Is anyone else concerned….

nerfstate

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2021
519
1,926
93
…that we have 4 Freshman starting on Friday in their first meaningful college folkstyle team dual? Even Mark Hall lost his first match.
I mean, stuff happens. But Marcus beat the number one ranked NCAA kid as a high school junior, PJ beat a 4-time NCAA champ twice in the same day, and Conner and Cole both have redshirt seasons in the best room in the world, and high-level experience from last year. I think it will be be ok.
 

Goggles Paisano

All-Conference
Feb 6, 2018
537
1,310
93
I have only the very slightest amount of concern for the Oklahoma wrestlers who will be taken to the woodshed right out of the gate to start the season.

I also have concern that Blaze and Duke's accent up wrestlestat rankings in November & December could cause a whiplash injury.
 

GoPSU97

Junior
Oct 11, 2022
143
380
63
You have to figure that Cael evaluated these guys in the room and feels that they are ready, if they were not, then you don't need to redshirt guys. It's not like we suffer from a lack of talent in the room
 

NittanyChris

Senior
Dec 3, 2001
198
732
93
…that we have 4 Freshman starting on Friday in their first meaningful college folkstyle team dual? Even Mark Hall lost his first match.
No No No GIF
 

Headlock

Senior
Dec 28, 2023
450
857
93
I am concerned because any match can go either way and the referee doesn't care who wins. Getting a six pack.
 

CowbellMan

Junior
Feb 1, 2024
157
356
63
Blaze, Duke and the Mirasolas? Not concerned.
Me neither, but be aware of the 1st time with the blue singlet on in front of the home crowd. It often creates some nerves gassing. Not Gas Tank Gary….more like a one time thing.

On the other hand, a big win can get a big Mitchell Mesenbrink style smile when he 1st heard the roar of a huge crowd like “whoa….this is cool!”
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,268
3,532
113
…that we have 4 Freshman starting on Friday in their first meaningful college folkstyle team dual? Even Mark Hall lost his first match.
I don't have any concern, but I'm really not going to be surprised by the Googles-led meltdown here on Friday night.
Blaze will probably handle Charmoli, but I'm expecting Oklahoma to show well in a few matches:
  • Nagao will have his hands full with Wells. I will be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't.
  • Hipolito is a tough opener for anyone, even PJ. I expect PJ to win, but not easily. If he hasn't put it away by the 3rd, it will get dicey.
  • Parker/Mirasola could be up for grabs in the 3rd. But I'd expect Connor to win.
I think we'll lose one of the above 3. It would be nice if we didn't lose any, but we could still lose all 3 and I wouldn't press any panic buttons if we did. They would all be pretty reasonable results. Of course, even if we didn't lose any there will be some bitchin' here if they are all not bonus wins, lol.

I could have added Cole Mirasola to the above, but I'm expecting him to put on a performance and pick up bonus precisely because that is the match that Googles probably thinks we lose. I'm bullish on Cole.
 

Joejitsu

Sophomore
Jun 10, 2025
156
176
43
even if all four freshman were to lose...
125 Luke wins 3-0
133 Blaze loses 3-3
141 Nagao win 6-3
149 SVN wins 9-3
157 PJ loses 9-6
165 Mitch wins12-6
174 Levi wins 15-6
184 Rocco wins18-6
197 Connor loses 18-9
hvy Cole loses 18-12

and it wouldn't even be that close. Now way that Mitch, Luke, Levi, SVN are all held without bonus points
plus... i think it is even less likely that PJ and Blaze both lose~

TBH.. this feels like a blow out!
 

Joejitsu

Sophomore
Jun 10, 2025
156
176
43
I don't have any concern, but I'm really not going to be surprised by the Googles-led meltdown here on Friday night.
Blaze will probably handle Charmoli, but I'm expecting Oklahoma to show well in a few matches:
  • Nagao will have his hands full with Wells. I will be pleasantly surprised if he doesn't.
  • Hipolito is a tough opener for anyone, even PJ. I expect PJ to win, but not easily. If he hasn't put it away by the 3rd, it will get dicey.
  • Parker/Mirasola could be up for grabs in the 3rd. But I'd expect Connor to win.
I think we'll lose one of the above 3. It would be nice if we didn't lose any, but we could still lose all 3 and I wouldn't press any panic buttons if we did. They would all be pretty reasonable results. Of course, even if we didn't lose any there will be some bitchin' here if they are all not bonus wins, lol.

I could have added Cole Mirasola to the above, but I'm expecting him to put on a performance and pick up bonus precisely because that is the match that Googles probably thinks we lose. I'm bullish on Cole.
agreed... some of the matches will be closer than the final score! 32-3 final
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,268
3,532
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Have you seen my KYPSW????

The only melt down I will have, is choosing too few bonus.



My only listed loss is Sealy, and I struggled a lot with that.

I have not seen your KYPSW, but if Sealy wrestles Hipolito, I would agree that is a loss and I have no struggle saying that. Could he win, yes, but I would bet on Hipolito every time right now.
 

Cstroke

Senior
Feb 10, 2019
288
842
93
These times are a bit different than Mark Hall's time..
That was a big deal that Mark wrestled, we assumed he was college ready but unless you were really plugged in there were questions.
 

Goggles Paisano

All-Conference
Feb 6, 2018
537
1,310
93
Bo and Carter both lost to guys early they shouldn't have. Heck Washington tossed Carter to his back and he nearly came back and salvaged the match.

I think this generation of highschool Uber elites are slightly different animals than Bo and even Carter's time, given the crazy competitive freestyle resumes they already possess. They have cut their teeth against some of the best in the world, for a several years already. Super 32, Fargo, WN1 and States are all intense, but multiple world medals mature the skills even more.

Both Blaze and Duke could experience some growing pains, but I wouldn't bet on it. That said, admittedly, I felt the same way about Lilledahl last year. I still think he was the best 125 in the nation last year, and it just barely slipped away at Nationals. He will avenge!
 
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jack66

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
3,299
3,011
113
Not concerned, but getting off the bottom is always an unknown for Freshmen.

It definitely cost Luke one of his losses last year.
 
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