Kyle Dake

[slh10]

Congratulations to Kyle Dake!!! First ever three time champ at three different weights.

[Rosey]

Congratulations to Kyle Dake!!! First ever three time champ at three different weights.

And Bosak just won, as well. Good work.

[peterg]

And Simaz makes three. Great job.

[ugarte]

First wrestler in history to win national titles at three different weights. Kyle Dake is amazing.

[ugarte]

Whoops. Double post. (and also a very similar post to the top in the thread, which I didn't notice, which explains why my post was flagged as spam...)

[gjk22]

Only two wrestlers in history have ever won 4 NCAA titles, Pat Smith and Cael Sanderson. Dake going for #4 next year will be a big story nationally. My guess is that he stays at the same weight (157) instead of moving up again. 4 times at 4 weights would be impressive but it might be better for him to avoid David Taylor at 165, and who is to say that 165 would be a natural fit anyways.

[ugarte]

Dake would be the first to win four titles without a redshirt year.

[scoop85]

Man, a lot of pressure on this kid; the entire wrestling world just assumes he's going to win #4. But I certainly wouldn't bet against him!

[slh10]

Having watched Kyle wrestle since grade school, there is one thing that has never seemed to bother him and that's pressure. He seems to thrive on it. If he puts his mind to winning at another weight I wouldn't bet against him.

[jtn27]

I know next to nothing about wrestling, so I was wondering if someone could explain something for me. Why has Dake switched weight classes 2 times? The sense I've gotten is that the middle and upper weight classes are more competitive than the lower ones. Did Coach Knoll want his best wrestler at a more competitive weight class? Or was the issue that the heavier weight classes were a more natural fit for Dake's body type? Or was it something else entirely?

[ugarte]

I know next to nothing about wrestling, so I was wondering if someone could explain something for me. Why has Dake switched weight classes 2 times? The sense I've gotten is that the middle and upper weight classes are more competitive than the lower ones. Did Coach Knoll want his best wrestler at a more competitive weight class? Or was the issue that the heavier weight classes were a more natural fit for Dake's body type? Or was it something else entirely?

From what I can tell, he moved from 141 to 149 to 157 as it became increasingly difficult to cut to the prior year's weight. He looks pretty natural at 157 and didn't have any of the endurance issues that he sometimes had at the previous weights. (Not that he lost very often in prior years, but his third periods were often defensive shells after he had taken early leads.)

[peterg]

Dake and Perrelli earned wildcard spots to the Freestyle Olympic Team Trials per CU Sports.

[ugarte]

Dake and Perrelli earned wildcard spots to the Freestyle Olympic Team Trials per CU Sports.

And, as if in response to this thread (and every thread that mentions both wrestlers anywhere) Dake and Penn State's David Taylor - also granted a wildcard - are both trying to qualify at what is effectively a catch-weight of 163lbs (though the international competition defines the weight in kg).

[RichH]

Dake and Perrelli earned wildcard spots to the Freestyle Olympic Team Trials per CU Sports.

Also from the writeup:

Mack Lewnes '11 already qualified after placing second at 84 kg at the Men's Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier on Dec. 3.  Troy Nickerson '10 will compete at the Final US Olympic Qualifying Tournament at 55 kg this weekend looking to earn a spot at the trials.

[KeithK]

I know next to nothing about wrestling, so I was wondering if someone could explain something for me. Why has Dake switched weight classes 2 times? The sense I've gotten is that the middle and upper weight classes are more competitive than the lower ones. Did Coach Knoll want his best wrestler at a more competitive weight class? Or was the issue that the heavier weight classes were a more natural fit for Dake's body type? Or was it something else entirely?

From what I can tell, he moved from 141 to 149 to 157 as it became increasingly difficult to cut to the prior year's weight. He looks pretty natural at 157 and didn't have any of the endurance issues that he sometimes had at the previous weights. (Not that he lost very often in prior years, but his third periods were often defensive shells after he had taken early leads.)

Defensive shell?  Then obviously he's not really all that good.  It's just the system.