Reality Check

[wrestle03]

Why do some of you continue to beat a DEAD horse?

[mkm13]

Make sure to get all your bashing in now, I am sure it will be a lot more difficult for you guys next year. 

Two years ago has been beat to death.  You can only recover from that so fast.  I don't know the exact numbers and someone can correct me if I am wrong, but we had to be redshirting close to 30% of our available scholarships this year.  Considering where we were at 2 years ago and reshirting that many wrestlers, I am not sure what people expected this year.  I am not sure how any fan can't be happy with the direction of the program. 

[Ghetto]

It just looks like it's getting beaten but we're actually performing CPR.

Haha! That was funny!

[whatever]

I was gonna say they'd beat a LIVE horse if they could but it keeps running away.......

[ROCKY3]

Wisconsin did pretty good compared to other schools .... for instance..Michigan ... who had 7 qualifiers that scored a total of 9 points.

Really dude? You are reaching, and you know it.

[Gutwrench]

The uw team would look pretty good right now if we had Pollizzi, Suffloen, AD, Peterson, Dunlap, Gruetner, Donar, Hucke, Monk, Nazar all on the roster.    

You point out wrestlers who are having a measure of success, but what about the other D1 recruited wrestlers from Wisconsin that haven't had a measure of success?  Joe Budi comes to mind as a recent stud HS wrestler who hasn't made a splash on the national scene while at Old Dominion.  The point is that recruiting is such an inexact science.  Yes we can all look back and say "I told you so" about AD and JS, but could anybody say with certainty that Monk and Hucke would have had the success they are having?

[billymurphy]

I agree that Joe Budi looked great at the state tournament his senior year.  I was real interested on how he would do nationally.  However, his senior year when he went out to wrestle freestyle at Fargo he lost his first match and may have won just one match and then he got beat again going either 1-2 or maybe even 0-2.   Thus proving that just because you are good on the WI state level, until you prove yourself nationally you are an uncertainty.  Now Dieringer for example, he destroyed all the top competition nationally in just flat out impressive fashion and was voted outstanding wrestler at Fargo.  Howe, Oliver, Dieringer were junior world team guys and as John Smith would say are "beast".  Sueflohn was a great Wisconsin high school wrestler by anyones standards but he lacked the awesome strength that Dieringer has and the quickness that a Thielke has so his road to a national college championship will be harder.

Seth Liegel is about the only returning senior wrestler this year that can claim success at fargo last summer making him a good national recruit but a 5th place finish is not sure thing blue chip status but is getting warm.  Wisconsin has some good wrestlers such as Jared Scharenbrock's with promise so it will interesting how he does this summer.  John Smith looks at freestyle success and does not even mention greco results when I have heard him talk so I am not going to either.

Junior-113 - Bill Prochniewski's place is unknown.
Match #1 Adrian Cordova (Colorado) over Bill Prochniewski (Wisconsin) Dec 4-2,4-0
Match #2 Bill Prochniewski (Wisconsin) over Chase Lynn (Iowa) Dec 3-1,6-0
Match #3 Will Kelly (Virginia) over Bill Prochniewski (Wisconsin) Dec 1-5,2-2,1-0

Junior-126 - Andrew Crone's place is unknown.
Match #1 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) over Morgan Engbrecht (South Dakota) Dec 4-2,7-0
Match #2 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) over Dylan Realbuto (New York) TF 7-1,6-0
Match #3 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) over Chris Caldwell (California) Fall 0:13
Match #4 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) over Alexander Rinaldi (New Jersey) Dec 6-1,7-3
Match #5 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) over Chris Walters (Iowa) TF 6-0,6-0
Match #6 Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) received a bye.
Match #7 Godwin Nyama (Pennsylvania) over Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) Dec 5-0,4-0
Match #8 Garrison White (North Carolina) over Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) Dec 3-3,2-3,3-3

Junior-132 - Gabriel Grahek's place is unknown.
Match #1 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Cole Sladek (Minnesota) Dec 1-2,1-0,2-1
Match #2 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Jay Stine (Wyoming) TF 7-0,7-3
Match #3 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Kyle Miller (Kansas) Dec 1-0,6-0
Match #4 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Gary Dinmore (New Jersey) Dec 2-0,3-2
Match #5 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Trent Nicholson (California) Fall 0-3,0:52
Match #6 Zane Richards (Illinois) over Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) Dec 3-0,6-0
Match #7 Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) over Mizam Tamaradze (Massachusetts) Dec 6-0,0-5,3-2
Match #8 Robbie Mathers (Arizona) over Gabriel Grahek (Wisconsin) TF 6-0,7-0

Junior-145 - Jared Scharenbrock's place is unknown.
Match #1 Jared Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) over Mike Longo (California) TF 11-4,6-0
Match #2 Jared Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) over Kolton Crawford (Arkansas) Fall 6-0,0:33
Match #3 Jared Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) over Rocco Borg (Michigan) TF 7-0,7-6,7-0
Match #4 Jack Bass (Texas) over Jared Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) Dec 8-0,5-4
Match #5 Jared Johnshoy (Idaho) over Jared Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) Dec 5-4,6-0

Junior-152 - Seth Liegel's place is 5th.
Match #1 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Joshua Alston (North Carolina) TF 6-0,7-0
Match #2 Greg Hegarty (Missouri) over Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) Dec 4-2,4-1
Match #3 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Leland Slawson (New York) Dec 1-0,3-0
Match #4 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Richard Viruet (Massachusetts) Dec 7-0,3-0
Match #5 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) received a bye.
Match #6 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Tim Ostby (Minnesota) Dec 4-0,1-0
Match #7 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Takil Agnew (Illinois) Dec 2-0,3-0
Match #8 Oliver Pierce (Texas) over Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) Dec 3-0,1-0
Match #9 Josh Llopez (Maryland) over Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) Dec 4-0,3-0
Match #10 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) received a bye.
Match #11 Seth Liegel (Wisconsin) over Jake Elliott (California) Dec 4-1,4-1

Junior-170 - Jacob Stilling's place is unknown.
Match #1 Tyler Patrick (Maryland) over Jacob Stilling (Wisconsin) Dec 1-3,1-0,5-0
Match #2 Jacob Stilling (Wisconsin) over Aaron Maddox (Louisiana) Fall 0:24
Match #3 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) over Jacob Stilling (Wisconsin) Dec 3-2,8-1

Junior-170 - Jacob Morrissey's place is unknown.
Match #1 Jacob Morrissey (Wisconsin) over Dominic Sipe (Texas) Dec 3-0,2-0
Match #2 Jacob Morrissey (Wisconsin) over Mason Bender (South Dakota) Fall 1:12
Match #3 Parker VonEgidy (North Carolina) over Jacob Morrissey (Wisconsin) Dec 3-5,1-0,3-0
Match #4 Trey Hable (Minnesota) over Jacob Morrissey (Wisconsin) Fall 5-2,1:50

Junior-182 - Aaron Rothwell's place is unknown.
Match #1 Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) over Joe Cordova (Ohio) Dec 9-5,5-0
Match #2 Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) over Brandon Marshall (Florida) TF 6-0,6-0
Match #3 Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) over Zachary Coffman (Utah) Dec 4-0,1-0
Match #4 Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) over Tanner O`Donnell (Kansas) Dec 1-0,7-0
Match #5 Richard Robertson (Illinois) over Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) Dec 7-0,1-0
Match #6 Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) over Joel Dixon (Oklahoma) Dec 1-0,3-2
Match #7 Jonathon Inman (Missouri) over Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin) Fall 1:19

Junior-195 - Eric Peissig's place is unknown.
Match #1 Eric Peissig (Wisconsin) over Jimmy Szep (Ohio) Dec 2-0,0-1,7-2
Match #2 Willie Miklus (Iowa) over Eric Peissig (Wisconsin) Dec 7-0,2-3,5-3
Match #3 Eric Peissig (Wisconsin) over Mante Barnes (Pennsylvania) Dec 0-1,7-0,2-0
Match #4 Chris Pagan (Florida) over Eric Peissig (Wisconsin) Fall 0:49

Junior-285 - Jessie Nelson's place is unknown.
Match #1 Jeremy Brazil (Illinois) over Jessie Nelson (Wisconsin) Dec 1-1,3-0
Match #2 Jessie Nelson (Wisconsin) over Ed Torres (Washington) Dec 2-1,4-2
Match #3 Jessie Nelson (Wisconsin) over Jason Johnson (Maryland) Dec 4-2,1-0
Match #4 Charles Rassel (California) over Jessie Nelson (Wisconsin) Dec 3-1,2-0

[Gutwrench]

Good data Billy, and valid points.

[BuckyMatRat]

While wearing my badger jacket over the weekend I was asked many times ,are you from Wisconsin . After I responded yes , their next question was so what's up with you guys and Barry?  They then said that they always thought Barry was a great coach but he doesn't seem to be getting it done. I feel that there is a national concern for our program not just in state.

Considering there was 8 of us at Des Moines all wearing Wisconsin gear every day and attended every session and not once were we asked 'what's up with Wisconsin and Barry?' I find your statement hard to believe.

[Troy Grindle]

The uw team would look pretty good right now if we had Pollizzi, Suffloen, AD, Peterson, Dunlap, Gruetner, Donar, Hucke, Monk, Nazar all on the roster.   

You point out wrestlers who are having a measure of success, but what about the other D1 recruited wrestlers from Wisconsin that haven't had a measure of success?  Joe Budi comes to mind as a recent stud HS wrestler who hasn't made a splash on the national scene while at Old Dominion.  The point is that recruiting is such an inexact science.  Yes we can all look back and say "I told you so" about AD and JS, but could anybody say with certainty that Monk and Hucke would have had the success they are having?

You are right it is a crap shoot on who will be good at the collegiate level.  Their have been so many kids that I thought were going to be awesome at the next level and did nothing while others really surprised me with their success in college.  I am just saying from a fans point of view it is hard to swallow seeing these kids leave the state to continue wrestling.  I wish the uw was 3-4 deep at every weight class and kids had a hard time cracking the starting lineup like at Penn State or Iowa but that isn't the case.  I also believe that Barry doesn't like seeing them leave either and would love for all of the in state kids to go to UW.  I think that majority of these kids wanted to wrestle at UW at some point in their life but don't end up doing it.  What changes?  Is it that they can't get in because of grades, go somewhere else for perceived "greener pastures", don't think that they will mesh with the coaching staff/team?  Some of them leave because they get a better offer from another college and I get that.  But something is changing these kids minds in coming to UW I think. 

[DocWrestling]

The wrestling family needs to realize that a football or basketball player growing up in Wisconsin sees UW on TV all the team and becomes a fan and mostl likely would love to attend their local university.

Wrestling is different.  The majority of HS wrestlers cannot name a badger wrestler but could name a badger basketball player more likely.  Very few HS wrestlers have even seen the Badgers wrestle or have ever heard their results.  What would they be falling in love with.  The basketball and football teams may make them a fan of the university.

How many kids have been to a dual?  UW wrestling is no different than UW baseball in terms of popularity amongst 5- 18 year olds and guess what UW does not have a baseball team.

It is much tougher to keep local talent in the non-revenue sports.

[Scourge]

Reality Check (Top 10):

1.  Tyler Graff - 3rd Place NCAA, 3X All-American, best year ever, coming back
2.  Jackson Hein - NCAA qualifier, best year ever, coming back
3.  Connor Medbery - NCAA qualifier, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, coming back
4.  2013 NCAA Team Scores - Wisconsin finishes higher than Purdue, Michigan (Who has Donny Pritzlaff), Indiana, Michigan State AND 2013 Big Ten Conference Dual Standings Wisconsin finishes higher than Michigan (Who has Donny Pritzlaff), Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State
5.  November 11, 2012 - Badgers open season with win over No. 25 Hofstra
6.  December 9, 2012 - Badgers upset No. 9 Nebraska in Lincoln
7.  January 13, 2013 - Badgers upset No. 11 Michigan to extend Big Ten win streak (Did I mention they have Donny P
8.  Redshirt Freshman and Unattached Results - Jesse Thielke (10-3, 6th Midlands), Isaac Jordan (23-2, 3rd Midlands), TJ Ruschell 15-2, Ryan Lubeck 25-6, Ryan Taylor (2012 top 50 recruit)
9.  Recruiting Class - Ricky Robertson (Illinois State Champ), Austin Moe (2X WI State Champ), Seth Liegel (WI State Champ), Andrew Crone (WI State Champ), Jake Stilling (WI State Champ), Justin Weber (IL 3rd State)
10.  Last year Big Ten dual record 0-8, NCAA record 41st, This year Big Ten dual record 4-4, NCAA record 27th

I would have to say that reality is looking pretty good from my point of view.  Great job Badger wrestlers and coaches!  Can't wait till next year.

Just to be clear, we beat Michigan in the dual and at the NCAA's, without using any of our freshman on varsity ? :-)

Michigan also has some very talented freshmen and a class that already has 4 of the top 16 recruits coming into next year while the top rated Badger recruit tops out at #81. 

Lets not start in on the "we beat Donny," thing until we actually give them a LITTLE time to develop their program and get some guys in there. 


Barry Davis has had 20 years.  Donny P has had ONE(and with how Massa did and their class for next year, a pretty good one).

Meanwhile, the top overall recruit next year at any weight....Bo JORDAN.  The only one in the family who decided not to attend Wisconsin to wrestle(may end up being the best as well).  And this is after Barry all but said he was coming to Wisconsin before the fallout by making some comment about potentially getting the #1 recruit from the 2013 class.

[Badger_Fan]

Donny just completed his second year at Michigan.

[imnofish]

Reality Check (Top 10):

1.  Tyler Graff - 3rd Place NCAA, 3X All-American, best year ever, coming back
2.  Jackson Hein - NCAA qualifier, best year ever, coming back
3.  Connor Medbery - NCAA qualifier, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, coming back
4.  2013 NCAA Team Scores - Wisconsin finishes higher than Purdue, Michigan (Who has Donny Pritzlaff), Indiana, Michigan State AND 2013 Big Ten Conference Dual Standings Wisconsin finishes higher than Michigan (Who has Donny Pritzlaff), Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State
5.  November 11, 2012 - Badgers open season with win over No. 25 Hofstra
6.  December 9, 2012 - Badgers upset No. 9 Nebraska in Lincoln
7.  January 13, 2013 - Badgers upset No. 11 Michigan to extend Big Ten win streak (Did I mention they have Donny P
8.  Redshirt Freshman and Unattached Results - Jesse Thielke (10-3, 6th Midlands), Isaac Jordan (23-2, 3rd Midlands), TJ Ruschell 15-2, Ryan Lubeck 25-6, Ryan Taylor (2012 top 50 recruit)
9.  Recruiting Class - Ricky Robertson (Illinois State Champ), Austin Moe (2X WI State Champ), Seth Liegel (WI State Champ), Andrew Crone (WI State Champ), Jake Stilling (WI State Champ), Justin Weber (IL 3rd State)
10.  Last year Big Ten dual record 0-8, NCAA record 41st, This year Big Ten dual record 4-4, NCAA record 27th

I would have to say that reality is looking pretty good from my point of view.  Great job Badger wrestlers and coaches!  Can't wait till next year.

Great post!     Solid improvement was evident from 2012 to 2013.  We should appreciate and respect that, as well as find it encouraging!