There are over 30 people from Malvern Prep's HS and club program, including his coaches, that are making the short drive North to support Michael Beard. We're looking forward to it, Willie.
WNO (Who's Number One), the Latest
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There are over 30 people from Malvern Prep's HS and club program, including his coaches, that are making the short drive North to support Michael Beard. We're looking forward to it, Willie.
I'm so $&%*ing excited for this. I love that other places are making a similar push for things like Night of Conflict in Iowa.
MN has the JJ Classic, which is a tournament, but it brings over a lot of top-flight guys and a mix of other levels.
I believe in the multi-sport athlete, but it's awesome to have these opportunities. As a wrestling fan, this is too awesome.
MN has the JJ Classic, which is a tournament, but it brings over a lot of top-flight guys and a mix of other levels.
I believe in the multi-sport athlete, but it's awesome to have these opportunities. As a wrestling fan, this is too awesome.
It's warm in the snake pit. My son met Spencer Lee and for a 7 yo that was like me meeting bruce.
Saw zeke and a few other college coaches but no psu guys yet
Saw zeke and a few other college coaches but no psu guys yet
Cael just sat down behind zeke.
Tog ur asst coaches are here.
Tog ur asst coaches are here.
Nick Lee looking relentless and Zain-like against Ogie Oglethorpe.
Nick has been establishing national credentials lately. It's almost like Cael knows what he's doing. Almost.
He really did put some separation between himself and other top tier guys in his last two outings, showed everyone that his Fargo win, where he wasn't the favorite, was no fluke. Constant movement, switching positions, took Sasso's leg a dozen times it felt like and Sasso couldn't stop him. His conditioning looked to be midseason form too.
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Spyker....I just told Carr to put a full court press on next match. Best I can do for you
Fix had his hands full with Gomez, practically even. Gomez has college-level strength.
Wittlake loses in the final seconds of the third. Sloppy match, Wittlake's gas tank looked low.
NLWC legend Cody Brewer tech'd Tony Ramos.
NLWC legend Cody Brewer tech'd Tony Ramos.
Missed all of it. Here are the results for the high school matches, as posted on FloArena:
120: Jordan Decatur dec. Gavin Teasdale, 8-7
126: Roman Bravo-Young dec. Nick Raimo, 3-2
132: Daton Fix dec. Austin Gomes, 8-2
138: Nick Lee dec. Sammy Sasso, 8-3
145: Jarod Verkleeren dec. Kaden Gfeller, 10-3
152: David Carr dec. Cameron Coy, 4-2
160: Brady Berge dec. Shane Griffith, 7-5 SV
170: Mikey Labriola dec. Travis Wittlake, 3-1
182: Michael Beard dec. Jelani Embree, 12-6
120: Jordan Decatur dec. Gavin Teasdale, 8-7
126: Roman Bravo-Young dec. Nick Raimo, 3-2
132: Daton Fix dec. Austin Gomes, 8-2
138: Nick Lee dec. Sammy Sasso, 8-3
145: Jarod Verkleeren dec. Kaden Gfeller, 10-3
152: David Carr dec. Cameron Coy, 4-2
160: Brady Berge dec. Shane Griffith, 7-5 SV
170: Mikey Labriola dec. Travis Wittlake, 3-1
182: Michael Beard dec. Jelani Embree, 12-6
Some early articles about Who's #1:
LehighValleyLive.com: Becahi's Mikey Labriola proves he's No. 1 on wrestling mat
(nice paragraph on Nick Lee's match against Sammy Sasso)
Evansville Courier & Press: Nick Lee 'proves it' in national title defense
LehighValleyLive.com: Becahi's Mikey Labriola proves he's No. 1 on wrestling mat
(nice paragraph on Nick Lee's match against Sammy Sasso)
Evansville Courier & Press: Nick Lee 'proves it' in national title defense
Was Cody's victory considered a big upset? Also, does having Cody in NLWC help with recruiting at the lower weights?
"NLWC legend" was sarcastic. Brewer changed his mind and is now at Northwestern.
Good time last night. Great to see Willie again. Coaches I saw: Cael, Chris Ayers, Gooddale, Manning/Snyder, Zeke, Terry B/MStar, Kevin Jackson, OkSt Assistants, Or State, Jaggers. And that was only on my side...I'm sure there were more. Awesome showpiece for wrestling for the LHV.
Nick's match against Sasso was a match where one exceptional high school wrestler has been training with an elite post scholastic wrestling club like the NLWC and the other is an exceptional high school wrestler. If Nick had not dominated Sasso I would have been concerned.
For those that may not know, Nick is living in State College while brother Joe is still in Indiana. While Nick is elite among HS wrestlers, he's still considered somewhat raw by the coaches, with significant upside. I'm never concerned about one match, though Nick represented himself well at WNO. I admire the young man...takes commitment to leave home a year early, and deal with all aspects of being away from family. That alone has earned my respect.
thanks, Roar.
Did we realize just how good this kid was/could be at the time he committed? Looks to me like (another) genius recruiting job by Cael and Co.
No. He's completing his HS degree online and training with the NLWC.
The coaches look at results (like us fans), but so much more. Character, family, etc. to determine their "fit" within the program. Then there's the whole talent thing, but the coaches go beyond wins and losses. Some high schooler's are obvious, some are not, and the coaches see things most fans don't. There's always some risk, and coach will never say he's a genius...he will say there's an element of luck, in addition to all the obvious stuff.
Cool! Do we know whether he will be on a high-school team this year? (A la homeschooling Tim Tebow)
Seriously doubt it.
First, he'd have to want to. What would he gain, that he didn't intentionally leave behind in Indiana? Nothing in the regular season. Nobody in sectionals, districts, or regionals would challenge him.
Seeing how he just dominated Sasso -- who's very good in his own right -- nobody at states would challenge him unless he moved up to face Coy or Verkleeren.
Second, what is Cael's plan for him? Training at NLWC might mean freestyle this year.
Third, State High would have to allow him to participate. That seems very unlikely, especially since the rest of his family still lives in Indiana.
I doubt by March that Coy or Verkleeren would provide much of a threat either, even if giving weight.
Would the PIAA allow him to train with the NLWC and compete in PIAA events?
NLWC itself isn't the issue -- lots of wrestlers train there or at various other clubs, including college clubs at Lehigh, Pitt, Bucknell, Penn/Drexel, etc.
Don't know for certain but doubt the PIAA would stop him from competing as a Little Lion. PIAA transfer rules wouldn't apply to him -- only the "outgoing" school can appeal his eligibility, and non-PIAA schools have no standing.
PIAA could conceivably deny him because he's not enrolled in a PIAA school AND not home schooled per se (online classes without parental supervision). Or maybe because his family didn't move with him. That's a guess on my part -- no sane person cares to know PIAA intricacies that deeply.
I think it's far more likely that he says no himself, or State High says no.
Annieat285 and I were saying just this last night at the match. Nick really does remind you of Nolf with his technique and relentlessness. Sasso was defending the entire match.
This. Cael is very tuned into a kid's capacity and will for improvement, I believe.
Agree with all of this. Sounds to me the plan is for Nick to go immediately. That being the case, his training at the NLWC will have him college ready from the start. I'd really see no real advantage of him wrestling out his last hs season, here or anywhere else. As good as he is now and the strides he's made over the summer imo are minuscule right now. I think next year at this time you're going to see a much different wrestler.
Rowlands and Askren recaped WNO. Both agreed Nick Lee looked "most college ready" and "most impressive". Askren also compared him to Nolf....
Podcast Link Here
Podcast Link Here
