Shapiro - is he really a threat to win it as Freshman?

[Dark Energy]

Listing to FRL - mention of Shapiro as a real title threat at 157.  Even that he is a favorite.  
 

157 seems pretty deep.  Feel like I’m missing something.  I know Shapiro wrestled college guys last year and did well.  But did he beat anyone upper echelon?  For those that he did beat, was it with severe authority?  
 

Curious to hear the case for him being at least a top two favorite to win 157.

[Gus]

22 minutes ago, Dark Energy said:

Listing to FRL - mention of Shapiro as a real title threat at 157.  Even that he is a favorite.  
 

157 seems pretty deep.  Feel like I’m missing something.  I know Shapiro wrestled college guys last year and did well.  But did he beat anyone upper echelon?  For those that he did beat, was it with severe authority?  
 

Curious to hear the case for him being at least a top two favorite to win 157.

It is based on his freestyle dominance. First of all, he won a U20 world title and was very dominant doing so. He destroyed everyone domestically and the group of guys that were competing at the weight includes: Daniel Cardenas, Paniro Johnson, Jackson Arrington, etc. 

I agree with the flo crew that he absolutely can win a title this year and is a tier 1 guy right out of the gate. 157 has a lot of depth but does not have that guy at the top that seems insurmountable like Brooks, Starrocci, Vito, etc. 

[Dark Energy]

Thanks for this.  We see some guys do great at freestyle with age level medals … but don’t hit that level on folkstyle.  
 

Your point of there being no super studs is a good one.

[Ban Basketball]

If I had dime for every "next big thing" entering the college ranks from either freestyle, Greco,  or high school I'd be living the life of a lottery winner. 

I couldn't count the number of "next big thing" flops. 

[Ohio Elite]

Him vs Sasso would be insane. Recently saw Sasso is doing well in recovery. It could happen next year for sure.

[Ohio Elite]

Just now, Ban Basketball said:

If I had dime for every "next big thing" entering the college ranks from either freestyle, Greco,  or high school I'd be living the life of a lottery winner. 

I couldn't count the number of "next big thing" flops. 

Your the ultimate sour puss...

[Ban Basketball]

2 minutes ago, Ohio Elite said:

Your the ultimate sour puss...

Your?

Tell me the "next big thing " I've proclaimed that wasn't,  other than none. 

So,  how could I be that, ma'am?

[ionel]

54 minutes ago, Gus said:

It is based on his freestyle dominance.  

We talk'n freestyle?

[Ban Basketball]

I follow nothing other than UNI news during the off season, I follow no high school wrestling, and only follow UNI during the season...

... so, with that said,  I just learned that this guy is going to Cornell. With THAT said,  they DO have a history of verifying that " the next big thing" was indeed that. 

I rescind my comment above.  He likely WILL produce. 

[AgaveMaria]

Will most likely do well, but that is 3rd at best.

[flyingcement]

I say yes he is a threat to win.  157 may be deep but I think there is a decent amount of parity at the top

[ionel]

7 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

I say yes he is a threat to win.  157 may be deep but I think there is a decent amount of parity at the top

But can you guarantee it?

[Ohio Elite]

2 minutes ago, ionel said:

But can you guarantee it?

Nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes my friend  

[Ohio Elite]

42 minutes ago, Ban Basketball said:

 

I rescind my comment above.  He likely WILL produce. 

Go figure  

[Ban Basketball]

2 minutes ago, Ohio Elite said:

Go figure  

I'm nice and cozy with it too, which is a compliment to the rassler and Cornell. 

Won't find me dissing Cornell over the years. 

[Ohio Elite]

Just now, Ban Basketball said:

I'm nice and cozy with it too, which is a compliment to the rassler and Cornell. 

Won't find me dissing Cornell over the years. 

They've been very impressive over the last decade or so.  Can't forget Dake!!

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

I think he is a blend of Yianni and Dake, so yes he is the favorite at 157.

[ionel]

9 minutes ago, Ohio Elite said:

Nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes my friend  

Not true.  Did Hunter have to pay his taxes?

[Ohio Elite]

Just now, ionel said:

Not true.  Did Hunter have to pay his taxes?

Well you got me there lol  

[ionel]

1 hour ago, Ohio Elite said:

Your the ultimate sour puss...

Thats gotta be the nicest thing anyones said about the Deuce.  

[flyingcement]

12 minutes ago, Ohio Elite said:

Nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes my friend  

Also Dean Hamiti was guaranteed to beat Alex Marinelli and Jesse Mendez to beat Roman Bravo Young.  But in general I agree.

[Ban Basketball]

13 minutes ago, Ohio Elite said:

They've been very impressive over the last decade or so.  Can't forget Dake!!

Trust me:  Dake comes first to mind (and that's saying something).

Among the elite college rasslers I've followed. 

Edited September 28, 2023 by Ban Basketball

[Ban Basketball]

8 minutes ago, ionel said:

Thats gotta be the nicest thing anyones said about the Deuce.  

The obsession,  including name calling(!) continues...

[1032004]

1 hour ago, Dark Energy said:

Thanks for this.  We see some guys do great at freestyle with age level medals … but don’t hit that level on folkstyle.  

If you change “medal” to “gold,” I believe the number that don’t “hit” is pretty small.

[Gus]

1 hour ago, Dark Energy said:

Thanks for this.  We see some guys do great at freestyle with age level medals … but don’t hit that level on folkstyle.  
 

Your point of there being no super studs is a good one.

True that some guys don’t translate to the next level but a lot of that’s because they are so much more physically mature than some of their age level counterparts. Other times they lack mat skills or something just doesn’t click at the NCAA level. Meyer looked fast and strong at worlds but is not necessarily a “brute” like a Bouzakis type where he overpowered everyone he faced.  Couple that with the fact that he wrestled some decent NCAA guys last year in open tournaments and beat them all rather easily and I think we have a title contender on our hands. Cornell also does a great job getting super elite guys ready to go right away (Yianni, Dake, Vito, etc.).