NCAA Division I Tourney
How ‘about some college wrestling reflections by none other than Joe Szymczak former Elmwood coach who now writes about wrestling for the BG Sentinel Tribune.
Here’s Joe’s take on the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament held over the weekend at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Just back from the real madness in March, the 2007 Division National Championships in Auburn Hills Michigan, the home grown talent did rather well. The state of Ohio was represented with 12 All-Americans.
Here’s my take on what I observed. Let’s start with the Buckeye home boys. Take it from me I think coach Ryan is going to it make much better for OSU fans. (and this is coming from a Michigan Fan). J.D. Bergman of Oak Harbor at 197 lost in the first round to Jared Villars of Akron but rolled on to place fourth. He did a great job against Davis of Penn State in the consi semis. After he lost his first round match he was really smooth on his feet and on top until the finals. Lance Palmer of St EDs at 149 Lost to Dustin Schlatter of er …well name a school 1-0 for fourth. He dropped his semifinal match to Ryan Churella of Michigan at 5-2. Churella took him down twice. I think he has his number. Palmer was really aggressive on his feet and wrestled well. We’ll talk about the Schlatters later. Jeff Jaggers at 141 may have done his best wrestling of the year in this tourney. He did well against Morgan of Okie State losing 3-2 and the rolled off three in a row in the consis. Lost in the consi semifinals and then took seventh place. It was quite a performance for a guy that came in at 16-8. Mike Pucillo of Strongsville at 184 dropped to the consolation after the second round then he really dominated his next four opponents, but lost a last second thriller to Kish of Minnesota in the consi semis. He was pinned by Tyrell Todd of Michigan in the fifth place match when it looked like he was going to take the Wolverine down. TJ Enright Galloway (133) won one and Chris Vondruska of Bay was two and out.
Speaking of Michigan Steve Luke (174) of Massillon Perry had a great tourney he took fifth but lost three matches one by a point and two in overtime. He executed a great stand up all tourney but got stoned in the second period by Mason of Okie State, who used his legs and rode him like a Cowboy. Ryan Lang (133) of St. Eds and Northwestern charged in to the tourney undefeated and was a juggernaut on his feet at 141 all the way to the finals. Derek Moore of UC Davis turned him while riding with a cross body and laid a few near fall points on Lang, enough to tech fall him in the finals and win the outstanding wrestler. If you are expecting to wrestle DI in college your better learn to wrestle on the mat, and you better learn to get out. I didn’t see a lot of double boots just cross body and hip riding. The refs are slow in calling stalling on the mat in college. I didn’t see as much kick ‘em out and takedown. Luke and Lang learned that lesson. Northwestern’s and Galion’s Dustin Fox finished third. He looks bigger and stronger than ever and he took third. His only loss was to Watterson, who also beat for third. With Konrad the champ form Minnesota moving on he could be the guy next year at 285.
About the Schlatters of er…. You know, they are great wrestlers and are very talented, but the wrestling style they have developed at Minnesota is successful, boring and bad for the sport. People like to see talent shown to them, but the score and then play defense style of match is what makes most 285 pound matches a little less exciting than the other weight classes. It came back to bite them in the butt. When they needed a takedown late they couldn’t get it. I realize one of them was wrestling injured and I believe they are talented I would just like to see it. Josh Zupancic of Stanford and Akron lost to 1-0 to CP in the consi semis and then finished seventh. At 165 Deonte Penn of Edinboro and Solon beat freshman Mike Miller of Central Michigan and Uniontown for seventh.
As a side bar and pet peeve of mine I didn’t see one coach in jeans or tee shirts on the floor of the tourney unlike the Ohio state tourney. It must be something about professionalism. I could never imagine going to a state basketball tourney and see jeans and tees on the coaches. It’s a good way to tell who the coaches are, but that’s for another day (if Baker ever let’s me again)
— Joe Szymczak
NOTE: To readers with Joe's wrestling background he's always welcome here!
Here’s Joe’s take on the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament held over the weekend at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Just back from the real madness in March, the 2007 Division National Championships in Auburn Hills Michigan, the home grown talent did rather well. The state of Ohio was represented with 12 All-Americans.
Here’s my take on what I observed. Let’s start with the Buckeye home boys. Take it from me I think coach Ryan is going to it make much better for OSU fans. (and this is coming from a Michigan Fan). J.D. Bergman of Oak Harbor at 197 lost in the first round to Jared Villars of Akron but rolled on to place fourth. He did a great job against Davis of Penn State in the consi semis. After he lost his first round match he was really smooth on his feet and on top until the finals. Lance Palmer of St EDs at 149 Lost to Dustin Schlatter of er …well name a school 1-0 for fourth. He dropped his semifinal match to Ryan Churella of Michigan at 5-2. Churella took him down twice. I think he has his number. Palmer was really aggressive on his feet and wrestled well. We’ll talk about the Schlatters later. Jeff Jaggers at 141 may have done his best wrestling of the year in this tourney. He did well against Morgan of Okie State losing 3-2 and the rolled off three in a row in the consis. Lost in the consi semifinals and then took seventh place. It was quite a performance for a guy that came in at 16-8. Mike Pucillo of Strongsville at 184 dropped to the consolation after the second round then he really dominated his next four opponents, but lost a last second thriller to Kish of Minnesota in the consi semis. He was pinned by Tyrell Todd of Michigan in the fifth place match when it looked like he was going to take the Wolverine down. TJ Enright Galloway (133) won one and Chris Vondruska of Bay was two and out.
Speaking of Michigan Steve Luke (174) of Massillon Perry had a great tourney he took fifth but lost three matches one by a point and two in overtime. He executed a great stand up all tourney but got stoned in the second period by Mason of Okie State, who used his legs and rode him like a Cowboy. Ryan Lang (133) of St. Eds and Northwestern charged in to the tourney undefeated and was a juggernaut on his feet at 141 all the way to the finals. Derek Moore of UC Davis turned him while riding with a cross body and laid a few near fall points on Lang, enough to tech fall him in the finals and win the outstanding wrestler. If you are expecting to wrestle DI in college your better learn to wrestle on the mat, and you better learn to get out. I didn’t see a lot of double boots just cross body and hip riding. The refs are slow in calling stalling on the mat in college. I didn’t see as much kick ‘em out and takedown. Luke and Lang learned that lesson. Northwestern’s and Galion’s Dustin Fox finished third. He looks bigger and stronger than ever and he took third. His only loss was to Watterson, who also beat for third. With Konrad the champ form Minnesota moving on he could be the guy next year at 285.
About the Schlatters of er…. You know, they are great wrestlers and are very talented, but the wrestling style they have developed at Minnesota is successful, boring and bad for the sport. People like to see talent shown to them, but the score and then play defense style of match is what makes most 285 pound matches a little less exciting than the other weight classes. It came back to bite them in the butt. When they needed a takedown late they couldn’t get it. I realize one of them was wrestling injured and I believe they are talented I would just like to see it. Josh Zupancic of Stanford and Akron lost to 1-0 to CP in the consi semis and then finished seventh. At 165 Deonte Penn of Edinboro and Solon beat freshman Mike Miller of Central Michigan and Uniontown for seventh.
As a side bar and pet peeve of mine I didn’t see one coach in jeans or tee shirts on the floor of the tourney unlike the Ohio state tourney. It must be something about professionalism. I could never imagine going to a state basketball tourney and see jeans and tees on the coaches. It’s a good way to tell who the coaches are, but that’s for another day (if Baker ever let’s me again)
— Joe Szymczak
NOTE: To readers with Joe's wrestling background he's always welcome here!
posted by --J-- at 9:35 PM
2 Comments:
great readin' wished i could have been there. great to see OSU Bucks have 4 all americans. all returning also. its lookin up in ohio. any news on tourney in B.G. on the 24th? the super 8, would love to see sponsellar wrestle this year. any word on this would be great. Thanks
moke here, and I totally agree with you about the Schlatters and the majority of Minnesota wrestlers. It is a boring style of wrestling that wins a lot of matches. But, as you indicated, it keeps a lot of competitors thinking they can still win late into the match.
You can see my comments here. http://www.jjhuddle.com/discus/messages/506080/515653.php
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