That still makes no sense especially when there are still guys getting a COVID benefit.
Best True Freshman PSU Wrester
- Thread starter mcpat
- Start date
Mark Hall... he won a NC and I think he is still the only PSU true freshmen to win a Natty.... but we have a couple this season who are going to make a run at that... Marcus and PJ but until then...
I voted for Zain for totally self serving reason. My brother had season tickets and invited me to the PSU vs tOSU match, Zain vs Logan Stieber and beforehand he was telling me that 'Zain is the Real Deal, no fooling’. Packed house, Zain took him out, and can remember the look on Logan’s face afterwards, distressed, anguish. Zain’s face, on the other hand similar to Mel Gibson in Braveheart shouting ‘FREEDOM!!’. Years later I ran into Logan, he’s actually a really nice guy.
But Zain, man!
But Zain, man!
Too many choices! I came down to a tough decision between Mark Hall and Nick Suriano. I believe would have wound up with 1 loss and an NCAA title if he hadn't been injured (see Nico), which would have made the decision easier. But the injury did happen and the B1G and NCAA titles didn't, so I had to go with Mark Hall (Levi, Kolat and Zain in a tie for 3rd).
I doubt that it's ever been louder in Rec Hall than during that match.
Voted Other simply because I believe we’re watching the answer to that question. Duke or Blaze or both will surpass Hall’s achievement.
It was a standing room only crowd. and the track was crowded. I kind of laughed off my buddy who said Zain was ready to break out. Zain started riding the p**s out of him. Before OT started it was silent. Then the roar after Zain reached the leg and started to reel him in. Culminated with a frenzy I have never seen before at a sporting event. Will remember to the day I die.
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Zain's moment was loud, Cassar's moment was loud, Kolat's moment was loud, Schalles' Chatman pin was loud. In one dual, Jim Martin stalling out an Iowa opponent, Peoples beating Heffermn and Mayo pinning his guy all three got darn loud.
It’s remarkable that you were there for all of those moments. And now you’re witnessing an amazing run that is setting a new standard of excellence that may never be duplicated. Pretty special stuff
I love this photo because it was right about this point in the match that I started to believe Zain could beat Logan that night. Zain rode the snot out of him that whole second period, even earning a stall call against Logan. As that second period came to an end, you could see in Logan's face that he was on the ropes. And the crowd giving Zain a standing ovation at the end of the second period was awesome to see. What a match!It was a standing room only crowd. and the track was crowded. I kind of laughed off my buddy who said Zain was ready to break out. Right before OT started it was silent. Then the roar after Zain started riding the piss out of him. Culminated with a frenzy I have never seen before at a sporting event. Will remember to the day I die.
Edit: I had forgotten about that bogus locked hands challenge by Tom Ryan right as the third period was starting. In my opinion the challenge came too late and should not have been allowed. The challenge gave Logan 3:15 of time to catch his breath.
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I'm not qualified to rank the moments, but I was there for that one and it was loouuuuud.
My dad started taking me to rec hall for matches in the 60s, the Schalles pin was my first PIAA tournament i attended in person, and the Iowa match was the year I moved back to PA.It’s remarkable that you were there for all of those moments. And now you’re witnessing an amazing run that is setting a new standard of excellence that may never be duplicated. Pretty special stuff
My father, 2 friends and I have had season tickets to PSU matches since back in Lorenzo's time. Still have the tickets, my dad passed a couple years ago, my grandson or granddaughter usually go with me now.
Five days before my 92 year-old father passed, despite him dying from cancer we did a 1.75 mile walk and had our last meanful conversation. He told me he had 2 disappointments. The first was he had planned on making it to 100 and he figured he would reevaluate his plans after he got there. The second was he has been watching Penn State since the 1950s and while he had enjoyed what Cael had done and accomplished with the program, "what he is going to accomplish this year (2023-24) is going to be record breaking special and then they're going to be even better than that going forward and I am not going to get to see it. That is pissing me off even more than not getting to 100."
I am with you brotha.
It's not only the fact that he beat Logan, but it's how he beat him. Logan did not want any of the riding pain that Zain inflicted on him!
Aaron is hands down. Even not a question. He also wins a natty if not for the covid year. Just had to wait a year.
For consideration. All but one of these guys wrestled under Cael. All but one wrestled in an era where high schoolers are getting a ton of experience before they step on a mat as a college wrestler.
I don't think it is a too hard to conceive that Kolat would have had only 2 losses and been a NCAA champ if Cael and staff were his coaches.
That dude was really something special for his era.
I don't think it is a too hard to conceive that Kolat would have had only 2 losses and been a NCAA champ if Cael and staff were his coaches.
That dude was really something special for his era.
My first ever psu match at rec hall and its was deafening
