March MATness baby! All of the work has been done, and now the cream of the crop are gathered in Des Moines for the national tourney. From Matt McDonough to Tony Nelson there are ten returning champs. We've got the Pennsylvania Super Freak, Ed Ruth himself, looking to cap a perfect season with a second championship - whoa onto him who drops his head against Ed for he will smite thee with a cradle. Jordan Oliver would argue that he is the toughest pound-for-pound and he is hoping not to get his heart broken in the finals again this year. Don't forget the Gorilla Killa, Kilgore from Kent State who is sporting a shiny 39-0 record after an Olympic redshirt year. Dylan Ness - the single most exciting wrestler in the NCAA will be bringing fans to their feet at 149. Of course everyone will be looking forward to what will be the final match of the tournament, and I'll call it here: DAKE BEATS TAYLOR!
Will any of it be televised? Opps Never Mind I found it: Television: Sessions 1, 2, 3 on ESPN3 (internet), Sessions 3, 4, 5 on ESPNU, Session 5 on ESPN. Saturday, March 23 Session 5 (Consolation Semifinals, Medal Rounds 3rd-8th): 10:00 am, ESPNU Session 6 (Championship Finals): 7:00 pm, ESPN
As a bad wrestler from a NJ HS (I started too late), I love the sport And with living in the Lehigh Valley, for the last 8 yrs & a Lehigh U season ticket holder. I say Pennsylvania Stand UP Pa has been a hotbed for a long time. Now NCAA - I saw Oliver wrestle in HS, a machine - a man amongst boys. (Pa has some current crop of HS wrestlers that are just as good, if not better, hello Chance Marsteller, Cody Wiercioch, Thomas Haines) But I watch the NCAA every year. Dake v. Taylor is going to be good. I'm saying DT, they have wrestled close every time & from the words of DT last night - this will be a high scoring match...its tough to beat the same guy all the time. Good wrestlers make adjustments. McDonough getting knocked out & Gelolav? OSU, slipping & Nelson hammering him until the end. And yes Ruth is a freak We are Penn State - 3 in a row Congrats to them. Lastly, Go Hamlin
Extremely deep talent in many weight classes this year. Cograts to all the qualifiers. It is such a meat grinder just to qualify, then to get through all the rounds to make it to All-American status, let alone to be a national championship contender....wow! These guys don't get the press coverage or recognition of those players of the some other sports, but IMO they are the best pound for pound athletes in college today.
Agree No other sport is like wrestling. And NCAA wrestling is the most difficult. What other college sport do U have to cut weight, while taking on all the rigors of classes, etc. College for 99.5% of students is class, beer, sex, eating junk food, road trips to friends colleges & Spring Break, usually not in that order. Jeez I want to go back to college now
I haven't had time to watch all of the finals (Through to 125# and the amazing flexibility the kid from Penn St. showed with the cradle position he found himself in. ) but so far it's been WAY entertaining.
