Well, last year, they went 8-1 in medal matches. AA’d ten guys and started the tourney like 20-0.
That is a tough train to derail and it’s not slowing down.
What we need to do is focus on punching guys through to the semis at a high rate and I think the work starts turning?
So no, by the numbers, you aren’t crazy. If we have guys drop a match in the first two rounds, they better run back through the backside with lots of bonus. Think of Coleman’s 3rd place finish at NCAAs as an example.
In two seasons (barring the unforeseen,) we will be pretty stout!
25- Zinkin, Nacho and Ronnie (if he’s not outgrown it already.)
33- Ronnie and Raney
41- Vega and Jax
49- Raney and Jax
57- Robideau
65- Dee
74- Routledge
84- Ryder
97- Merrill
285- Ross
That is some serious firepower and it’ll still be tough to beat them.
EXACTLY. I am not here to disparage anyone on our team. The issue we face is we are not just competing against a great team in Penn State. We are competing against a program that is a threat to set a new national scoring record at the NCAA tournament every year. No one has ever faced this problem.
I look at that lineup you created. It looks amazing. The wrestlers I am most excited about - Vega, Robideau, Lockett, and Forrest. Next would be Raney and Ross.
Then I think about what Penn State has. The following wrestlers on their roster are sophomores or younger: Barr, Blaze, Desmond, Duke, Lilledahl, Mirasola, Mirasola, Sealy, and Walsh.
Plus all the other guys that are juniors this year that block our best guys for two years - Messinbrink at 165 ahead of Lockett is the best example. And their 2027 recruiting class where they will completely reload.
We could field some all-time great Cowboy teams and not beat them. Everyone has to make the semi-finals like you said, it seems. Insanity.
Here is one crazy illustration. If Jax Forrest faces Marcus Blaze and Ono each of the next 4 years for the title at 141 - who would be the Vegas odds favorite to win?