WIN Magazine ranks Iowa preseason #1
- Thread starter tikk10
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The promotional flyer for the PSU at Minnesota dual.
Come watch our Gophers battle the Penn State Lions.
Combined these two proud programs have won 8 of the past 9 NCAA championships.
Surprised it hasn't come up yet, but there is the Carver advantage to consider. How many of our guys have yet to wrestle a dual there? Or a dual that will be as hyped as this one?
Although such a phenomenon is normally contrary to my reasoning, I've seen unexpected results there enough times to consider it a thing. And then there are still questions about who is even taking the mat. I'm calling it a draw until we know more about who will be competing.
Some good ribbing and banter in this thread, though.
Although such a phenomenon is normally contrary to my reasoning, I've seen unexpected results there enough times to consider it a thing. And then there are still questions about who is even taking the mat. I'm calling it a draw until we know more about who will be competing.
Some good ribbing and banter in this thread, though.
thinking only Joseph and Hall have wrestled thereSurprised it hasn't come up yet, but there is the Carver advantage to consider. How many of our guys have yet to wrestle a dual there? Or a dual that will be as hyped as this one?
Although such a phenomenon is normally contrary to my reasoning, I've seen unexpected results there enough times to consider it a thing. And then there are still questions about who is even taking the mat. I'm calling it a draw until we know more about who will be competing.
Some good ribbing and banter in this thread, though.
So in other words, Minnesota hasn't defeated Penn State in a dual since 2015.
Surprised it hasn't come up yet, but there is the Carver advantage to consider. How many of our guys have yet to wrestle a dual there? Or a dual that will be as hyped as this one?
Although such a phenomenon is normally contrary to my reasoning, I've seen unexpected results there enough times to consider it a thing. And then there are still questions about who is even taking the mat. I'm calling it a draw until we know more about who will be competing.
Some good ribbing and banter in this thread, though.
When BIGs were in CHA in 2016 a number of our wrestlers were there for the first time. Didn't keep us from handily winning BIGs that year, to the chagrin of a LOT of Iowa fans. I think a bit of the mystique of CHA has worn off recently. Over the last six seasons they have lost to us twice, Minnesota, Missouri, NC State, and Michigan.
Here is Bo Nickal at Carver:
I love the comment below - “the crowd sounded like they just saw someone get beheaded”
Iowa fans seem to think Berge has no chance v Young. Berge at 157 will be a far different story. Also Wrestlestat has Shakur in a dec over Cash. That match is almost certainly bonus points for PSU.
Totally agree. I think given his pedigre and a redshirt year, Berge underperformed vs very high expectations. In his defense he wrestled at a weight he hasn't seen since earlier in highschool. I think the cut, capped him at about 85%. I continue to have high expectations and would not be surprised to see him finish top 4 this year... If he opens it up a little more. He was a bit too conservative last year as well.
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Young finished 5th last year and while not normally very offensive he is as strong or stronger than all other 57 pounders and he has that Iowa gas tank. Their optimism is understandable, but a 157 Berge is a different animal than a 149 pound Berge and a 149 pound Berge was good enough to beat Iowa's perennial national champion Lugo.
One of the factors noted on a post on page one.Surprised it hasn't come up yet, but there is the Carver advantage to consider. How many of our guys have yet to wrestle a dual there? Or a dual that will be as hyped as this one?
Although such a phenomenon is normally contrary to my reasoning, I've seen unexpected results there enough times to consider it a thing. And then there are still questions about who is even taking the mat. I'm calling it a draw until we know more about who will be competing.
Some good ribbing and banter in this thread, though.
The coaches do a very good job of keeping the guys loose, regardless of venue, circumstances, etc. We'll see how they handle it, odds are it (home mat) will be a factor, just not as big as Iowa fans think. See NoVa's answer too, about our last trip to CHA.
The officiating inside Carver can be a bit one sided. I'm guessing that will have a greater influence on the result than any perceived nerves. The crowd does influence the official fat too often. HE'S STALLING!
I'm not seeing that post, at least not in the context I was using. Also, NoVa's answer referenced B1Gs, which also isn't the same context as a big-time dual.
Our last dual there was in January 2017. Our lineup looked like this:
PSU
125 - Suriano (Fr)
133 - Carpenter (So)
141 - Gulibon (R-Sr)
149 - Retherford (R-Jr)
157 - Nolf (R-So)
165 - Joseph (R-Fr)
174 - Hall (Fr)
184 - Nickal (R-So)
197 - McCutcheon (R-Jr)
285 - Nevills (R-So)
So let's look at the freshmen and sophomores . . . Redshirt-sophomores Nolf and Nickal were returning NCAA finalists and took care of business as expected. Nevills (#5) beat Holloway (NR). Carpenter (NR) lost to Clark (#3). No surprises from that contingent.
Redshirt-freshman Joseph (#4) beat Gunther (NR). No surprise there.
Both of our true freshmen lost (#3 Suriano to #1 Gilman, Hall to #13 Meyer).
The only thing that didn't go according to script with our young guys was Hall losing to Meyer. Was he Carvered? Don't know, but almost all of our ranked freshmen and sophomores were highly favored to win, so the Carver potential was low in that dual.
Fast forward to what we expect for lineups this season:
Freshman Teske vs. #1 Spencer Lee.
Sophomore Verkleeren vs. #8 Lugo.
Sophomore Berge vs. #5 Young.
Freshman Beard (?) vs. #7 Warner.
Where our guys are young, they go up against returning AAs (and only one of our contingent even has a match at Nationals on his resume). Not sure what's happening at 133, but if sophomore RBY goes, he's not getting a cupcake in Teasdale or DeSanto.
The point is, we were heavily favored in 2017, and few of our younger guys (Suriano and Carpenter excepted) were underdogs. That could be much different this season, and the dual is expected to be close. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a couple of young guys getting Carvered, and it being the difference in the dual.
That's not a knock on the coaches or the wrestlers. But let's not kid ourselves, January 2020 isn't even comparable to January 2017. Iowa is much improved, and the fans will be more rabid than ever. Should be a good one.
Iowa is much improved?
Spencer is better than a very good Gilman.
DeSanto is good, but not Clark.
Murin and Carton (what mat?) are even
Lugo is not Sorenson
Young is not Kemerer
Marinelli is better than Gunther
The 174 rehabed version of Kemerer is an unknown and whoever else may be here is not as good as Mayer so 74 is kind of a tossup.
184 Wilcke is not Sammy
Warner is an upgrade from Wilcke
Cass is most likely a huge upgrade over Holloway
So the 2017 has 4 stronger weights, the 2020 team has 4 stronger weights and there are a couple toss ups.
Iowa 2019-20 doesn't appear to me, to be much improved over 2016-2017.
PSU has lost Suriano, Zain, Nolf and Bo which are huge. However there are significant upgrades at 133 (RBY), 141 (Nick) and HWT (Anthony).
The match may be more competitive this time around, but most likely a closer score is a bit more indicative of PSU's lost 9 titles from 2017. Not great improvement inside the Iowa room.
I'm not going to get into a debate about what constitutes "much improvement". It's tangential to the point I was making.
i thought about it and actually looked at flights but it is hard to get there from here (Philly).
Having gone to BIGs in Iowa City I looked at all of the possibilities from the DC area and the cheapest and most convenient was to fly to Chicago and rent a car.
I can get to Des Moines from Denver for $147. Not sure it is worth a trip in January cold. I might be convinced to go if it looks like most of the possible redshirts on both sides end up not shirting.
Yes, that was the first year of Penn State wrestling, and the year I became a rabid, over-the-top-obnoxious fan. (j/k, of courseDoes your history book only go back to 2011 Roar?
)
Uh-oh, did Nitlion6 just agree with the "once Nolf and Nickal graduate" line that certain posters here love to poke at HR with?
What is this world coming to?
Once Taylor and Ruth graduate Penn State will fall back. Err, wait a minute, once Nolf and Bo graduate Penn State will fall back.Uh-oh, did Nitlion6 just agree with the "once Nolf and Nickal graduate" line that certain posters here love to poke at HR with?
What is this world coming to?
This year's team has 3 national champions in the lineup, 4 other AAs, and 2 others who were junior world medalists (gold and bronze). If that is falling back, OK. If beating the hawks at Carver and winning the Bigs and NCAAs again is falling back, OK. If the Hawks finally having a shot at finishing second to the Lions is Penn State fall back, then yeah I guess they have fallen back.
For several reasons I am kind of rooting for Iowa to finally find a way to climb to the seat of second best. One, it used to be routine to root against Iowa wrestlers. Mostly because Iowa was perceived as a legitimate threat, somewhat because of the push, push scream for a stall technique. Lately however, with so many PA kids giving Iowa legitimacy combined with the cognitive recognition that Iowa is only a threat if your team is chasing a team medal for 3rd or 4th place it has become routine to cheer for Hawk wrestlers. It is still tough to deal with the push, push scream for a stall technique, but they are still PA kids.
The second reason is the history of Iowa wrestling. There are individual champions and team champions galore and it would be nice to watch the team and Iowa fans have the opportunity to cheer something more than that 3rd or 4th place trophy.
If it's "Frontier" make sure that you have a seat reserved before or you may get bumped and not get to fly
I've been seriously considering (for the past few years) going this year, but one of the selling points to myself for making the trek included being able to at least double-up on duals and get myself up to either Iowa State or UNI at the West Gym. Sadly, both those squads are out of town that same weekend, and the only way to get 2 or more arenas in during one trek is to go a week earlier than our dual & spend a Sunday to Friday in Iowa.
Nitlion6,
I cannot decide if this is just a persona that you have adopted on here, or if you actually believe what you post in reference to all things Iowa. In large volume and mostly in a negative light, I might add.
I wonder how you would react IF Iowa is able to dethrone PSU this coming season. I hope that you would take the trash talking as well as you have been giving it(and I freely admit that you are an excellent trash talker).
I do have a sincere question for you. In all honesty(no BS, potshots, or insults), do you truly believe that Iowa is not a threat to PSU this year in either the dual or NCAAs?
If it's "Frontier" make sure that you have a seat reserved before or you may get bumped and not get to fly
Ha! I lived in Orlando for four years and dealt with Spirit to and from Latrobe. I’m done with those days. This one is United.
You people miss the point, Cael will have them ready don’t worry
How I would react if Iowa dethroned Penn State at nationals. I have already said if the bet is Iowa or the field, I am taking the field. If Iowa beats the field and wins the 2019-20 NCAA wrestling team championship I have already pledged to donate $250 in Tom Brands' name to Wrestling for Life. As far as the dual in Carver, a perfect Hawk night could lead to 1 or 2 point Hawkeye win. Part of a perfect night would require a PSU underperformance.
A perfect night for the other guys coupled with an off night from the Lions makes the Lions susceptible when competing against the Buckeyes or Cowboys as well as the Hawks, so it isn't like the Hawks are something special. The Hawks are as good as any other recent Hawk teams. The question this season answers is are this year's Lions, Buckeyes or Cowboys as good as recent Lion, Buckeyes or Cowboys teams. If the answer to that question is a collective "no", then there is an opening for a good Hawk team.
Being as certain of the Hawkeyes' good fortune as you appear, care to pledge $250 in Cael's name to Wrestling for Life if the field proves superior to the Hawks?
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Nitlion just gets a hard on for saying negative nonsense about iowa. I think hes the dude who predicted iowa would only be able to win 1 match against psu last year lmao
You think? You give me credit, but you don't know. Thata boy. Wow everyone with your logic and reasoning skills.
As far as picking Iowa to win a single match last year certainly would not have been far fetched. Of course, with Tommy's refusal to bring his team to State College knowing if Penn State would have won 9 of 10 or if Iowa scrapes together a strong 3 of 10 performance is just an exercise in guesswork.
Speak poorly of Iowa? Using HR as a baseline, I do not accuse the Brands boys of being blatant cheaters, or morally bankrupt pieces of scum. I do not single out specific wrestlers and make fun of them for failing to achieve. I mean, yeah I get it. I refuse to buy in to the annual this is the Hawks' year silliness and I endlessly make fun of the collective silliness and bizarre persona that is HR, and I make fun of the Iowa technique of push, push and scream stall, but honest to God dude I do not tell any of you guys to just go back to HR, I don't use some sort of intellectually empty put down of Iowa wrestling fans are not aware that wrestling existed prior to the mid 1970s. I understand why your panties are in a bunch though. Typically HR fans seem to believe Iowa Hawk wrestling is always the favorite and if Penn State would just stop cheating the Hawks would allowed to be recognized as the really, truly best and I keep reminding you that your fantasy is nothing but, well you know - a fantasy.
