Two things really surprised me in Retherford-Sorenson....

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Zain was never really able to get his neutral offense on track.

And how much he struggled riding Sorenson. Zain is an absolute hammer on top, but he really struggled to break Sorenson down - heck, he struggled to stay on top of him for the most part.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

Sorensen is a defensive-minded guy and is not easy to take down. So Retherford struggling a bit to score from neutral wasn't that surprising IMO.

The things that DID surprise me were

• Sorensen getting not one, but two TDs, and
• Rutherford's inability to effectively ride Sorensen (as you stated). In the two previous matches, Sorensen had absolutely no answer from the bottom position. Last night at CHA, Sorensen had four pretty quick escapes, until he finally tired in the last overtime period.

Overall, I agree with Ironhead in that Retherford looked off. However, Sorensen had a lot to do with that. Retherford just had to gut that one out.

 

[21Guns]

Sorenson came with something new, that nobody had seen before. He was moving his feet non stop, on his horse all night. He wrestled Collica in a totally polar-opposite way. If he wrestled the match last night, against Collica, he would have majored Collica rather than losing.

As I said, Zain will now make adjustments, and widen the gap again. It will remain close, but in my viewpoint, Zain will now make corrections for the next match at IU in early March.

 

[greenmanRD]

All credit to Sorensen, that's the best he's ever looked, and he brought it to Zain. I'm intrigued to see how Zain responds for the likely rematch (or rematches) in March.

It should be noted, however, that Zain did ride out Sorensen in TB-2 when he needed to for the win.

 

[slushhead]

Two differences on Zain's side of the equation compared to last year's matches with Sorensen:

(1) He let Sorensen breath in neutral;
(2) His sprawl was almost non-existent.

I expect that will change in a hurry.

 

[PSUAllTheWay]

Sorenson was well coached last night and motivated to win. He has clearly been working a lot on stopped Zain from getting the boots in. By far the best I've ever seen Sorenson wrestle from the bottom. Just being able to escape consistently tightens up this rivalry quite a bit. Couple that with Sorenson's willingness to actually shoot means Zain has to be at least a little more careful in the neutral position as well. Needs to take better angles than he did last night.

 

[RoarLions1]

Great match by the top 2 kids in the country (and I know what the rankings say), both will make adjustments...so Bloomington and St. Louis will be fun.

 

[GOLDBANGER]

Please don't take this as a criticism, I'm just asking a question. Did you guys think that at least four of our guys looked gassed in the third? Flu symptoms?

 

[slushhead]

Please don't take this as a criticism, I'm just asking a question. Did you guys think that at least four of our guys looked gassed in the third? Flu symptoms?

I wouldn't say "gassed". Physically tired, perhaps. Maybe mentally tired in one case.

Joseph used a ton of energy in the first trying to finish takedowns on a heavy-hipped and hanging Gunther. I can't think of anyone (other than Nolf) who wouldn't have slowed in the 3rd after such an expenditure.

Zain was in a dogfight, and Sorensen is a big 149 that didn't tire until the very end. Zain had to will himself to last just a little longer, as his usual, physical "stuff" just wasn't there (think baseball pitcher not having his usual stuff as an analogy).

McCutcheon still giving up some mass, but it is difficult to make excuses for last night's performance.

Hall -- seemed like the mind affected the body more than anything.

 

[Hotshoe]

I thought we looked very tired, and didn't attack as much as normal. Jet lag, flu, etc etc, who knows. Most just looked a bit flat last night. Very odd match to watch.

 

[PSU Mike]

Please don't take this as a criticism, I'm just asking a question. Did you guys think that at least four of our guys looked gassed in the third? Flu symptoms?

Zain looked off approaching the circle at the start. My feeling didn't go away. Zain simply didn't want to engage more than necessary. The coaches' reaction after the match suggested it was an extraordinary effort by ZR. Hats off to Sorenson for making him pay. Unfortunately he won't get as close again.

 

[PSUAllTheWay]

As long as we don't cite the flu, a long bus ride, or an average official, we will be ok ;-)

Seriously, there is a reason why home teams in any sport always have a slight advantage. Travel and unfamiliar surroundings can take a bit of a toll on the body and the mind. Going into Carver and performing how we did - up and down the ladder - is admirable.

 

[Grass]

That was the most active I have ever seen Sorenson against a top guy. If he wrestled like that against Collica he beats him easily. Let's please stop with guys potentially being sick. Drives me crazy when I hear other fan bases use that excuse. If you step on the mat you are ready to go. The only time it is warranted is if it is disclosed before the match like the beginning of the year when it was known that Cenzo was sick against Lehigh and Cael wanted him to wrestle. You could visibly see how out of it Cenzo was in that match.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

That was the most active I have ever seen Sorenson against a top guy. If he wrestled like that against Collica he beats him easily. Let's please stop with guys potentially being sick. Drives me crazy when I hear other fan bases use that excuse. If you step on the mat you are ready to go. The only time it is warranted is if it is disclosed before the match like the beginning of the year when it was known that Cenzo was sick against Lehigh and Cael wanted him to wrestle. You could visibly see how out of it Cenzo was in that match.

Well somebody just posted comments from Cael answering a question on the match where Cael said that Zain was not feeling right when he went out for the match. Cael immediately said that comment should take nothing away from Sorenson's effort because he wrestled an incredible match. But Cael absolutely said that Zain was not feeling great when he went out for the match.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

I thought we looked very tired, and didn't attack as much as normal. Jet lag, flu, etc etc, who knows. Most just looked a bit flat last night. Very odd match to watch.

Meh. Joseph tired halfway through his match, but we've seen that a couple times before. As someone else suggested, it could be related to pace. Cutch kinda just hung on as well, but that's sort of been his MO at 197 and not really new. Any issue with Hall could be related to jitters and getting caught up in the moment; he gets a pass from me until further data are available. The only guy I thought looked a bit off (tired, flat, whatever) was Retherford.

 

[Real-Lion]

Sorenson came with something new, that nobody had seen before. He was moving his feet non stop, on his horse all night. He wrestled Collica in a totally polar-opposite way. If he wrestled the match last night, against Collica, he would have majored Collica rather than losing.

As I said, Zain will now make adjustments, and widen the gap again. It will remain close, but in my viewpoint, Zain will now make corrections for the next match at IU in early March.

That was the best thing to happen to Zain for real...He will be on a mission now for sure if you know him....Sorenson is tough but will never ever beat Zain....That was his chance last night....Sorenson is just so boring to watch most of the time...He has been playing tactical matches with Zain instead of wrestling and it got him close on a bad day for Zain....Now watch what happens....Note..Should have 2 wrestle off's this week at 33 where Law will probably take over the spot and at 97 with Cassar and Matt.

 

[Cletus11]

i agree that Zain did not look himself. And give some credit to the Iowa wrestler also. Remember Zain almost lost at Ryder last year, cannot be dominant and 100% all the time.

I also think Zain will wrestle different in the Big Ten Championship against Sorenson. Sorenson change up his strategy, Zain will adjust.

 

[LemonPie]

Flu shots

 

[PSUBluebird]

I don't recall ever seeing Zain look tired or physically beat. He looked clammy, then really red and not really interested in firing off shots like normal. We all know Sorenson is a really good wrestler but hasn't looked all that impressive most of this year. Cael kind of let slip that Zain wasn't feeling up to standard.

Worst loss of night for me was Hall. Again, another tough opponent but Hall wrestled and beat 3 guys in one day that were as good if not better at the Scuffle. He looked really out of it after that first TD. I'm extremely confident that he'll be ok and top 4 finisher but a real head scratcher last night.

McCutcheon - just overall disappointing in his style of wrestling but it's a win.

Suriano - good outing think he will beat Gilman some time this year - hopefully for NCAA top spot. Good things ahead for Nick.

Guilobon - wrestler every match like 3rd period and he's an AA if not high AA. If not, not many points and so-so career.

133 - appreciate the effort but we're hosed at this weight class. Need some back up if Cortez isn't the guy in future, maybe need some in spite of.

Nolf - no concerns with him. Will be worse next time for Kemmerer. But I like Kem outside of PSU team.

Cenzo - looked like on course for major then something happened. Either couldn't respond to tactics or conditioning issue. Just when I thought he was starting to kick it into high gear.

Nickal - wow what can you say but wow!!!

Nevills- really coming into his own - very impressed. Just need to figure out better technique for turning and he'll be incredible.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

Guilobon - wrestler every match like 3rd period and he's an AA if not high AA. If not, not many points and so-so career.

Gulibon didn't suddenly start wrestling better in the 3rd period. He was able to get takedowns in the 3rd, after nothing previously, because his opponent gassed badly. Gulibon won because he out-conditioned Carton and wore him out, not because he suddenly remembered how to wrestle mid-match.

 

[21Guns]

Gulibon didn't suddenly start wrestling better in the 3rd period. He was able to get takedowns in the 3rd, after nothing previously, because his opponent gassed badly. Gulibon won because he out-conditioned Carton and wore him out, not because he suddenly remembered how to wrestle mid-match.

I think Jimmy wrestles better after the first period, either way. I think he found the key to winning last night.

 

[PSUBluebird]

Maybe so but he hasn't been that deep, deliberate and committed on a shot all year. I hope he can somehow get a fire lit under him and push rest of matches like this....starting with first period.

 

[21Guns]

Maybe so but he hasn't been that deep, deliberate and committed on a shot all year. I hope he can somehow get a fire lit under him and push rest of matches like this....starting with first period.

I just want him to be tied up after the first. If Jimmy finishes the first tied, or only down one, I will now take him to beat just about anyone.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Gulibon didn't suddenly start wrestling better in the 3rd period. He was able to get takedowns in the 3rd, after nothing previously, because his opponent gassed badly. Gulibon won because he out-conditioned Carton and wore him out, not because he suddenly remembered how to wrestle mid-match.

Agree with that.....defense suffers hugely when you get tired - no different than any other sport - because you lose quickness and your reaction time is greatly slowed when your tired. Jimmy was rapid-fire taking him down at the end....Carton was defenseless.

 

[pawrestlersintn]

Gulibon didn't suddenly start wrestling better in the 3rd period. He was able to get takedowns in the 3rd, after nothing previously, because his opponent gassed badly. Gulibon won because he out-conditioned Carton and wore him out, not because he suddenly remembered how to wrestle mid-match.

Brands didn't come right out and say that in his post match interview, but came close. After answering a Q about Carton, he turned it around on the reporter, and said, "What do you think happened? We both know what happened." And left it at that.
One other thing, it seemed to me that Cael gave a little extra love to Jimmy as he came off the mat. A lot of times, it's a quick high five. Just seemed like a little "Now THAT is what I'm talking about" moment.

 

[royboy]

I thought we looked very tired, and didn't attack as much as normal. Jet lag, flu, etc etc, who knows. Most just looked a bit flat last night. Very odd match to watch.

yeah, did seem that way...on the other hand, Jimmy Gulibon caught fire in the 3rd period and Nevills finished strong, too. No gas tank worries for Suriano or Nolf, either.

 

[Real-Lion]

I don't recall ever seeing Zain look tired or physically beat. He looked clammy, then really red and not really interested in firing off shots like normal. We all know Sorenson is a really good wrestler but hasn't looked all that impressive most of this year. Cael kind of let slip that Zain wasn't feeling up to standard.

Worst loss of night for me was Hall. Again, another tough opponent but Hall wrestled and beat 3 guys in one day that were as good if not better at the Scuffle. He looked really out of it after that first TD. I'm extremely confident that he'll be ok and top 4 finisher but a real head scratcher last night.

McCutcheon - just overall disappointing in his style of wrestling but it's a win.

Suriano - good outing think he will beat Gilman some time this year - hopefully for NCAA top spot. Good things ahead for Nick.

Guilobon - wrestler every match like 3rd period and he's an AA if not high AA. If not, not many points and so-so career.

133 - appreciate the effort but we're hosed at this weight class. Need some back up if Cortez isn't the guy in future, maybe need some in spite of.

Nolf - no concerns with him. Will be worse next time for Kemmerer. But I like Kem outside of PSU team.

Cenzo - looked like on course for major then something happened. Either couldn't respond to tactics or conditioning issue. Just when I thought he was starting to kick it into high gear.

Nickal - wow what can you say but wow!!!

Nevills- really coming into his own - very impressed. Just need to figure out better technique for turning and he'll be incredible.

Law is suppose to wrestle off for 33 this week....Cassar 97....

 

[PSUBluebird]

Is this going to buy us much? Maybe Cassar if healthy...no offense to Law and he's probably better than Carpenter but how much? Enough to qualify for NCAAs? Enough to score points?

 

[tuggerjug]

Is this going to buy us much? Maybe Cassar if healthy...no offense to Law and he's probably better than Carpenter but how much? Enough to qualify for NCAAs? Enough to score points?

Law has a very sketchy record at 141 - if I'm painting a rosey picture I'd say that he'll be more competitive at 133 and he lost a 7-6 match to Scott DelVechio (rutgers - solid/avg)

Are we convinced he'll beat Carpenter?