Hipps Toss Weekly College Wrestling Recap
Who Will Be The Next Victim of The Hipps Toss Jinx?
By Andrew Hipps – Staff Writer
Please send comments, questions or replies to: [email protected]
The Jinx
You’ve heard of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, right? In 2002, SI even went as far as writing a cover story about their infamous jinx. A black cat was shown on the cover of that issue with a slogan that read “The Cover that No One Would Pose for. Is the SI Jinx for Real? “The only reason I’m even mentioning this is because of a recent e-mail that I received in light of Stanford’s Matt Gentry losing to Jim Medeiros of Fresno State on Friday night.
Dear Mr. Hipps,
What the heck were you doing putting Matt Gentry as your favorite for the Hodge Trophy? If you haven’t noticed, every time you write something good about a wrestler or team, something bad happens. I’m starting to believe more in your jinx than SI’s. Please don’t write anything more about Gentry this season. I want him to win another national championship and don’t need you ruining his chances. Thanks!
Yours in Wrestling,
Mike
Santa Rosa, California
That e-mail got me thinking, aside from Gentry, what other wrestlers or teams might I have cursed this season? Let’s take a look.
Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State)
On December 7th, two days after Pendleton completely dominated Jon Duncombe of Minnesota, 16-0, I wrote in my column that he should be the frontrunner, without a doubt, to win the Dan Hodge Award. Less than a week later, in a dual against Oklahoma, Pendleton lost to E.K. Waldhaus, 11-10. That loss all but eliminated him from consideration for the Hodge.
Donald Lockett (San Francisco State)
On January 4th, I not only wrote a feature story about Lockett, but also named him my “Division II Midseason Wrestler of the Year. “That night, Lockett was pinned by Juan Mora of Cal State Fullerton.
Brandon Lauer (West Virginia)
On November 27th, I wrote a feature story on Lauer, a 2003 All-American. Coming off a medical redshirt year and moving up in weight, Lauer was poised for a big season. After a promising start that included a fourth place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and a recent pin of Clarion’s Frank Edgar on January 16th, Lauer will likely miss the rest of the regular season after suffering three different injuries to the same shoulder.
Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State)
In my January 18th column, I wrote a piece about Morgan. I compared the talented freshman to OSU great Eric Guerrero. At that time Morgan sported a record of 19-0. But the very next weekend, at the National Duals, Morgan lost three matches. Ironically, Sports Illustrated also published a two-page spread of Morgan that same week.
Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
In the very same column that I placed Gentry at the top of the Hodge standings, Rosholt was number two. That weekend at the National Duals, he suffered his first loss of the season to Lehigh’s Jon Trenge, 10-8.
Michigan Wolverines
In my column on January 11th, I wrote about Michigan and the strength of their middle weights. “Michigan is beginning to solidify its lineup in time to challenge for a Big Ten crown and national title, “I wrote. Just over a week later, the third-seeded Wolverines finished a disappointing seventh at the National Duals.
Lee Pondering International Career
Travis Lee, a three-time All-American for Cornell by way of Hawaii, first burst onto the national scene by winning Junior Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman following his senior year of high school in 2001. He recently talked about his future in the international styles.
“Yes, I’m going to go on in freestyle, probably, “said Lee. “Both sides, the freestyle and Greco people, have talked to me. “
While Lee ponders his decision, let’s take a quick look at 10 college wrestlers who have achieved the most senior level success in the international styles.
10. Jon Masa (Hofstra)
Masa placed 14th at the 2003 World Championships in freestyle at 66 kg while competing for Puerto Rico. Impressive, yes. But Masa might not even be in the top-20 in the U.S at 66 kg.
9. Mike Faust (Virginia Tech)
Faust placed seventh at the Olympic Team Trials in freestyle. With 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Tom Brands now coaching him, he should make drastic improvements in freestyle.
8. Luke Smith (Central Michigan)
Smith placed fifth at the Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman. He spent a significant amount of time living at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
7. Nick Simmons (Michigan State)
Simmons finished sixth at the Olympic Team Trials in freestyle. He won the Pan-American Gold Medal, going 4-0 with two pins.
6. Ben Askren (Missouri)
Askren finished sixth at the Olympic Team Trials. He has a win over 2001 World Silver Medalist Brandon Eggum, 6-2.
5. Jon Trenge (Lehigh)
Trenge took an Olympic Redshirt year in 2004 and finished fifth at the Olympic Team Trials, the highest undergraduate Lehigh finish ever at the Trials. He has a detached retina problem, which could affect his future in freestyle.
4. Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov (American)
Abdurakhmanov was runner-up to Joe Williams at the Sunkist Kids/International Open in freestyle. He was a national champion in Uzbekistan prior to coming to the United States.
3. Nate Gallick (Iowa State)
Gallick finished fourth at the Olympic Team Trials in freestyle. In late October, he captured the title in the Sunkist Kids/International Open and was honored as most outstanding wrestler.
2. Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State)
Mocco became a member of the U.S. National by placing third at the Olympic Team Trials in freestyle. He was champion at the 2004 Dave Schultz International Tournament and claimed fifth place in the 2004 Ivan Yarygin Memorial International in Russia.
1. Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma)
Hazewinkel is a U.S. National Team member in Greco-Roman. He placed third at the Olympic Team Trials behind two Olympic Silver Medalists. His father, Dave, and uncle, James, were both two-time Olympians in Greco-Roman (1968 and 1972).
Tidbits…
Montclair State wrestling coach Joe Sabol recently met with the president of the university and several of her VPs to discuss the current decision to cut the wrestling program. It was reported that the administration is now open to the possibility of bringing wrestling back if the program can convert the recent outpouring of support into tangible dollars to both sustain and grow the program. If you’re interested in making a financial contribution in support of the wrestling program, please e-mail coach Sabol at [email protected] or call him at (973)-777-4035…
Cornell juniors Dustin Manotti and Joe Mazzurco led the 10th-ranked Big Red to a 20-12 victory over 18th ranked Hofstra, in a meet held on the Hofstra campus. Manotti, currently ranked second in the country at 149, demolished sixth-ranked Masa, 16-3, while Mazzurco, ranked 11th at 174, beat 13th ranked Paul Siemon, 5-2. Manotti now leads the EIWA with 30 wins (with only one loss), with 19 of them either major decisions or technical falls. Mazzurco has one less win, with a record of 29-2, and 15 of his wins have provided bonus points for the Big Red…
Rutgers’ severely-depleted roster continued to limit the Scarlet Knights’ wrestling team as they were forced to forfeit two matches in a 34-7 loss to Rider last Wednesday night at the College Avenue Gymnasium in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights moved to 5-6 on the season, while the Broncs improved to 9-5…
For the second time in as many home matches Drexel claimed victory in the final match. This time it came down to the Dragons’ 149-pounder Mark Cartella who held on for a 4-2 decision over East Stroudsburg’s Mark Smith to give Drexel its sixth-straight win, 21-16…
Northern Illinois coach Dave Grant has never been one for moral victories, but his young squad took yet another step in its progression on Sunday as the Huskies battled 19th ranked Northern Iowa down to the final match before succumbing to a 23-17 defeat…
Old Dominion won five of the first seven matches, as the Monarchs defeated UNC Greensboro, 20-15, in a non-conference match last Thursday night in Fleming Gym. Old Dominion improved to 8-5 overall, while the Spartans dropped to 8-3…
For the second weekend in a row, 20th ranked Arizona State set out on the road with a pair of conference duals and returned home with a clean sweep. Following a 27-12 defeat of Stanford in Palo Alto, California, earlier in the day, the Sun Devils headed to Davis, California, where they handed the UC Davis Aggies a 22-14 defeat in the first meeting between the two programs…
Oklahoma State won 18 of 20 matches as the Cowboys blew past Oregon State and Oregon to sweep a double dual in front of 2,352 fans inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday night…
Last Thursday night, in a battle of Division III heavyweights, top-ranked Augsburg defeated second-ranked Wartburg, 16-15, at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis. Marcus LeVesseur, the two-time defending national champion, improved his record to 27-0 on the season and ran his consecutive win streak to 111 with a 17-5 major decision win over second-ranked Cory Connell of Wartburg…
Third-ranked Nebraska faces a pair of challenging foes this week, taking on top-ranked Oklahoma State on Thursday at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln and eighth-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday at Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. The Wrestling Mall will be providing match-by-match coverage of the Oklahoma State dual on Thursday night…
Speaking of Nebraska, a Nebraska media outlet reported today that Chris Nedens will be out for the season after reinjuring his neck. David Ingalls will replpace Nedens in the lineup…
Andrew Hipps also accepts feedback at [email protected]
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