NCAA
- Thread starter Mrgrapple
- Start date
It is doing something weird with Sheets. We have 6 in the consolations.
HONEST ASSESSMENT
We do not need drastic changes! We need conditioning,offensive help,and to start recruiting Pennsylvania HEAVY.There are lots of PA kids at smaller D1 schools who would die to come to OSU.
We spend lots of time tying up and trying to look busy and not really doing anything.
125-Mastro needs strength and experience but next year needs to be improved.
133-We are fine with Fix.
141-149-157 are all big question marks and not sure we have an answer or many NCAA points from these weights next year.
165-Does fine in Big 12 but average against good competitors.Needs to make a big jump.
174-184-Plott or TacoI am higher on Plott and he will do fine when healthy.Taco needs to step up.
197-We are set.
Heavy-we need major help.
We will have to make big gains over next couple years to be in top 3.Look at Missouri,NC STATE,Rutgers,etc have all passed us by.We need to step up!
We do not need drastic changes! We need conditioning,offensive help,and to start recruiting Pennsylvania HEAVY.There are lots of PA kids at smaller D1 schools who would die to come to OSU.
We spend lots of time tying up and trying to look busy and not really doing anything.
125-Mastro needs strength and experience but next year needs to be improved.
133-We are fine with Fix.
141-149-157 are all big question marks and not sure we have an answer or many NCAA points from these weights next year.
165-Does fine in Big 12 but average against good competitors.Needs to make a big jump.
174-184-Plott or TacoI am higher on Plott and he will do fine when healthy.Taco needs to step up.
197-We are set.
Heavy-we need major help.
We will have to make big gains over next couple years to be in top 3.Look at Missouri,NC STATE,Rutgers,etc have all passed us by.We need to step up!
I am no wrestling expert but our level of performance has not been acceptable for a long time for the program that has the most national titles of any team sport in all of North America, college or pro. People yell for the HC’s in our major sports to be fired all the time, and you can make the argument the current HC has ridden this program down to a level that would have had him canned 30 years ago, and he would of been canned a lot faster. Back in the day you went 3 years without a NC or so and you were done.
It is a so called minor non-revenue sport so perhaps some don’t care anymore. The commitment to winning seems to be lacking, and I am sure it is multi-faceted.
I understand John Smith is a wrestling legend and to even mentioning a change is needed is sacrilegious, but this program is really struggling. Something needs to be done but it appears no urgency exists to get back on top.
How long have excuses been made and false hope spread after each disappointment? Seems like a really long time.
Oklahoma A&M / State wrestling invented winning at the highest level. The standard has slipped mightily, who would have thought the program would slip to the point it is no longer a source of pride?
Maybe Mr. Weiberg can get the program moving.
It is a so called minor non-revenue sport so perhaps some don’t care anymore. The commitment to winning seems to be lacking, and I am sure it is multi-faceted.
I understand John Smith is a wrestling legend and to even mentioning a change is needed is sacrilegious, but this program is really struggling. Something needs to be done but it appears no urgency exists to get back on top.
How long have excuses been made and false hope spread after each disappointment? Seems like a really long time.
Oklahoma A&M / State wrestling invented winning at the highest level. The standard has slipped mightily, who would have thought the program would slip to the point it is no longer a source of pride?
Maybe Mr. Weiberg can get the program moving.
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Nothing wrong with pointing this out as we should be having these discussions. At the end of a rough run for OSU wrestling we made some dramatic changes to the staff and recruiting approach and it has paid huge dividends.
We have more high end young talent in the program and soon to be in the program than anytime in a longtime and enough to rival the top of the big 10. You let this staff see out this talent that their changes helped bring a board but the title window of 2023-2026 needs to result in multiple team titles or you need to make a move. Period, and I LOVE and admire Coach Smith.
Tanner is Chance Skidgel’s son. I work with Chance here up on the Tulsa Fire Department. He’s at the tournament watching Tanner, a 3x Oklahoma State Champion.
Chance has another son at Navy as well, Scout. Scout didn’t quite make the starting team this year.
I texted Chance just a bit ago. If you know him and want me to send him a message, let me know.
Some if it also has to do with our weak conference which played a larger role this year with the shortened season.
The Big 10 guys got to prep for this tournament with a high level and grueling tournament last week to help prepare and sharpen their minds and skills. Our guys just don’t get that.
What do they work on in the wrestling room? It sure isn’t going out and getting a takedown when you need it or getting up from bottom. Is John lost in the 90s? I can handle getting beat by a better guy when you fight back But looking bad when you get beat by guy you should beat is something else.
What a complete **** show for OU. Not that I had really high hopes for OU, but I didn’t see this total *** kicking.
133: #11 Madrigal drops a decision to the #22 seed, then drops his consolation match and is out.
141: #5 seed Demas advances by decision over the #28 seed, then loses to #21 seed Real Woods (way underrated).
149: #13 seed Mitch Moore drops a decision to the #20 seed, then rebounds to pin next opponent in the consolations.
157: #10 seed Justin Thomas drops a decision to the #23 seed, then drops his consolation match and is out.
174: #23 seed Anthony Mantanona drops a major decision to the #10 seed, then pinned in the next. He is out.
197: #26 seed Jacob Woodley beats the #7 and 10 seeds to advance to the quarterfinals. Truly pretty gutsy and OU’s sole bright spot.
HWT: #19 seed (I believe) drops hos first match but rebounds and beats hos next opponent to advance.
I think we have like five points, and in 33 place.
133: #11 Madrigal drops a decision to the #22 seed, then drops his consolation match and is out.
141: #5 seed Demas advances by decision over the #28 seed, then loses to #21 seed Real Woods (way underrated).
149: #13 seed Mitch Moore drops a decision to the #20 seed, then rebounds to pin next opponent in the consolations.
157: #10 seed Justin Thomas drops a decision to the #23 seed, then drops his consolation match and is out.
174: #23 seed Anthony Mantanona drops a major decision to the #10 seed, then pinned in the next. He is out.
197: #26 seed Jacob Woodley beats the #7 and 10 seeds to advance to the quarterfinals. Truly pretty gutsy and OU’s sole bright spot.
HWT: #19 seed (I believe) drops hos first match but rebounds and beats hos next opponent to advance.
I think we have like five points, and in 33 place.
I think OU met its team goals by tying OSU for the Big 12 title. It was not a conscious decision for them, but that is my bet. These tournaments require a high level of focus and motivation.
That over performance probably bought their coach another year or two.
Actually we got pushed very hard in the Big 12 Tournament. We tied OU for the title and most of our wrestlers lost matches in that tournament. Just listened to Coach Smith talk about tonight and he said tonight reminded him of the Big 12 Tournament performance where we lost so many matches that could have been won. He stated tomorrow we need to wrestle aggressively and figuratively throw the kitchen sink at our opponents. He seemed to state we wrestled tonight with anxiety and conservatively. This is the truth about our effort and performances this year. So far it looks like we have 2 guys wrestling with aggression and winning. Boo is winning but not wrestling aggressive. With good performances all 3 quarterfinalists should advance to the semi's. I will say that Wyatt is wrestling this tournament. I hope that we kick butt tomorrow but we haven't done that all year.
You make some good points here sir... I dont see a lot of chain wrestling to be honest additionally I dont see a big variety of attacks by our guys.. There doesn't seem to be a lot of creativity. it seems like we have a lot of guys with a set of techniques on their feet that work plenty against teams that dont have the same level of program as OSU. The problems start to arise when we wrestle programs filled with guys that seem to have several series of techniques that lead into each other. I think if you look at the best Penn State guys you will see a lot of fluid motion and creativity in what they are doing. Fix seems to be able to really vary things up in all positions and the way guys seem to beat him is by doing nothing for as long as they can and let him make a mistake.. Boo has outstanding shots and just doesn't seem to be firing off like he should be. It seemed like he was getting DEEP in his HC's and seemed to know exactly what to do when he was there.. he just seems hesitant to fire and thats shame because he could win this weight if he opened up. AJ is a super dedicated true freshman that is showing real signs of greatness. He seems to be winning with superior strength and conditioning and he seems to know the positions he needs to be in and the positions he needs to stay away from right now. the rest of the guys..125 - true freshman who has had outstanding coaching getting to OSU, needs to get in the weight room and expand what he is doing in matches. 141 - its funny to think that G came in like a wildfire and hasn't been able to keep it up. 157 - sheets seems to be wrestling better now than he has all year. he seems to be moving a lot better. 165 - people have scouted him, know what he is going to do and he isnt strong or fast enough to do it anyway. 174 - see 165. 184 - just getting out horsed in some positions, see thoughts on mixing up techniques. hwt - im glad he got a win. D1 HWT isnt what it used to be and if you think you are going to make noise through size alone you will end up getting either hurt by Stevenson and guys like him or shredded by a guy like Parris. I hope the guys keep focused and keep wrestling.. I think its a weird year because of the shortened season and COVID and almost every weight is open at a certain point for whoever to AA. (obviously there are some beasts at some weights)
ctdub is correct, in my opinion. The lack of nutrition/weight cutting at OKST is very mismanaged. I believe that is why you see so many injuries. I don't think coach Smith has caught up with the get kids bigger and stronger at there more natural weight. I also believe he is one of the best technicians in coaching and many other teams would love to have him as there coach.
Kaid spent an entire year bulking up and then tore his ACL just attempting an inside trip in practice. Other than Plott, the other injuries have been knee related also.
I saw some horsepower issues in the round of 16, but I don't believe they were due to big weight cuts. I've said this before, who on this team has a big cut?
Boo said in his Flo interview that if he doesn't remember to eat, he'll find himself back down @ 141. And he beat Heil fairly easily at Reno a few years ago - and Boo, please stick that tilt in your pocket unless you're trailing late.
Wittlake was 170 in HS and said he didn't cut much. His opponent (Smith) wrestled 182 in HS and started out @ 184 for tOSU a few years ago.
Geer said he was too small for 197. John said they had him eating 4x a day and he barely hit 204.
Plott just ran out of gas at the end. Didn't look out muscled to me. One thing about Plott, he is probably the most offensive minded guy on the team. When he's right, he attacks nonstop. We need AJ's swagger and Dustin's attacking to rub off on some other guys.
I think we got “pushed” because of the weak season schedule we wrestled which was mostly conference opponents and then wrestling a bunch of guys so with nothing to lose.
What we wrestled in Tulsa was nothing like the Big 10 tournament in terms of quality or competition.
What’d the thoughts on our quarterfinal and conso matches today? Obviously Harris has a brutal one.
Mastro wrestled the 11 seed who is a talented FR who has a win over the guy Mastro lost to in the first round. Should be a tight match where Mastro has a chance.
Fix has a tough matchup stylistically but should easily advance.
Boo caught a bit of a break with Murin upsetting Lovett. Murin is steady but not dynamic.
Sheets has a pretty decent draw against 18 seed from SDSU.
Witlake has great matchups the next two matches and should advance.
Plott has a tough match with the UNC kid. Winnable but his shoulder is extremely limiting. Would see Mocco with a win.
Geer has a good matchup first out and then will see Hopkins or Colbray is a good tight matchup.
AJ has his toughest test of the season IMO. A solid all around tough veteran. He will be tough to score on. Good on top and will wrestle a smart match. I think AJs athleticism and strength will be to much for him.
Harris will be out but we won us a match!!
Something to watch today is how guys look in the early matches after making weight on day 2. No Scuffle, Midlands, CKI, etc., to get used to that this year, only the conference tourneys.
Ragusin should be a pretty big favorite over Mastro, but he reportedly has a tough cut. Regardless of how Mastro does today, I like the way he's wrestled so far. Much better sense of urgency.
Ragusin should be a pretty big favorite over Mastro, but he reportedly has a tough cut. Regardless of how Mastro does today, I like the way he's wrestled so far. Much better sense of urgency.
Just went back and watched the Boo fiasco from last night, that is now being challenged it starts at the 1:26 mark on the mat 7 replay, the original challenge by Oklahoma State is after Boo gets in deep and keeps Heil exposed (by rule greater than 90 degrees) for 8 seconds ironically His brother is credited with the creation of this rule. On the initial 7 second restart the clock doesn’t start, it is decided that the 7 should be kept and start the match again, at this point the Campbell coaches don’t even protest because he didn’t get taken down the first time. Then they want to grandstand because Heil got sloppy.
One major problem with college wrestling is the lack of overturns from review. It happens all the time in FS but rarely do they have the stones to do it in folk.
Go back to the headgear grab in Datons final match. Clear as day on the review. It happened, you see it on review, make the call. That’s the point of the review. Same thing here with OSU’s first challenge. Clear that a TD had occurred with time on clock. Call the TD and move on.
If you aren’t going to do those things then get rid of replay.
Possibly. So much wrestling left. Need TW and Geer to really make runs on the back side and then Daton to win, AJ and Boo in semis at minimum.
Mastro out here guns blazing!! currently up 4-0 after 2, 2 minutes of riding time so far!
OSU coaches are super intense this morning, you can hear them over everyone.
Nice win to start the day 6-0 by Mastro.
Nice win to start the day 6-0 by Mastro.