"I am excited to wrestle Ben in front of his hometown crowd," said Poeta. "I watched him at Agon I. I think he is overweight and slow. With my speed I can take advantage of that, no problem."
"Not only will I beat Ben in front of his hometown crowd, but my youth team is going to win most weights at the AWA Winter Classic," Poeta continued. "Illinois kids are better than Wisconsin kids anyway you cut it."
Read More
http://www.examiner.com/article/ben-askren-mike-poeta-play-up-wisconsin-illinois-battle-for-upcoming-agon-iii (http://www.examiner.com/article/ben-askren-mike-poeta-play-up-wisconsin-illinois-battle-for-upcoming-agon-iii)
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
So its... "Businesses as usual."
Sounds like the marketing of pro sports has not evolved since the days of "All Star Wrestling." Some pro football players do the same thing. It generates interest and increases profits.
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Classless? Maybe. Hard to argue against Poeta. Overall wrestling is better in Illinois than Wisconsin.
Quote from: buc65 on January 20, 2014, 03:05:03 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Classless? Maybe. Hard to argue against Poeta. Overall wrestling is better in Illinois than Wisconsin.
Your opinion... and it's the wrong one. Let's see the proof.
Quote from: beastmode on January 20, 2014, 03:07:15 PM
Quote from: buc65 on January 20, 2014, 03:05:03 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Classless? Maybe. Hard to argue against Poeta. Overall wrestling is better in Illinois than Wisconsin.
Your opinion... and it's the wrong one. Let's see the proof.
Illinois has 12 wrestlers ranked in the top 10 nationally at all weights. Wisconsin has 2. Illinois has 3 teams ranked in the top twenty nationally, Wisconsin has 0. Not proof, but consensus.
Also, there are more than 2x the number of students in Illinois and nearly that in total High Schools. Law of averages kicks in there too. Not that Wisconsin wrestling isn't good, it is. Wisconsin's best could probably wrestle with illnois' best...but after that, the wrestling drops off considerably. By that I mean that there are more good wrestlers in Illinois than in Wisconsin. But the best of both state at each wt. class are probably very comparable.
Quote from: beastmode on January 20, 2014, 03:07:15 PM
Quote from: buc65 on January 20, 2014, 03:05:03 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Classless? Maybe. Hard to argue against Poeta. Overall wrestling is better in Illinois than Wisconsin.
Your opinion... and it's the wrong one. Let's see the proof.
2013 Cadet and Junior results work for you?
Individual:
Cadet Greco - Illinois - 4 champs, 3 runner-ups, 10 3rd to 8th, 17 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 2 champs, 0 runner-ups, 7 3rd to 8th, 9 total All-Americans
Cadet Freestyle - Illinois - 2 champs, 4 runner-ups, 15 3rd to 8th, 21 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 4 3rd to 8th, 5 total All-Americans
Junior Greco - Illinois - 1 champ, 2 runner-ups, 14 3rd to 8th, 17 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 10 3rd to 8th, 14 total All-Americans
Junior Freestyle - Illinois - 2 champs, 3 runner-ups, 11 3rd to 8th, 16 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 4 3rd to 8th, 5 total All-Americans
Cadet totals - Illinois 38 All-Americans, Wisconsin 14
Junior totals - Illinois 33 All-Americans, Wisconsin 19
Total - Illinois - 9 champs, 12 runner-ups, 50 3rd to 8th, 71 total All-Americans
Wisconsin - 5 champs, 0 runner-ups, 25 3rd to 8th, 33 total All-Americans
Duals:
Schoolboy Greco - Illinois 2nd, Wisconsin 3rd
Schoolboy Freestlye - Illinois 1st, Wisconsin 10th
Cadet & Junior, Freestyle & Greco - Illinois 1st in all 4 divisions, Wisconsin did not compete
I'm sure if I went back further it would historically be similar.
How about NCAA results? http://mwolverine.com/Top_Wrestling_States.html
1961 - 2011
Illinois - 30 NCAA championships (26 different wrestlers), 242 All-Americans (137 different wrestlers)
Wisconsin - 17 NCAA championships (12 different wrestlers), 82 All-Americans (49 different wrestlers)
How about current HS rankings?
Current HS rankings from Intermat (as of 1/15):
Illinois - 5 Top 50 Teams including 4 top 30; 28 wrestlers ranked in top 20 nationally in their weight class
Wisconsin - Kaukana ranked 34th; 4 wrestlers ranked in top 20 nationally in their weight class
I'm born, raised, and live in Wisconsin but it's not that much of a debate.
Well I can't say I disagree with any of his statements.
That being said...
Even though I am chunky I still get funky and he will find out that the hard way.
Even though IL kids have generally had a lot of success against WI kids we are bringing a strong team this weekend to prove him wrong and I hope some of the other teams show up to show him the same.
Take it to them Ben! :o
A chunk of funk beats a mouth from South. Thats where my money is!
UW beat Illinois 19-18.
Quote from: howavi on January 20, 2014, 07:12:00 PM
UW beat Illinois 19-18.
+1 Gotta ask, though, how many kids on each team are actually from that state?
Quote from: buc65 on January 20, 2014, 03:48:27 PM
Quote from: beastmode on January 20, 2014, 03:07:15 PM
Quote from: buc65 on January 20, 2014, 03:05:03 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on January 20, 2014, 12:13:34 PM
What a complete tool.
Say what you want about Ben. He's a grown man. He talks junk and backs it up. He certainly has no issues with people jawing back. No issues with that. But to talk smack about a bunch of kids comes off as classless. Heck it is classless.
Classless? Maybe. Hard to argue against Poeta. Overall wrestling is better in Illinois than Wisconsin.
Your opinion... and it's the wrong one. Let's see the proof.
2013 Cadet and Junior results work for you?
Individual:
Cadet Greco - Illinois - 4 champs, 3 runner-ups, 10 3rd to 8th, 17 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 2 champs, 0 runner-ups, 7 3rd to 8th, 9 total All-Americans
Cadet Freestyle - Illinois - 2 champs, 4 runner-ups, 15 3rd to 8th, 21 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 4 3rd to 8th, 5 total All-Americans
Junior Greco - Illinois - 1 champ, 2 runner-ups, 14 3rd to 8th, 17 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 10 3rd to 8th, 14 total All-Americans
Junior Freestyle - Illinois - 2 champs, 3 runner-ups, 11 3rd to 8th, 16 total All-Americans; Wisconsin - 1 champ, 0 runner-ups, 4 3rd to 8th, 5 total All-Americans
Cadet totals - Illinois 38 All-Americans, Wisconsin 14
Junior totals - Illinois 33 All-Americans, Wisconsin 19
Total - Illinois - 9 champs, 12 runner-ups, 50 3rd to 8th, 71 total All-Americans
Wisconsin - 5 champs, 0 runner-ups, 25 3rd to 8th, 33 total All-Americans
Duals:
Schoolboy Greco - Illinois 2nd, Wisconsin 3rd
Schoolboy Freestlye - Illinois 1st, Wisconsin 10th
Cadet & Junior, Freestyle & Greco - Illinois 1st in all 4 divisions, Wisconsin did not compete
I'm sure if I went back further it would historically be similar.
How about NCAA results? http://mwolverine.com/Top_Wrestling_States.html
1961 - 2011
Illinois - 30 NCAA championships (26 different wrestlers), 242 All-Americans (137 different wrestlers)
Wisconsin - 17 NCAA championships (12 different wrestlers), 82 All-Americans (49 different wrestlers)
How about current HS rankings?
Current HS rankings from Intermat (as of 1/15):
Illinois - 5 Top 50 Teams including 4 top 30; 28 wrestlers ranked in top 20 nationally in their weight class
Wisconsin - Kaukana ranked 34th; 4 wrestlers ranked in top 20 nationally in their weight class
I'm born, raised, and live in Wisconsin but it's not that much of a debate.
I didn't doubt the premise the first time but you certainly drove the point home.
By the way, I'm guessing Poeta said this in a good-natured way to stoke the fires for Wisconsin people to come out and cheer against him and his team. All in the name of marketing/building fan interest....
Division I All Americans - 1928-2011 First number is # of individuals, second number is total # of All Americans. It's amazing how dominant Pennsylvania is.
Pennsylvania 368 602
Oklahoma 294 531
Iowa 258 463
Ohio 189 326
Illinois 179 312
California 156 247
New York 154 240
New Jersey 142 242
Michigan 118 207
Minnesota 94 151
Oregon 76 129
Colorado 59 88
Wisconsin 52 86
Having wrestled in Illinois during childhood, I am well-aware of the long-term production of great wrestlers in that state. For a long time, most of the best Illinois kids were wrestling for colleges in other states. Without a strong college team in Illinois to showcase their talents, the strength of their scholastic programs were flying under the radar, for the most part. Even with this strong tradition and the large number of students in the state, Illinois high school wrestling programs are struggling with some of the same issues as other states.... a decrease in the participation of "average" wrestlers, lower numbers, burnout of youth wrestlers, etc.
Quote from: futurerichguy on January 21, 2014, 11:32:51 AM
Quote from: stbird on January 21, 2014, 10:24:48 AM
Division I All Americans - 1928-2011 First number is # of individuals, second number is total # of All Americans. It's amazing how dominant Pennsylvania is.
Pennsylvania 368 602
Oklahoma 294 531
Iowa 258 463
Ohio 189 326
Illinois 179 312
California 156 247
New York 154 240
New Jersey 142 242
Michigan 118 207
Minnesota 94 151
Oregon 76 129
Colorado 59 88
Wisconsin 52 86
Pennsylvania has 4 times the population of OK and IA, so really those two states are the most impressive in my opinion.
Lots of Iowa college wrestlers are not products of their high schools. Many of the best Illinois kids have wrestled in Iowa and some have even gone to Oklahoma.
Quote from: futurerichguy on January 21, 2014, 11:45:33 AM
Quote from: imnofish on January 21, 2014, 11:35:54 AM
Lots of Iowa college wrestlers are not products of their high schools. Many of the best Illinois kids have wrestled in Iowa and some have even gone to Oklahoma.
That list though only counts high school location, not college location.
Okay, thanks. I missed that. :P
Quote from: 3wrestle on January 21, 2014, 11:57:46 AM
Ill. may currently have better statistics than our schoolboy, cadet and junior teams but I do believe coach Kluever, the national team coaches and the WWF is moving our national teams in the right direction! We brought 2 schoolboy/girl teams to IN. (previously only one team went) and a great group of young men/women to Fargo who represented our state well. Hopefully the wrestlers can continue to build on the previous year results.
Great to hear! Statistics provide evidence of past successes, but they don't limit future potential. Sounds like our guys are focused on building a more competitive future for Wisconsin wrestling.
There's no question that the WWF and the coaches involved have done a great job and this has led to much more success for Wisconsin wrestlers on the national scene.
That being said, there's no question that Illinois still is known for turning out more quality college recruits than WI.
I found it interesting that when asked about PA's dominance at the D1's over a long period of time, a long time coach there (can't remember who it was) but he mentioned there were quite a few D1 programs in PA. Heck, how many are there? - 8??? The large number of D1 wrestlers coming out of PA colleges were in turn coaching at PA high schools resulting in PA wrestlers getting much better coaching/instruction across the state.
Makes sense when you stop and realize WI has one D1 program.....
I wouldn't doubt at all that Askren asked Poeta for some sort of "poster board material" just to get things going.
Ben looks slow because he never sacrifices position. Shoots in great position, finishes in great position, defends in great position, and never seems to tire. Funk is what puts him over the top.
Many guys look quick as cats because they shoot fast; but with their heads down and their hips behind.
Poeta will look bad. Not a good time to talk trash.
Ill. is a much bigger state, bigger talent pool. I say we beat 'em in a war, though.
Poeta's pretty good; but we'll see if it's smack or just good-natured babble.
"Buc65" you listed about the cadet & junior nats results & compared the 2. I just wanna add that Illinois had 68 cadets wrestling Greco & they had 17 all Americans which comes out to be a 1/4 of their team as all Americans, team Wisconsin had only 26 kids & 9 all Americans which is better than a 1/3 of our team earning all american status, Illinois had 42 more kids & only 8 more all Americans, we got more out of our kids then Illinois did, watch out team Wisconsin is on the rise, hopefully we will show u that at Agon lll
Quote from: MajaC on January 21, 2014, 10:29:04 PM
"Buc65" you listed about the cadet & junior nats results & compared the 2. I just wanna add that Illinois had 68 cadets wrestling Greco & they had 17 all Americans which comes out to be a 1/4 of their team as all Americans, team Wisconsin had only 26 kids & 9 all Americans which is better than a 1/3 of our team earning all american status, Illinois had 42 more kids & only 8 more all Americans, we got more out of our kids then Illinois did, watch out team Wisconsin is on the rise, hopefully we will show u that at Agon lll
+1 Doing more with less! 8)
Quote from: MajaC on January 21, 2014, 10:29:04 PM
"Buc65" you listed about the cadet & junior nats results & compared the 2. I just wanna add that Illinois had 68 cadets wrestling Greco & they had 17 all Americans which comes out to be a 1/4 of their team as all Americans, team Wisconsin had only 26 kids & 9 all Americans which is better than a 1/3 of our team earning all american status, Illinois had 42 more kids & only 8 more all Americans, we got more out of our kids then Illinois did, watch out team Wisconsin is on the rise, hopefully we will show u that at Agon lll
BOOM!
Quote from: MajaC on January 21, 2014, 10:29:04 PM
"Buc65" you listed about the cadet & junior nats results & compared the 2. I just wanna add that Illinois had 68 cadets wrestling Greco & they had 17 all Americans which comes out to be a 1/4 of their team as all Americans, team Wisconsin had only 26 kids & 9 all Americans which is better than a 1/3 of our team earning all american status, Illinois had 42 more kids & only 8 more all Americans, we got more out of our kids then Illinois did, watch out team Wisconsin is on the rise, hopefully we will show u that at Agon lll
....and if WI really wanted to show who was better, next time they can just take those 9 wrestlers who were All-Americans and then they can have 100% of their team earn All-American status!!!
That will most certainly prove they are the best team in the country!
NOT.
+ 100
Poeta can't finish that low ankle on Ben, period.
Quote from: bigG on January 21, 2014, 07:25:35 PM
Ben looks slow because he never sacrifices position. Shoots in great position, finishes in great position, defends in great position, and never seems to tire. Funk is what puts him over the top.
Many guys look quick as cats because they shoot fast; but with their heads down and their hips behind.
Poeta will look bad. Not a good time to talk trash.
Ill. is a much bigger state, bigger talent pool. I say we beat 'em in a war, though.
Poeta's pretty good; but we'll see if it's smack or just good-natured babble.