Inquiry into, and a theory about, the "Fix" being in at NCAA's......

[wrestle87]

So, having just watched what we all watched in the longest and (felt like) most undeniably one-sidedly officiated series of matches I've seen in a very very long time, I decided to conduct a bit of a research expedition into the individual with most runner-up finishes in history. 

What I found surprised me, and didn't surprise me, but ultimately had me come to an interesting theory. 

I just speed-watched all of Fix's finals matches, as well as some of his historic NCAA earlier round matches that I could find.  Consistencies I found:

1) Stupid challenges.  J smith threw a challenge brick Fix's freshman year trying to get a "hands to the face" penalty point.

2) Poor coaching behavior from Okie State staff.  Esposito was just as much of a whiny tool as anyone in Fix's earlier finals matches.  

3) Very convenient stall-calls in ways that would help the plight of one D Fix in certain sticky situations at crucial moments in matches.  Suriano got hit with a really dubious call in their match in the 2nd.  In 2021 RBY got hit for stall riding with 15 left in the 2nd period, after doing the same ride the whole 2nd period, and then got hit for 2 stall calls within 15 seconds of each other late in the 3rd to take the match from 2-0 to 2-2

4) Edge-playing and gamesmanship that he was never penalized for whenever he was tired.  Gas tank has been an increasing issue as the years have gone by for D Fix.  This is not something that anybody would be surprised by, we saw the tournament this year. 

 

What DID surprise me however, was what a review of historical brackets and historical matches showed:

1) In his first three tournaments, Fix put up points.  He straight up put on a show when he took the mat.  In his early tournaments he had lots of majors and pins. 

My theory is that Fix's weight cut has gotten increasingly worse, and that the Okie State staff actually worked out a strategy this year for him to manage his output alongside making weight.  

In 2019 he scored 44 points on his way to the finals, losing 4-2 in SV-2
In 2021 he went 16-3; Pin; Pin; 3-2 decision on his way to the finals, losing 4-2 in SV
In 2022 he went 20-8; 7-4; Pin; 5-1 on his way to the finals, losing 3-2 in regulation
In 2023 he went 20-8; 8-4; 3-2; L got majored by Vito; W 6-4; L 2-1 for 3rd
This year he went 17-1; 5-4; TB-1 2-1; TB-1 3-2; L 5-3

2) Fix got after it in his earlier years.  Dude is a nasty wrestler despite what we saw this year.  He didn't play the edge at all until late second early third period...when gas tanks start to get a bit fragile.  But in his early-on tournaments, dude went after it like a beast.  

3) What surprised me most however was this...

Prior to Ferrari, Ringer and Heil were the last wrestlers to bring home NCAA titles for Okie State.

That is a long long drought...and for John Smith, one of the handful of greatest individuals to influence the legacy of wrestling in our sport, this is a tough tough legacy to leave. It just looks bad.

So, I don't love the fact that the Fix may have been in, and I don't love the fact that Okie State coaches whine their face off every match...but I do understand wanting to get one more up on the podium before calling it a career.  Being the guy that enabled and gave Johnny Go-Fast and the vroom vroom family their platform isn't a great note to end a career on, both for coach and school alike.