Central Michigan Dual

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
Sunday at 2PM in Hilton

Just saw the weekly release. Nathan Boston and Meeks are listed as "or"s at 141 and Blayne Briceno is the only one listed at 149. Hopefully Moreno isn't out for the season. Dante is still MIA.

Downey still not listed at 184. I'm a little torn about that. On one hand, I fully support letting a guy totally heal up before coming back to the lineup. Only March matters and making sure they are healthy then is paramount. It is becoming more and more common for guys to wait until the last minute before taking the mat and as long as the rules allow it, and the seeding committee doesn't punish it, then the coaches are correct to do it. But that said, Downey has had a total of zero D-1 matches this year and needs time to knock off the rust. That's tough to do with only three regular season matches left after this weekend. And the National Collegiate Open is the same weekend as Big XIIs, so he can't go get matches there.
 
Last edited:

Land Grant

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2006
1,062
902
113
At this point, I will be surprised if we see Downey on the mat this year. That's fine with me, as Pestano has put in the work and will have at least a puncher's chance at nationals. I have no basis (other than blind optimism) to imagine Downey brings much more.

I hope Dante can make a case for a hardship/injury year if he wants it. Since he hasn't taken a redshirt yet, the case should be easier. I worry nobody seems to know anything about his status, tho.

Sunday at 2PM in Hilton

Just saw the weekly release. Nathan Boston and Meeks are listed as "or"s at 141 and Blayne Briceno is the only one listed at 149. Hopefully Moreno isn't out for the season. Dante is still MIA.

Downey still not listed at 184. I'm a little torn about that. On one hand, I fully support letting a guy totally heal up before coming back to the lineup. Only March matters and making sure they are healthy then is paramount. It is becoming more and more common for guys to wait until the last minute before taking the mat and as long as the rules allow it, and the seeding committee doesn't punish it, then the coaches are correct to do it. But that said, Downey has had a total of zero D-1 matches this year and needs time to knock off the rust. That's tough to do with only three regular season matches left after this weekend. And the National Collegiate Open is the same weekend as Big XIIs, so he can't go get matches there.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
Central Michigan is at UNI tonight at 7PM. UNI just announced FloWrestling will stream their last few home meets so it'll be available for anybody with a FloPro account if you want to see the competition (UNI is our next meet after CMU). Looks like Dylan Peters might be back tonight, he's on their release for the meet but so is Gaul.

http://www.flowrestling.org/event/252942-central-michigan-at-northern-iowa
 
Last edited:

HGoat

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2014
1,229
710
63
Denver, Colorado
Sunday at 2PM in Hilton

Just saw the weekly release. Nathan Boston and Meeks are listed as "or"s at 141 and Blayne Briceno is the only one listed at 149. Hopefully Moreno isn't out for the season. Dante is still MIA.

Downey still not listed at 184. I'm a little torn about that. On one hand, I fully support letting a guy totally heal up before coming back to the lineup. Only March matters and making sure they are healthy then is paramount. It is becoming more and more common for guys to wait until the last minute before taking the mat and as long as the rules allow it, and the seeding committee doesn't punish it, then the coaches are correct to do it. But that said, Downey has had a total of zero D-1 matches this year and needs time to knock off the rust. That's tough to do with only three regular season matches left after this weekend. And the National Collegiate Open is the same weekend as Big XIIs, so he can't go get matches there.


Gabe is done for the year. He has surgery next week. I feel terrible for him as thats now two seasons in a row that he's had ruined by shoulder injuries. I'm not sure exactly how it works but would he be a candidate for a Medical Red Shirt? I know that he wrestled a good portion of the past two seasons but both were decimated by injuries.

Not sure whats going on with Dante but I think part of his problem was inability to hold weight at 141 (the other part being minor injuries), so I wouldn't be surprised to see him at 149 sometime soon.

Blayne Briceno has all of the skills but is extremely inconsistent. Sometimes looks very tough against elite guys and sometimes gets rolled by average juco wrestlers.
 

cyfan9

Active Member
Aug 27, 2011
326
42
28
That sucks for Gabe. Hate to hear that. Shoulders are temperamental following the initial injury. We were not going to get much from that weight at ncaa's so I don't think it impacts us much. Probably go from 2-4 points to DNQ.

The Dante situation was completely botched by KJ. There was absolutely no need (NONE!!!) to wrestle him attached before Midlands. Should have let Meeks wrestle against Boise State and Iowa. Dante did wrestle at Cliff Keen. I am not sure if redshirt athletes can participate or not. So that is what we got out of Dante this year. Two dual wins against Boise State and Iowa and a embarrassing performance at CK. And I am not just saying this now, I made numerous posts on CF at the time on how absolutely STUPID it was to make this decision.

With regards to 84, Downey isn't likely to be a substantial upgrade from Pestano this year. So our hopes for March fall on Hall and Weatherman. Going to be very, very ugly.
 
Last edited:

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
That sucks for Gabe. Hate to hear that. Shoulders are temperamental following the initial injury. We were not going to get much from that weight at ncaa's so I don't think it impacts us much. Probably go from 2-4 points to DNQ.

The Dante situation was completely botched by KJ. There was absolutely no need (NONE!!!) to wrestle him attached before Midlands. Should have let Meeks wrestle against Boise State and Iowa. Dante did wrestle at Cliff Keen. I am not sure if redshirt athletes can participate or not. So that is what we got out of Dante this year. Two dual wins against Boise State and Iowa and a embarrassing performance at CK. And I am not just saying this now, I made numerous posts on CF at the time on how absolutely STUPID it was to make this decision.

With regards to 84, Downey isn't likely to be a substantial upgrade from Pestano this year. So our hopes for March fall on Hall and Weatherman. Going to be very, very ugly.

I am pretty sure Cliff Keen is only attached wrestlers. Midlands and Southern Scuffle allow unattached guys. I totally agree though, I posted when his redshirt was pulled that I didn't understand why you'd pull it before Midlands and I still don't understand why we did. For all the meets in the first semester we either were going to be overmanned or were sure favorites, Dante wasn't going to make a difference in any of them.

The only reasons pulling Dante's shirt that early in the season would be valid is if he'd made it clear to the coaches that he was planning on transferring after this year or that he was planning on graduating in four years. Especially because jerking Meeks around is likely part of why he's struggled over the years.
 
Last edited:

cattlefeeder

New Member
Aug 17, 2012
11
7
3
50
I was told back in December that Dante approached the coaches the night of the Boise St meet. Remember it was a double dual, and Meeks wrestled the first match. Anyway, Dante was ****** off and told the coaches, "Either wrestle me or I'm transfering". Thats what I was told.

As for where he's been since the end of December, I don't know why he hasn't wrestled.
 

cyfan9

Active Member
Aug 27, 2011
326
42
28
I was told back in December that Dante approached the coaches the night of the Boise St meet. Remember it was a double dual, and Meeks wrestled the first match. Anyway, Dante was ****** off and told the coaches, "Either wrestle me or I'm transfering". Thats what I was told.

As for where he's been since the end of December, I don't know why he hasn't wrestled.

I remember KJ stating that he and his family did not want to redshirt. I don't like the athlete controlling decisions that could determine the future of the program.

I appreciate the fact that Dante wants to compete. Maybe Dante regrets that now as this season seems to be (assuming he doesn't return) a big waste. And it must be more than weight control that is keeping him out bc if it was weight I assume he would jump bump to 149.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
I remember KJ stating that he and his family did not want to redshirt. I don't like the athlete controlling decisions that could determine the future of the program.

I appreciate the fact that Dante wants to compete. Maybe Dante regrets that now as this season seems to be (assuming he doesn't return) a big waste. And it must be more than weight control that is keeping him out bc if it was weight I assume he would jump bump to 149.

I don't know how much scholarship money he's getting but I don't have a problem with a guy in a non-headcount sport who doesn't want to have a 5th year of loans or delayed entry in to the job market. Most of them are self funding the majority of their education.
 

CyAGR

Member
Nov 21, 2014
102
31
18
Iowa
I feel real sorry for Gabe... Great kid on and off the mat. I agree neither Meeks or Dante's situation has been handled the best.
 

SouthJerseyCy

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2008
1,882
2,042
113
56
I have no basis other than speculation, but I would not be at all surprised if Downey, Dante and possibly Gabe never wrestle for ISU again.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
UNI got Peters back in the lineup but lost 11-22 to Central Michigan last night

Central Michigan 22 - 11 UNI
125: #7 Dylan Peters (UNI) dec. #19 Brent Fleetwood (CMU), 8-3
133: #32 Corey Keener (CMU) dec. #12 Josh Alber (UNI), 4-2
141: #16 Zach Horan (CMU) dec. #28 Trevor Jauch (UNI), 4-3
149: Justin Oliver (CMU) maj. dec. Jake Hodges (UNI), 12-4
157: #10 Luke Smith (CMU) dec. #19 Bryce Steiert (UNI), 1-0
165: #19 Cooper Moore maj dec. #32 Jordan Atienza (CMU), 9-1
174: #7 Mike Ottinger (CMU) dec. Kyle Lux (UNI), 7-5
184: #29 Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) dec. Drew Foster (UNI), 10-4
197: Jackson Lewis (CMU) dec. Jared Bartel (UNI), 6-1
285: #16 Blaize Cabell (UNI) maj. dec. Newton Smerchek (CMU), 15-5
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
Meeks and Dante are both registered for the DuHawk open today. I don't see Meeks in the brackets but Dante is at 149. He opened with a pin so he's definitely there.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
I have no basis other than speculation, but I would not be at all surprised if Downey, Dante and possibly Gabe never wrestle for ISU again.

I'm with you on Gabe. Two shoulder surgeries is tough to come back from. Gadson did it, but not everybody is that lucky. Dante is on the mat for us today at an open but I don't think that really counts - will we ever see him at a dual again? I hope so but you might be right.

As far as Downey as long as he keeps his head on straight I don't see why he can't be the guy next year. I wish he was at the DuHawk open today with those other guys so he could get a couple matches. But like I said in the OP, coaches holding guys back until they are 100% healed (or until just before qualifiers if they aren't fully healed) is becoming somewhat common and while I don't like it from a fan perspective, I totally understand and support it from a coaching perspective. If the NCAA allows it there's no reason not to do it.

And if it is just because he isn't a big step up from Pestano then I'm fine with Pestano being the guy. He's earned it.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
No Heffernan vs UNI?!

They sent two guys out for introductions at 149. I think the other was Heffernan. Dunno if he's hurt or if they were just giving Oliver a shot. Oliver took 4th at the Southern Scuffle and when they wrestled each other at a tournament earlier this season it went to TB2.
 

Judoka

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2010
17,542
2,645
113
Timbuktu
Looks like Dante is gonna get Kemmerer in the Semifinals. Not expecting a win but if he did that'd be big.