Weekend rollercoaster - rewind and fast forward

[dunkej01]

After a rollercoaster of emotions on the board this weekend and now with the benefit of hindsight, where do yins think the team is at?

Concerns

Non concerns

Gripes

Praise

Outward look

 

[pish69]

Concerns—Berge health, Shak not trusting his knee, Verkleeren

non concerns—Hall, Cenzo, Lee

Gripes—injuries, schedule (no big tournies)

Praise—Hall and Lee taking mat every chance they get. Starocci development. Brooks redshirt being pulled

Outward look—feeling we definitely #2 right now and uphill climb to knock off Iowa. I still have faith we can get it done, but we need to get healthy and our guys need more match time

 

[Lyco1990]

Concerns—125 Inconsistency. 149 See 125. Injuries.

non concerns—Hall, Cenzo, Lee add RBY looked great Sunday.

Gripes— None, we are PENN STATE spoiled.

Praise—Hall and Lee taking mat every chance they get. Starocci development. Brooks redshirt being pulled. Edsell heart of a lion.

Outward look- Currently Iowa’s to lose. They are tough at all weights and are taking no prisoners. Will they peak early and have a frightful frida y at NCAA TBD.

 

[tbay165]

No points 125, 149 or 157. Question marks at 197 & Hwt. 133 is a top heavy weight this year. Don't see RBY in top 3.

 

[McScoreley]

Concerns - Berge's health. I'm legitimately worried about him beyond any arbitrary wrestling points he'll provide. Some rumors that he might have reaggravated his head injury and won't be back for a while. He has a life way beyond wrestling and your brain is not something you want permanently affected.

Non concerns - Everything else. It's January. Shak and Verk will need to wrestle a lot better for us to have a chance against Iowa. I'm confident we'll get them as close as possible.

Gripes - Focus obviously. Our team needs more of it (the new inside joke on the board)

Praise - All our kids who work hard daily. Special shoutout to Creighton Edsell!

Outward look - Iowa is the heavy favorite at this point. The truth is we just don't have the firepower (like we did in 2018) to boat race them. We'll need to majorly overachieve and for them to underachieve as well. It is what it is. Tip my hat to them.

 

[BoHunter0210]

Concerns-Berge's health. 125, 149, 157? 197-can they qualify and get us points?

Non concerns-RBY, Nick, Cenzo, Mark, Seth

Gripes-freestyle hurting us with injuries, I know it can happen to anyone but dang! Also Verk and Snacks not going for bonus.

Praise-still early and I trust in the process. Lucky to have backups who are willing to go and compete when they are called on.

Outward look-I hope we are in a dog fight with the Hawks! If we are going to finish #2 they need to earn it.

 

[Lion-around]

Concerns - Berge's health; this is paramount. Since he hasn't wrestled in a dual since early December, and there is no expectation he'll return soon, I'd make the decision that he is done for the year and maybe he can get an additional year due to his injury. 125 and 149 remain two weight classes where we will be lucky to qualify a wrestler for nationals. I'd like to see Gardner get some starts.

Non Concerns - Focus.

Gripes - Missing the Scuffle; missed a good opportunity to get more clarity on the 125 and 149 starter. Teske to the portal was a disappointment. What happened to Matt Parker?

Praise - Mark Hall has emerged as the leader of this team. Nick Lee has been consistently excellent. Given the injuries to Conel and Cassar, pulling the shirts of Aaron Brooks and Seth Nevills and moving Shak to 197; these moves may not be enough to win it all, but I like the attitude that we're not going down without a fight. Starocci has definitely shown he'll be a worthy replacement for Hall next year. Getting Snyder to the NLWC was huge; picking up Busiello and more importantly Kerkvliet bodes very well for next year.

Outlook - Losing Cassar was the big hit, so we will need help from other competitors to beat Iowa (a la Conel in 2018). My focus is on supporting this team; and I don't intend to lose my focus!

 

[Kale_yeah]

Concerns- 197, is it rust or is it coming back from acl and it takes until next yr to 110%.

Non Concerns- 125, 149 they are what they are, I still think verk can qualify for mats.

Gripes- none

Praise- still hanging around after losing 3 national champs from last year, and getting a big time recruits in kerkvliet and Bartley.

Outlook- probably need some help to catch Iowa this year.

 

[Dogwelder]

I’m looking forward to seeing who will be the unexpected-points guy (the James English) of this year’s team championship.

 

[SWPA]

I’m looking forward to seeing who will be the unexpected-points guy (the James English) of this year’s team championship.

If it's Meredith then I'd say it will be another championship for the good guys.

 

[ga.lion]

After a rollercoaster of emotions on the board this weekend and now with the benefit of hindsight, where do yins think the team is at?

Concerns 197 Rasheed, 149, 155

Non concerns Lee, Cenzo, Hall, RBY,

Gripes Keep the injury bug and flu away...............

Praise Pulling redshirt on Brooks, Meridith's efforts at 125 will get some points, Nevills

Outward look[] Surprise title winner with 3 national champs

 

[TangSoo]

Concerns: Zero. I felt pretty good getting out of bed this morning.

This Penn State wrestling stuff is just gravy. All good. We're lucky.

Excited about AB and Starocci, and Joe Lee and Beard as well. I think we have a shot at 5 finalists and I'll predict 4. Excited to see Cenzo and Hall close out their careers on top.
I thought I hated losing the title to the Buckeyes, but I would hate losing it to Iowa even more considering their Keystone heavy lineup. But I'm expecting some how, some way, the good guys to pull it out. If not, I think we'll be OK.

 

[Ja1339]

Agree with many of the earlier comments about hating all of the injuries, and especially concerned with Brady's injury, and would like to send him best wishes for a recovery.


My outlook is the future is bright. In the past 3 years, we've lost Zain, Bo, Jason, and now Cassar or a combined 10 individual national championships. Not to mention Suriano who left and won one title. Throw in injuries to Berge, Conel, and a recovering Shak and it would be easy to see how this team could have a down year. But when I read Cenzo's comments and Roar's comments about this team continuing to believe in themselves, I am a very proud and grateful fan.


It appears to me, that there is not one ounce of quit in this team, and no one seems willing to use injuries as an excuse. I hate the injuries, but I love the spirit of this team. Win or lose this year, I look forward to everyone giving a strong effort in March. If we pull off a shocker and knock off Iowa this year, that will surpass the tOSU rec hall upset from 2018, imo. And win or lose this year, when we continue to bring in high character men like Aaron Brooks, our future is very very bright.

 

[El-Jefe]

Gripe -- all the other schools aren't doing their part to keep our title streak going.

Concerns ---
1. might have to root for Ohio State, Michigan, Cornell, Minnesota, etc. at various times in the tourney
2. then would have to shower in bleach.

 

[Foreverinbluejeans57]

Gripe -- all the other schools aren't doing their part to keep our title streak going.

Concerns ---
1. might have to root for Ohio State, Michigan, Cornell, Minnesota, etc. at various times in the tourney
2. then would have to shower in bleach.

This^ not to take away from some of the Iowa guys, but at a few weights I’m thinking “there has to be 8 more offensive, dynamic wrestlers in the country than this” but not sure there is this year

 

[SWPA]

Concerns: Mark Hall is too small for his weight.

Non concerns: The field, opponents or football. This makes no difference to the PSU wrestlers.

Gripes: Try gripewater, should clear that right up

Praise the Lord PSU has won the last 8 of 9

Outward look: Iowa - PSU will stay focused on what they can control (themselves and their own performances) and they aren't worried about any other team.

Ready for March!

 

[District four]

Gripe -- all the other schools aren't doing their part to keep our title streak going.

Concerns ---
1. might have to root for Ohio State, Michigan, Cornell, Minnesota, etc. at various times in the tourney
2. then would have to shower in bleach.

Lol. It does feel.wierd rooting for other schools except when it's an Iowa wrestler then it becomes normal.

 

[District four]

I should say rooting against Iowa wrestlers not for almost blasphemous there lol

 

[Dogwelder]

I should say rooting against Iowa wrestlers not for almost blasphemous there lol

You should probably say something slightly different, for the sake of grammar and comprehension.

 

[82bordeaux]

Gripe -- all the other schools aren't doing their part to keep our title streak going.

Concerns ---
1. might have to root for Ohio State, Michigan, Cornell, Minnesota, etc. at various times in the tourney
2. then would have to shower in bleach.

El-Jefe's new shower.

 

[Dunkindonuts]

I really wish psu would have more meets and tournament action this year. I love watching wrestling and it seems like we are not really wrestling that much this season.

 

[District four]

You should probably say something slightly different, for the sake of grammar and comprehension.

Lol. Yes the grammar was horrible.

 

[nerfstate]

Speaking of, I finally watched Terry today. It was pretty good, but i’m not sure how I feel about that.

 

[Brian LB-U]

A little praise for Bo Pipher here. The young man had been wrestling up a weight for three years now and he’s handled it admirably. Mind you, this is a guy Verk once tech’d 22-6. I like his moxy.

 

[AgSurfer]

El-Jefe's new shower.

Speaking of showers, how many alum remember the locker room showers in Rec Hall back in the 70's? If you were standing under the water, you had to be really careful to listen for the toilets flushing because you had about 1-2 seconds to get out before you got scalded!

 

[nittinsc]

Speaking of showers, how many alum remember the locker room showers in Rec Hall back in the 70's? If you were standing under the water, you had to be really careful to listen for the toilets flushing because you had about 1-2 seconds to get out before you got scalded!

That and the sandpaper towels.

 

[GogglesPaizano]

Concerns - all is pretty good, just got back from a nice vacation

Non concerns - we are all spoiled

Gripes - injuries suck, the impact of an olympic year on health and schedule are bummers

Praise - Cael is still Cael and we have some great kids, and the future is very bright

Outward look - due to the Spencer Lee effect, some killer transfers, Oly year that had thinned the field, and just a strong PA recruiting cycle, Iowa is enjoying a perfect storm. They have a chance at 10 AAs, which is an accomplishment but any measure.

That said, this too shall pass soon enough

Maybe just maybe they win this year, more likely next year then....

It is a pretty frigging awesome and fantastic truth that when we are hit with the loss of a handful of GOATS, injury to a national champion and 2 other starters, we still might win it all, but the worst case scenario is a second place. Our down year's achieve what other top programs can only dream of.

These are good times

 

[RoarLions1]

I have no idea how the rest of the season will go, though always hopeful to stay injury-free from here on out and give the guys a chance to chase their dreams. I am sad for those affected so far, but somewhere in this ginormous universe there's a plan bigger than Cael's.

My rollout of any concerns, non-concerns, gripes, praise, and an outward look can be summed up simply - support the wrestlers 100%, cheering all the time, win or lose. Be the best fan I can be, and when given the chance to interact with anyone involved or interested in Penn State wrestling, be positive. I do have all of the above mixed in there somewhere.

 

[86PSUPaul]

Concerns- concerned for Brady’s health, hope all is well with this young man

Non concerns- our teams focus and leadership

Gripes- that the Creamery was not open after the Illini meet

Praise- for the entire team but even more so for Lee, Cenzo, and Hall, you guys have been awesome! Also for Anthony, he had great year last year and I was looking forward to a repeat, get healthy and chase your dreams!

Outward look- it will take some fantastic wrestling plus some luck (which has been lacking so far this year), but we certainly can win this!

 

[District four]

Concerns- all the injuries hope Brady and Shake can get back to form

Non concerns- Caels plan he seems to get the guys ready when they need to be. I think our guys want it more than ever.

Gripes- not enough wrestling this year way too much time between duals and not enough tournaments. Just a weird year overall.

Praise- I love the guys who don't normally start the backups are ready to go when needed and have proven to be just as important to the overall focus of this team as the starters.

Outward look-see I'm not sweating it. I realize we can't win every year the run has to stop sometime. We lost the dual streak this year and as mentioned before this is a weird year. I HOPE to be sitting here in March discussing how great of a year it was and how we overcame the greatest odds to won it all

WE ARE

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Speaking of showers, how many alum remember the locker room showers in Rec Hall back in the 70's? If you were standing under the water, you had to be really careful to listen for the toilets flushing because you had about 1-2 seconds to get out before you got scalded!

That still existed in West Halls in the 90s. We would yell "heads up" before flushing.