I'd like to hear what all of you think a realistic finish would be for our dudes at the Big 10's. This is my guess.
Shawver: Definitely a top 6 guy. Strength has been his weakness against the top guys, but that will come with maturity and training. My pick: 4th or 5th place.
Olivieri: Gonna go out on a limb here and say he is my dark horse finalist. Realistically, I would say if he wrestles smart, tightens up the defense, and gets a little lower in his stance, he's a real good shot of placing in the top 3-4. My pick: 5th place.
Seabass: Uhhh, how I want to say he is gonna win it in dramatic fashion. But if the stars are aligned, I see him facing Eierman. Don't think Seabass can take this one. I'm praying to God I am so wrong on this, but I just think Eierman is too funky and hard to take down. I will say, I think if Seabass is aggressive enough, he will take it to him. Eierman seems to break when he is pushed. My Pick: 3rd
Mike VanBrill: Well, well, I don't even want to say something, because Harley will blow a gasket and mention me in at least 5 different trailer parks and under a dollar booze insults. If MVB can wrestle with sheer aggression and focus, he can wiin that f*cking thing. My guess is he will wrestle better and more focused and not let last year's NCAA jitters get to him My pick: 5-6th place.
Kanniard: Well, This kid has been a huge head scratch this year. On one side you see him taking down NCAA champ, O' Connor twice, and then you see some flapjack take him off his feet 3 times in a row. If he could live with that honker of his getting bashed in during this tournament, and eating the pain, he could place very high. I think that is wishful thinking on my part, and ultimately think he will win at least one, but lose at least twice. Don't think he will qualify. Had high hopes for him this year. My pick: Non-qualifier
Clark: Saw about 2 to 3 instances where I was like "Oh maybe he read my insults and finally grew a set". But, the last 2 performances have me back to my original thoughts, that he is fried and just doing it to either maintain his pride or his scholarship. He looks visibly defeated out there. A shame. Has all the tools to be great. Instead, I had to watch him like "Oh boy...I got taken down again...and look...there is that piece of gum from last week on saw on the mat". My pick: No chance
Oneill: Another one who thinks the waiting game will score points. He had a hard time countering against marginal wrestlers. Ha! wait till he sees Starocci first round or some other killer. My pick: 1 or 2 and done.
Poz: Uhhh, I feel we have another Scott Winston on our hands ( great kid by the way...Winston). I think Poz has hit a ceiling with strength and potential. I think the 4th last year, was by a driven, powerful, motivated freshman. This year, he looks defeated, not very strong, and lacks that killer instinct he once had. If he is really and truly gravely injured, then I am impressed with him pushing through. I just don't think that is the case. Everyone thinks he is wincing in pain, but that is the way he wrestles because of the one eye. I hope he finds that spark again. My pick: 5th
Bulsak: The kid has a huge mountain to climb and of any RU wrestler, he is the man to do it. If he comes out guns blazing, keeps that defense of his tight as hell, and is aware that other wrestlers know he will throw in legs, then he has every chance of winning this tournament. My pick: 4th
Boone: Kid has heart. Unfortunately its after the match when he wins a squeaker against some mid to low-level wrestler. Just not aggressive, or strong enough to compete in this conference. Gives up too much weight too. He can't sit there like the "Thinker" statue and wait for a move to come to him against Paris, Hilger, Cassiopi, or Steveson. He will get teched or packed in the first period. ...mark my words. My pick: One win at best and No chance of qualifying
Shawver: Definitely a top 6 guy. Strength has been his weakness against the top guys, but that will come with maturity and training. My pick: 4th or 5th place.
Olivieri: Gonna go out on a limb here and say he is my dark horse finalist. Realistically, I would say if he wrestles smart, tightens up the defense, and gets a little lower in his stance, he's a real good shot of placing in the top 3-4. My pick: 5th place.
Seabass: Uhhh, how I want to say he is gonna win it in dramatic fashion. But if the stars are aligned, I see him facing Eierman. Don't think Seabass can take this one. I'm praying to God I am so wrong on this, but I just think Eierman is too funky and hard to take down. I will say, I think if Seabass is aggressive enough, he will take it to him. Eierman seems to break when he is pushed. My Pick: 3rd
Mike VanBrill: Well, well, I don't even want to say something, because Harley will blow a gasket and mention me in at least 5 different trailer parks and under a dollar booze insults. If MVB can wrestle with sheer aggression and focus, he can wiin that f*cking thing. My guess is he will wrestle better and more focused and not let last year's NCAA jitters get to him My pick: 5-6th place.
Kanniard: Well, This kid has been a huge head scratch this year. On one side you see him taking down NCAA champ, O' Connor twice, and then you see some flapjack take him off his feet 3 times in a row. If he could live with that honker of his getting bashed in during this tournament, and eating the pain, he could place very high. I think that is wishful thinking on my part, and ultimately think he will win at least one, but lose at least twice. Don't think he will qualify. Had high hopes for him this year. My pick: Non-qualifier
Clark: Saw about 2 to 3 instances where I was like "Oh maybe he read my insults and finally grew a set". But, the last 2 performances have me back to my original thoughts, that he is fried and just doing it to either maintain his pride or his scholarship. He looks visibly defeated out there. A shame. Has all the tools to be great. Instead, I had to watch him like "Oh boy...I got taken down again...and look...there is that piece of gum from last week on saw on the mat". My pick: No chance
Oneill: Another one who thinks the waiting game will score points. He had a hard time countering against marginal wrestlers. Ha! wait till he sees Starocci first round or some other killer. My pick: 1 or 2 and done.
Poz: Uhhh, I feel we have another Scott Winston on our hands ( great kid by the way...Winston). I think Poz has hit a ceiling with strength and potential. I think the 4th last year, was by a driven, powerful, motivated freshman. This year, he looks defeated, not very strong, and lacks that killer instinct he once had. If he is really and truly gravely injured, then I am impressed with him pushing through. I just don't think that is the case. Everyone thinks he is wincing in pain, but that is the way he wrestles because of the one eye. I hope he finds that spark again. My pick: 5th
Bulsak: The kid has a huge mountain to climb and of any RU wrestler, he is the man to do it. If he comes out guns blazing, keeps that defense of his tight as hell, and is aware that other wrestlers know he will throw in legs, then he has every chance of winning this tournament. My pick: 4th
Boone: Kid has heart. Unfortunately its after the match when he wins a squeaker against some mid to low-level wrestler. Just not aggressive, or strong enough to compete in this conference. Gives up too much weight too. He can't sit there like the "Thinker" statue and wait for a move to come to him against Paris, Hilger, Cassiopi, or Steveson. He will get teched or packed in the first period. ...mark my words. My pick: One win at best and No chance of qualifying