Never been more happy to be wrong about widening gap between Ross and Merrill! Ross, if he gets with the plan, can be champion ship contender this year!
WTT ‘26
- Thread starter HopkinsPoke
- Start date
SHOCKING. When Merrill can’t just tee off and headbutt the entire match, he ain’t such a monster.
The hell you mean, “gets with the plan” ???
The DT plan of “Doing things right as true freshmen to get a championship “ one.
He just started. But its a long time to championship. He needs to be in there till the March Sunday.
Early in match 2 Ross timed a few of Merrill's bull rushes for stepouts and a 3-0 lead. In Match 3 Ross got an early 3-0 lead off of step outs from Ross shots that drove Merrill out. Both times the early lead made it where Merrill couldn't just push and play sumo. Even in the first match Merill wasn't real effective at that and never got a step out. He got a shot clock and then his own surprise single off the whistle followed by a leg lace. I think just over collar stuff and hard circling took away the Merrill pushing. Plus Ross grew more comfortable shooting as the match went. Off a dozen+ Ross shots across 3 matches Merrill never really came close to a counter score, or even a square sprawl that trapped him under the weight.
I like the adjustments that Dreshaun made after being teched. He would not allow Merrill to push him, he used heavy hands and quickness in finding angles to push Merrill out of bounds after getting on Merrill's legs. Merrill got real tired and then Dreshaun got takedown with go behinds and leg shots. Great comeback. Lanon was in complete control and Miller could not score a point and Landon got pushouts and takedowns to win 6 to 0 and 10 to 0. Landon's strength and hand fighting make him very hard to beat and in close he finds angles and gets takedowns. Speaking of comeback Dee had the lead in both matches well into the 2nd period but his opponent came back twice to win with takedowns. Dee did not separate and it cost him. He is no longer the top guy in his age group. Lockett will need to jump a level this next year. He needs to develop a couple of more takedown moves because his opponent was waiting for it double leg and caught it, drove forwards and got a leg and beat Dee. Dee has the duck and the double. His single is ineffective. He also needs to hand fight better and get tougher. This is 3 big losses that has occurred in the last few months. He can still get back number 1 but he will need to change and jump a level. I was really enjoying watching White beat the guy soundly that teched him but then he lost focus, gave up a takedown and then he could not stop his opponent from gut wrenching him over and over again. Very frustrating but hopefully he gets even more hungry. His potential is to be great.
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That's a lot of conclusions to reach about Lockett for losing to a guy as good as James. If not separating from James is a bad sign, then it's a bad sign for everyone from David Carr down.
I like it!
We just saw the staff put together something to win a title. I like the idea of March with Dre.
You are right that James is going to be a problem for most everybody and maybe even push Messinbrink. The not separating maybe wasn't the bad sign but losing his lead in 2 out of 2 matches late was a bad sign. Ladarion can still be the best. But the last 3 months has brought about questions losing to Caliendo, Ruiz, Alvan, Sparks and now James. Which conclusion or conclusions did you disagree with? I really want Lockett to be great and help us win number 35. Another, question is what are the Raney's doing this summer?
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Agree with everyone on the adjustments Dre made. Very encouraging and it's a sign that he's coachable. I think you have to fully trust your coach to become a champ especially as an underclassman.
Landon continues to bear the fruit of his dedication and consistency. I can't wait to see him solve the various puzzles international wrestlers will present him with.
Landon continues to bear the fruit of his dedication and consistency. I can't wait to see him solve the various puzzles international wrestlers will present him with.
Ross vs Merrill
Just watched this and if he wrestles smart, I don't see how Merrill will ever consistently, if ever, beat Ross in freestyle where pushing your opponent of the mat is stalling.
Just watched this and if he wrestles smart, I don't see how Merrill will ever consistently, if ever, beat Ross in freestyle where pushing your opponent of the mat is stalling.
Actually, I bet the staff uses Merrill as an example and teaching moment to open up Ross completely.
IMO, Ross can now dominate Merrill because he knows how to beat him soundly with mental doubt…what’s he gonna do with mental advantage?
Looking forward to seeing Swiderski up two weight classes. Can he go with these bigger guys?
Also looking forward to Bennett Berge our new 184lber. He's a U20 World bronze medalist. He's a very good wrestler.
Also looking forward to Bennett Berge our new 184lber. He's a U20 World bronze medalist. He's a very good wrestler.
Thanks again for this. I logged in on another computer and you fast tracked me right to it!
Like y'all said great to see Ross and staff adapt. He was pouring it on at the end. That's a benefit of three match series, I suppose.
Dee is right there, he just keeps every match so close scorewise which makes it hard to overcome a point deficit or separate the score. I just rewatched his WTT matches and he spends a lot of time in tie-ups
Dee is right there, he just keeps every match so close scorewise which makes it hard to overcome a point deficit or separate the score. I just rewatched his WTT matches and he spends a lot of time in tie-ups
Berge's takedowns looks so smooth and precise. He certainly knows what he's doing on his feet.
I watched Troy, Casey, Sheets, Guerrero and Berge win by tech in the 1st round of 23 and Under Team Trials.
Not many updates. Thought we had quite a few going today?
Sorry I’ve been super busy all day. It looks like Spratley, Swiderski, and Berge have all teched their ways to the quarterfinals. I’d imaging they’re probably done for the night.
I think everyone except Hickman, Luke Hamiti, and McComas are still alive in the consolation brackets.
I think tomorrow will start with quarter finals. Sprately and Berge dominated everyone. Swiderski dominated except for one really tall kid, had a hard time getting to his legs, still beat him by a few points.
Yep Birden from Ohio State. He’s a good wrestler.
Sprately, Casey and Berge are still alive in champions side.
Berge looks great, but he's going to have his hands full holding off Michael White to make the lineup. Competition will improve both guys.
Berge, Swid and Troy to the semis.
Troy has Joey Cruz and Casey has Nicco Ruiz. Berge hasn’t been listed an oppo yet.
Troy has Joey Cruz and Casey has Nicco Ruiz. Berge hasn’t been listed an oppo yet.
They just happened Spratley and Berge made the finals. Swiderski lost by 1 point to Nicco Ruiz.
Swid was the better wrestler. Gave up a point for a lost challenge. Gave up two when he was all the way behind Ruiz, trying to break Ruiz's tripod down and get his knee to touch down for 2 and let Ruiz reach back and grab and ankle to trip Swid down for the 2 (4 point swing). And Casey was still winning with 4 seconds left and gave up a takedown out of bounds. Should have won that match. Situational awareness and focus.
Anyway Swid looked just as strong and quicker than the guy who finished 4th last year and beat Lockett at 165.
Anyway Swid looked just as strong and quicker than the guy who finished 4th last year and beat Lockett at 165.
Swid does not look as small up at 74kg as I feared he might
Swiderski has a lot of time to bulk up some more. He might be just fine at 165 next year.
So will Facundo Lockett Routledge good problems to have