125- I think best case for Kysen is probably a R12 finish, worst case is a bad conference tournament in Tulsa and he doesn't get a bid to NCAAs. With how long he's been out, I am nervous about how he will look in Tulsa. I think he does end up doing enough to get to Philly and goes 2-2 and makes the R16.
133- Best case for Evan is an NCAA title- he can beat anyone at the weight. I think worst case is R12 finish. Most likely, Evan makes the semis and loses and then wins his consi semi and goes for 3rd and 4th. I love how he's been wrestling and I'm hopeful him being held out of Mizzou was truly precautionary and he's good to go in Tulsa.
141- Best case for Jacob is probably a 4th place finish- I am not sure I see him beating Bartlett, Mendez, or Alirez, but I think he can compete with anyone else at 141. At this point, I think worst case is a R16 exit. I think Jacob wins a gritty R12 match and is an AA this year.
149- Paniro's ability would have his best case being an NCAA champion, but I don't think he is consistent enough for that to be his true best case. I think best case is a mid to low AA finish. Worst case is 1-2 and similar to his freshman year. Someone said it in another thread, but Paniro is a wrestler where if you're a top seed, you don't want to see him and if you're a lower seed you probably do want to be matched up against him. No clue what will happen, but I hope he proves me wrong and is a high AA.
157- Before the Mizzou match, I was much more optimistic. Now, I think Cody is in a similar boat to Paniro. He can beat anyone, but can lose to anyone. This will be a big March for Chittum and I hope he does enough to AA and get on the stand.
165- Best case, steals a spot for NCAAs. Worst case, misses NCAAs. At this point, I don't think Riggins will be in Philly, but we will see when allocations are announced and what his draw in Tulsa looks like.
174- Best case is probably R16 in Philly, worst case is missing out on NCAAs. MJ will need to steal a spot, so Tulsa will be very important for him. I think MJ qualifies and then wins a match or two in Philly.
184- Best case is low AA, worst case R16. Evan is pretty consistent and I think the easiest to predict of all our wrestlers. I think he gets to the R12 this year.
197- I don't see Schon stealing a spot to get to nationals, but we will see.
Hwt- Best case he gets to Philly and wins a match. Worst case, he doesn't get an allocation and misses out on a wild card and doesn't qualify. I think Pnut gets to Philly and wins a match. Very good true freshman season and will get to redshirt and focus on improving next year.
Overall, we will for sure have 5 guys in Philly with realistic AA ambitions. I am hoping we qualify 8 total and get 2-3 AAs. It's going to be a grind, and we really need big tournaments from Paniro and Cody- especially with the logjam we have there. Another no-show from Paniro and you have to think Swiderski is the leader in the clubhouse for the spot next year since he is already proven as an AA. Then you'd have Paniro and Cody battling it out for 157. This season has been frustrating, but hopefully we have a good tournament to inject some momentum for what should be a very good squad in 2025-2026.
133- Best case for Evan is an NCAA title- he can beat anyone at the weight. I think worst case is R12 finish. Most likely, Evan makes the semis and loses and then wins his consi semi and goes for 3rd and 4th. I love how he's been wrestling and I'm hopeful him being held out of Mizzou was truly precautionary and he's good to go in Tulsa.
141- Best case for Jacob is probably a 4th place finish- I am not sure I see him beating Bartlett, Mendez, or Alirez, but I think he can compete with anyone else at 141. At this point, I think worst case is a R16 exit. I think Jacob wins a gritty R12 match and is an AA this year.
149- Paniro's ability would have his best case being an NCAA champion, but I don't think he is consistent enough for that to be his true best case. I think best case is a mid to low AA finish. Worst case is 1-2 and similar to his freshman year. Someone said it in another thread, but Paniro is a wrestler where if you're a top seed, you don't want to see him and if you're a lower seed you probably do want to be matched up against him. No clue what will happen, but I hope he proves me wrong and is a high AA.
157- Before the Mizzou match, I was much more optimistic. Now, I think Cody is in a similar boat to Paniro. He can beat anyone, but can lose to anyone. This will be a big March for Chittum and I hope he does enough to AA and get on the stand.
165- Best case, steals a spot for NCAAs. Worst case, misses NCAAs. At this point, I don't think Riggins will be in Philly, but we will see when allocations are announced and what his draw in Tulsa looks like.
174- Best case is probably R16 in Philly, worst case is missing out on NCAAs. MJ will need to steal a spot, so Tulsa will be very important for him. I think MJ qualifies and then wins a match or two in Philly.
184- Best case is low AA, worst case R16. Evan is pretty consistent and I think the easiest to predict of all our wrestlers. I think he gets to the R12 this year.
197- I don't see Schon stealing a spot to get to nationals, but we will see.
Hwt- Best case he gets to Philly and wins a match. Worst case, he doesn't get an allocation and misses out on a wild card and doesn't qualify. I think Pnut gets to Philly and wins a match. Very good true freshman season and will get to redshirt and focus on improving next year.
Overall, we will for sure have 5 guys in Philly with realistic AA ambitions. I am hoping we qualify 8 total and get 2-3 AAs. It's going to be a grind, and we really need big tournaments from Paniro and Cody- especially with the logjam we have there. Another no-show from Paniro and you have to think Swiderski is the leader in the clubhouse for the spot next year since he is already proven as an AA. Then you'd have Paniro and Cody battling it out for 157. This season has been frustrating, but hopefully we have a good tournament to inject some momentum for what should be a very good squad in 2025-2026.
