I wish I was more confident. Will need to improve and have the other guys stay stagnant or regress.
2026 NCAA Championship Session V Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
That's not at all true. Cael went after both Blaze and Forrest. Forrest was all but wrapped up to OKST while Smith was still the coach, and yet PSU was still a finalist.
This is a good time for a reminder: Cael's recruiting philosophy is to go get future world champs and NCAAs will take care of itself. Blaze has 2 world titles and a bronze (losing to Ono), and twice made the senior world team. During his 2 senior world trials, he beat: Nico, Lilledahl, Forrest, Gross, Garrett, Fix, Tomasello, Bassett, and Hardy He beat Matt Ramos after Ramos had pinned Lord Spencer. All of this while still in HS.
Blaze was not a wrong choice.
This. It is human nature to keep doing what has worked for you in the past. His losses this season can be helpful in that respect as I think the losses will motivate him to focus on those areas where he needs improvement. Someone else pointed out that he and PJ's struggles involved the top and bottom positions, which tend to be issues with most freshmen. They both also spent a lot of time wrestling freestyle this summer. I don't think the benefits of a Redshirt freshman year can be minimized, even for top wrestlers. The skill level needed to be successful on top and bottom in HS isn't remotely close to what is needed in college. Color me not worried about either one of them.
I really like Blaze but I can be objective. Blaze in the same sense, hasn't score a takedown against devino or seidel in 4 combined matches. And his bottom game is worse right now than devino and seidel. Can't say how he compares to blaze because they didn't wrestle. Seidel should have beaten Jax in the dual meet, but match this weekend wasn't even close. Freestyle is a different beast and those results may be different.
Yes, but Marcus isn't a fellow Pennsylvania Dutchman like Seidel so I don't care.
I'm kidding
Blaze will have a great career. I seem to recall a true freshman 141 pounder who took time to develop offense. I believe his name was Retherford...
I think that will all change next year. Spending another year in the best college room in the nation tends to do that.
There's a reason it's known as the nation's biggest ***-kicking contest.
We should also remember that time Nico couldn't fly home with the team because he was hospitalized after his last match at NCAAs. This might seem like an extreme example, but nearly all of the 330 entrants are extreme examples.
And then there are the guys who get their butts kicked in practice every day for 4 years, just for the opportunity to enter some opens and maybe make a spot start here or there.
Right. Those Ferrari boys do it for the love of the game.
When were you born during the depression. Why not Limburger cheese and sliced onion on rye with mustard wtf already lol
I agree. Marcus is world class and can beat anyone anytime some on here are implying he is a tier below the others which is nonsense
Exactly. Imagine if Marcus took this year off and rs then started next year as a freshman. Big difference
I'm just saying, I knew people (not here) who were whining after Zain lost to Port and Stieber.
The other difference is 149 Zain era was probably less loaded than what Blaze seems likely to face. Nothing against Zain, of course, he would have killed and maimed anyone else anyway
I understand Blaze didn’t score either. My point is that a lot of people are making it sound like he is way behind these guys. He’s not. He’s right there. He’s as close with Davino as is possible. 3 matches and neither guy scored an offensive point
You seem overly aggressive the past two days lol. You okay lol you were much more laid back then previous years. I feel your pain though
I get this, but comparisons to Zain aren't fair to Blaze. Zain's competitiveness was off the charts even by the standards of NCAA champions. FR Zain was a 133 who wrestled up at 141. Also: Zain.Yes, but Marcus isn't a fellow Pennsylvania Dutchman like Seidel so I don't care.
I'm kidding
Blaze will have a great career. I seem to recall a true freshman 141 pounder who took time to develop offense. I believe his name was Retherford...
That said, Zain's offense did explode after shirting, and it wasn't only because he grew into a better weight class. I do think Blaze's offense will improve, but it might be more gradual. RBY is probably a better comparison.
that dude gets that way now, and he used to as well. crazy thing is I think he used to be a mod
I think it's worse when he's drinking
Marcus is am amazingly talented true freshman who we all knew a month ago was going to win nationals against 3 other amazingly talented freshmen. He was so good, wrestles in "OUR" room with "OUR" staff, man a another 4 timer.
The kid DISAPPOINTED us, he must be and will be thrased on this board daily until our hurt feelings and disappointment dissipate or he wins us a title.
And, oh my we might lose the title next year and if not next year definitely the year after.
Penn State wrestling fandom. It's predictability has no mystery.
My post is not directed at you.
Fourth at nationals for a true freshman is an astounding achievement, regardless. Some of us were of the opinion early in the season that he may be (at this point) a step behind Forrest, Blaze, and possibly Seidel in folkstyle. We're all welcome to our opinions, even if others may not agree. I was rooting for him to be atop the podium, doesn't bring me any joy because he finished at NCAAs pretty much where I thought he would.
He's a world-class talent who will get plenty of accolades representing PSU and the USA in the future. And, as another poster pointed out, he doesn't have to prove anything to me. Hoping he finishes his NCAA career one of the best ever.
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My statement that Cael picked Blaze over Forrest and Seidel is based solely on what I recall reading here. The breadth of my NCAA wrestling recruiting knowledge comes from this board. If my statement was incorrect, then it was incorrect.