I believe Ben was the first ever to win the first of 4 above 135ish. Both had incredible high school careers.
Dreshaun Ross - Iowa guy
- Thread starter Jimmy Cinnabon
- Start date
You left out Christian Carroll soph @ Wyoming and Cole Mirasola Fr @ Penn State. Both ranked in top ten. There will be quality competition for next 3 years for sure at heavyweight.
I wouldn't say masterful; he's too obvious. He's not even in the same league as a certain unnamed President.
As for Ross, I think the shoulder injury as a sophomore was a big Red Flag, but I think he has bounced back from that very well. I have to root against him his whole career, though, as I do any Iowa kid who leaves the state to wrestle for an Oklahoma or Pennsylvania team. It's a shame, he's a true talent.
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How many times does this have to be said? BK is an average sized heavyweight. Similar to AJ, Yonger, Carroll, Ghadiali, Mirasola. Most of the top 10 is under 240.
Ross will also be about the same size. Size will not be a concern.
Taye is not under 240. He's been 252-255 lately. He was up to 270. Amos is 265 . Ben has been around 236-240. Dreshaun is 230
And he will no longer be taking the hits from football on that shoulder, which has looked to heal up as he has gotten builder and stronger.
My bad, I thought it was reported on this board he was under 240. Point remains. Most top heavyweights are same size as BK or what Ross will be.
Good. So they absolutely should make a separate class for 225 lb wrestlers.
Honest question, has there ever been a "non-elite" athlete go undefeated in HS, win 4 state titles, and be an age level world champion? I didn't watch a ton of BK in high school but every time I watched, sure looked like he was an elite level athlete. Sure, you could say Ross may be a little more athletic but I wouldn't have guessed there was THAT much difference from what I've seen. To me, winning a state title at 160 as a freshman is as impressive, if not more impressive then winning one at 190, 215 or 285. Maybe it's a little different in Iowa but I know I've seen state brackets in those heavier weights that aren't really state caliber skilled wrestlers. I think BK's major issue is the hip. I think most wrestlers in his position would have just taken the redshirt this year and healed up completely. I'm guessing he had to be off the mat for a couple/few months after surgery? You can't give up that much training time at this level. My thoughts are that he decided to wrestle this year for the team.
Carter Happel was a four timer with one career loss and was a cadet world champ. I would say he was a non-elite athlete.
Correct me if I am wrong, but both of them defeated fellow- freshmen for their first state title. Not putting them down, but it does shine a light on the possible quality of competition....
Yes, freestyle success is an argument.
Jimmy Gulibon came to mind when I read your post. 4 timer in PA with a 134-4 record I believe. 74-27 in college.
Ross is better than kueter, end of story. Ross will have more national championships than kueter does top 4 ncaa finishes.
Austin Blythe of Williamsburg was a 4 time finalist at heavy. Won at least 2 and I think 3 times.
Ross did defeat a nationally ranked freshman in the finals his fresh year. Pretty sure he also had a top 100 recruit senior in his weight class (Hagerty) that he beat at some point.
You don't know that. Ross could never be healthy and Ben gets 100% healthy. Ben was an AA as a freshman needing hip surgery. Now he is even worse off wrestling with half his horsepower. Ross has all the talent and ceiling but let me know how he does at this level with one arm at HWT at 230 pounds.
A healthy Kueter can absolutely beat Ross and win an NCAA title. Its amazing how fast some of you are to throw dirt on someone. Yeah its not been a great season for Ben put I believe his resume tells you this season isn't normal. You don't accidently accomplish what Ben has up until this season
Should we go back and call McDonough a fraud because he was the same spot his SR season? Guess that's just who he was huh?
Was Jon Reader just a fraud his JR year and then suddenly his SR year he was untouchable- funny how that worked.
Some of you jack piles are way to quick to finish his book. Also recency bias at its finest in terms of judging their HS resumes and talent.
Ben is closer to Ross
Its not a philosophical question dude relax with your jerkoff response about two people I didn't even mention. Its about ross being better and doing more than kueter will. IMO. End of story. You're just a p*ssy that can't handle what other people's eyes are telling them. Kueter ain't touching ross, you are an idiot.
Learned quite a bit about some of these young heavyweights and their respective styles, that are either in their early years in college or will be coming in.......
In sticking with Ross, he actually does remind me a lot of the classic Iowa attacking mentality that fans believe/thought Iowa wrestling represents. The problem is, I also watch him and think to how Iowa wrestlers "progress", at least right now under the Brands Brothers regime, and I can't help but think that Ross absolutely made the correct decision to go elsewhere.
His style also reminds me of the current PSU folkstyle always looking to score attacking mentality, which I think will fit perfectly with Oklahoma State under Taylor, especially given what we saw against Iowa last week.
He has been challenged by Coby Merrill (older brother Cody is at 197 for OK State) on the freestyle circuit and that's become something of a rivalry, and will be for the next several years with Coby going to Iowa State.
Then there's the "big brother" rival over in Happy Valley as Penn State, or at least their fans based on their comments (and yes they speak for you, our resident PSU fans on HR), feel they're just fine with Mirasola at HWT, especially given that Mirasola was I believe the last or one of the last to beat Ross in any wrestling match. The thing that makes Penn State so difficult to defeat is that if they don't have dominant, monster pin machines, then they excel at freestyle-esque "never-make-the-first-move" counter wrestling. Ross's more aggressive style couldn't get to Mirasola in the matches I watched, which is why I comped that to Iowa vs basically everyone at this point. He'd just own the center circle, body block over and over, occasionally counter, and is good enough to finish when a more aggressive wrestler overextends himself. It was funny watching some of the matches Mirasola has lost this year after watching the way he won in freestyle. He's still young and not as developed as some of the older heavyweights and therefore, when he got behind and was actually forced to go to his offense........he couldn't. Because he's so counter-wrestling as the means to scoring minded.
But wait, say Penn State fans. Just give him a few years (more like one if we're being honest) of that world-famous Penn State "weight training program" that guys like Aaron Brooks and Greg Kirkvliet were on, and he'll be impossible to score on BAU.
So there will be plenty of intrigue at HWT over the next 4 years, and naturally because nobody (outside of this fanbase and school) wants to see Iowa win anymore, and because we're not allowed to have nice things as a fanbase, none of it will involve Iowa.
In sticking with Ross, he actually does remind me a lot of the classic Iowa attacking mentality that fans believe/thought Iowa wrestling represents. The problem is, I also watch him and think to how Iowa wrestlers "progress", at least right now under the Brands Brothers regime, and I can't help but think that Ross absolutely made the correct decision to go elsewhere.
His style also reminds me of the current PSU folkstyle always looking to score attacking mentality, which I think will fit perfectly with Oklahoma State under Taylor, especially given what we saw against Iowa last week.
He has been challenged by Coby Merrill (older brother Cody is at 197 for OK State) on the freestyle circuit and that's become something of a rivalry, and will be for the next several years with Coby going to Iowa State.
Then there's the "big brother" rival over in Happy Valley as Penn State, or at least their fans based on their comments (and yes they speak for you, our resident PSU fans on HR), feel they're just fine with Mirasola at HWT, especially given that Mirasola was I believe the last or one of the last to beat Ross in any wrestling match. The thing that makes Penn State so difficult to defeat is that if they don't have dominant, monster pin machines, then they excel at freestyle-esque "never-make-the-first-move" counter wrestling. Ross's more aggressive style couldn't get to Mirasola in the matches I watched, which is why I comped that to Iowa vs basically everyone at this point. He'd just own the center circle, body block over and over, occasionally counter, and is good enough to finish when a more aggressive wrestler overextends himself. It was funny watching some of the matches Mirasola has lost this year after watching the way he won in freestyle. He's still young and not as developed as some of the older heavyweights and therefore, when he got behind and was actually forced to go to his offense........he couldn't. Because he's so counter-wrestling as the means to scoring minded.
But wait, say Penn State fans. Just give him a few years (more like one if we're being honest) of that world-famous Penn State "weight training program" that guys like Aaron Brooks and Greg Kirkvliet were on, and he'll be impossible to score on BAU.
So there will be plenty of intrigue at HWT over the next 4 years, and naturally because nobody (outside of this fanbase and school) wants to see Iowa win anymore, and because we're not allowed to have nice things as a fanbase, none of it will involve Iowa.
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P.S. why do both the Merrill brothers look EXACTLY like the bad guy from the movie Bloodsport?
If he does both football/wrestling, I say Zero.
Learned quite a bit about some of these young heavyweights and their respective styles, that are either in their early years in college or will be coming in.......
In sticking with Ross, he actually does remind me a lot of the classic Iowa attacking mentality that fans believe/thought Iowa wrestling represents. The problem is, I also watch him and think to how Iowa wrestlers "progress", at least right now under the Brands Brothers regime, and I can't help but think that Ross absolutely made the correct decision to go elsewhere.
His style also reminds me of the current PSU folkstyle always looking to score attacking mentality, which I think will fit perfectly with Oklahoma State under Taylor, especially given what we saw against Iowa last week. The only thing that could potentially work against him in Stillwater is the fact that Cody Merrill is emerging at HWT for the Cowboys and there's already a developing rivalry between the Merrills (with younger brother Coby) and Ross on the freestyle circuit.
Coby is going to Iowa State and Cody is only a RS freshman, so there will be a battle there at HWT for the next 3/4 years, first with Ross trying to be the guy for OK State at that weight, and then having to compete with the Merrill at ISU.
Then there's the "big brother" rival over in Happy Valley as Penn State, or at least their fans based on their comments (and yes they speak for you, our resident PSU fans on HR), feel they're just fine with Mirasola at HWT, especially given that Mirasola was I believe the last or one of the last to beat Ross in any wrestling match. The thing that makes Penn State so difficult to defeat is that if they don't have dominant, monster pin machines, then they excel at freestyle-esque "never-make-the-first-move" counter wrestling. Ross's more aggressive style couldn't get to Mirasola in the matches I watched, which is why I comped that to Iowa vs basically everyone at this point. He'd just own the center circle, body block over and over, occasionally counter, and is good enough to finish when a more aggressive wrestler overextends himself. It was funny watching some of the matches Mirasola has lost this year after watching the way he won in freestyle. He's still young and not as developed as some of the older heavyweights and therefore, when he got behind and was actually forced to go to his offense........he couldn't. Because he's so counter-wrestling as the means to scoring minded.
But wait, say Penn State fans. Just give him a few years (more like one if we're being honest) of that world-famous Penn State "weight training program" that guys like Aaron Brooks and Greg Kirkvliet were on, and he'll be impossible to score on BAU.
So there will be plenty of intrigue at HWT over the next 4 years, and naturally because nobody (outside of this fanbase and school) wants to see Iowa win anymore, and because we're not allowed to have nice things as a fanbase, none of it will involve Iowa.
Cody will NEVER be a HWT. More likely that he's at 184 next year.
Good write up. But I wouldnt shovel dirt on a healthy Kueter. Depsite all those names mentioned above Evil Monkey. I wouldnt be shocked if the NCAA Final next season was say Kueter vs Amos. Really is that open.
Its gonna be a real fun weight class next season
Its gonna be a real fun weight class next season
I can't think of any Brand's coached wrestlers who were injury riddled as underclassmen who suddenly found 100% health as upperclassmen. Can you? Heck even any wrestlers in general that had this happen. The sport is not kind to joints. Ross looks pretty special and he will get great coaching, but I worry about that shoulder too.
I can absolutely see PSU recruit over Mirasola if it doesn't cost them much. But do the really need to?Learned quite a bit about some of these young heavyweights and their respective styles, that are either in their early years in college or will be coming in.......
In sticking with Ross, he actually does remind me a lot of the classic Iowa attacking mentality that fans believe/thought Iowa wrestling represents. The problem is, I also watch him and think to how Iowa wrestlers "progress", at least right now under the Brands Brothers regime, and I can't help but think that Ross absolutely made the correct decision to go elsewhere.
His style also reminds me of the current PSU folkstyle always looking to score attacking mentality, which I think will fit perfectly with Oklahoma State under Taylor, especially given what we saw against Iowa last week.
He has been challenged by Coby Merrill (older brother Cody is at 197 for OK State) on the freestyle circuit and that's become something of a rivalry, and will be for the next several years with Coby going to Iowa State.
Then there's the "big brother" rival over in Happy Valley as Penn State, or at least their fans based on their comments (and yes they speak for you, our resident PSU fans on HR), feel they're just fine with Mirasola at HWT, especially given that Mirasola was I believe the last or one of the last to beat Ross in any wrestling match. The thing that makes Penn State so difficult to defeat is that if they don't have dominant, monster pin machines, then they excel at freestyle-esque "never-make-the-first-move" counter wrestling. Ross's more aggressive style couldn't get to Mirasola in the matches I watched, which is why I comped that to Iowa vs basically everyone at this point. He'd just own the center circle, body block over and over, occasionally counter, and is good enough to finish when a more aggressive wrestler overextends himself. It was funny watching some of the matches Mirasola has lost this year after watching the way he won in freestyle. He's still young and not as developed as some of the older heavyweights and therefore, when he got behind and was actually forced to go to his offense........he couldn't. Because he's so counter-wrestling as the means to scoring minded.
But wait, say Penn State fans. Just give him a few years (more like one if we're being honest) of that world-famous Penn State "weight training program" that guys like Aaron Brooks and Greg Kirkvliet were on, and he'll be impossible to score on BAU.
So there will be plenty of intrigue at HWT over the next 4 years, and naturally because nobody (outside of this fanbase and school) wants to see Iowa win anymore, and because we're not allowed to have nice things as a fanbase, none of it will involve Iowa.
I don't think that's on Brands if a guy is injury prone. I mean Nick Moore was only ever healthy his JR season and he went off. Beat Caldwell and wrestled Taylor tough- as good as anyone not named Dake. Then he was hurt again heading into OKC NCAAs.
More like-Jay Borschel was a stud his Soph season and was very close to winning that title but it was just Keith Gavins year and he and the Michigan kid (forgot the name) were 2a & 2b. His JR year was injury ridden- I think it was a knee ( i forget) & he had a heavy class schedule so it wasn't what he was. Then he came back and got his Natty as a SR
Id compare Bens soph season a bit more to Jays JR but we shall see...
I hope you are correct as I like Ben. I agree it isn't a Brand's thing but more of a wrestling in general thing. Wrestling is just so hard on joints. It seems like we have all been cheated of getting to see guys at the best because of damn injuries. I would have loved to see a healthy Kemdog his whole career. I do agree with your sentiment and would rather be wrong.
And I believe Brands' is also acceptable.
St, John wrestled Taylor pretty tough- Nick Moore?
—Nick Moore, Iowa (TF; 6:42)
—Nick Moore, Iowa (15-0, 2:37)
— Nick Moore, Iowa (MD, 12-3)
— Nick Moore, Iowa (MD, 14-5)
I’d venture to guess the majority of DT’s matches in college ended early. So going 7 min with him is arguably wrestling him pretty tough
Nicks senior year was a monumental gut punch from what we hoped/expected..
Chong Li, played by Bolo Yeung. We used to do the throat slash and heavily accented, “You are necks!” to each other in wrestling practices way back in the day:P.S. why do both the Merrill brothers look EXACTLY like the bad guy from the movie Bloodsport?