Oklahoma State, IL recruiting

[wrestlersdad]

Originally Posted by greenlantern

ive been saying that for a few years and i get blasted. People on this board like to make excuses and moral victorys instead of saying pa/nj is better there coachs do better job of preparing them for college and so on

It is not what you say, but the way you say it.....although that being said, some of the things you say are outrageous as well....

[MR TWISTER]

Originally Posted by wrestlersdad

It is not what you say, but the way you say it.....although that being said, some of the things you say are outrageous as well....

Lol...so true about gl...

I think we all know that PA hs seniors are better prepared in all three positions for college than IL wrestlers. We can live in a fantasy world and lay claim once Fargo comes and goes that we are the best wrestling state. Or we can get real and solve the problem.

Deep down we all know whoever is delivering the message that the message is correct.

[justaguy]

PA wrestling is not weak on its feet...where do people get such an idea. Illinois problem is not the feet or the mat, it is the IHSA. Private schools in OH, PA, NJ, etc have a disporportionate amount of elite college wrestlers, and even schools like Marmion and Montini are not as attractive. Ask Ben Whitford.

[sweetsweep22]

Originally Posted by tilt

I have talked to Izzy and Jose. Their credentials speak for themselves. Vastly superior to mine. You suggesting I can change a style they like is....well, silly because we both know it ain't happening. Maybe parents of their wrestlers can affect...or maybe its wise that Montini parents supplement Izzy Style with some influence from other coaches if they want their kids college ready immediately.

I'm not trying to take a shot at anyone here, but does Izzy even know how to teach kids to ride/turn?

Izzy Martinez was a little before my time, so I never saw him wrestle personally, but as I understand it he was pretty much unstoppable on his feet and an absolute takedown machine (much like Albert White, but even better, I've been told). But did he ever ride anyone himself? Maybe the reason he doesn't emphasize riding/turning is because he never really did it himself...

Again, I could be wrong, I'm just wondering

[Flobro]

Another big factor for Pennsylvania's superiority at NCAA's is the high number of D-1 wrestling programs inside the state. Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but their 15 (!) programs is triple that of Ohio, New York, Jersey and the 4 programs here in Illinois. There's a ton of opportunities for PA high schoolers right in their back yards. At nationals last weekend, PA led all states with a ridiculous 56 qualifiers, 25 of which remained in-state and wrestled for schools close to home. In contrast, Illinois totaled 21 qualifiers (with just 7 representing U of I, Northwestern, or NIU).

Even with improved technique, it's a big challenge for any state (Ohio, NY, NJ, CA, or IL) to close the gap on those numbers!

[MR TWISTER]

Originally Posted by Flobro

Another big factor for Pennsylvania's superiority at NCAA's is the high number of D-1 wrestling programs inside the state. Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but their 15 (!) programs is triple that of Ohio, New York, Jersey and the 4 programs here in Illinois. There's a ton of opportunities for PA high schoolers right in their back yards. At nationals last weekend, PA led all states with a ridiculous 56 qualifiers, 25 of which remained in-state and wrestled for schools close to home. In contrast, Illinois totaled 21 qualifiers (with just 7 representing U of I, Northwestern, or NIU).

Even with improved technique, it's a big challenge for any state (Ohio, NY, NJ, CA, or IL) to close the gap on those numbers!

Great point!

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Flobro

Another big factor for Pennsylvania's superiority at NCAA's is the high number of D-1 wrestling programs inside the state. Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but their 15 (!) programs is triple that of Ohio, New York, Jersey and the 4 programs here in Illinois. There's a ton of opportunities for PA high schoolers right in their back yards. At nationals last weekend, PA led all states with a ridiculous 56 qualifiers, 25 of which remained in-state and wrestled for schools close to home. In contrast, Illinois totaled 21 qualifiers (with just 7 representing U of I, Northwestern, or NIU).

Even with improved technique, it's a big challenge for any state (Ohio, NY, NJ, CA, or IL) to close the gap on those numbers!

And as it has been said, many of the PA guys who wrestled DI come back to coach in PA. Not to pick on anyone, because they do a great job, but look at all the kids club coaches in Illinois. How many of them wrestled in college?

[wrestlingnut]

Originally Posted by greenlantern

tannenbaum wasnt a good mat wrestler

Tannenbaum won his first Big Ten championship 3-2 against Henning from Wisc (who went on to be a NCAA finalist two years later) scoring all points from a refersal and riding point. He won his second Big Ten championship against 4X AA, 3X finalist, and 2X NCAA Champ Mark Perry by riding Perry out the entire second period.

He was better on his feet, but pretty good too on the mat.

[James_Oliva]

Originally Posted by wrestlingnut

Tannenbaum won his first Big Ten championship 3-2 against Henning from Wisc (who went on to be a NCAA finalist two years later) scoring all points from a refersal and riding point. He won his second Big Ten championship against 4X AA, 3X finalist, and 2X NCAA Champ Mark Perry by riding Perry out the entire second period.

He was better on his feet, but pretty good too on the mat.

Checkmate.

[mckbln]

Originally Posted by oldude

You "posters" make some good points. Kind of known as a "takedown-freestyle" state Illinois has had some big name kids that struggle with mat skills on the collegiate level. Obviously with no riding time calculated in high school I can understand the lack of emphasis but for those who continue it can be a lesson learned. Eastern states seem to take more of a balanced approach that transitions well, as witnessed by college success. Not that it cannot be done, just that at some point it must be.

When it comes to Benefiel that statement is crap. He was the whole package. When he beat Albert White head-to-head at the Dvorak tournament, I was convinced he was the best wrestler I had seen in Illinois. Whatever happened to Mikey probably has more to do upstairs than it has to do with wrestling ability, at least that would be my guess.