Poeta and White / Ward and Dergo

[grapplingfan]

Huge pickup by the Illini to get these two, but where will they fit in? White is listed as a likely 157, and Ward as a 184. Before the announcement, it looked as though Poeta and Dergo would be filling those spots for the next couple of years (and this one if Dergo isn't redshirted). As problems go, too much high AA level talent is a good one to have, I guess any way that these guys can be fit into the lineup would be formidable.

[CheeChoo]

Easy pete

Huge pickup by the Illini to get these two, but where will they fit in? White is listed as a likely 157, and Ward as a 184. Before the announcement, it looked as though Poeta and Dergo would be filling those spots for the next couple of years (and this one if Dergo isn't redshirted). As problems go, too much high AA level talent is a good one to have, I guess any way that these guys can be fit into the lineup would be formidable.

Dont' get your panties in a bunch. These two kids didn't sign as of yet. They did give a verbal but why wouldn't they have signed already if they are serious.

[Grappler177]

I thought that Ward was projecting to 97, not 84. Also, White is probably looking to be lower than 57. The way it looks, they fill out the lineup, not complicate it.

[grapplingfan]

I thought that Ward was projecting to 97, not 84. Also, White is probably looking to be lower than 57. The way it looks, they fill out the lineup, not complicate it.

What are you saying? We have yet to see how Bond will handle the pressure/competition but nobody doubts his talent. Are you saying that Ward comes in next year and beats Bond? If Ward is at 197 he wouldn't fill out the lineup, but the bench. Bond is bigger, taller, older (will be a 21 year old freshman this year), and will have two years Big 10 practices/experience on him. I hope and think you're probably right about White, looks like he could be a 149, at 19 he may be full grown, and going from 135-145 fr-jr year suggests so. Hopefully he'll start right away, he could be a Big 10 starter now. Of course that wouldn't necesarily settle the lineup around there. Assuming White beats Big 10 runner-up Tirapelle, there may be a battle between Reynolds and Troy for the 141 spot. However it works out, assuming it does, the Illini may have their best lineup ever in a couple years, if Dergo can be comfortable at 174 and White at 149, and Reynolds or Tirapelle fill the 141 spot, we could be looking at the 2009 National Dual Champions.

[grapplingfan]

Dont' get your panties in a bunch. These two kids didn't sign as of yet. They did give a verbal but why wouldn't they have signed already if they are serious.

Sweet, Choo-Choo, you really add a lot to this forum. You ask me a question (w/o a question mark) in response to my question. In other words, you've added nothing, so thanks. If you have some additional information, share it. And FWIW, Choo-Choo, as someone with a name suggestive of a train, and a half-naked man as your logo, you might want to avoid the subject of panties.

[MR TWISTER]

I predict a redshirt or non wrestling year for both so set your lineups at 2009 and beyond not 08.

Several reasons for them not signing yet are possible. Some have already been rehashed on this forum so no need to bring those dead horses back.

Here is a new one. Maybe the paperwork is in the mail. It has to be signed and returned, not faxes so if they just announced this week early maybe the secretaries are stil doing their jobs.

Everybody smooth their panties out and don't worry. After looking them in the eye and talking to Albert and Jerome on Wed. they will definetly be going to Champaign. When they appear in the lineup is the real question.

[Conquistadors]

Just some rambling below (too late to proof it)

Everyone is doing too much worrying over the future line-up. Some of you are assuming a linear improvement in competitive success over the next 5 1/2 years. Even if Dergo wrestles this year he may well take a redshirt at some time (e.g., Wisconsin's Craig Henning was going to redshirt this year, until probable starter Dan Clum was injured). The guys who just signed (White and Ward) aren't looking to battle for a starting roll until fall 2008 and a lot can happen between now and then. Remember a few recent four-year starters and multimple AA candidates Cal Ferry and Mike Martin? Sometimes things don't work out. Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota, all elite programs, have had quite a few "can't-miss four year AAs" not work out: Harry Lester, Meneely, Lavesseur (sp?), Cooperman, etc. Joe Gomez was supposed to be the Illini guy at 133 this year, but it hasn't worked out yet. Things happen. Some guys who were elite in high school don't improve enough to have the same type of success in Div I. It is fun to project and predict, but don't lose sleep over such stuff. Also, it isn't as though the Illini are stacked with young guys who have already placed at Nationals. Flores (NCAA Round of 16 at 133) is a junior. Only Poeta (NCAA Round of 12 at 165) is the only young (current FR or Soph eligibility) Illini who has already done well at NCAAs. Kennedy and Dergo have started out very well during their true freshmen year, but this isn't under the pressure of being starters, or after months of the Big Ten grind. Give them time. Bond has done well and Guida is still trying to build confidence (and isn't the clear cut starter yet)... patience.

Re Ward and White not yet signing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they just decided on attending Illinois, I thought that they can't sign until the spring (didn't the "early" signing period end a few weeks ago??). Hopefully everything will work out for these two outstanding atheletes: they'll matriculate at Illinois, do well in school, graduate, and be successful wrestlers. Best of luck to these guys!

[MR TWISTER]

Just some rambling below (too late to proof it)

Everyone is doing too much worrying over the future line-up. Some of you are assuming a linear improvement in competitive success over the next 5 1/2 years. Even if Dergo wrestles this year he may well take a redshirt at some time (e.g., Wisconsin's Craig Henning was going to redshirt this year, until probable starter Dan Clum was injured). The guys who just signed (White and Ward) aren't looking to battle for a starting roll until fall 2008 and a lot can happen between now and then. Remember a few recent four-year starters and multimple AA candidates Cal Ferry and Mike Martin? Sometimes things don't work out. Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota, all elite programs, have had quite a few "can't-miss four year AAs" not work out: Harry Lester, Meneely, Lavesseur (sp?), Cooperman, etc. Joe Gomez was supposed to be the Illini guy at 133 this year, but it hasn't worked out yet. Things happen. Some guys who were elite in high school don't improve enough to have the same type of success in Div I. It is fun to project and predict, but don't lose sleep over such stuff. Also, it isn't as though the Illini are stacked with young guys who have already placed at Nationals. Flores (NCAA Round of 16 at 133) is a junior. Only Poeta (NCAA Round of 12 at 165) is the only young (current FR or Soph eligibility) Illini who has already done well at NCAAs. Kennedy and Dergo have started out very well during their true freshmen year, but this isn't under the pressure of being starters, or after months of the Big Ten grind. Give them time. Bond has done well and Guida is still trying to build confidence (and isn't the clear cut starter yet)... patience.

Re Ward and White not yet signing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they just decided on attending Illinois, I thought that they can't sign until the spring (didn't the "early" signing period end a few weeks ago??). Hopefully everything will work out for these two outstanding atheletes: they'll matriculate at Illinois, do well in school, graduate, and be successful wrestlers. Best of luck to these guys!

Good points and good post