JUDOKA BLOG: Big 12 Championships Preview

[ChrisMWilliams]

We're trying to beef up some wrestling coverage here on the site. With a big weekend approaching, wrestling guru Judoka offers up this preview of the Big 12 Championships. Great stuff!

Blog: Big 12 wrestling tournament preview | News | Olympic Sports | Cyclone Fanatic

 

[Judoka]

The Big XII will be streaming almost all the matches live for free on Friday/Saturday.

The schedule is as follows:
Dual Championship:
Friday, March 8
11:00AM - Iowa State vs. Oklahoma
11:00AM - Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia
1:00PM - Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
1:00PM - Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
7:00PM - Iowa State vs. West Virginia
7:00PM - Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State (Fox Sports Southwest)

Individual Championship:
Saturday, March 9
5:00PM - Semifinals (2 mats)
7:00PM - Finals/3rd place (2 mats)
Mat 1 | Mat 2

 

[Wesley]

Looks like a lot more to look forward to than past years. KJ is turning a corner.

 

[LutherBlue]

Excellent tourney preview. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Judoka]

Another bit that has come up this morning: 2 of the 29 guys who earned allocations at Heavyweight have indicated they won't be competing at their conference tournaments due to injury. If a guy who has earned an allocation doesn't compete then the conference loses that allocation and it is given to the at large pool. That means there will be 6 at large spots available at Heavyweight. So as long as Gibson takes second place he is a total lock for an at large spot. With 6 spots out there there is no way he'd be 7th or worse in line.

 

[buf87]

Judoka - Great write up, left a couple name changes below blog. Meeks to Finch in one and Perry to Rosholt in the other.

Glad to see you took Chris up on the job. I suppose you have front row seats at Nationals now!

 

[Judoka]

Not that Kyven will need it, but a guy who had earned an allocation at 197 just dropped out due to an injury. So there is a 5th slot available there as well.

The weight we really need this to happen at is 141. Goettl could end up the "first man out" if he needs an at large berth. His resume is very borderline.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Well done. Thank you.

 

[klamath632]

Huge props to Judoka for contributing to CF.

 

[buf87]

Sounds like Tessari of Ohio State might be out and Paddock wrestling. If so, Tessari auto berth would go back and open an at large bid at 149.

 

[Judoka]

Extra spots opening up 149 is at a weight that helps us the least (among the weights that need help), Mayfield has almost zero shot at an at large bid. He either beats Lester on Saturday or stays home.

141 and 125 are the weights where an extra at large spot or two opening up could help us the most. At 149/157 they won't help, and at HWT we don't need them. 133 they could help if Meeks gets a win over Morrison or Brewer on Friday but takes 3rd on Saturday.

 

[ChrisMWilliams]

Huge props to Judoka for contributing to CF.

I agree. A solid wresting mind would add a lot to the site.

 

[buf87]

Info on Pennisi of West Virginia

Nathan Pennesi (141), who has been sidelined with a broken left third metacarpal suffered nearly three weeks, is looking to qualify for the third time in his career. At last year’s NCAA Championships, Pennesi wrestled at 133 pounds.

“Nathan has probably earned a gold standard,” Turnbull says. “We are hopeful that he will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. His cast was taken off this week, and he has been working on the mat to stay in wrestling shape. We are looking at this a great opportunity for Nathan. As the season goes along, you can get a bit stale. Hopefully, he will get into the national tournament feeling really fresh.”

 

[Judoka]

I knew he was injured, but figured he would be competing this weekend. If he is going to just step on the mat and injury default (which is what he would have to do to be considered for an at large bid, you have to compete in your qualifier) that is beyond huge for Goettl. That would mean he'd be shooting for second place out of three guys, with two bids available.

 

[buf87]

Info on Pennisi of West Virginia

Nathan Pennesi (141), who has been sidelined with a broken left third metacarpal suffered nearly three weeks, is looking to qualify for the third time in his career. At last year’s NCAA Championships, Pennesi wrestled at 133 pounds.

“Nathan has probably earned a gold standard,” Turnbull says. “We are hopeful that he will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. His cast was taken off this week, and he has been working on the mat to stay in wrestling shape. We are looking at this a great opportunity for Nathan. As the season goes along, you can get a bit stale. Hopefully, he will get into the national tournament feeling really fresh.”

This kind of sounds like he may not wrestle much this weekend. Just Speculation

 

[Judoka]

This kind of sounds like he may not wrestle much this weekend. Just Speculation

I am on my phone now so will write up a full breakdown later. But there is zero chance this is not good news for Goettl. The only thing we don't, know yet is if it is 'good' or 'great'.

 

[Judoka]

Here's the press release source

And here's why it is a good or great thing. In order for someone to be eligible for an at-large spot, they must participate in their qualifying tournament, even if it is just to default out. They must take the mat. Which means that the tournament does not lose their allocation. So it is clear that Pennesi will take the mat in some form this weekend. Otherwise he can't get an at large spot.

Best case scenario: Pennesi remains the #2 seed, walks out on the mat against Goettl to shake hands, ref blows the whistle, Pennesi injury defaults. Goettl is now an NCAA qualifier before wrestling a match, since the worst he can take is 2nd place.

Almost best case scenario: The coaches agree to bump Pennesi to the #4 seed. Goettl faces off against Julian Feikert of Oklahoma State in the 2/3 seed match. This is not a gimmie match, he only won 5-4 earlier in the season. But it is a much more winnable match than one against a healthy Pennesi. A win gives Goettl a spot in Des Moines.

Alternate almost best case scenario: Pennesi takes the mat to actually wrestle in the 2/3 seed match. But is still hobbled by his foot injury and hasn't wrestled live much at all in the past month. Also a much more winnable match.

Good but not great scenario: Pennesi decides he can't wrestle, WVU either forfeits or tosses in a backup at 141. The Big XII loses his allocation. However, he would not be eligible for an at large bid. So 141 would now have 5 at large bids available and one of the guys Goettl would be competing against for those spots is out of the picture. He still has to beat Feikert but would at that point be able to feel reasonably confident about an at large spot coming his way.

 

[jordono123]

how will the team title be determined? is it 2 separate titles like they do for the high school state wrestling in Iowa, or is it all combined? is the big 12 looking at adding anymore schools to the conference for wrestling in the future?

 

[isuska]

Judoka, do you have a twitter or do you plan on getting one?

It could be nice for some of us to follow along with your blog and you could post other things.

Just a thought, I know Buf and I each have one and we sometimes share things

 

[Judoka]

is the big 12 looking at adding anymore schools to the conference for wrestling in the future?

The Big XII does not allow affiliate schools. It would be nice if they did. The Pac-12 does and schools like Boise State wrestle with them even though they are not a full conference member. It's more likely that the four Big XII schools would combine with or become affiliates of another wrestling conference if there is any change.