Soldier Solute

RockySmith

Senior
Dec 10, 2020
308
860
93
Slide by when its there but main offense from neutral is a single leg attack. And he is very good at it.
If we all agreed all the time, it wouldn’t be very interesting. I agree Drake has a good sweep single as well. It just seems like he goes to his best stuff, that he has the most confidence in, against high level opponents. I’m saying that’s the slide-by. Against Frost, he hit a super slick slide-by, converted it to a single and got the takedown. Textbook. He had great movement, too. Against Davino and Byrd, no takedowns- he looked tight to me. I also agree he doesn't look as solid as the last 2 years, no idea why. He has a bunch of high level matches the rest of the season, so a lot more is going to play out, let’s see if he hits a sweep single on one of those guys.

I’ll stick with my opinion that a few matches against the competition at SS isn’t going to help him later this season against Van Dee, Blaze or Davino. If he was a freshman, yes. Not as a 5th year senior.
 

Johnyt9

Junior
Dec 6, 2020
66
227
33
Drake looks the same in November/ December every year and then turns it on in March
If we all agreed all the time, it wouldn’t be very interesting. I agree Drake has a good sweep single as well. It just seems like he goes to his best stuff, that he has the most confidence in, against high level opponents. I’m saying that’s the slide-by. Against Frost, he hit a super slick slide-by, converted it to a single and got the takedown. Textbook. He had great movement, too. Against Davino and Byrd, no takedowns- he looked tight to me. I also agree he doesn't look as solid as the last 2 years, no idea why. He has a bunch of high level matches the rest of the season, so a lot more is going to play out, let’s see if he hits a sweep single on one of those guys.

I’ll stick with my opinion that a few matches against the competition at SS isn’t going to help him later this season against Van Dee, Blaze or Davino. If he was a freshman, yes. Not as a 5th year senior.
 

Gobblin

Senior
Oct 29, 2011
95
779
82
Maybe an unpopular opinion but I would rather see more starters go at the Soldier Salute and sit against Wisconsin then vice versa. Particularly 133, 157, and 174. The dual won’t be close anyways.

Drake has plenty of tough matches already. Would rather see him work his offense in the tournament. The other two weights, let’s try and settle the 157 and 174 spots and get it over with. Not that my opinion matters.
174lbs has been settled for quite some time.
 

HikeNatParks

Senior
May 12, 2023
151
687
93
let’s try and settle the 157 and 174 spots and get it over with.
Returning troll (mostly silent) and PK fan who always finds the disrespect for this kid amazing. Fourth place at NCAA’s, only losses there to champ Hamiti (by 2) and former champ Haines. Only loss this year to sneaky dangerous Gaitan, and only due to over-aggression, which most prefer over passivity. Your 174 is settled. It belongs to the tough-as-iron kid ranked 3rd in the nation. Troll out.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
803
1,731
93
That's well scouted too. He has basically 2 moves and everyone good takes them away.
Top tier wrestlers are going to defend better against go to moves, just as he does with theirs. If there is something obvious, he will work with the coaches and tweak things. He has a record of winning and by bonus. Without looking up stats, would guess his takedown to being taken down ratio is somewhere around 5:1 in his favor. If all these, you call good, 33s want to write him off, all the better.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,660
5,311
113
Returning troll (mostly silent) and PK fan who always finds the disrespect for this kid amazing. Fourth place at NCAA’s, only losses there to champ Hamiti (by 2) and former champ Haines. Only loss this year to sneaky dangerous Gaitan, and only due to over-aggression, which most prefer over passivity. Your 174 is settled. It belongs to the tough-as-iron kid ranked 3rd in the nation. Troll out.
Good thing we didn’t apply that exact same logic last year at 174, or Kennedy wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to AA.
 
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maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,660
5,311
113
For the record, I love PK. I am just a firm believer in letting them decide it on the mat, preferably in live competition. If the coaches want to do it behind closed doors that’s fine but practice is different in my opinion.
 

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
865
1,677
93
For the record, I love PK. I am just a firm believer in letting them decide it on the mat, preferably in live competition. If the coaches want to do it behind closed doors that’s fine but practice is different in my opinion.
So is being able to beat anyone not wearing an Iowa singlet. That one is the key.
 
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Stick Kitty

All-Conference
Jul 7, 2025
432
1,094
93
Predictions

125: Peterson
133: Ayala
141: Tagg
149: Block
157: Swenson
165: Caliendo
174: Wask
184: Sinclair
197: Novak
HWT: Carroll

Kennedy or Ferrari & Kueter wont wrestle. My gut is the starter at 174/184 sits at whatever weight Gabe goes. My guess 184.
 

chipackhawk

Senior
Jan 10, 2018
386
897
93
For the record, I love PK. I am just a firm believer in letting them decide it on the mat, preferably in live competition. If the coaches want to do it behind closed doors that’s fine but practice is different in my opinion.
Coaches see them every single day. They have wrestled each other so often it would likely go to OT and ride outs. All things being equal here, I'll take the guy who has done it before every single time. Plus, he's earned the right and that should mean something.
 

InTheCircle

All-Conference
Apr 3, 2018
351
1,037
93
That's well scouted too. He has basically 2 moves and everyone good takes them away.
Don’t you mean Byrd and his first match against Davino?
Byrd is a tough hill to climb, because his mat level is so low. Davino and Frost he can adjust to.
It’s evident your unwavering dismay for the Iowa Wrestling program will not end until TnT are gone, which gets tiresome.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
803
1,731
93
Of course he is. Its a win win for him to wrestle Angelo again.
Although McEnally will likely have 2 oppurtunities against Ferrari in Bigs, wouldn't he want another chance at Sinclair? Would likely have semi with Sinclair and final against Ferrari. Come on Gophers, make this happen. BTW, didn't @MitchL ever come over here with the pool?
 
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maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,660
5,311
113
Coaches see them every single day. They have wrestled each other so often it would likely go to OT and ride outs. All things being equal here, I'll take the guy who has done it before every single time. Plus, he's earned the right and that should mean something.

Yep, I am sure familiarity is a factor head to head but that’s the great part of a tournament. Lots of other matches to evaluate.

And has got it done every single time huh? You mean 1/3 times. Let’s not make it seem like PK has been a pillar of consistency.

Sounds like it’s a moot point anyways because the decision is already made. Either way I will root like hell for whoever is out there.
 

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,660
5,311
113
On a different topic, I wonder if the salute happens next year or we see a date change with the national duals falling later.
 

ChicagoHawk2020

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2017
710
1,986
92
Looking forward to watching Iowa’s A, B, and C teams wrestle this weekend. You don’t pull out of Midlands to host your own event and then hold out healthy athletes from competing.
Well, it sounds like that’s exactly what they are going to do.
 
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Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
549
1,650
93
On a different topic, I wonder if the salute happens next year or we see a date change with the national duals falling later.
Pretty sure national duals are the exact same dates as they were this year…
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
803
1,731
93
Well, it sounds like that’s exactly what they are going to do.
To be fair, we should wait and see who wrestles. I think bnicholls said something about starters not going in SS on another thread but don't believe he meant all or a majority. If somebody is on the mend like the obvious BK, they may cut it short or not go at all but I think its more likely a few. One Id really like to see wrestle is Jordan Williams who hasn't been on the mat in awhile. If Brands pulls Ferrari to protect his seed, that's okay with me even though Id like to see him and Sinclair go again and that match alone could give the SS a lot of momentum.