I was assuming Castillo would redshirt but yes, he is in play as well. He seems a little on the small side to me just from an observation. Riggins has been making some really noticeable improvements. These guys just need to continue to get better, we saw plenty of guys in the semi-finals this year for teams not named Ok ST, Iowa, and Penn State. It can be done without a large donor pool and buying plug and play pieces.
Love the optimism so soon after this disastrous season but man I’m not able to drink that kool aid yet. Who’s this third possible title contender coming from nowhere? 6 or 7 AAs? Honestly as the team stands now I would put the over/under on AAs at 2.5, let alone finalists. I do sincerely hope I am wrong here and still just recovering from the sour taste of this season.
Ech and Bastida have proven to be on the level. 141 loses a lot of horsepower and whatever frost is there can certainly contend. I don’t think you realize how many kids are finally out of eligibility and guys like Chittum and Riggins and MJ can step up. Not to mention I forgot about Bartelt. Coaches just have to show they can get them there finally
That’s plenty of time to be ready by December / January. They should be able to get plenty of quality training in before the season
E.Frost, Ech and Bastida I believe could be title contenders. Get MJ ready for 174 and he's a mid to low AA. I'd need to wait until late January to make any other guesses.
The reason you need another big fish is injury insurance. I agree that if we’re able to roll out that lineup there is likely two top 4 guys and 2-3 other AAs which could get us to fourth.
Seems like we have another year since almost everyone gets a medical year also. Redding & Kysen were the free Covid freshman & still have another season
I absolutely do not buy this covid eligibility clearing out weights thing. Look at 157 since you mention Chittum specifically.
You're right 157 wasn't the best example as other weights clear out more, especially heavyweight - which happens to be really good for the Cyclones/Yonger.
Yes I love the positions some of our guys are in at 149/285 with Ech and Bastida. I mostly like this because I think these two have shown us who they are and are in position to take advantage. I do not think guys graduating takes any of our non AA caliber guys like Johnson, Chittum and Gaitan to AA status. Gaitan was tech falled in 1 minute by a guy who didn't place, that's not just that he's a little undersized for 174 and is poised to take advantage of a few top 10 guys graduating.
With reports of him already excelling in the room, if he's the top guy you send him...especially in this day and age of NIL and kids being ready out of high school
Agreed and skill isn't the thing I'm worried about, he still just looks like he could've wrestled 120 all season in high school. Size will be a factor with the big dogs, Robinson looked huge out there this past weekend.
OP hasn't posted in the wrestling forum in 4 months, and then comes in hot with this **** post.
