COLLEGE UPDATE FOR NOV. 6: Intrasquad matches offer drama for fans
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by Jason Bryant
By Jason Bryant
jbryant@intermatwrestle.com
In the past four years, it seems like more and more wrestling programs across all divisions are hosting intrasquad matches to kickoff their seasons.
This provides fans an opportunity to see most of their favorite college wrestling teams under one roof without obstruction from opposing fans - or more importantly - defeat from opposing wrestlers.
Some of the bigger programs have done their intrasquad bouts as events, usually dubbing them with names that mirror their school colors. Oklahoma State has the Orange and Black and Lehigh the Brown and White, just to name two specific examples.
The wrestle-off/intrasquad bout also gives schools a chance to get an additional wrestling release out before the big push of the wrestling season gets underway, but in some cases, it gets fans talking more and more about their teams and the depth that comes with it.
Specific cases are when ranked wrestlers or returning All-Americans lose their intrasquad matches to teammates. There are a few reasons why this might happen, and some are positives, even if they come from a loss.
One commonality is it's usually the first time wrestlers have gotten down to weight and are adjusting from the previous season. Sometimes, it's just a freshman eager to show the world he's ready to compete on the next level.
Seasoned veterans will usually pass off a wrestle-off loss, or at least it will be a wake-up call to say "start working harder." It's also pretty standard thinking for these guys to have wrestled so much, they know their opponents and scores could be low and bound for the tiebreaker.
One of the most notable matches in recent memory came at Oklahoma State when true freshman Daniel Frishkorn pinned returning national champion Johnny Thompson. Of course, Thompson wrestled and Frishkorn redshirted, but it got people talking.
This year, several ranked wrestlers in the InterMat/NWMA/NWCA Individual rankings have lost their public wrestle-offs. John Olanowski of Missouri was topped by Tony Pescaglia; Ed Prendergast has already lost twice to teammate Scott Steele at Navy, once in the intrasquad and once at the Eastern Michigan Open. Indiana's Brandon Becker did the same. Maryland's Charlie Pinto fell in the Red/Black in College Park.
Oklahoma saw Kyle Terry fall at 141, but while Terry was an NCAA qualifier last season, Zach Bailey did start last season with the spot. Terry and Bailey are almost interchangeable, which isn't always the case.
While one of the sport's fundamental ground rules is the better wrestler gets the spot. But when matchups, styles and match situations arise, the wrestler that wins head to head over his teammate doesn't always get the spot. Even explaining this to wrestling fans is a complete redundancy … we know you know this. However, the winner not starting -- that's a point of contention, but sometimes, it ends up working out, at least in the team demographic. See Frishkorn vs. Ronnie Delk at Oklahoma State a few years ago in a fairly controversial move which saw Delk beat Frishkorn in Reno, but it was Frishkorn that ended up getting the spot and eventually a fourth-place finish at the NCAA championships that year.
For the second straight year, things didn't go according to plan at Penn State. At 157 pounds last season, Nathan Galloway, a previous NCAA qualifier and nationally ranked wrestler, lost his bouts in the bracket-style wrestle backs in University Park. This year, it was at 174 where Dave Erwin, fresh off a redshirt year where he competed at 184 pounds, lost two bouts. Erwin's still the expected starter, but nothing's guaranteed.
Purdue's Jake Patascil, ranked in the preseason at 149 pounds and a returning NCAA qualifier, lost in his intrasquad to Mark Powell. What happens next? Patascil wins the Eastern Michigan Open and is the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week.
Other results can show the prowess of incoming freshmen. Ohio State's John Weakley won his intrasquad bout over Zack Weinrich, but will likely redshirt. Coach Tom Ryan has use for him down the line as he rebuilds the Buckeye wrestling program.
Maryland's Alex Krom wrestled in an intrasquad bout, despite his intention to redshirt this year.
Iowa completes its wrestle-offs this weekend, and there's going to be much attention paid to them in Iowa City.
These aren't just exhibitions, right?
Blowout Central
Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin were three programs that got off to quick starts with three decisive wins last weekend. Oklahoma fattened up on NAIA programs Missouri Valley and Oklahoma City along with JUCO Neosho. Wisconsin saw five wrestlers get three falls apiece in wins over UW-Oshkosh, Tri-State University and Dubuque. With a load of wrestlers competing for spots in Charlottesville, coach Steve Garland and his Virginia team pounded Wagner, VMI and Division II Anderson.
By contrast, Edinboro has won 32 of its last 33 dual meets. The team started the year with the Fighting Scot Duals and had anything but a cakewalk. They did dispense with local rival Mercyhurst easily, but Joe Fendone pulled out two wins at heavyweight to push Edinboro past Army and Maryland.
Fendone notched victories over NCAA qualifier Nathan Thobaben and Pat Gilmore. Fendone trailed Gilmore 2-0 going into the third period until he cranked Gilmore over for the fall and the dual victory. Earlier in the day, Maryland bested Army.
A win is a win, regardless
While it's unlikely All-American Matt Stolpinski was looking past the Eastern Michigan Open and eyeing a match with #1 Keith Gavin at the NWCA All-Star Classic, Stolpinski, ranked second, was handed his first loss of the season.
The victor was an unlikely one, NAIA runner-up Matt Cauley of Lindenwood. According to reports from Ypsilanti, the pair were in a scramble and Cauley ended up on top of Stolpinski despite not having control. If you've ever heard renowned announcer Ed Aliverti, you know these words - "it only takes one second."
And that's what it was as Cauley scored the fall at 3:18 and picked up the title at 174 pounds.
jbryant@intermatwrestle.com
In the past four years, it seems like more and more wrestling programs across all divisions are hosting intrasquad matches to kickoff their seasons.
This provides fans an opportunity to see most of their favorite college wrestling teams under one roof without obstruction from opposing fans - or more importantly - defeat from opposing wrestlers.
Some of the bigger programs have done their intrasquad bouts as events, usually dubbing them with names that mirror their school colors. Oklahoma State has the Orange and Black and Lehigh the Brown and White, just to name two specific examples.
The wrestle-off/intrasquad bout also gives schools a chance to get an additional wrestling release out before the big push of the wrestling season gets underway, but in some cases, it gets fans talking more and more about their teams and the depth that comes with it.
Specific cases are when ranked wrestlers or returning All-Americans lose their intrasquad matches to teammates. There are a few reasons why this might happen, and some are positives, even if they come from a loss.
One commonality is it's usually the first time wrestlers have gotten down to weight and are adjusting from the previous season. Sometimes, it's just a freshman eager to show the world he's ready to compete on the next level.
Seasoned veterans will usually pass off a wrestle-off loss, or at least it will be a wake-up call to say "start working harder." It's also pretty standard thinking for these guys to have wrestled so much, they know their opponents and scores could be low and bound for the tiebreaker.
One of the most notable matches in recent memory came at Oklahoma State when true freshman Daniel Frishkorn pinned returning national champion Johnny Thompson. Of course, Thompson wrestled and Frishkorn redshirted, but it got people talking.
This year, several ranked wrestlers in the InterMat/NWMA/NWCA Individual rankings have lost their public wrestle-offs. John Olanowski of Missouri was topped by Tony Pescaglia; Ed Prendergast has already lost twice to teammate Scott Steele at Navy, once in the intrasquad and once at the Eastern Michigan Open. Indiana's Brandon Becker did the same. Maryland's Charlie Pinto fell in the Red/Black in College Park.
Oklahoma saw Kyle Terry fall at 141, but while Terry was an NCAA qualifier last season, Zach Bailey did start last season with the spot. Terry and Bailey are almost interchangeable, which isn't always the case.
While one of the sport's fundamental ground rules is the better wrestler gets the spot. But when matchups, styles and match situations arise, the wrestler that wins head to head over his teammate doesn't always get the spot. Even explaining this to wrestling fans is a complete redundancy … we know you know this. However, the winner not starting -- that's a point of contention, but sometimes, it ends up working out, at least in the team demographic. See Frishkorn vs. Ronnie Delk at Oklahoma State a few years ago in a fairly controversial move which saw Delk beat Frishkorn in Reno, but it was Frishkorn that ended up getting the spot and eventually a fourth-place finish at the NCAA championships that year.
For the second straight year, things didn't go according to plan at Penn State. At 157 pounds last season, Nathan Galloway, a previous NCAA qualifier and nationally ranked wrestler, lost his bouts in the bracket-style wrestle backs in University Park. This year, it was at 174 where Dave Erwin, fresh off a redshirt year where he competed at 184 pounds, lost two bouts. Erwin's still the expected starter, but nothing's guaranteed.
Purdue's Jake Patascil, ranked in the preseason at 149 pounds and a returning NCAA qualifier, lost in his intrasquad to Mark Powell. What happens next? Patascil wins the Eastern Michigan Open and is the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week.
Other results can show the prowess of incoming freshmen. Ohio State's John Weakley won his intrasquad bout over Zack Weinrich, but will likely redshirt. Coach Tom Ryan has use for him down the line as he rebuilds the Buckeye wrestling program.
Maryland's Alex Krom wrestled in an intrasquad bout, despite his intention to redshirt this year.
Iowa completes its wrestle-offs this weekend, and there's going to be much attention paid to them in Iowa City.
These aren't just exhibitions, right?
Blowout Central
Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin were three programs that got off to quick starts with three decisive wins last weekend. Oklahoma fattened up on NAIA programs Missouri Valley and Oklahoma City along with JUCO Neosho. Wisconsin saw five wrestlers get three falls apiece in wins over UW-Oshkosh, Tri-State University and Dubuque. With a load of wrestlers competing for spots in Charlottesville, coach Steve Garland and his Virginia team pounded Wagner, VMI and Division II Anderson.
By contrast, Edinboro has won 32 of its last 33 dual meets. The team started the year with the Fighting Scot Duals and had anything but a cakewalk. They did dispense with local rival Mercyhurst easily, but Joe Fendone pulled out two wins at heavyweight to push Edinboro past Army and Maryland.
Fendone notched victories over NCAA qualifier Nathan Thobaben and Pat Gilmore. Fendone trailed Gilmore 2-0 going into the third period until he cranked Gilmore over for the fall and the dual victory. Earlier in the day, Maryland bested Army.
A win is a win, regardless
While it's unlikely All-American Matt Stolpinski was looking past the Eastern Michigan Open and eyeing a match with #1 Keith Gavin at the NWCA All-Star Classic, Stolpinski, ranked second, was handed his first loss of the season.
The victor was an unlikely one, NAIA runner-up Matt Cauley of Lindenwood. According to reports from Ypsilanti, the pair were in a scramble and Cauley ended up on top of Stolpinski despite not having control. If you've ever heard renowned announcer Ed Aliverti, you know these words - "it only takes one second."
And that's what it was as Cauley scored the fall at 3:18 and picked up the title at 174 pounds.
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