Brands Brothers & HWC Traveling Circus presents Blast of the Week (12/3)

[slushhead]

Some wrestling teams like to have fun. But it is well established that the best-coached programs have a blast. Take the Iowa Hawkeyes, for example.

On Friday night, the Hawk wrestlers brought a refreshing energy to Carver Hawkeye Arena, treating 8,206 faithful fans to 5 individual match wins, 9 takedowns, and a bonus-point victory to edge #16-ranked Illinois, 18-17. The dual meet, which the Hawkeyes trailed throughout the first 9 matches (sparked by an 0 for 3 showing from its fearsome lightweight contingent), was decided in the last match when heavyweight Sam Stoll fell on top of his Fighting Illini opponent (backup Deuce Rachal) following a failed throw attempt. The fall -- and thus the dual meet victory -- was secured seconds later.

The perfomance had a certain joyous energy, clearly carried over from a fun-loving Christmas card crafted by the team's redshirting freshmen and sent to their adoring head coach, Tom Brands, earlier in the day. Brandon Sorensen and Michael Kemerer -- the team's unrivaled leaders and presumed national championship finalist contenders -- turned in inspiring performances by scoring 4 match points each in victories over their unranked and #17-ranked opponents, respectively. Even more inspiring, unheralded and unranked lunch-pail workhorse Joey Gunther racked up 3 takedowns in a 6-1 win. By the end of the dual, even Associate Head Coach Terry Brands was getting in on the fun with some playful, one-sided pummeling with the mat official as he was looking to call Stoll's fall. The excitement was uncontainable, and the momentum seems unstoppable.

But don't just take it from me.

Says Tom Brands emphatically, "We're having a blast."


What was your blast of the week? Vote above, or write-in your own event.

 

[JohnBasedow]

 

[dunkej01]

"doesnt take a great wrestling mind to" see there are issues

 

[slushhead]

Took you less than 10 minutes to be here, see it, and respond.

 

[LumbeeIndian]

Could someone point me to the section and article of the 3” binder where “having a blast” is addressed?

Would like to skim over that before answering the poll...

 

[WildTurk]

After demolishing Lehigh this is the topic you started?

 

[Tom McAndrew]

NC State blanking Chattanooga

that's technically correct, but misses some humor (which you rarely do, slush). Chattanooga's team score in the NC State dual was actually -1. Chattanooga didn't win any matches, and a team point was deducted after the 184 bout. Nice to shutout an opponent, but even more impressive to hold them to -1 points.

 

[tikk10]

that's technically correct, but misses some humor (which you rarely do, slush). Chattanooga's team score in the NC State dual was actually -1. Chattanooga didn't win any matches, and a team point was deducted after the 184 bout. Nice to shutout an opponent, but even more impressive to hold them to -1 points.

Until they actually win another match they should be called Chattanoogative.

 

[Tcalumet]

Some wrestling teams like to have fun. But it is well established that the best-coached programs have a blast. Take the Iowa Hawkeyes, for example.

On Friday night, the Hawk wrestlers brought a refreshing energy to Carver Hawkeye Arena, treating 8,206 faithful fans to 5 individual match wins, 9 takedowns, and a bonus-point victory to edge #16-ranked Illinois, 18-17. The dual meet, which the Hawkeyes trailed throughout the first 9 matches (sparked by an 0 for 3 showing from its fearsome lightweight contingent), was decided in the last match when heavyweight Sam Stoll fell on top of his Fighting Illini opponent (backup Deuce Rachal) following a failed throw attempt. The fall -- and thus the dual meet victory -- was secured seconds later.

The perfomance had a certain joyous energy, clearly carried over from a fun-loving Christmas card crafted by the team's redshirting freshmen and sent to their adoring head coach, Tom Brands, earlier in the day. Brandon Sorensen and Michael Kemerer -- the team's unrivaled leaders and presumed national championship finalist contenders -- turned in inspiring performances by scoring 4 match points each in victories over their unranked and #17-ranked opponents, respectively. Even more inspiring, unheralded and unranked lunch-pail workhorse Joey Gunther racked up 3 takedowns in a 6-1 win. By the end of the dual, even Associate Head Coach Terry Brands was getting in on the fun with some playful, one-sided pummeling with the mat official as he was looking to call Stoll's fall. The excitement was uncontainable, and the momentum seems unstoppable.

But don't just take it from me.

Says Tom Brands emphatically, "We're having a blast."


What was your blast of the week? Vote above, or write-in your own event.

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

 

[James Toney]

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

125- 3-0 Give the edge to Schnupp. No Nato right now.
133- 3-4 Pletcher gets the major. No Keener right now.
141- 6-4 Cortez wins. No Mckenna right now.
149- 12-4 Zain pins Hayes.
157- 17-4 Nolf techs Micah.
165- 17-9 Campbell gets the tech. No Cenzo right now.
174- 20-9 Hall beats BoJo.
184- 23-9 Bo beats Martin.
197- 23-12 Moore decisions Cassar.
HVY- 27-12 Nevills gets the major. No Snyder right now.

Just going by CKLV results tOSU had. When they have all their horses on the mat, you can talk. PSU obviously was short handed themselves, so don't act like they were at full strength and tOSU would "crush them".

 

[El-Jefe]

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

You mean the Ohio State without Tomasello, McKenna, and Snyder?

 

[LemonPie]

125- 3-0 Give the edge to Schnupp. No Nato right now.
133- 3-4 Pletcher gets the major. No Keener right now.
141- 6-4 Cortez wins. No Mckenna right now.
149- 12-4 Zain pins Hayes.
157- 17-4 Nolf techs Micah.
165- 17-9 Campbell gets the tech. No Cenzo right now.
174- 20-9 Hall beats BoJo.
184- 23-9 Bo beats Martin.
197- 23-12 Moore decisions Cassar.
HVY- 27-12 Nevills gets the major. No Snyder right now.

Just going by CKLV results tOSU had. When they have all their horses on the mat, you can talk. PSU obviously was short handed themselves, so don't act like they were at full strength and tOSU would "crush them".

Mead beats Schnupp, unfortunately

 

[Chickenman Testa]

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

Iowa fans reduced to cheering on proxies to beat their new nemesis. Sad

 

[slushhead]

that's technically correct, but misses some humor (which you rarely do, slush). Chattanooga's team score in the NC State dual was actually -1. Chattanooga didn't win any matches, and a team point was deducted after the 184 bout. Nice to shutout an opponent, but even more impressive to hold them to -1 points.

Ha, thanks for catching that. I guess I was too focused on another team.

 

[slushhead]

After demolishing Lehigh this is the topic you started?

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

Well, I can see now that you've apparantly missed the actual topic/focus, which is to acknowledge some of the week's more notable/entertaining happenings.

The title of the poll and the accompanying narrative are merely a gimmick to make it a little more f*n. You guys should know what that's like by now.

 

[dunkej01]

since so many picked LHU....they want you to know they are up this morning and getting better

 

[matter7172]

After demolishing Lehigh this is the topic you started?

Just hope your team doesn't wrestle Lehigh this year. They are legit and very tough. It would not be pretty. Iowa would probably win 149, 157 and possibly 285 (but I'm not sure about 285).

 

[Ja1339]

After the Lehigh match maybe you should focus on your own team. Ohio state would crush penn state right now.

Lock Haven would have beaten Iowa with this weekend's performances.

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

The obsession.

Just hope your team doesn't wrestle Lehigh this year. They are legit and very tough. It would not be pretty. Iowa would probably win 149, 157 and possibly 285 (but I'm not sure about 285).

Funny to me that all the PSU posters used the excuse that a couple of their starters are out so that's why the dual was close, but fail to recognize the exact same could be said about Iowa.

Marinelli didn't go. PD3 is the 184 starter by Jan. Throw in Lee and Warner. Things get real interesting in the NCAA title race.

PSU has huge holes in the lineup this year.

Obviously PSU has some absolute monsters as well, but if an injury keeps one out of nationals, it could get real interesting.

Then add the fact that OSU has injuries as well right now.

I think people are too quick to call this season an automatic win for PSU or OSU.

They're without a doubt the heavy favorites but it could be interesting in March.

 

[matter7172]

Funny to me that all the PSU posters used the excuse that a couple of their starters are out so that's why the dual was close, but fail to recognize the exact same could be said about Iowa.

The difference is Iowa wrestled Illinois and PSU wrestled Lehigh, which is a legit top 5 team that wrecked Michigan.

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

The difference is Iowa wrestled Illinois and PSU wrestled Lehigh, which is a legit top 5 team that wrecked Michigan.

Not disagreeing. Just making a point that an Iowa team with Lee, Marinelli, Downey, and Warner in the line up and OSU and PSU missing one of their studs at NCAAs all of the sudden things get real interesting. It's a big if, especially when it's highly unlikely all those guys go for Iowa this year. Marinelli hasn't wrestled a match yet.

Just saying there's a real scenario where Iowa is in title contention this season which is funny because everyone has already wrote them off.

Going to be a fun season either way.

 

[Grass]

The obsession.


Funny to me that all the PSU posters used the excuse that a couple of their starters are out so that's why the dual was close, but fail to recognize the exact same could be said about Iowa.

Marinelli didn't go. PD3 is the 184 starter by Jan. Throw in Lee and Warner. Things get real interesting in the NCAA title race.

PSU has huge holes in the lineup this year.

Obviously PSU has some absolute monsters as well, but if an injury keeps one out of nationals, it could get real interesting.

Then add the fact that OSU has injuries as well right now.

I think people are too quick to call this season an automatic win for PSU or OSU.

They're without a doubt the heavy favorites but it could be interesting in March.

PD3 isn't even on the Iowa roster and Marinelli might have held it to a major decision. Your own fans weren't happy with Iowa's performance against the Illini.

Not disagreeing. Just making a point that an Iowa team with Lee, Marinelli, Downey, and Warner in the line up and OSU and PSU missing one of their studs at NCAAs all of the sudden things get real interesting. It's a big if, especially when it's highly unlikely all those guys go for Iowa this year. Marinelli hasn't wrestled a match yet.

Just saying there's a real scenario where Iowa is in title contention this season which is funny because everyone has already wrote them off.

Going to be a fun season either way.

Your coach must have wrote them off too or he would put his best lineup on the mat and go for it.

 

[dunkej01]

Not disagreeing. Just making a point that an Iowa team with Lee, Marinelli, Downey, and Warner in the line up and OSU and PSU missing one of their studs at NCAAs all of the sudden things get real interesting. It's a big if, especially when it's highly unlikely all those guys go for Iowa this year. Marinelli hasn't wrestled a match yet.

Just saying there's a real scenario where Iowa is in title contention this season which is funny because everyone has already wrote them off.

Going to be a fun season either way.

wow this is real BREAKING NEWS stuff.

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

PD3 isn't even on the Iowa roster and Marinelli might have held it to a major decision. Your own fans weren't happy with Iowa's performance against the Illini.


Your coach must have wrote them off too or he would put his best lineup on the mat and go for it.

Iowa wrestled like complete shit. No disagreement there.

Shouldn't be hard to understand why you wait to pull shirts until after Midlands. No reason to do it now.

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

wow this is real BREAKING NEWS stuff.

?

Have you not been paying attention? Every forum, flo, etc has penciled in either PSU or OSU already with a best case scenario 3rd for Iowa.

Willie actually said it best. It's a very "volatile" Iowa team.


Could finish 10th. Could finish 1st. That's what happens when you have a couple of true freshman who could very high AA if not win it, and PD3 who isn't in the room yet but is more than likely going to be the 184 starter come January and also a high AA contender.

 

[dunkej01]

?

Have you not been paying attention? Every forum, flo, etc has penciled in either PSU or OSU already with a best case scenario 3rd for Iowa.

Willie actually said it best. It's a very volatile Iowa team. Could finish 10th. Could finish 1st. That's what happens when you have a couple of true freshman who could very high AA if not win it, and PD3 who isn't in the room yet but is more than likely going to be the 184 starter come January and also a high AA contender.

Soooo your point is what? That we here at BWI dont already know the things you type or that you think you have a 3" binder of gold intel and are dribbling it out when your bored?

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

Soooo your point is what? That we here at BWI dont already know the things you type or that you think you have a 3" binder of gold intel and are dribbling it out when your bored?

In other words you're in agreement with me haha.

 

[dunkej01]

In other words you're in agreement with me haha.

I know your new to the game, but I had at least hoped you would be a quick learner. In other words, meh.

 

[dicemen99]

?

Have you not been paying attention? Every forum, flo, etc has penciled in either PSU or OSU already with a best case scenario 3rd for Iowa.

Willie actually said it best. It's a very "volatile" Iowa team.


Could finish 10th. Could finish 1st. That's what happens when you have a couple of true freshman who could very high AA if not win it, and PD3 who isn't in the room yet but is more than likely going to be the 184 starter come January and also a high AA contender.

 

[goethe14]

?

Have you not been paying attention? Every forum, flo, etc has penciled in either PSU or OSU already with a best case scenario 3rd for Iowa.

Willie actually said it best. It's a very "volatile" Iowa team.


Could finish 10th. Could finish 1st. That's what happens when you have a couple of true freshman who could very high AA if not win it, and PD3 who isn't in the room yet but is more than likely going to be the 184 starter come January and also a high AA contender.

Ah the wonderful hope we see every year. Its so typical. Now you have two freshman who could win NCAAs and you could finish first. Would you like to wager on either?

 

[Brian LB-U]

PD3 isn't even on the Iowa roster and Marinelli might have held it to a major decision. Your own fans weren't happy with Iowa's performance against the Illini.


Your coach must have wrote them off too or he would put his best lineup on the mat and go for it.

From what I've read, Tom is making a conscious decision to sit Lee, Marinelli and Warner despite all three claiming to be "ready". If they are to be believed, both Lee and Marinelli have been going live in the room for awhile now. Obviously Warner has already won two smaller Opens. I suspect (and hope) we'll see Marinelli very soon.

Needless to say, if Tom redshirts the two freshman, he's basically mailing in the season and reinforcing the perception that he redshirts all true freshmen. (I'm sure this is already in his 3" LL binder)

As for Downey, is he even enrolled?? I'll believe it when I see it. If he does join the team, one would have to feel badly for the hardworking starter he'd likely displace.

 

[Ja1339]

?

Have you not been paying attention?

Willie actually said it best. It's a very "volatile" Iowa team.

Could finish 10th. Could finish 1st.

Or could get beaten by Lock Haven. I was paying attention this Friday. My prediction can't be any crazier than yours

 

[ZepGraffiti]

Not disagreeing. Just making a point that an Iowa team with Lee, Marinelli, Downey, and Warner in the line up and OSU and PSU missing one of their studs at NCAAs all of the sudden things get real interesting. It's a big if, especially when it's highly unlikely all those guys go for Iowa this year. Marinelli hasn't wrestled a match yet.

Just saying there's a real scenario where Iowa is in title contention this season which is funny because everyone has already wrote them off.

Going to be a fun season either way.

Seems you weren't around in 2015?
IIRC:
-PSU was RSing Mega, Zain & the 3N's.
-HR posters [all butt-hurt over the 4 NCs in a row already] were all over the place stating how Cael was 'screwing' the fans & his team over [like Sr Matt Brown] by "throwing in the towel".
-Wonder what Sorenson thinks?
Of course, according to same HR rods, even IF those guys were to compete it wouldn't be enough anyway, since the days of ER/DT were past.
-Hypocrites

Any of that ring a bell? Or, are you that new?

 

[Is_there_vodka_in_heaven]

Seems you weren't around in 2015?
IIRC:
-PSU was RSing Mega, Zain & the 3N's.
-HR posters [all butt-hurt over the 4 NCs in a row already] were all over the place stating how Cael was 'screwing' the fans & his team over [like Sr Matt Brown] by "throwing in the towel".
-Wonder what Sorenson thinks?
Of course, according to same HR rods, even IF those guys were to compete it wouldn't be enough anyway, since the days of ER/DT were past.
-Hypocrites

Any of that ring a bell? Or, are you that new?

Wtf is with posters going on long tangents about something that doesn't follow logically from the post they are quoting. What point are you trying to make man? Reread the post of mine that you quoted and then read your response and tell me how that makes sense?

 

[slushhead]

Wtf is with posters going on long tangents about something that doesn't follow logically from the post they are quoting. What point are you trying to make man? Reread the post of mine that you quoted and then read your response and tell me how that makes sense?