Jump to content
  • Playwire Ad Area

Sympathy for Steen


Elevator

Recommended Posts

He was a talented and accomplished schoolboy wrestler from PA and is a valauble asset in the PSU room probably best suited to develop being Howard for another year or two.  Getting thrown to the B1G wolves now cannot be easy.  I do not want to rush to any conclusions as to how he might develop.  Some accomplished high school wrestlers get to a high level sooner and some later and of course some do not find whatever it takes to make it at the next level. Maybe he finds a way.

It cannot be easy on him to be the one guy on the roster that the whole arena considers a success if he does not give up 6.  I do not think it is a lack of character or commitment.  Kid probably wants it as much as anyone. I feel a little bad for him watching him struggle.  I think it is a noble struggle to keep trying in the face of tough odds in a sport where you are all alone and everyone is watching. So I wish him well and tip my hat that he is out there battling!   

  • Fire 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Elevator said:

He was a talented and accomplished schoolboy wrestler from PA and is a valauble asset in the PSU room probably best suited to develop being Howard for another year or two.  Getting thrown to the B1G wolves now cannot be easy.  I do not want to rush to any conclusions as to how he might develop.  Some accomplished high school wrestlers get to a high level sooner and some later and of course some do not find whatever it takes to make it at the next level. Maybe he finds a way.

It cannot be easy on him to be the one guy on the roster that the whole arena considers a success if he does not give up 6.  I do not think it is a lack of character or commitment.  Kid probably wants it as much as anyone. I feel a little bad for him watching him struggle.  I think it is a noble struggle to keep trying in the face of tough odds in a sport where you are all alone and everyone is watching. So I wish him well and tip my hat that he is out there battling!   

image.jpeg.c7fef406306c7431b1a81f9d5ac8243e.jpeg

I don't feel that bad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It drives me nuts when people criticize and act like he is terrible wrestler when he is better than 99% of the people criticizing him! Yeah he is undersized and struggling against the top D1 wrestlers but I’m sure the critics would struggle against that kind of competition too

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, MPhillips said:

I believe those folks are critiquing him against other 125's, not themselves...

Of course. It’s fine to make those comparisons… he chose to go D1, that’s who he wants to be compared against. However, when someone says he sucks or he’s a terrible wrestler, it is a not an accurate statement. An accurate critique comparing him to the other 125s in the B1G is that he’s a very good wrestler struggling against the best wrestlers. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 1032004 said:

What weight did Steen wrestle as a HS senior?

120, after placing in the (I think smaller school division) of the PIAA tourney at 106, and 113.

https://www.statecollege.com/two-time-state-champion-gary-steen-flips-from-pitt-to-penn-state-wrestling/

"Steen — who projects as a 125-pounder in college — won the PIAA championship at 106 pounds as a freshman in 2018 and place third in 2019. Last year he moved up to 113 pounds and claimed his second Class 2A title with an overtime victory against South Park’s Joey Fischer.

Wrestling at 120 pounds for his senior season, Steen is 12-0 on the year so far, including four pins and one tech fall.

Steen, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation at 120 pounds by The Open Mat, joins Shayne Van Ness and Alex Facundo in Penn State’s 2021 recruiting class."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Elevator said:

120, after placing in the (I think smaller school division) of the PIAA tourney at 106, and 113.

https://www.statecollege.com/two-time-state-champion-gary-steen-flips-from-pitt-to-penn-state-wrestling/

"Steen — who projects as a 125-pounder in college — won the PIAA championship at 106 pounds as a freshman in 2018 and place third in 2019. Last year he moved up to 113 pounds and claimed his second Class 2A title with an overtime victory against South Park’s Joey Fischer.

Wrestling at 120 pounds for his senior season, Steen is 12-0 on the year so far, including four pins and one tech fall.

Steen, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation at 120 pounds by The Open Mat, joins Shayne Van Ness and Alex Facundo in Penn State’s 2021 recruiting class."

That’s what I thought.  So while I’m he’s smaller than the guys cutting a lot, I would bet he’s at least weighing in right around 125, maybe even cutting a couple pounds

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, 1032004 said:

That’s what I thought.  So while I’m he’s smaller than the guys cutting a lot, I would bet he’s at least weighing in right around 125, maybe even cutting a couple pounds

Probably more of "losing" a couple pounds than "cutting" a couple pounds.  Like that guy who could just skip lunch to make weight then complain that he was starving because he missed one meal. 

  • Fire 1

Sponsored by INTERMAT ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would be interesting to hear from the experienced wrestlers or coaches how you might guide a wrestler how to navigate a match with Lee.  I cannot think of much.  Maybe: do not choose down, better 1 than 2 if you are on top, and use your best control ties on your feet to slow him down and (in theory) work your own offense.  Doubt any strategy works much better than: "try to have fun out there and stay relaxed!"  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Elevator said:

Would be interesting to hear from the experienced wrestlers or coaches how you might guide a wrestler how to navigate a match with Lee.  I cannot think of much.  Maybe: do not choose down, better 1 than 2 if you are on top, and use your best control ties on your feet to slow him down and (in theory) work your own offense.  Doubt any strategy works much better than: "try to have fun out there and stay relaxed!"  

I would say don’t tie up.  Rivera’s strategy of maintaining space seemed to work well.

Not sure of bottom strategy.  Probably try to get up off the whistle, don’t be afraid to get a couple cautions

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/21/2023 at 5:08 PM, Elevator said:

He was a talented and accomplished schoolboy wrestler from PA and is a valauble asset in the PSU room probably best suited to develop being Howard for another year or two.  Getting thrown to the B1G wolves now cannot be easy.  I do not want to rush to any conclusions as to how he might develop.  Some accomplished high school wrestlers get to a high level sooner and some later and of course some do not find whatever it takes to make it at the next level. Maybe he finds a way.

It cannot be easy on him to be the one guy on the roster that the whole arena considers a success if he does not give up 6.  I do not think it is a lack of character or commitment.  Kid probably wants it as much as anyone. I feel a little bad for him watching him struggle.  I think it is a noble struggle to keep trying in the face of tough odds in a sport where you are all alone and everyone is watching. So I wish him well and tip my hat that he is out there battling!   

I recall a Pa kid who wrestled 125 in the B1G and was routinely noted on the old forums to have been thrown to the wolves his 1st year and he ended up doing ok. With this W under his belt, maybe Steen just needs a semi rhyming nickname to achieve AA status down the road? 

  • Fire 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Playwire Ad Area


  • Playwire Ad Area
  • Latest Rankings

  • College Commitments

    Adam Mattin

    Delta, Ohio
    Class of 2025
    Committed to Stanford
    Projected Weight: 125, 133

    Grant Stromberg

    Mukwonago, Wisconsin
    Class of 2024
    Committed to Northern Iowa
    Projected Weight: 285

    Hudson Ward

    Canton, Pennsylvania
    Class of 2024
    Committed to Lock Haven
    Projected Weight: 165

    Alex Reed

    Shikellamy, Pennsylvania
    Class of 2024
    Committed to Lock Haven
    Projected Weight: 125

    Darren Florance

    Harpursville, New York
    Class of 2024
    Committed to Lock Haven
    Projected Weight: 125
  • Playwire Ad Area
×
×
  • Create New...