I'm enjoying our wrestling conversation, I just wish there were more enthusiast on the forum and nobody comes over here to read. It seems you are more than the casual wrestler and have success to show for it. There is such a high burn out rate and the weight loss can really get to you. There will be a lot to talk about the next few months so I expect to see you here. I hope Tsuga's grandson will be here to join the conversation. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I'm enjoying our wrestling conversation, I just wish there were more enthusiast on the forum and nobody comes over here to read. It seems you are more than the casual wrestler and have success to show for it. There is such a high burn out rate and the weight loss can really get to you. There will be a lot to talk about the next few months so I expect to see you here. I hope Tsuga's grandson will be here to join the conversation. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hey Lake!! Wrestling was my life and to this day I still can't put it down. Like I said earlier, I think wrestlers have a unique bond. Unless you were one, you just don't get it.
Have a Merry Christmas too and I will catch up with you. Give me a quick background on Tsuga's grandson when you have a second.
@mtnittanylion I wish I could but its tsuga's wish to respect his grandson's choice to remain undisclosed.
In other news, did you see where Midlands was cancelled? I guess Iowa is hosting a tournament (ad hoc) to fill the void.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my fellow wrestling nuts! I enjoy the conversation here also. In case you guys missed it, PSU got a nice commitment yesterday.
https://www.statecollege.com/top-40-prospect-braeden-davis-commits-to-penn-state-wrestling/
Ya, he didn’t have PSU on his radar in October. Seems like Michigan is fertile recruiting grounds for Cael. Now if we could just figure out 125.
Understood. Thought maybe that was already public. Just sitting here waiting for my GROWN daughters to show up to open gifts! I swear it is like they are still 10 years old! LOL.
Not sure about this new wave of the virus. I will be at my place in Florida Monday and was all set to go to the Outback Bowl. I am now second guessing this with the rise of infections in Florida. I am all juiced up, but from the sounds of it, that isn't bullet proof. Don't feel like getting sick even for a few days!!
No, I didn't see the Midlands thing until you mentioned it. I just wonder if Iowa can put this new Open together quick enough and safely?
Merry Christmas and have a nice day! Hopefully we will get see some wrestling this year!
I love wrestling I just forget to check in here unless it’s wrestling season. I’ll check in and I find out it’s been 4 months since I was here my goodness time flies bye when you’re having fun lol
I'm enjoying our wrestling conversation, I just wish there were more enthusiast on the forum and nobody comes over here to read. It seems you are more than the casual wrestler and have success to show for it. There is such a high burn out rate and the weight loss can really get to you. There will be a lot to talk about the next few months so I expect to see you here. I hope Tsuga's grandson will be here to join the conversation. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Ok, I made my wife watch the Iowa match Friday night. She was NOT impressed at all with the excitement....or lack of! This is the same woman who has watched the last 3 or 4 National Championships with me....which have been exiting! Just to keep some privacy, her best friend has had two nephews in the finals w/o a win the past 5 years, so she enjoyed watching them to keep up on things.
What I loved the most???? She told me ( 4 beers into Friday night ) none of these guys looked as powerful as you did in High School when you were throwing those lateral drops and giving a bar arm clinic!!! LOl I promise, she knows what they are!!
As a wrestler, I did enjoy the matches and I realize how close in talent some of the match ups where....resulting in low scores and more methodical wrestling. BUT, I am ALL about the flashy moves, PINS and speed. I am sure it is me and the sport has passed me by - and all of them would have kicked my butt - but I hope Nationals are more exiting with more action than what I saw Friday night!!
Great win for Penn State!!!
@mtnittanylion Your bride seems smart and scrappy..and I assume very good looking. That was by far the best dual meet I've ever watched and who says college duals aren't important anymore (actually I did but take it ALL back). I thought there was plenty of speed and flash by all wrestlers on Friday with lots of smart-strategic wrestling. I'm amazed how flexible today's college wrestler is and widespread use of "funk". Did you see how many clean singles and doubles ended up in stale mate because of the funky way they counter? Sometime check out the 1970 Dan Gable/Larry Owings NCAA final. A clean shot was met with a turn to the front and takedown given up. Today's wrestler goes to the butt while holding the torso, leg or toe and eventually a stale mate. I'm assuming today's wrestler is trained in hyper flexibility as much as weight training and cardio. I'd like to hear about your training and maybe PaKid could weigh in.
My Dad is a big steleers fan. He once heard/read that Lynn Swan took dance and ballet to increase his flexibility. So naturally, my brother and I were enrolled in dance classes for a number of years. My Brother is actually double jointed and you talk about funking out of stuff?? He was unbelievable. But yes, with today's training methods, especially flex training it does give us better flexibility. Playing battle ball wasnt always about working off steam either!!!
@thepakid I bet you and your brother looked great in a tutu😁, of course I’m joking. I know the great Wade Shalles took ballet and he was the poster boy for funk wrestling in the 70’s. He was the Bo Nickal of the day.
I pray to God those pics and videos never again see the light of day!!! My brother can lock his fingers together in front of him, step thru them and then bring them up behind his back. Kind of sick to look at actually.
There was 126 pounder at Districts ( back in my day) that would sit on the mat and put both legs around his neck and roll....I sht you not! He was tall and lanky, skin and bones for 126Lbs. My talent? I could do a back bridge and kickover to a front bridge....repeatedly! LOl Although, I did learn to do back handsprings. I wrestled in the Joilet international tournament one summer and there was a US womans gymnastic coach there ( not the head coach ) who showed several of my buddy's and me how to do cart roll into a back handspring and back flip.....and I wonder why I am getting cortisone shots several times a year now!!! LOL
Exactly!!! I said the same thing to my wife. How in world do these kids get all tangled up to the point of a stalemate several times in one match. And you are right, these kids today twist in so many directions that about the time you think someone is getting the take down, boom! The kid underneath gets the two and has a tilt working for back points!
I was good on my feet. In fact, I held the National Record for the most takedowns in one match.....12. That was long before tech falls and you could score 30 points in a match. Here is the crazy thing!!!!! The kid who held the record was a 4 time state champ in Ohio. We met on a cruise ship about 14 years later. We both worked for the same company, had NO IDEA, and we just happened to cross paths on the boat. One of our managers new we both wrestled and introduced us to each other. He didn't remember my name, but I remembered his. As soon as he told me his name, I jumped all over it and we both about lost our minds!!! What is the chance of this!! Both of our records got crushed years later....I think somebody had 20 or 22.
So now, I have been taking karate for two years, just got my purple belt and this has been the most humbling thing I have ever done. I am about 60 pounds heavier than my wrestling days ( which means I am almost as wide as I am tall ) and I am trying to get back into shape so I can be healthy when I retire in a another several years or so. After watching that match Friday night, seeing both HC's, I felt absolutely lazy!!! LOL
What about the PA Kid???? What is his call to fame? And what about you Lake! My wife says there is creed among old wrestlers! We can all BS like there is NO tomorrow!!!
PAKid's creds are unsaid at this point though its known he wrestled for Penn State. I might be the only one who knows who he is and his accomplishments. If you knew you would be stunned, I wish I could say more. The kid is incredibly humble, one of a kind like his grand dad. I would consider my self having been a good wrestler, not great and very far away from elite. I defeated most of my opponents but lost a few too. I traveled one summer with a local team, loosely affiliated with local talent. One of those guys was a D1 national champ, 2 D2 national champs, an Olympian, a few PA state champs..... and then there was me. I tore up my knee early in college (not Penn State though later transferred in) and that was that.
@mtnittanylion My claim to fame would be a degree from The Pennsylvania State University. While attending there I met and married the love of my life who's blessed my with three strapping boys. And I can swallow enough air to belch the entire alphabet in one burp.
Love it! It took me 13 years to get my degree from Penn State....and it was a two year one! LOL
I met the love of my life there as well, and she blessed me with two girls....all at once!! They say, passionate men make woman and I made two at a time!!! LOL
Your grandad knows where I live, I keep him up to date with the hunting and fishing down here and although we never met, he seems like a solid guy and you must be proud of him!
You know what the number one thing is I love about being an old wrestler? You can run into an old wrestling friend and in the matter of minutes you can rehash every bout you ever wrestled....right down to the score and moves! My wife always tells me, you go to the grocery store and return with half of what I asked you get. A wrestler guy you haven't talked to in 20 years calls you and you will remember every match, names and years, but you can't remember half of what I tell you to do!
Love it! It took me 13 years to get my degree from Penn State....and it was a two year one! LOL
I met the love of my life there as well, and she blessed me with two girls....all at once!! They say, passionate men make woman and I made two at a time!!! LOL
Your grandad knows where I live, I keep him up to date with the hunting and fishing down here and although we never met, he seems like a solid guy and you must be proud of him!
You know what the number one thing is I love about being an old wrestler? You can run into an old wrestling friend and in the matter of minutes you can rehash every bout you ever wrestled....right down to the score and moves! My wife always tells me, you go to the grocery store and return with half of what I asked you get. A wrestler guy you haven't talked to in 20 years calls you and you will remember every match, names and years, but you can't remember half of what I tell you to do!
@mtnittanylion My claim to fame would be a degree from The Pennsylvania State University. While attending there I met and married the love of my life who's blessed my with three strapping boys. And I can swallow enough air to belch the entire alphabet in one burp.
Great answers
Love it! It took me 13 years to get my degree from Penn State....and it was a two year one! LOL
I met the love of my life there as well, and she blessed me with two girls....all at once!! They say, passionate men make woman and I made two at a time!!! LOL
Your grandad knows where I live, I keep him up to date with the hunting and fishing down here and although we never met, he seems like a solid guy and you must be proud of him!
You know what the number one thing is I love about being an old wrestler? You can run into an old wrestling friend and in the matter of minutes you can rehash every bout you ever wrestled....right down to the score and moves! My wife always tells me, you go to the grocery store and return with half of what I asked you get. A wrestler guy you haven't talked to in 20 years calls you and you will remember every match, names and years, but you can't remember half of what I tell you to do!
Dont look at it as 13 years, look at it as taking the time to figure things out. Dont sell yourself short with the Associates Degree either. My father has a friend that earned an Associates Degree in surveying and is now doing quite well for himself.
I was supposed to ask you if you've ever figure things out with the flintlock?? I guess its ok to post it on here. The last time I did the forum police came down on me pretty hard. I guess I'll hear if it isnt acceptable!!! lol
Ya know what I hate about being a wrestler?? Thinking back on the times I got "caught" and ended up paying the price for it. I miss the elementary meets we had on Saturday mornings...believe it or not. We started in 1st grade and stuck together to 12th grade. Quite a bond we developed for sure!!!
PAKid's creds are unsaid at this point though its known he wrestled for Penn State. I might be the only one who knows who he is and his accomplishments. If you knew you would be stunned, I wish I could say more. The kid is incredibly humble, one of a kind like his grand dad. I would consider my self having been a good wrestler, not great and very far away from elite. I defeated most of my opponents but lost a few too. I traveled one summer with a local team, loosely affiliated with local talent. One of those guys was a D1 national champ, 2 D2 national champs, an Olympian, a few PA state champs..... and then there was me. I tore up my knee early in college (not Penn State though later transferred in) and that was that.
Mr Lake, I think you're selling yourself short. Just by reading between the lines these past years; I have a sneaking suspicion that you were one hell of a wrestler back in the day!!
I appreciate all that my parents, school, coaches and team mates did for me in the day as it's a large part to who I am today...... and what I am is a greatful husband, father and now the best dam grandfather 2 little chuckleheads will ever have. Just like wrestling, I found out that I'm pretty good at this. Thank you for the compliment.
PAKid's creds are unsaid at this point though its known he wrestled for Penn State. I might be the only one who knows who he is and his accomplishments. If you knew you would be stunned, I wish I could say more. The kid is incredibly humble, one of a kind like his grand dad. I would consider my self having been a good wrestler, not great and very far away from elite. I defeated most of my opponents but lost a few too. I traveled one summer with a local team, loosely affiliated with local talent. One of those guys was a D1 national champ, 2 D2 national champs, an Olympian, a few PA state champs..... and then there was me. I tore up my knee early in college (not Penn State though later transferred in) and that was that.
Mr Lake, I think you're selling yourself short. Just by reading between the lines these past years; I have a sneaking suspicion that you were one hell of a wrestler back in the day!!
I agree with this. Anyone that wrestles with an Olympian, a D1 champ and two D2 champs aint no slouch. As for me, I never made it past sectionals much less regional or states. In fact, the coach used to aske me to check to see if any of the ceiling lights were out as I was getting pinned. I still love the sport and marvel at how smooth and quick some of these guys are.
@t-hale To be clear, all this in its context. The olympian, D1 and D2 national champs were not champs when we traveled together, they achieved that level a few years later at college. As a matter of fact, the national champions I speak of were never PA state champs. Still, these guys were REALLY good and all ere very successful after college.
T-Hale, certainly no shame to lose even if you saw the lights. You competeda and was important part of your team.
@t-hale To be clear, all this in its context. The olympian, D1 and D2 national champs were not champs when we traveled together, they achieved that level a few years later at college. As a matter of fact, the national champions I speak of were never PA state champs. Still, these guys were REALLY good and all ere very successful after college.
T-Hale, certainly no shame to lose even if you saw the lights. You competeda and was important part of your team.
Understood. But still, that's pretty good company to hang with and im pretty sure you could hold your own when you toed the line!!!
