Wrestling [2016-2017]

[scoop85]

Tremendous results for the guys.

Regarding Dean, I wonder if the expectations are weighing on him at all -- lots of pressure for a guy in his situation.

[mountainred]

Wow great interview.  He seems like a really intense and dedicated guy.  (which you have to be to compete at his level)

Gabe Dean keeps on winning but this was a bit of a nail-biter.  And he gave up another takedown.  Any thoughts or concerns?

Dylan wrestles like he interviews, which is why he has been so much fun to watch.

ugarte doesn't need my agreement, but Dean doesn't look right.  If you are watching him for the first time, this is not the dominant wrestler we watched all year.  Crazy thing to say about a national semi-finalist.

[nshapiro]

Given that the Hwt is a defending World and Olympic champion, and that ALL TEN weight classes have one undefeated wrestler, I don't think Gabe Dean is such a shoe-in for outstanding wrestler.  I would hope he is not pressing over that.

This might end up being the most boring wrestling championships ever.  I wonder what the highest number of #1 seeds to win in one year is?

[LGR14]

Given that the Hwt is a defending World and Olympic champion, and that ALL TEN weight classes have one undefeated wrestler, I don't think Gabe Dean is such a shoe-in for outstanding wrestler.  I would hope he is not pressing over that.

Before the tournament, Dean would have been odds on favorite to win the Hodge Trophy (assuming that he had continued his dominance from the regular season). Snyder, the heavyweight, has wrestled very few matches this year; Jason Nolf is in a relatively much weaker weight class; etc.  

Now, it's going to be a much tighter race, even if Dean does manage to beat (in all likelihood) Bo Nickal in the finals. I personally think Dean is sick. He looks like he did the past couple years when he took his losses.

[nshapiro]

Given that the Hwt is a defending World and Olympic champion, and that ALL TEN weight classes have one undefeated wrestler, I don't think Gabe Dean is such a shoe-in for outstanding wrestler.  I would hope he is not pressing over that.

Before the tournament, Dean would have been odds on favorite to win the Hodge Trophy (assuming that he had continued his dominance from the regular season). Snyder, the heavyweight, has wrestled very few matches this year; Jason Nolf is in a relatively much weaker weight class; etc.  

Now, it's going to be a much tighter race, even if Dean does manage to beat (in all likelihood) Bo Nickal in the finals. I personally think Dean is sick. He looks like he did the past couple years when he took his losses.

I think Snyder wrestled very few matches this year because he was out of the country winning Worlds

[LGR14]

Given that the Hwt is a defending World and Olympic champion, and that ALL TEN weight classes have one undefeated wrestler, I don't think Gabe Dean is such a shoe-in for outstanding wrestler.  I would hope he is not pressing over that.

Before the tournament, Dean would have been odds on favorite to win the Hodge Trophy (assuming that he had continued his dominance from the regular season). Snyder, the heavyweight, has wrestled very few matches this year; Jason Nolf is in a relatively much weaker weight class; etc.  

Now, it's going to be a much tighter race, even if Dean does manage to beat (in all likelihood) Bo Nickal in the finals. I personally think Dean is sick. He looks like he did the past couple years when he took his losses.

I think Snyder wrestled very few matches this year because he was out of the country winning Worlds

Right, but his outside success is not part of the criteria for the Hodge. Given that Dean's status (again, if he wins out) will be that of a three-time champion, combined with his dominance (calculated by the NCAA), as well as the quality of competition he faces in the 184 pound weight class, I think the next closest contender is Nolf (and Bo Nickal, but Dean winning means Nickal losing at some point)

[mountainred]

Five minutes of Dylan:  http://s200.trackwrestling.com/tw/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1489774511249&twSessionId=umytezhovuqcaho&videoId=368329076

[Al DeFlorio]

You guys need to find a video of the interview Palacio gave with Quint immediately after the match.

Would like to find video of the match.

[ugarte]

OK, with all of the Cornell matches completed for the session (see above) here's what tonight looks like:

SF:

157: #7 Palacio v #3 Levalley (Missouri)

174: #2 Realbuto v #3 Jordan (Ohio State) Rematch from the dual. BReal won that one 3-2 with the only TD of the match (though Jordan was close).

184: #1 Dean v #4 Boyd (Ok. State) Boyd gave Dean his only loss last year, during a midyear tournament. Dean has beaten him three times since then, including last year's NCAA QF and a New Year's Day tournament this year.

Blood Round (R12):

165: #13 Womack v #7 Valencia (Az. State) They met twice earlier this year and it was ugly for Bama - lost by TF and then by Fall. From people who watched, he was careless, taking shots that work against lesser wrestlers and getting caught for his trouble. Should be closer this time, with a wiser Womack. Winner is an All-American (that's why they call it the blood round).

The Big Red is sitting in 5th, a half-point behind Oklahoma State. I don't think there is anyone left who can catch us until tonight.

[mountainred]

165: #13 Womack v #7 Valencia (Az. State) They met twice earlier this year and it was ugly for Bama - lost by TF and then by Fall. From people who watched, he was careless, taking shots that work against lesser wrestlers and getting caught for his trouble.

I watched the first loss at Vegas.  Bama was sitting 15-0 with six falls and a MD in his last seven matches and probably feeling invincible.  Valencia vinced him.  It was "only" 18-6, but your description was dead on.  I missed the fall, but it was quick (:40).  Brandon also lost in Vegas to Austin Matthews, which loss he avenged last round.  Here's to the revenge tour continuing.

I also have a bad, bad feeling about Dean tonight. The Bear is as tough as they come though and wounded bears are dangerous.

[KenP]

I'm guessing LGR14 is right... maybe he has the flu or something.  We'll probably hear tomorrow or Sunday after completion of his final two collegiate matches.

[ugarte]

QF:
157: Palacio WBF 3:28 over #2 Kemerer. Starting in the bottom position, he reaches back, grabs Kemerer's ankle and head and leans back into him to flatten him out for an amazing fall. He moves into the SF and is a 2x All-American. Amaaaaaaaaazing.

Here's the move https://twitter.com/ncaawrestling/status/842831349148930048

It's a compilation that starts with Palacio's pin and has a lot of the wins from the QF, including Realbuto's.

[ugarte]

SF:

157: #7 Palacio L 8-5 to #3 Levalley (Missouri) Palacio's counterattack based offense worked once, but too often Lavalley was able to get his foot clear and finish his shots. Lavalley was also smart enough not to try and ride Palacio, given that DP kept scoring from the bottom. Palacio falls into the consolation bracket where he will try for third place. He'll face #5 Smith (Ok. State), who he beat twice last year, including by fall at NCAAs (IIRC), for slotting in the third or fifth place match.

174: #2 Realbuto L 11-7 to #3 Jordan (Ohio State) Noooooooo! Realbuto was dominating the first two rounds. In the third he shifted into a defensive mode and got a stall called against him. Still, up 7-5 and with enough RT to withstand a (very) late TD, with about 30 seconds left, Realbuto blocked a shot from Jordan, got a front headlock and tried for a big throw. Instead, he ended up underneath. Not only did Jordan get the TD and erase the RT, but he also put Realbuto on his back for 4NF. Brutal finish. Up next is #9 Amine (Michigan) for slotting in the 3d or 5th place match.

184: #1 Dean W 9-3 over #4 Boyd (Ok. State) Now that's the Dean I know. Dominated from start to finish. Two TD in the first, a reversal in the second, a final takedown in the third. He looked good and strong. He'll face #2 Nickal (Penn St.) in the finals tomorrow. Nickal pinned two top 10 wrestlers in the QF and SF so he's on a run.

Blood Round (R12):

165: #13 Womack W 8-7 over #7 Valencia (Az. State) Womack makes a run to All-American. Awesome. And it was a wild and fun match, though I only saw the hairy end of the third period. Womack was winning 7-3 late when he gave up a TD+2NF but he was able to escape and hold an 8-7 lead. As time was running out, Valencia tried to vault over his back and take him down but Womack was able to defend it and win 8-7. All-American Brandon Womack!

In his next match, against #6 Lewis (Missouri) he got blanked, 10-0, so he's in the 7th place match against #5 Walsh (Rider).

Tough night overall - Palacio and Realbuto both lost matches that they could have won - but Dean overperformed expectations and Womack fought through the consolation bracket to get a well-earned spot on the podium.

[ugarte]

Tough afternoon. Palacio lost twice and finished in 6th. Womack lost and finished in 8th. Realbuto got pinned in the 3/5 placement match but rebounded to pin his opponent in the 5th place match.

The team is sitting in 8th but we can finish in 6th if Dean wins tonight and Minnesota lose both of their finals (they are the underdog in both).

[abmarks]

Dean just started his match live on ESPN right now