Laird from Rider is a pretty good wrestler from my area here in Erie, as a matter of fact he is the nephew of a friend of mine. I’ll see him in January when Rider visits Edinboro. I don’t know if he will AA this year but I can see him making the round of 12. He’s a 6th year senior who wrestled HVY 2 years ago so he knows how to move a lot of weight. 
Dean also lost to former PSU wrestler Beard in what I heard was a great match with a lot of motivation on the part of Beard. I wouldn’t put too much concern on Dean’s early matches, there have been many stunners already as guys are just getting into full wrestling shape and kicking out the nerves. Fact of the matter is there is much to learn from all this as the season moves on and get ready for March.

Also, Laird is long and rangy, his style poses match up problems for a stocky, powerful Dean. Beard, coming from the PSU roster is very familiar with Dean and super motivated as it was Dean who beat him out for 197.

If Dean is going to repeat, he needs to be more aggressive on his feet.  He keeps too many matches close against wrestlers that he is better than. There is a lot of wrestling left but I’m not willing to give Dean a pass on these losses. He wrestled below his level. I wonder if he was sick (he gassed against Beard) or he is having personal issues. 

@sky Keep in mind the Beard was an AA his freshman year and is no slouch. Everything Lake said is spot on. But yeah, his wrestling style is frustrating to watch I agree. I think it's too early to get worried right now. 

I heard that Beard may transfer back to PSU next year in order to train for the Olympics. Also heard that Max is dealing with some personal stuff in his life as well. 

@T-hale

I heard the rumor about personal stuff. Beard is good. Dean won the wrestle off by 1 point last year. We will see how the season plays out. Beard has the mechanical advantage but Dean historically has found a way to win. Definitely going to be fun following this. 

A couple of things.

1. Early.in the season

2. Max's style is just get by.  He rarely dominates.  Eventually something doesn't go your way.  The first match he lost because his hand touched the mat yielding a TD for his opponent seconds before he would have had a match winning TD.  In the Beard match he got put at a disadvantage by 2 quick stalling calls if I remember right.

3. Maybe something else going on, maybe he has his NC?  Maybe he needed A wake up  call ?

He beat a #11 wrestler today in normal Dean fashion.

https://victorybellrings.com/2022/12/11/penn-state-wrestling-what-is-going-on-with-max-dean/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email