??

Like it or not, if the swat Marky Mark put on AZ was done by Rutgers....we would be apoplectic. Jones had a legitimate gripe.

Outside of 184....Jones had his guys wrestling. Some interesting tactics but in general the wrestling was compelling.

I’m thinking RBY could be called what I used to coach my kids to be.....Vapor. He literally evaporates in front of his opponents when they shoot. The number of actual misses is crazy.

Berge will have an interesting few practices. I’m guessing Justin Ortega might be called in for some coaching on how to turn not shooting into an art form. Thank goodness Berge wasn’t on the visitors mat.

If you aren’t drooling over another match between the kings of 174......well, then you aren’t like me.

Yet another match where Moljnir appreared attached to the hips of Cenzo. Gotta believe Shields left the mat thinking....wtf was THAT!?!

The terminator was robbed of a team point. Can someone explain how a wrestler on his back for nearly 10 seconds only gives up 2 NF. By and large the ref did a decent job but I wish they could be in position when some predictable moves start....

Was Chapman assigned not as a second ref but a sound sponge for Zeke? I mean..most of the time he was suffering at an arms length away.

Also...caught the ASU coaches laughing at the tall student with the steady stream of really funny shit he was yelling. Lol

Lopsided result. Some great wrestling all around and some great fun!!!

NEXT!!

 

[GogglesPaizano]

I very much did not like Cassar’s gesture. To me it came off arrogant in a humiliate your opponent way. I know - get off my lawn...

I am at the center of the Cassar fan club and felt his pain not only last year but for several years, he has worked hard and has earned everything he achieves. I may be a homer but think he may be the only guy who can match Gable's athleticism and strength and win.

That said I wasn't thrilled with his victory expression. It was kind of " hey, I just tossed this sack of 240# like a rag doll, no big deal - faggettaboutit". I got the same message just watching the kid fly through the air onto his back.

I am not going to make a federal case out of it, but prefer that we send our "messages" on the mat between the whistles, and maintain the level of class that Cael has nurtured throughout the team.

Hall earned a little air guitar time I think as well, more of an expression of excitement as opposed to 'you didn't present much of a challenge to my awesomeness'.

My favorite is Nolf's calmly replacing his ankle bands neatly on the mat after each display of total destruction. Perfection.

Keep it classy San Diego.

 

[mvattivo]

125 - I wish Schnupp's talent matched his heart. Although, he is improving to the best of his abilities. I have a TON of respect for this kid.

133 - RBY impresses me more and more ever time I watch him. I still want to see how he does on the bottom against top guys and tough riders. He always chooses neutral, which worries me a bit. The sky is the limit. Wrestlers will do anything to get fired up. I think the finger wag was his response to them moving Millhof up, and his saying "Nope, that didn't work". I would prefer he didn't do it, but, I understand where I believe it was coming from.

141 - Nick Lee is coming of an amazing true Freshman season, and he has obviously improved. He actually physically looks like Zain out there at times. I love how he is always in your face from neutral. It has to be so annoying to his opponents.

149 - I didn't love Berge's game plan, but, it was a nice win against a good opponent. I wouldn't have been shocked if the ref hit him with one more stall for not shooting, so, he needs to be careful. The thing is, he can score offensively, he just needs the confidence to take the chances from neutral.

157 - We've had a lot of great ones, but, Nolf is the most entertaining guy I've EVER watched.......sorry DT. His ingenuity, attacking style and relentlessness is a joy to watch.

165 - Cenzo didn't wrestle the last two years like he is this year. Yes, he ended up on top of the podium, but, this year, he is wrestling like he knows he's the best, and the confidence shows. He is going to be hard for anyone to solve, especially when you know it will get even better under the bright lights.

174 - Hall came out with a different look on his face. He definitely heard the rumblings and for one of the few times in his career, felt he had something to prove. I do think he should have got a point taken away for the club, and I do think PSU fans would be screaming if ZV did the same. What I did love is that after the ref talked to them both, they slapped hands, showing mutual respect. Hall's hip pop into a single and the finish was a thing of beauty. I did not mind the quick air guitar celebration at all. Also, it is extremely hard not to respect ZV. He is a class act.

184 - Rasheed is showing that he isn't just a cradle machine. He is lighning quick on his feet and has a variety of attacks from the top. I don't think anything is out of the question for him this year, despite a very good guy sitting on top of this weight class.

197 - Bo being Bo. Not much to say about this match.

285 - Cassar is going to be a problem for all the 285's. His speed is only possibly matched by Gable, and there isn't anyone stronger than him pound for pound at the weight. I would prefer he didn't do the shrug/face, but, it wasn't too big of a deal to me.

Overall, this is as exciting of a team to watch as I have seen in some time. Just pure entertainment. I hope some casuals tuned in for the show. The more that watch, the more that ESPN will cover.