I will preface this by stating that when I suggest a guy is unseeded, I am talking being seeded in the top ten or so. The committee seeds out to a "16", so technically... 10-16 IS still a seeded wrestler.
125. Gilman has the potential to be wrestling on Sat. nite, but he has proven he can lose 3-2/2-1 to other top guys. I am guessing a 4/5 seed and a mid to low AA finish.
133. Clark is really close to ALL the top guys. I think he is Iowa's most aggressive guy and the best chance for bonus points. I predict another 4/5 seed and a finish ABOVE that seed.
141. Jeva overachieved at B1G tourney and improved his seed, imo. A 6/7 is possible and a good chance at low AA.
149. Sorensen is a potential finalist and a top 4 seed, no doubt. I think he wrestles to seed and finishes 2nd.
157. Kelly has a chance to win a match in consolations. Unseeded.
165 See above. Without a doubt, the biggest disappointment for the Hawks this year.
174 Evans and the other three B1G guys are your top 4 seeds. Being that Evans and Storley are a notch below Brown and Kokesh, I have one fear for Evans. Lose on Friday nite and being a senior... you toss in the towel from disappointment and he loses Saturday morning and ends up in the 5th/6th place match. I predict a 5th place finish.
184. Brooks had a hiccup at conference and it will cost him a couple spots in seeding. My guess is a 10 or so. He will finish a little higher than that in the 7-8 range.
197. Burak is a likely 7/8 seed. If he sees Cox in the quarters... it's a lot of matches to get to AA from that loss. But I like his effort. I will predict he beats Gadsen or Schiller should they meet. Overall, I see a 7th place.
Hwt. Telford is my lone pick as a Hawkeye National champ. Likely a 3 seed, beats the NW Heavy of Friday nite and Gwiz on Sat. nite.
Teamwise... looks like a three team race with Misery and tOSU. I think the Hawks win with backside points and a stumble or two from the Bucks and Tigers.
And one final rant... The majority of the B1G finals were a snoozefest. Outside of Stieber/MartinezKokesh... the strategy seems to be an early takedown and then stall. Refs have recently tended to swallow their whistles at Nationals. If that trend continues... college wrestling will NEVER attract the casual fan.
The Iowa coaches are as guilty as any in not being able to get guys to "open" up. They have recruited good high school kids, but not the "great" guys.
It doesn't help that the quality of Iowa high school wrestling is down.
125. Gilman has the potential to be wrestling on Sat. nite, but he has proven he can lose 3-2/2-1 to other top guys. I am guessing a 4/5 seed and a mid to low AA finish.
133. Clark is really close to ALL the top guys. I think he is Iowa's most aggressive guy and the best chance for bonus points. I predict another 4/5 seed and a finish ABOVE that seed.
141. Jeva overachieved at B1G tourney and improved his seed, imo. A 6/7 is possible and a good chance at low AA.
149. Sorensen is a potential finalist and a top 4 seed, no doubt. I think he wrestles to seed and finishes 2nd.
157. Kelly has a chance to win a match in consolations. Unseeded.
165 See above. Without a doubt, the biggest disappointment for the Hawks this year.
174 Evans and the other three B1G guys are your top 4 seeds. Being that Evans and Storley are a notch below Brown and Kokesh, I have one fear for Evans. Lose on Friday nite and being a senior... you toss in the towel from disappointment and he loses Saturday morning and ends up in the 5th/6th place match. I predict a 5th place finish.
184. Brooks had a hiccup at conference and it will cost him a couple spots in seeding. My guess is a 10 or so. He will finish a little higher than that in the 7-8 range.
197. Burak is a likely 7/8 seed. If he sees Cox in the quarters... it's a lot of matches to get to AA from that loss. But I like his effort. I will predict he beats Gadsen or Schiller should they meet. Overall, I see a 7th place.
Hwt. Telford is my lone pick as a Hawkeye National champ. Likely a 3 seed, beats the NW Heavy of Friday nite and Gwiz on Sat. nite.
Teamwise... looks like a three team race with Misery and tOSU. I think the Hawks win with backside points and a stumble or two from the Bucks and Tigers.
And one final rant... The majority of the B1G finals were a snoozefest. Outside of Stieber/MartinezKokesh... the strategy seems to be an early takedown and then stall. Refs have recently tended to swallow their whistles at Nationals. If that trend continues... college wrestling will NEVER attract the casual fan.
The Iowa coaches are as guilty as any in not being able to get guys to "open" up. They have recruited good high school kids, but not the "great" guys.
It doesn't help that the quality of Iowa high school wrestling is down.