2026 NCAA Championship Session VI Thread

o_BruceK-PSU83

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2021
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Angel Rivera did it to RBY in the national finals a few years ago.
Hated those stall calls at the time because they were so inconsistent (and still are) with how stalling is normally called late in a college wrestling match. But if calling a stall that way became the standard, college wrestling would be improved.
 

El_Jefe

Heisman
Oct 11, 2021
3,274
12,878
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Why did the NCAA decide to allow finger grabbing? The sport is looking for more action, and they gave wrestlers another stalling tool.
Literally because NCAA Wrestling thought it was too hard to call.

One of our best posters on BSD dug this up from the last year's Rules Committee:

l. Interlocking Fingers in Neutral Position (Rule 5.8.1). (1) Recommendation. To eliminate the Interlocking Fingers in Neutral Position infraction. (2) Effective date. Immediately. (3) Rationale. This situation can naturally occur during a wrestling match and the referee is currently tasked with calling a stalemate on the first offense and then penalizing a wrestler for stalling for subsequent violations. It is both challenging and difficult, if not impossible, for the referee to ascertain which wrestler initiated this position and with the current rule, may result in a wrestler being unfairly penalized.

Only a committee full of smart people couldn't foresee the new incentive for strategic stalling.

Also, freed from the burden of having to identify finger-lacing violations, the refs forgot what a takedown is.
 

El_Jefe

Heisman
Oct 11, 2021
3,274
12,878
113
So bummed for SVN. After he got that first takedown to essentially tie the match if memory serves me I thought he was going to roll, but it just didn’t happen. The blood timeouts were ashame because his gas tank always has him owning the 3rd period. With Bassett coming in next year, likely at 149 and possibly a Vega move up or even Jax jump, a national title next year will be even more tough sledding than this year I’m afraid.
Bassett will go 141. Gaj (5th at 149 this year) and Henson 149/157 in whichever order.

If Bassett goes 149, then either Gaj sits or somebody needs to eat their way up to 165, which isn't likely.
 

mh-larch

Senior
Nov 20, 2019
262
578
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Very happy and grateful for the team's performance and finish, but bittersweet in some ways, especially for for SVN (and also PJ). Shayne is one of my favorites and just wish he could have finished on some of his shots and ended up in this photo. I noticed he still did his trademark bow, even in defeat.

P.S. As posted earlier, Trumble is a mountain of a man - wow! 😲

2026 Champions.png
 

El_Jefe

Heisman
Oct 11, 2021
3,274
12,878
113
I'm a novice at wrestling and not as astute as most on this board. My observation this weekend is that nearly every Penn State opponent looked bigger and stronger than the Penn Stater. Is this by design since quickness may be more important than size and strength? This was so obvious in the Rocco Welch final match. The opponent looked like a heavyweight compared to Rocco.
This was probably answered elsewhere so SIAP but:

It's far easier to manage weight when you're closer to the target weight. And with that comes more energy and a bigger gas tank. This is especially true during a multi-day tournament, just ask Bouzakis. There is the risk of being outweighed during the finals, OTOH 310 wrestlers this weekend weren't outweighed during the finals.

The differences with the national finals are that Day 3 weigh-ins are long before the finals matches, and nobody needs to make weight on Sunday. Everybody will be on full feed and full hydration. Those physical differences will be much more pronounced in the finals. But these guys all train with heavier teammates anyway, so it sounds worse than it is.
 

HOA242n!

Senior
Aug 18, 2025
221
550
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I'm a novice at wrestling and not as astute as most on this board. My observation this weekend is that nearly every Penn State opponent looked bigger and stronger than the Penn Stater. Is this by design since quickness may be more important than size and strength? This was so obvious in the Rocco Welch final match. The opponent looked like a heavyweight compared to Rocco.
McEnelly is a big dude, clearly, based on the picture with all the champions. He looked to be physically bigger than Barr. He's also a freak athlete, incredibly explosive and has fantastic feet. From a pure size and athleticism perspective, IMO he's in a league of his own in the 184 weight class.

I've noticed the same. Even the guys who supposedly have a brutal cut (Duke) still don't look big at all for their weight class.
 

tullfan68

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2021
763
1,012
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Literally because NCAA Wrestling thought it was too hard to call.

One of our best posters on BSD dug this up from the last year's Rules Committee:



Only a committee full of smart people couldn't foresee the new incentive for strategic stalling.

Also, freed from the burden of having to identify finger-lacing violations, the refs forgot what a takedown is.
LOL the ref is right there watching I am sure he can see who grabbed fingers!
 

tullfan68

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2021
763
1,012
93
Very happy and grateful for the team's performance and finish, but bittersweet in some ways, especially for for SVN (and also PJ). Shayne is one of my favorites and just wish he could have finished on some of his shots and ended up in this photo. I noticed he still did his trademark bow, even in defeat.

P.S. As posted earlier, Trumble is a mountain of a man - wow! 😲

View attachment 1227055
Shane had that kid gasses and quit shooting in the 3rd and OT!all on him!
 
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Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
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McEnelly is a big dude, clearly, based on the picture with all the champions. He looked to be physically bigger than Barr. He's also a freak athlete, incredibly explosive and has fantastic feet. From a pure size and athleticism perspective, IMO he's in a league of his own in the 184 weight class.

I've noticed the same. Even the guys who supposedly have a brutal cut (Duke) still don't look big at all for their weight class.
Minto looks like he could still fill out a ton. Incredibly rangy. He could have a great freestyle career as well. Stalls like a mug but a lot to work with
 

darkknight

Sophomore
Jun 11, 2023
59
120
33
Funny story. I took my daughter to visit Case Western, which has a good pre-med program. It would be a potential safety school for her. When we arrived and looked around, including the campus, she turned to me before our official visit started and said, "Dad, can we go? I don't like this town." I rebooked flights, and we were gone. LOL.
 

donboy6499

All-Conference
Jun 9, 2025
739
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To play devil's advocate:

Barr might go 92 kg / 202.4 lb freestyle this year, but his Olympic weight is 97 kg / 213 lb. His optimal weight for that will be cutting down from around 230. Cassar weighed 228. Snyder is typically in the 235 range outside competition (and is 5-11, short for a HWT).

He is currently cutting down from 210-ish to 197.

Looking at the landscape: with Bastida and Trumble and Ghadiali all gone, who are the good 250+ HWTs? 6-seed Taylor is probably the best of them -- he went 1-2 after losing in Round 1 and then losing to 1-legged Feldman (himself not a giant).

Doesn't mean Barr will do it, but it's not a crazy idea.
It’s not at all.

I don’t believe Penn State has had a guy stay 4 years at 197 yet? Correct me if wrong.

Again, like you said, don’t know how likely. But it wouldn’t be crazy if they think it’s best for the kid and the team.
 

District 4

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2018
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Buckle up - Okie State is coming whether we like it or not. Looking forward to some fun battles over the next 5 years!
Oh No Wtf GIF by LilLetsOfficial
 
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Jan 6, 2018
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OK I’ll bite…as a parent, I’d want my son to be humble, appreciative and grateful as opposed to arrogant, shooting 37 imaginary arrows and vain. Just my two cents about ā€œnot much about Forrest not to like.ā€
A Cowboy shooting arrows is a freshman error, DT will coach him up on using pistols.
 

District 4

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2018
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I just dont get all this they are coming stuff. They were pretty bad so of course they would improve. But some act like PSU is going to rest easy. PSU will get plenty of the top recruits. The fertile grounds where PSU sits is going to produce top talent.

Also, coaching on the mat is not the total job. There are going to be issues to deal with. That is something the PSU coaches have done pretty well.
I have a feeling there is drama coming for okie state let's see how they deal with that. Their program seems a little loose compared to some
 
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District 4

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2018
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I just want to point out that the stall call on Levi with like 15 seconds left was laughable.

At NO point in that ENTIRE match did Levi ever back away from Minto. He was squared up and generally within reach for the entire match, and was even still angling for a potential clinching shot if a good, sharp one became available.

It didn't matter, of course, but the lack of consistency is driving me absolutely nuts
Well the refs are consistently bad so there is some consistency lol
 

District 4

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2018
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I am as big of a Penn State fan as anyone on this board, but if you don't see Ok. State as a legitimate contender in the years to come, you are kidding yourself. I believe they just put 4 freshman in the finals. They are going to keep getting better, as well. I agree that they had a dream tournament and still lost by 50, but they are pretty good and I think they are going to be very competitive with us for years to come.
I think most are not kidding themselves but rather are realistic. I could say the same about sll those proclaiming okie state as an immediate threat. Cael has done this for 15 plus years dt has completed his second year. He put 3 freshman in the finals only 2 of which are a legit threat as duke got hosed and will pound rob a duke in the dirt if rob a duke ever gets that far again. What we have that okie state doesnt have is legit threats up and down the line up not just a few weights I'll believe it when i see it as far as okie state catching us. Don't get me wrong i dont think we blow everyone out by 100 points anymore but we will win comfortably in my opinion. One other thing, the climb by virginia tech will add another wrinkle to all of this as they will also have a few hammers like okie state
 

Scam likely

Senior
Nov 3, 2022
297
602
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This was probably answered elsewhere so SIAP but:

It's far easier to manage weight when you're closer to the target weight. And with that comes more energy and a bigger gas tank. This is especially true during a multi-day tournament, just ask Bouzakis. There is the risk of being outweighed during the finals, OTOH 310 wrestlers this weekend weren't outweighed during the finals.

The differences with the national finals are that Day 3 weigh-ins are long before the finals matches, and nobody needs to make weight on Sunday. Everybody will be on full feed and full hydration. Those physical differences will be much more pronounced in the finals. But these guys all train with heavier teammates anyway, so it sounds worse than it is.
Who was that giant mark hall had to wrestle in the finals?
 
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