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PSU - Ohio State Dual Thread

Oh my, what Mark Hall just did.
There was a lady in the front row after that scramble, who just turned to her husband and looked at him like how is that even possible and her husband just gave her a nod and a smile and kept his eyes on the mat to make sure he didn’t miss anything else. That’s the appreciation of art and greatness there.
 
Say what you will about Ohio State and Tom Ryan but I think they showed a lot of class. Every single wrestler that I saw, walked to the Penn State bench and shook the coaches' hands after each match. Ryan is sometimes a d*ck, but I think his kids show a lot of class.
Some of us have mentioned this in the past and it held very true tonight. They do have class and I think it starts with their former/current stars. Even in heartfelt defeat.
 
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Interested what people more knowledgeable than me thought about the Nick Lee takedown that was reversed by official? I just rewatched it. Lee clearly had the TD and McKenna didn’t look like he had the whizzer until later.

2 questions..was it a takedown?
Why would official challenge that? I can see if Tan Tom challenges, but the official?
 
Some of us have mentioned this in the past and it held very true tonight. They do have class and I think it starts with their former/current stars. Even in heartfelt defeat.

Perhaps it's because they've had so many opportunities to practice their responses to losing to Penn State that they've perfected it!
 
A few years ago, I clearly remember half of this board up in arms, fretting, even complaining, that PSU always seemed to have the “smaller” kid at a given weight ...

Other teams had giant wrestlers with huge arms & cut bodies. And we looked tiny or even skinny. PSU have often been dwarfed by tOSU & OkieSt wrestlers


Well ...
I think we see Cael’s special sauce in action.

Our kids wrestle lighter. Don’t have to make huge weight cuts. It helps the gas tank. It helps set a break neck pace. It helps recovery week to week. It helps over the grueling long season.

Cael seems to favor “functional fitness” over bodybuilder muscles or shredded dudes.

Third period TDs.
PSU: 12
tOSU: 1


I think our skinny kids with the noodle arms are doing just fine. :rolleyes:
All the whining in January about looking tired, sluggish, what's wrong with (fill in blank).
There is a plan, a process that Cael and the guys believe in, and while there is always tweaking, they build what they need as they go through the year the way they know gets it done.
 
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Even though he got beat by a great wrestler, anybody else really impressed with Manville? For being down like 15 lbs to Martin he fought like hell. I'm not sure how he'll fit into the lineup next year but kudos to him.

Absolutely. I love what he gives the team. Hes a phenomenal backup for 165, 174 and even 184. He fights to the end.

Not sure where he’ll fit in, but I’m sure he’ll find a spot or be a valuable part of the team
 
It's impressive to watch! Is it primarily through wrestling itself that these guys get so well conditioned? What is PSU doing that others are not?
Cael allows them to recover. Every wrestling program works hard, it is part of the sport. Cael and PSU have mastered the art of recovery. Iowa was all about the grind, that is why for a long time they wilted at NCAA's (although that has changed the last few years).

A few weeks ago Askren on the Rudis podcast is talking about PSU being "off" this year. Reality was they were "off" because they were getting their butts kicked in practice. The last two weeks not so much and they looked a lot sharper.

I would expect some sluggishness the next few weekends too, then scale back the rest of the season to be sharp for the post-season.
 
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Even though he got beat by a great wrestler, anybody else really impressed with Manville? For being down like 15 lbs to Martin he fought like hell. I'm not sure how he'll fit into the lineup next year but kudos to him.
One of the announcers said during the match that Martin should go upper body with Manville. Another case of a broadcaster not doing his homework. Why would you want to go upper body with a guy who made the US Senior national Greco Roman team? Talk about asking for trouble.
 
Cael allows them to recover. Every wrestling program works hard, it is part of the sport. Cael and PSU have mastered the art of recovery. Iowa was all about the grind, that is why for a long time they wilted at NCAA's (although that has changed the last few years).

A few weeks ago Askren on the Rudis podcast is talking about PSU being "off" this year. Reality was they were "off" because they were getting their butts kicked in practice. The last two weeks not so much and they looked a lot sharper.

I would expect some sluggishness the next few weekends too, then scale back the rest of the season to be sharp for the post-season.
Lyons - are you assuming or do you really know that is how Cael is running the show?
 
Interested what people more knowledgeable than me thought about the Nick Lee takedown that was reversed by official? I just rewatched it. Lee clearly had the TD and McKenna didn’t look like he had the whizzer until later.

2 questions..was it a takedown?
Why would official challenge that? I can see if Tan Tom challenges, but the official?
It was close. On replay I would have given the takedown. While the match was still in doubt the ref struggled, not quite up to par with the quality of wrestling.
As far as the official chosing to review, the ref looked to side official for a yea or nay and got nothing. Choosing to self review is always an option, but the choice was not self determined - it was done because the OSU bench was barking. The official should have pushed the match forward and if OSU wanted to challenge they should have tossed the brick.
 
Say what you will about Ohio State and Tom Ryan but I think they showed a lot of class. Every single wrestler that I saw, walked to the Penn State bench and shook the coaches' hands after each match. Ryan is sometimes a d*ck, but I think his kids show a lot of class.

I said about how classy the whole Ohio State team was last year while at Rec Hall. Before the meet started Tom Ryan was joking with our student section and would talk to anyone who approached him. The Ohio State kids are probably the classiest group that I see in Rec Hall. It's just too bad Tom turns into a total whiny d*ck during the meets.
 
It was close. On replay I would have given the takedown. While the match was still in doubt the ref struggled, not quite up to par with the quality of wrestling.
As far as the official chosing to review, the ref looked to side official for a yea or nay and got nothing. Choosing to self review is always an option, but the choice was not self determined - it was done because the OSU bench was barking. The official should have pushed the match forward and if OSU wanted to challenge they should have tossed the brick.
It was an important call no doubt but all I kept thinking was I hope they do the challenge quickly....wasnt even thinking about which way the call would go to be honest. I saw Lee breaking him and didnt want a stop in the action.
 
The stall call/point against Verkleeren (end of match) obviously should have been a no-call. It could have, and maybe should have been called against Jordan for running off the mat to gain a new whistle start.
Of course tonight wasn't the first time this year Penn State has had an official whose skill set was over matched by the match atmosphere.

That call was the definition of an official interjection himself into a match. It was a horrible call at a horrible time and basically handed Jordan the match.
 
All the whining in January about looking tired, sluggish, what's wrong with (fill in blank).
There is a plan, a process that Cael and the guys believe in, and while there is always tweaking, they build what they need as they go through the year the way they know gets it done.
Most teams can't continue the pace PSU is setting (seven national championships in eight years) does anyone see this train slowing down or anyone else catching up to us?
 
Say what you will about Ohio State and Tom Ryan but I think they showed a lot of class. Every single wrestler that I saw, walked to the Penn State bench and shook the coaches' hands after each match. Ryan is sometimes a d*ck, but I think his kids show a lot of class.

Agreed. And honestly I’m glad Ryan and Jaggers talk like that. Otherwise it would be a lot harder to root against them. A bunch of good dudes over there.
 
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Even though he got beat by a great wrestler, anybody else really impressed with Manville? For being down like 15 lbs to Martin he fought like hell. I'm not sure how he'll fit into the lineup next year but kudos to him.


Poor Mason. :eek:

His three dual opponents this season:

#3 Evan Wick
#6 Taylor Venz (+2 weight classes)
#1 Myles Martin (+2 weight classes)


Cael should throw him a bone & let him wrestle at his normal weight in front of the Rec Hall crowd at Buffalo, as a “thank you”.
 
Even though he got beat by a great wrestler, anybody else really impressed with Manville? For being down like 15 lbs to Martin he fought like hell. I'm not sure how he'll fit into the lineup next year but kudos to him.
Don't be surprised if he takes an Olympic shirt next year. He's already eligible, and as a Greco specialist there's not a lot of crossover with varsity folkstyle practices.
 
Poor Mason. :eek:

His three dual opponents this season:

#3 Evan Wick
#6 Taylor Venz (+2 weight classes)
#1 Myles Martin (+2 weight classes)


Cael should throw him a bone & let him wrestle at his normal weight in front of the Rec Hall crowd at Buffalo, as a “thank you”.
Hoping maybe we see Nevills vs Buffalo too (assuming AC’s 6th year is a lock).
 
I like to keep score during the matches, thus I have a pen with me at all times. After the match, we were near the team yet in the stands and Sandy Barbour was with the team on the floor. I wanted to throw her my pen and tell her to use it right then to sign Cael's contract extension.
 
A personal recap...

- A wonderful dinner, pre-match, with about a hundred fellow fans...Schmidt’s German Restaurant...fourth time there, over the years. Great spot for large groups.
- Arrived at St. John’s early. Watched half a dozen of the wrestlers running pass plays and kicking field goals with a foam cube. FUN.
- Wrestling stuff has been discussed, at length. It was special being there. 50 or so PSU students there too, tucked in the corner of the arena, loud and proud with their white Pom-poms and dress-alike t-shirts just for the dual. Even sang, shoulder-to-shoulder, Penn State’s Alma Mater when the dual was over.
- Back to the wrestling. RBY and Lee took the steam out of the home crowd, winning bouts they were not favored to win, in a hostile environment. That’s a true freshman and a true sophomore, folks! Jason, Cenzo, Mark, Bo, and Anthony did their thing, all bonus point wins. And Jarod, Mason, and Devin fought the whole 7 minutes, total effort.
- Special thank you to the pro-Buckeye crowd for clearing out early. By the end of Schnuop’s bout, it was an easy walk through St. John’s, then to our bus, and lastly, departing the area heading away from the arena. :);)
 
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Spyker authored the 3inch binder. The Duckeyes are working on mastering handfight to the end and then win with a last second duck under. Also train, train, train and train more until you hate the sport.
Sounds too close to “Buckeyes”, though I know who this is directed at. Ryan wrestled every starter last evening. Fair and balanced...kudos to the Buckeyes.
 
It's impressive to watch! Is it primarily through wrestling itself that these guys get so well conditioned? What is PSU doing that others are not?
I think the way the guys wrestled last night gives credence to the idea of the team hyper-training at some point in the season. Our guys looked sluggish for the Nebraska dual this year, for the Michigan dual last year. It sure does seem like at some point our guys work extra hard, which pays big dividends at the end of the season. Can't remember a time when up and down the line-up all our guys looked so good (except maybe last year's tOSU dual!).

Note: After reading to the end of this thread, I see that others have chimed in similarly.
 
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Roar, hope you and the traveling show of fans have a safe trip back to Happy Valley.

One other note, there were a large group of 20 to 30 students or younger (College age) fans in the upper deck. Wow were they heard around the arena with their Penn State Cheers.

Tom, thanks for your play by play.
 
Roar, hope you and the traveling show of fans have a safe trip back to Happy Valley.

One other note, there were a large group of 20 to 30 students or younger (College age) fans in the upper deck. Wow were they heard around the arena with their Penn State Cheers.

Tom, thanks for your play by play.
Thanks for everything, if you get my drift :). Very thoughtful.

As for the students, there were 50 or so, and they arrived together on a bus.
 
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Cael allows them to recover. Every wrestling program works hard, it is part of the sport. Cael and PSU have mastered the art of recovery. Iowa was all about the grind, that is why for a long time they wilted at NCAA's (although that has changed the last few years).

A few weeks ago Askren on the Rudis podcast is talking about PSU being "off" this year. Reality was they were "off" because they were getting their butts kicked in practice. The last two weeks not so much and they looked a lot sharper.

I would expect some sluggishness the next few weekends too, then scale back the rest of the season to be sharp for the post-season.
I would not be surprised if they are made to wrestle tired the next two dual meets. Then as you say things will lighten up headed towards big ten champ. They will begin the recovery cycle and start climbing to a major peak Through big 10 tournament and on to nationals.

You can’t be at peak all the time. There are troughs that are planned and wrestlers are expected to wrestle the best they can through these difficult troughs. There are performance cycles.

Nick Lee got beat in the trough and others looked off but you can see what happens on the up cycle. See Ohio State for example.
 
Interested what people more knowledgeable than me thought about the Nick Lee takedown that was reversed by official? I just rewatched it. Lee clearly had the TD and McKenna didn’t look like he had the whizzer until later.

2 questions..was it a takedown?
Why would official challenge that? I can see if Tan Tom challenges, but the official?
McKenna looked like he inserted the half whizzer after the fact. Yes.
 
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I think it's interesting how this team rises and falls as a team, more so than even other PSU teams. They were flat across the board the last few times out but last night you got the sense that after RBY won, it was going to be a long night for tOSU because everyone was going to match RBY's level and they did. Whether that's because the flu has been running through the team, or because of the staff's conditioning plan--they could be contributing factors--I tend to think it's because the wrestlers are really keyed into each other and feed off each others' performances.
 
Lyons - are you assuming or do you really know that is how Cael is running the show?
I am assuming. It is based upon what I know about S&C and the info that leaks out over the years. Against Michigan last year they looked sluggish, we later find out they had a very hard week at practice.

Iowa was always about the grind, the toughest survived. They could do that because they had more talent. Cael altered that equation in terms of talent and a more modern approach to managing workload.
 
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