Quote Originally Posted by Big Bird View Post
Would've been great to get the win, but #13 UNI is very solid. I actually though the majority of the team wrestled well and the coaching staff did a good job.

125- Bianchi laid an egg. He needs to learn how to get away on bottom and get out of the legs. I still think Bianchi is going to be very good, but his early season performance has left a lot to be desired. Need to get better in scrambles too.
133- Love the decision to pull Midkiff's redshirt (would've even liked to see it happen against Iowa). With Cam only being a rSo, Bianchi a rFr, Fleetwood redshirting this year, and Degen performing well, someone was going to have to sit next year anyway. Might as well let Midkiff fill in for Cam (although I REALLY hope Cam doesn't have a major injury). As far as his performance, I though he did great. No fear, aggressive, and great conditioning. Got outscrambled several times, but adjusted and overcame. Kid has a bright future and could be the big get in his recruiting class (which is saying a lot with Metz in the class).
141- Hampton was overmatched but battled. The match was trending in the wrong direction, so he took some risks that backfired.
149- Gliva faced a superior opponent and kept it close.
157- Clay looked very good and closed the match out to get the major. His match against Kemmerer didn't go well on Friday, but his other matches this year have been very good.
165- Great start and great finish for Fogarty. The second period went poorly, but UNI makes their money on top. Fogarty's heavy hips and solid attacks won him this match.
174- Terrible performance. He was facing a superior opponent, but the effort wasn't there. Urbach routinely got to Lujan's legs, and did 1 of 2 things: 1. Sit there and wait for Lujan to overpower him. 2. Let go for no reason and let Lujan go behind for the takedown. No excuse for getting to a guys legs that often/easily and then give up. I'm ready to see a new body in at 174. My preference is for it to be Witzig (assuming he can make 174), Popp, Clingenpeel/Knutson. Good chance this weight is a struggle all yea, but I'd at least like to see someone put the effort forward.
184- Mcnutt looked great in the third period. This reminded me of a match he had vs Mueller last year. It seems like Tyler is better conditioned than most of his opponents and can take over late. Just need to wrestle a little better early and he can win more of these. Foster was an All American last year
197- Eaton looks improved. Good conditioning, solid leg attacks, and active. Keep working on shot D and more efficient attacks and he can do big things. Nice to see both of the guys from Iowa get wins vs UNI.
HWT- Stibral had a huge win.He was simply too big and strong for Isley. I haven't been huge on big Dan's potential, but he impressed me here. Still haven't seem offense from him, but he got a really good win here and hopefully he builds off of it.
Great assessment Big Bird.
In speaking with some of the team and they all said they were not trying to make excuses for the Iowa dual but they said it was strange to make weight at 9:00 am and then sit around basically 3-4 hours and then go wrestle a dual. Having said that I don't think we wrestled our best at Carver Hawkeye and I think part of the issue there was that they wrestled a little timid vs Iowa. It was good to see them respond against UNI and come out wrestling hard. I have to say that was my first time into the famed "West Gym" and it's definitely a throwback to the days of old with wooden pullout bleachers and the close proximity of the fans to the mat but the atmosphere in there is a great environment to wrestle in none the less.