'25 Ironman Tournament (12/12-14) thread

[Psalm 1 guy]

165 pound Final- #2 Jayden James vs. #1 Melvin Miller (BIMC)

Period 1:
Here's a match many of us have been waiting for. The announcer just called this the biggest match of the season. Let's hope it lives up to the billing. Here we go! Circling & shoulder tapping. James reaches, but can't get there. Circling, fakes & shoulder tapping again. Miller drops to both knees & looks for an underhook, but no luck. Tying up & hand fighting now. Miller goes back to both knees & tries another underhook. James dives in on an ankle, but Miller kicks away. Out of bounds & restart. Miller goes back to the underhook from both knees, then they work back to their feet. More circling & measuring each other out to end the period. 0-0

Period 2:
Miller takes down. James tries a suck back, then works back behind. Miller tries a switch, but James blocks him off. Miller works for the escape, 1-0. James shoots a head outside high-c & gets in deep. Miller gets an ankle too, then the toe & it's stopped for PD, neutral restart, 1-min left. James inches forward. Miller goes underhook to far ankle pick for the TD, 4-0, then he cuts James, 4-1. Out of bounds & neutral restart. James presses forward. James takes a wild shot & gets to a foot, but Miller kicks free. They're both down on their knees & time expires. 4-1 Miller

Period 3:
James takes down. He works to a quadpod, then kicks free for the escape, 4-2. Circling & hand fighting. Miller goes back to the ankle pick from an underhook, but can't finish. Miller shoots, James counters & hits a fireman's for the TD, 5-4. Out of bounds & restart. Miller is still down, 1:10-left. A bit of a scramble & Miller gets the escape, 5-5. James shoots, Miller down blocks & they go out of bounds, 47-sec left. James creeps forward & takes Miller to the edge. James takes Miller out & Miller finally gets a stall warning. Neutral restart, 26-sec left. James shoots & gets a leg, but Miller fights out of it. James takes Miller to the edge & shoots, but they go out of bounds, 7-sec left. James comes forward again & time expires. 5-5

SV:
James shoots, but Miller blocks him off. Miller drives forward looking for the underhook again. James uses an overhook to hit a throw by, then comes behind for the TD & the 8-5 WIN!!! This definitely lived up to the billing. What a match!!!!

Jayden James DEC Melvin Miller 8-5 (SV)

Jayden James takes 1st Place!

Me looking forward to watching James compete at Penn State:

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

 

[NoVaLion]

Those two are REALLY good and REALLY fast. Going to have some epic battles if they end up at the same weight in college. If they are at different weights then everyone else needs to look out because they are both going to beat a lot of very good wrestlers. Either way they are both fun to watch.

 

[Headlock]

Me looking forward to watching James compete at Penn State:

You do know the truth!!

 

[LB99]

In the immortal words of the Gunner (Old Pittsburgh Pirate announcer)...We had 'em all the way!!!!

Or Lanny Frattare’s “The was nooooo doubt about it”.

 

[LB99]

Wonder who goes for us next year at 174? Some super options between James, Henkel, possible MM?

Or Duke? Lots of options.

 

[FlyingLion]

James looks like a 17 year old physically, lots of room to develop, which is something Cael looks for in a recruit. Means he isn't winning by out horsing high school kids. Think he will be at least a 174 in college.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't redshirt next year. He is younger than all the top recruits in his class and some for 27. Aside from that, PSU shouldn't need any help at his weight next year.

 

[LB99]

Have they run out of tires to flip at the compound?

Shoveling snow this morning. I wonder if Brands came to help?

 

[LB99]

So dumb that Melvin vs Jayden isn’t the last match. I know Bo is the most popular hs wrestler so I understand it but James vs Miller is THE match everyone wants to see

I may get grief for this, but I am just soo tired of the constant Bo hype. There are so many talented HS wrestlers out there. Flo and others are doing Bo a disservice IMO with the constant glazing of Bo.

 

[LB99]

James looks like a 17 year old physically, lots of room to develop, which is something Cael looks for in a recruit. Means he isn't winning by out horsing high school kids. Think he will be at least a 174 in college.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't redshirt next year. He is younger than all the top recruits in his class and some for 27. Aside from that, PSU shouldn't need any help at his weight next year.

You have a good point. Just food for thought. Kasak and Haines were both age appropriate for their recruiting class, as well, and they both did pretty well as true freshman in the starting lineup. They also had a year of training in the NLWC and M2 under their belt prior to that, but skill/talent will still win out.

 

[Biffkin]

OkST has got a good one in White. His athleticism is off the charts. Beautiful doubles and ankle picks. Kid is a problem. Incredible tournament. He beat Aaron Stewart, Jimmy mastny, and Betz in a row. Betz beat #1 Waters in the semis so White will most likely be ranked #1 next week

Yes, great get for DT. Nobody stopped his double, even when they knew it was coming, Kid is a 190lb version of JB.

 

[LB99]

I have a question for those in the know. When Bo wrestled in PJWs as a youth, did he wrestle up in age classes? I’m curious, because my buddies nephew wrestled him in PJWs and he is now in his second year of college and Bo is still in HS, so either Bo wrestled up in age or is really pushing the PIAA age limit for eligibility.