Orange and Black

[Conquistadors]

Originally Posted by sweetsweep22

Both White and Benefiel are in a tough spot. The guys ahead of them both are juniors. Both have already transferred once, and I doubt would want to transfer again. Hard to believe that two of Illinois' 4x champs are having trouble find a starting spot in college, but that's D1 wrestling I guess...

They aren't having trouble finding a starting spot. They just happened to have chosen to go to one of the all-time elite programs in all of college sports. If these guys (outstanding high school wrestlers) would open up their eyes and go somewhere aside from Iowa or Oklahoma State (and a few other places, such as Minnesota, which also stock piles talent who sit on the bench; an now Penn State is doing this), they could be three or four year starters on the majority of Div I teams. If you never start, you have zero chance to AA. If you don't start until you are a senior, you have a much decreased chance to AA. We see this over and over (outstanding wrestlers who never, or rarely, start at Iowa, Ok State, etc).

If these guys would go ANYWHERE except Iowa or Ok State I would root for them.

By the way, "seated 5th." Now that's funny. Will wrestling posters be the death of the English language? It is like "peaking" one's interest. Funny.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by Conquistadors

They aren't having trouble finding a starting spot. They just happened to have chosen to go to one of the all-time elite programs in all of college sports. If these guys (outstanding high school wrestlers) would open up their eyes and go somewhere aside from Iowa or Oklahoma State (and a few other places, such as Minnesota, which also stock piles talent who sit on the bench; an now Penn State is doing this), they could be three or four year starters on the majority of Div I teams. If you never start, you have zero chance to AA. If you don't start until you are a senior, you have a much decreased chance to AA. We see this over and over (outstanding wrestlers who never, or rarely, start at Iowa, Ok State, etc).

If these guys would go ANYWHERE except Iowa or Ok State I would root for them.

By the way, "seated 5th." Now that's funny. Will wrestling posters be the death of the English language? It is like "peaking" one's interest. Funny.

For White he had to go to a junior college to work on grades. He then picked a great program that was not an academic powerhouse but that he had a good chance of starting (which he did) but unfortunately got injured. Unfortunately the stud from the weight below moved up a class and they are very close but White has now lost 2xs and probably will not start. White may be able to move up to 157 and theres still hope for AA.

But for Mikey, I just don't get it? Northwestern is a top 10 program in the nation this year. More importantly one of the best academic schools in the nation. With a degree from Ok St. you may get a job. But from Northwestern you are guaranteed a job, and a higher paying job! At Northwestern he could workout with Bormet,Martinez and Herbert any day of the week! Go home on Sundays for moms cooking. After the smoking incident I never heard that he had to leave school, just that he was in some minor trouble and that was all. But he didn't have to leave? But he goes to Ok St. where he dominates his weight class and starts and rips off like 20 wins over many ranked guys in a row. He had a bad NCAA but still was close to being AA. Now this year he loses his spot to the guy he dominated last year? I am guessing there is some kind of injury that we don't know about? Unless McNeil worked his butt off the past 9 months and got alot better there is something missing from this story. Its sounds bad but hopefully there is some minor injury that hes getting over and thats why he missed the tournament and will still get a chance to make the lineup.

If its a private matter ,thats fine. But I would like to hear from Joey or somebody that really knows whats up.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by sweetsweep22

Both White and Benefiel are in a tough spot. The guys ahead of them both are juniors. Both have already transferred once, and I doubt would want to transfer again. Hard to believe that two of Illinois' 4x champs are having trouble find a starting spot in college, but that's D1 wrestling I guess...

There is a lot more to college wrestling than being a 4x high school state champ. It is like moving up from the IKWF to high school. Not every kids state champ or stud does as well in high school. A person has to step up the intensity at each level. Some kids are satisifed with past achievements and start coasting. Some kids burn out along the way. Some mature earlier than others, and then others catch up. Injuries may come into play. Maybe the demands of school begins to take a toll.There are lots of factors. Still, it is a bit disappointing from a fan of Illinois wrestling point of view. I am still hoping they can crack the line up.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

There is a lot more to college wrestling than being a 4x high school state champ. It is like moving up from the IKWF to high school. Not every kids state champ or stud does as well in high school. A person has to step up the intensity at each level. Some kids are satisifed with past achievements and start coasting. Some kids burn out along the way. Some mature earlier than others, and then others catch up. Injuries may come into play. Maybe the demands of school begins to take a toll.There are lots of factors. Still, it is a bit disappointing from a fan of Illinois wrestling point of view. I am still hoping they can crack the line up.

There can be all sorts of factors going on here. I am actually hoping there is a very minor injury that kept him out of the tourney this past weekend and he (Mike B.)will still get a chance to compete for the starting spot?

As an Illinois fan I would have loved to see 3 Illinois guys contribute to a national title. As an Illinois fan I like to see Illinois guys rack up AA medals. Coming into this college season White and Bennefiel had great chances of AA.

[sweetsweep22]

Yeah I realize college is a whole new ballgame, and other factors come into play. I was just saying it's too bad that two of Illinois' best ever (not many 4xers in Illinois) might not be starting for their schools, especially as upperclassmen. Like others, I'm kinda hoping Benefiel's problem is just some kind of minor injury. But from comments I've seen from Coach Smith, it seems he's less than impressed with Benefiel's commitment, so maybe McNeil really did just work his butt off and passed him up. Hopefully not the case. With White, I believe Erisman is a senior so hopefully next year White can at least start at 157 if 149 isn't an option...

[Tofurky]

Let's not forget that they are wrestling their practice partners. These guys are competing against one another pretty much year round and they pretty quickly learn to close the gap or even beat the guy ahead of them. The one issue I see is that if you throw these two guys out against the same guy from another school, you may very well end up with two very different conclusions to those matches. I think this is less so in the case of Parks and White, but the coaches are able to tell who is going to be the better choice on the national stage, regardless of what the head to head results might be.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by Tofurky

Let's not forget that they are wrestling their practice partners. These guys are competing against one another pretty much year round and they pretty quickly learn to close the gap or even beat the guy ahead of them. The one issue I see is that if you throw these two guys out against the same guy from another school, you may very well end up with two very different conclusions to those matches. I think this is less so in the case of Parks and White, but the coaches are able to tell who is going to be the better choice on the national stage, regardless of what the head to head results might be.

His practise partner has not passed him up. Mike is 100% mentally ready to go and will be just fine.In a few weeks from now I think this story may be re-written.

[Tofurky]

Originally Posted by tilt

His practise partner has not passed him up. Mike is 100% mentally ready to go and will be just fine.In a few weeks from now I think this story may be re-written.

I didn't say McNeil "passed [Mike] up." Because of the frequency in which they wrestle one another (daily?), McNeil has learned how to beat Benefiel, but Mike is only one guy. Passing him up would mean that McNeil would be able to step in and perform at a higher level than Benefiel has to date, meaning possible AA status. As I said in my previous post, I don't see that being the case and I believe that the Okie State coaches might not either.