Wyoming Finishes 5th at Big 12 Championships

[MrTitleist]

http://wyonation.com/2017/03/wyoming-finishes-fifth-at-big-12-championships/

The Wyoming wrestlers competed at the Big 12 championships this past weekend. Write-up on that above.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Good write up. The amazing thing is that Oklahoma State put 10 out of 10 guys into the Big 12 finals. That is unbelievable.

The only thing that I disagree with is that, realistically, Tribble and Pope won't even be considered for an at-large spot. Colgan deserves an at large spot based on how he performed this year and based upona bit of an unlucky draw in the consolation semi-finals in the Big 12s; however, at large draws have not been kind to Wyoming in the past.

 

[MrTitleist]

That's the benefit of the Big 12.. we get some of the benefit of the doubt. I'm in agreement that Pope and Tribble are probably "out" as far as at-larges go, but who knows. And I also agree, Colgan should be in. A 15-0 tech fall in the consolation finals will help him.

 

[Triple-WY]

Wrestlers are selected for the NCAA tourney based on winning percentage, RPI, and the Coaches Poll. Archie Colgan- He finished ranked number 18 in the last coaches poll with an RPI of 11 (was 8 in the previous RPI). That is the highest RPI on the Cowboy squad (Ashworth's RPI is 14, Meredith's RPI is 15, Mendenhall 23, and Templeman did not make the top 33). With that, I am confident Colgan will be selected.
*Coaches Poll- Released four times a year. The fourth and final should be released in about a week.

OSU- Yes, incredible program. They had a top 10 nationally ranked wrestler in every weight class (according to the Coaches Poll) except one....their 125 class wrestler was ranked number 11. Compare that to UW-a very decent squad- that had one ranked in the top 10 (Meredith).

UVU- Not sure what happened to them.....they wrestled UW even (UW won in a tie breaker) and beat NDSU late in the year at NDSU. A program that really looked like it was coming on though finished ahead of only AFA at the B12 championship.

UW- I am disappointed to see NDSU and SDSU move solidly ahead of UW. I really thought the Pokes had the potential to be a top 3 B12 program....maybe top two. Believe Branch stated earlier this the year that he thought the Pokes will compete really well as a dual team next year; hope they start climbing the ladder.

Link to RPI and Coaches Poll:
http://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2017-02-23/college-wrestling-di-qualifier-allocations-2017-championships

 

[LanderPoke]

B12 was a tough conference this year indeed. Possibly the #2 conference behind the B1G.

I, too, am pretty sure Colgan will get an at-large..

 

[LanderPoke]

Wrestlers are selected for the NCAA tourney based on winning percentage, RPI, and the Coaches Poll. Archie Colgan- He finished ranked number 18 in the last coaches poll with an RPI of 11 (was 8 in the previous RPI). That is the highest RPI on the Cowboy squad (Ashworth's RPI is 14, Meredith's RPI is 15, Mendenhall 23, and Templeman did not make the top 33). With that, I am confident Colgan will be selected.
*Coaches Poll- Released four times a year. The fourth and final should be released in about a week.

OSU- Yes, incredible program. They had a top 10 nationally ranked wrestler in every weight class (according to the Coaches Poll) except one....their 125 class wrestler was ranked number 11. Compare that to UW-a very decent squad- that had one ranked in the top 10 (Meredith).

UVU- Not sure what happened to them.....they wrestled UW even (UW won in a tie breaker) and beat NDSU late in the year at NDSU. A program that really looked like it was coming on though finished ahead of only AFA at the B12 championship.

UW- I am disappointed to see NDSU and SDSU move solidly ahead of UW. I really thought the Pokes had the potential to be a top 3 B12 program....maybe top two. Believe Branch stated earlier this the year that he thought the Pokes will compete really well as a dual team next year; hope they start climbing the ladder.

Link to RPI and Coaches Poll:
http://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2017-02-23/college-wrestling-di-qualifier-allocations-2017-championships

This is the best I've ever seen both. SDSU especially has an awesome team this year. I bet both come back down to earth in a couple years.

Side note - UW's Montorrie Bridges won the National Collegiate Open wrestling tourney this year - which is a defacto national championship for redshirting wrestlers. pretty big accomplishment. We'll have him to replace Templeman, or maybe he'll be at 133 lbs.

 

[Triple-WY]

Wrestlers are selected for the NCAA tourney based on winning percentage, RPI, and the Coaches Poll. Archie Colgan- He finished ranked number 18 in the last coaches poll with an RPI of 11 (was 8 in the previous RPI). That is the highest RPI on the Cowboy squad (Ashworth's RPI is 14, Meredith's RPI is 15, Mendenhall 23, and Templeman did not make the top 33). With that, I am confident Colgan will be selected.
*Coaches Poll- Released four times a year. The fourth and final should be released in about a week.

OSU- Yes, incredible program. They had a top 10 nationally ranked wrestler in every weight class (according to the Coaches Poll) except one....their 125 class wrestler was ranked number 11. Compare that to UW-a very decent squad- that had one ranked in the top 10 (Meredith).

UVU- Not sure what happened to them.....they wrestled UW even (UW won in a tie breaker) and beat NDSU late in the year at NDSU. A program that really looked like it was coming on though finished ahead of only AFA at the B12 championship.

UW- I am disappointed to see NDSU and SDSU move solidly ahead of UW. I really thought the Pokes had the potential to be a top 3 B12 program....maybe top two. Believe Branch stated earlier this the year that he thought the Pokes will compete really well as a dual team next year; hope they start climbing the ladder.

Link to RPI and Coaches Poll:
http://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2017-02-23/college-wrestling-di-qualifier-allocations-2017-championships

This is the best I've ever seen both. SDSU especially has an awesome team this year. I bet both come back down to earth in a couple years.

Side note - UW's Montorrie Bridges won the National Collegiate Open wrestling tourney this year- which is a defacto national championship for redshirting wrestlers. pretty big accomplishment. We'll have him to replace Templeman, or maybe he'll be at 133 lbs.

Did not realize that.....great news. Could be a tough squad with Colgan, Ashworth, and Meredith returning and the likes of Bridges, Trout, Olson, and Turner (149 candidate?) crowding the lighter weights. Pokes look to be strong at 125, 133, 141, potentially 149, 157, and 165. Much like this year, they really need some help in the upper weights....hopefully Vigoren and Mullins really step up.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Did not realize that.....great news. Could be a tough squad with Colgan, Ashworth, and Meredith returning and the likes of Bridges, Trout, Olson, and Turner (149 candidate?) crowding the lighter weights. Pokes look to be strong at 125, 133, 141, potentially 149, 157, and 165. Much like this year, they really need some help in the upper weights....hopefully Vigoren and Mullins really step up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hayden Hastings from Sheridan crack the lineup as a true freshman next year. One of the better upper weight Wyoming recruits in the past few years.

...on a separate note, this team would have been MUCH better this year had Ben Stroh stuck around. I think he would have been the difference in a few duals (OU in particular). Stroh won the NAIA national championship.

 

[MrTitleist]

Archie's on his way to St Louis!

 

[WYCowboy]

Archie's on his way to St Louis!

:thumb:

 

[Triple-WY]

Did not realize that.....great news. Could be a tough squad with Colgan, Ashworth, and Meredith returning and the likes of Bridges, Trout, Olson, and Turner (149 candidate?) crowding the lighter weights. Pokes look to be strong at 125, 133, 141, potentially 149, 157, and 165. Much like this year, they really need some help in the upper weights....hopefully Vigoren and Mullins really step up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hayden Hastings from Sheridan crack the lineup as a true freshman next year. One of the better upper weight Wyoming recruits in the past few years.

...on a separate note, this team would have been MUCH better this year had Ben Stroh stuck around. I think he would have been the difference in a few duals (OU in particular). Stroh won the NAIA national championship.

Hastings- Well, I wasn't tracking him. Three time state champion, 32-0 in his senior year, nationally ranked...yep, looks to be a good one!

Stroh- I completely agree. Pokes dual season (and B12 tourney.....and national dual rankings) could have been much different with another NCAA tourney caliber wrestler in the stable (agree OU, and also American, Army, and maybe NDSU and UNC). Of note, Stroh also captured the Reno Tournament of Champions 184 title......no small feat.

Corgan- Great job and well deserved! Cowboys bringing a pretty good crew to the NCAAs this year. If they come ready, this team could exceed last year's #18 finish.

 

[LanderPoke]

Did not realize that.....great news. Could be a tough squad with Colgan, Ashworth, and Meredith returning and the likes of Bridges, Trout, Olson, and Turner (149 candidate?) crowding the lighter weights. Pokes look to be strong at 125, 133, 141, potentially 149, 157, and 165. Much like this year, they really need some help in the upper weights....hopefully Vigoren and Mullins really step up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hayden Hastings from Sheridan crack the lineup as a true freshman next year. One of the better upper weight Wyoming recruits in the past few years.

...on a separate note, this team would have been MUCH better this year had Ben Stroh stuck around. I think he would have been the difference in a few duals (OU in particular). Stroh won the NAIA national championship.

Hastings- Well, I wasn't tracking him. Three time state champion, 32-0 in his senior year, nationally ranked...yep, looks to be a good one!

Stroh- I completely agree. Pokes dual season (and B12 tourney.....and national dual rankings) could have been much different with another NCAA tourney caliber wrestler in the stable (agree OU, and also American, Army, and maybe NDSU and UNC). Of note, Stroh also captured the Reno Tournament of Champions 184 title......no small feat.

Corgan- Great job and well deserved! Cowboys bringing a pretty good crew to the NCAAs this year. If they come ready, this team could exceed last year's #18 finish.

We've also got Cale Davidson, Goddard KS - ranked 13th at 195, Casey Randles, Cour d'alene ID - ranked 18th at 182, and Carless Looney from Laramie at at 182 who has placed at Virginia Beach and Fargo and has wrestled Hastings to several close matches.

Help should be coming for the upper weights.

 

[stymeman]

It's Bryce's year!!!! Natl Champ, like the sound of that

 

[OrediggerPoke]

We've also got Cale Davidson, Goddard KS - ranked 13th at 195, Casey Randles, Cour d'alene ID - ranked 18th at 182, and Carless Looney from Laramie at at 182 who has placed at Virginia Beach and Fargo and has wrestled Hastings to several close matches.

Help should be coming for the upper weights.

Was that place at Virginia Beach when Looney was a freshman? Nothing against him, but the competition for freshman at Virginia Beach isn't usually nearly as strong for freshmen as for upper classmen. I hope that Looney pans out; but losing to in-state wrestlers and specifically losing to a sophomore from Riverton at the Ron Thon as a senior doesn't bode well for a Division 1 wrestler.

I believe that Hastings has not lost a match since the state title match as a sophomore.

 

[LanderPoke]

We've also got Cale Davidson, Goddard KS - ranked 13th at 195, Casey Randles, Cour d'alene ID - ranked 18th at 182, and Carless Looney from Laramie at at 182 who has placed at Virginia Beach and Fargo and has wrestled Hastings to several close matches.

Help should be coming for the upper weights.

Was that place at Virginia Beach when Looney was a freshman? Nothing against him, but the competition for freshman at Virginia Beach isn't usually nearly as strong for freshmen as for upper classmen. I hope that Looney pans out; but losing to in-state wrestlers and specifically losing to a sophomore from Riverton at the Ron Thon as a senior doesn't bode well for a Division 1 wrestler.

I believe that Hastings has not lost a match since the state title match as a sophomore.

Umm I believe he placed at VB as a soph, too. I do think Looney is a cut below the others, but I think he's got a chance to be good. I know him personally and he comes from a great family and has a good work ethic.

Just to defend Carless's "loss" at the Ron Thon check out this video and you will see the biggest screw-job (no hyperbole) I've ever witnessed. Carless match starts at 2:18 ish. Not shown is Carless's first takedown. Video Bonus: Hastings destroying someone in the finals [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqeuMNwXti4[/youtube]So the Riverton kid beat Carless with one escape and 4 BS penalty points.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Umm I believe he placed at VB as a soph, too. I do think Looney is a cut below the others, but I think he's got a chance to be good. I know him personally and he comes from a great family and has a good work ethic.

Just to defend Carless's "loss" at the Ron Thon check out this video and you will see the biggest screw-job (no hyperbole) I've ever witnessed. Carless match starts at 2:18 ish. Not shown is Carless's first takedown. Video Bonus: Hastings destroying someone in the finals. So the Riverton kid beat Carless with one escape and 4 BS penalty points.

I really hope he pans out. I love to see Wyoming wrestlers succeed. However, the only arguable call that I see in that video is the 2 points for unnecessary roughness; I don't believe that should have been called. A little bit of aggression is good for the sport. The stalling calls were absolutely right; Looney backed out of the circle. If the wrestler is pushing in to you, drop the ties and go low to get the easy takedown; don't just back out. All that said, a D1 wrestler should not have been in a close match with a sophomore to begin with.

 

[LanderPoke]

Umm I believe he placed at VB as a soph, too. I do think Looney is a cut below the others, but I think he's got a chance to be good. I know him personally and he comes from a great family and has a good work ethic.

Just to defend Carless's "loss" at the Ron Thon check out this video and you will see the biggest screw-job (no hyperbole) I've ever witnessed. Carless match starts at 2:18 ish. Not shown is Carless's first takedown. Video Bonus: Hastings destroying someone in the finals. So the Riverton kid beat Carless with one escape and 4 BS penalty points.

I really hope he pans out. I love to see Wyoming wrestlers succeed. However, the only arguable call that I see in that video is the 2 points for unnecessary roughness; I don't believe that should have been called. A little bit of aggression is good for the sport. The stalling calls were absolutely right; Looney backed out of the circle. If the wrestler is pushing in to you, drop the ties and go low to get the easy takedown; don't just back out. All that said, a D1 wrestler should not have been in a close match with a sophomore to begin with.

The unnecessary roughness was heinous, the take down that was counted out was almost as bad, the stallings were bogus because he circled toward the center of the mat like you're supposed to do. Just because you push someone out that does not mean you're the aggressor, this isn't freestyle, that's not he point of collegiate. If anything I would have called stalling on the Riv kid for repeatedly doing that and not trying to take him down. The score of the match should have been 4-1 or 6-1. But I agree, he should have easily won and is the better wrestler and could pretty much take him down at will but didn't get his ass in gear. Hopefully he learned a valuable lesson.

I like having wrestling discussions

 

['PokeForLife]

Umm I believe he placed at VB as a soph, too. I do think Looney is a cut below the others, but I think he's got a chance to be good. I know him personally and he comes from a great family and has a good work ethic.

Just to defend Carless's "loss" at the Ron Thon check out this video and you will see the biggest screw-job (no hyperbole) I've ever witnessed. Carless match starts at 2:18 ish. Not shown is Carless's first takedown. Video Bonus: Hastings destroying someone in the finals. So the Riverton kid beat Carless with one escape and 4 BS penalty points.

I really hope he pans out. I love to see Wyoming wrestlers succeed. However, the only arguable call that I see in that video is the 2 points for unnecessary roughness; I don't believe that should have been called. A little bit of aggression is good for the sport. The stalling calls were absolutely right; Looney backed out of the circle. If the wrestler is pushing in to you, drop the ties and go low to get the easy takedown; don't just back out. All that said, a D1 wrestler should not have been in a close match with a sophomore to begin with.

The unnecessary roughness was heinous, the take down that was counted out was almost as bad, the stallings were bogus because he circled toward the center of the mat like you're supposed to do. Just because you push someone out that does not mean you're the aggressor, this isn't freestyle, that's not he point of collegiate. If anything I would have called stalling on the Riv kid for repeatedly doing that and not trying to take him down. The score of the match should have been 4-1 or 6-1. But I agree, he should have easily won and is the better wrestler and could pretty much take him down at will but didn't get his ass in gear. Hopefully he learned a valuable lesson.

I like having wrestling discussions

I'd agree that the stalling calls were bs. In my book the Riverton kid just trying to push Looney out was him begging for calls because he knew he couldn't win outright, which is stalling in and of itself. I say call it both ways.

That said, Looney does need to learn that when his opponent is being overly aggressive it is an opportunity for an easy double leg. This was a mental loss on Looney's part.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Brackets released...

Meredith a 10 seed! But I think he got a great draw again! I said last year that drawing Kevin Jack (his former teammate and a 3 seed last year) in the round of 16 was great. This year, he is back on the same side of the bracket as Jack (a 2 seed) and may face him in the quarterfinals.

 

[LanderPoke]

Bryce gets Longo of OU again first match. Should be an easy one for him