OrediggerPoke
Well-known member
We haven't had a wrestling update in a while. On Saturday, the Pokes defeated traditional power Iowa State 24-14 in Ames (really 24-15...ISU lost a team point for sportsmanship).
The early season surprises have been the Seniors Pope and Polson wrestling well at 174 and 184. The Pokes have struggled in the weights in the past few years. I believe that the Pokes have the most solid dual team lineup that we have seen in nearly a decade.
Other comments:
1) The Pokes go to Reno this weekend and then will be in Cheyenne next Tuesday to take on Oklahoma State. Get ready for fireworks with the National Championship rematch of Heil v. Meredith in Bryce's hometown!!
2) Colgan and Ashworth have both lost matches in the early going that I would have expected them to win. Not that they have wrestled bad but let's hope they get things rolling because each has All-American potential.
3) Meredith dropped a match to Cornell's true freshman Yianni Diakomihalis in Vegas. Diakomihalis is a stud as he won over 200 straight matches to close out his HS career wrestling the best in the country. But, based on experience, this is a guy that Meredith has to beat. I expect Meredith to prevail the next time should they meet at Nationals.
4) Of the RS-FR lightweights, Bridges has come up with some big wins and I would expect him to move into the rankings sometime during the season. Olson hasn't fared as well as he was pinned in his match against an unranked ISU wrestler. Both are very talented. I expect Bridges to qualify for Nationals this year.
5) Watch out for Hayden Hastings of Sheridan and Cale Davidson next year in the upper weights! Both true freshmen are currently redshirting ad both have performed very well in the open tournaments. Heck even Laramie's own Carless Looney has looked pretty good as a true freshman redshirt.
6) I'm picking the Pokes to pull some upsets this year and finish 2nd or 3rd in a loaded Big 12s (South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Oklahoma State all appear to be really good).
7) Recruiting was rather blah according to Intermat wrestling rankings...only one ranked wrestler committed to Wyoming. Let's hope we found some diamonds in the rough.
The early season surprises have been the Seniors Pope and Polson wrestling well at 174 and 184. The Pokes have struggled in the weights in the past few years. I believe that the Pokes have the most solid dual team lineup that we have seen in nearly a decade.
Other comments:
1) The Pokes go to Reno this weekend and then will be in Cheyenne next Tuesday to take on Oklahoma State. Get ready for fireworks with the National Championship rematch of Heil v. Meredith in Bryce's hometown!!
2) Colgan and Ashworth have both lost matches in the early going that I would have expected them to win. Not that they have wrestled bad but let's hope they get things rolling because each has All-American potential.
3) Meredith dropped a match to Cornell's true freshman Yianni Diakomihalis in Vegas. Diakomihalis is a stud as he won over 200 straight matches to close out his HS career wrestling the best in the country. But, based on experience, this is a guy that Meredith has to beat. I expect Meredith to prevail the next time should they meet at Nationals.
4) Of the RS-FR lightweights, Bridges has come up with some big wins and I would expect him to move into the rankings sometime during the season. Olson hasn't fared as well as he was pinned in his match against an unranked ISU wrestler. Both are very talented. I expect Bridges to qualify for Nationals this year.
5) Watch out for Hayden Hastings of Sheridan and Cale Davidson next year in the upper weights! Both true freshmen are currently redshirting ad both have performed very well in the open tournaments. Heck even Laramie's own Carless Looney has looked pretty good as a true freshman redshirt.
6) I'm picking the Pokes to pull some upsets this year and finish 2nd or 3rd in a loaded Big 12s (South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Oklahoma State all appear to be really good).
7) Recruiting was rather blah according to Intermat wrestling rankings...only one ranked wrestler committed to Wyoming. Let's hope we found some diamonds in the rough.
