Below grades are based on my expectations to begin the season. C grade would be they are where I expected them to be pre-season.
125 - C+ I think Mackall is right around where I expected him to be (fringe top 20 wrestler). He competes hard and should earn an allocation/qualify for NCAAs. Hoping he can win a match or 2 at NCAAs, but he is a massive improvement from last year.
133 - A- Gomez has a few tough losses (mainly Cefelo and Erneste as the head scratchers), but he can beat anyone when he is on. Preseason I expected him to be top 20, so to be a top 10 wrestler/AA contender, he is performing above my expectations. 133 is an absolute beast, but I'm excited to see how Gomez can compete in Pitt
141- B+ Parker has wrestled well this year and has been in close matches with Alber and Eierman (up until getting caught). I was expecting around 20th for Ian, but he has performed to a top 12 level with an outside chance at being an AA. He has the best gas tank on the team and has a great intensity.
149- C+ I was curious to see how Degen would follow up his r12 performance from last year, and while he has been a little up and down this year, I think he has mostly backed up that his r12 performance was not a fluke. Not sure if he will be able to get on the podium, but he has a chance to be a low AA if he puts together a good tournament.
157- C Chase has been around where I expected him to be as a fringe qualifier. He started off rather slow, but has been wrestling pretty well as of late and had a chance to beat Jacques from Mizzou yesterday. Hoping he can steal a spot and maybe win a match in Pitt!
165- N/A. Really like the effort from Logan and Zane and the way they've competed when they probably aren't ready as true freshman. But, to know you'll get their 100% effort every match and get to experience wrestling varsity has to be cool for them. Probably won't qualify, but appreciate the effort this year
174- C I'd say fringe top 20 is where I expected Marcus this year. As stated, he needs to continue to get better on bottom, but he should qualify for nationals and has a chance to win a couple matches. He was right there with Lujan before he got caught, and Dan Lewis is just an absolute beast. He has shown potential, and I think he will get much better with another off season of lifting and training.
184- A Sammy is my big surprise this year. Honestly wasn't sure if he would be our starter all year due to concern about making 184, but he has really excelled at this weight and I am hoping he stays at this weight for his remaining 2 years. He has a chance to be an AA this year, and is peaking at the right time.
197- B He has been solid as expected and is a mid AA candidate. Hoping he can string together one more great tourney in Pitt.
Hwt- B Gannon has been pretty good this year and has been better than I expected. I was concerned with him replacing Marcus, but he has proven to maybe even be slightly better than Marcus. Another guy that has a chance to win a match or 2 in Pitt
Overall we have been ahead of schedule with where I expected Dresser to have this team, and it is important we finish this year strong to carry momentum into next year. If we can have 3 AAs and another 1-2 guys that push for r12, that would be an excellent finish to this year.
125 - C+ I think Mackall is right around where I expected him to be (fringe top 20 wrestler). He competes hard and should earn an allocation/qualify for NCAAs. Hoping he can win a match or 2 at NCAAs, but he is a massive improvement from last year.
133 - A- Gomez has a few tough losses (mainly Cefelo and Erneste as the head scratchers), but he can beat anyone when he is on. Preseason I expected him to be top 20, so to be a top 10 wrestler/AA contender, he is performing above my expectations. 133 is an absolute beast, but I'm excited to see how Gomez can compete in Pitt
141- B+ Parker has wrestled well this year and has been in close matches with Alber and Eierman (up until getting caught). I was expecting around 20th for Ian, but he has performed to a top 12 level with an outside chance at being an AA. He has the best gas tank on the team and has a great intensity.
149- C+ I was curious to see how Degen would follow up his r12 performance from last year, and while he has been a little up and down this year, I think he has mostly backed up that his r12 performance was not a fluke. Not sure if he will be able to get on the podium, but he has a chance to be a low AA if he puts together a good tournament.
157- C Chase has been around where I expected him to be as a fringe qualifier. He started off rather slow, but has been wrestling pretty well as of late and had a chance to beat Jacques from Mizzou yesterday. Hoping he can steal a spot and maybe win a match in Pitt!
165- N/A. Really like the effort from Logan and Zane and the way they've competed when they probably aren't ready as true freshman. But, to know you'll get their 100% effort every match and get to experience wrestling varsity has to be cool for them. Probably won't qualify, but appreciate the effort this year
174- C I'd say fringe top 20 is where I expected Marcus this year. As stated, he needs to continue to get better on bottom, but he should qualify for nationals and has a chance to win a couple matches. He was right there with Lujan before he got caught, and Dan Lewis is just an absolute beast. He has shown potential, and I think he will get much better with another off season of lifting and training.
184- A Sammy is my big surprise this year. Honestly wasn't sure if he would be our starter all year due to concern about making 184, but he has really excelled at this weight and I am hoping he stays at this weight for his remaining 2 years. He has a chance to be an AA this year, and is peaking at the right time.
197- B He has been solid as expected and is a mid AA candidate. Hoping he can string together one more great tourney in Pitt.
Hwt- B Gannon has been pretty good this year and has been better than I expected. I was concerned with him replacing Marcus, but he has proven to maybe even be slightly better than Marcus. Another guy that has a chance to win a match or 2 in Pitt
Overall we have been ahead of schedule with where I expected Dresser to have this team, and it is important we finish this year strong to carry momentum into next year. If we can have 3 AAs and another 1-2 guys that push for r12, that would be an excellent finish to this year.
