JUDOKA BLOG: Big 12 Championships Preview

**ChrisMWilliams** · 03-07-2013, 10:29 AM

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** · 03-07-2013, 10:35 AM

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** · 03-07-2013, 10:40 AM

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

**LutherBlue** · 03-07-2013, 10:43 AM

Excellent tourney preview. Thanks for posting it.

**Judoka** · 03-07-2013, 11:03 AM

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** · 03-07-2013, 11:25 AM

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** · 03-07-2013, 01:51 PM

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** · 03-07-2013, 03:33 PM

Well done. Thank you.

**klamath632** · 03-07-2013, 03:35 PM

Huge props to Judoka for contributing to CF.

**buf87** · 03-07-2013, 03:39 PM

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** · 03-07-2013, 03:42 PM

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** · 03-07-2013, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by klamath632

Huge props to Judoka for contributing to CF.

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

**buf87** · 03-07-2013, 05:01 PM

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** · 03-07-2013, 05:11 PM

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** · 03-07-2013, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by 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