Historic NCAA Finals losses that were shockers

[russelscout 1,573]

If bubba would have stayed I don't think he would have won the spot. Remember that he took awhile to really hit his stride that year. Think he almost lost to or did lose to an NAIA kid from Embry Riddle that year.

[tec87 349]

If bubba would have stayed I don't think he would have won the spot. Remember that he took awhile to really hit his stride that year. Think he almost lost to or did lose to an NAIA kid from Embry Riddle that year.

He did lose

[TBar1977 4,539]

If bubba would have stayed I don't think he would have won the spot. Remember that he took awhile to really hit his stride that year. Think he almost lost to or did lose to an NAIA kid from Embry Riddle that year.

 

 

I heard that kid from Embry Riddle had a career that really took flight. 

[DSims 1]

In my 20 years of watching the finals two shockers come to mind.  Metcalf losing to Caldwell as badly as he did.  I just remember everyone in the arena just stunned.

 

The other big shocker was Lambrecht losing to Rohn. Lambrecht was up by 12 or so and the only way he could lose was by getting pinned.

[TheOhioState 525]

In my 20 years of watching the finals two shockers come to mind.  Metcalf losing to Caldwell as badly as he did.  I just remember everyone in the arena just stunned.

 

The other big shocker was Lambrecht losing to Rohn. Lambrecht was up by 12 or so and the only way he could lose was by getting pinned.

And a historic match followed that Lambrecht/Rohn match, although it was hardly a shocker.

[aknipp 131]

Paul Donahoe (NU) over Sam Hazewinkle (OU) 2 weeks after Haze majored him in the B12 finals

[DSims 1]

And a historic match followed that Lambrecht/Rohn match, although it was hardly a shocker.

I believe you're referring to Cael.  But I was thinking before he got pinned that Lambrecht could/should be OW, the way he was dominating the field, but there was no way he would win it over Cael.   Lambrecht won by Pin, 9-0 over 11 seed, TF over Hrovat, 8-6 over Hahn, and then was on his way to a TF in the Finals.  I was sitting in the OU section at the time, and I still remember Lambrecht's dad hunched over the rail after he got pinned.  I was hoping he wouldn't have a heart attack. 

[scribe 1,838]

And it was you crying tears of joy

I can actually see myself in the crowd with my arms triumphantly raised in the air.

[RichB 227]

I believe you're referring to Cael.  But I was thinking before he got pinned that Lambrecht could/should be OW, the way he was dominating the field, but there was no way he would win it over Cael.   Lambrecht won by Pin, 9-0 over 11 seed, TF over Hrovat, 8-6 over Hahn, and then was on his way to a TF in the Finals.  I was sitting in the OU section at the time, and I still remember Lambrecht's dad hunched over the rail after he got pinned.  I was hoping he wouldn't have a heart attack. 

Sheesh. Rohn had four pins. Pretty clear OW. He had earlier pinned the eventual 3rd place

[DSims 1]

Sheesh. Rohn had four pins. Pretty clear OW. He had earlier pinned the eventual 3rd place

Like I said BEFORE he got pinned, since Lambrecht was close to winning by TF over Rohn.  Obviously the pin changed that.  

[RichB 227]

Like I said BEFORE he got pinned, since Lambrecht was close to winning by TF over Rohn.  Obviously the pin changed that.  

You seem to be saying that Lambrecht would have deserved to be OW, with 1 fall and 2 TFs and 1 Major, but are not bothering to say Rohn deserved to win OW with 4 falls?????

 

Of course if the ref doesn't slap the mat Lambrecht only wins by about 6.

 

By the way, at least one of Lambrecht's nearfalls came despite not releasing the wrist after the one 10 seconds before.  

[DSims 1]

You seem to be saying that Lambrecht would have deserved to be OW, with 1 fall and 2 TFs and 1 Major, but are not bothering to say Rohn deserved to win OW with 4 falls?????

 

Of course if the ref doesn't slap the mat Lambrecht only wins by about 6.

 

By the way, at least one of Lambrecht's nearfalls came despite not releasing the wrist after the one 10 seconds before.  

All I was saying is that Lambrecht was having a great tournament and was having a great match, and I was very shocked when he got pinned.  Since the topic of the post was about Finals shockers I was simply responding to that.  The tournament that Rohn had up to that point had not even entered my mind, and I didn't bother to look it up since it didn't seem relevant to my point that I was shocked. I was not trying to slight Rohn in any way and the topic here was not about who should have won OW in 2002.

 

Besides, if you had told me before the match that Rohn would win, I probably wouldn't have even argued with you.  However, given the score at the time and how Lambrecht was in control the pin was a shocker, not just for me but for many others.  I do remember at the time, that once Rohn had the front headlock, I was telling my dad sitting next to me, Lambrecht needs to get out of there because no good can come from that for him. (and this is coming from a former wrestler who scored a lot from being front headlocked). 

 

In my original post I included Lambrecht losing as a shocker, given the score at the time, and Metcalf's loss because I thought there was no way he would lose that bad to Caldwell.  Too different reasons to be shocked. 

 

As a Cornell guy, I typically root for Lehigh, but I also have Sooners in my blood and was sitting in that section.

[GranbyTroll 452]

If bubba would have stayed I don't think he would have won the spot. Remember that he took awhile to really hit his stride that year. Think he almost lost to or did lose to an NAIA kid from Embry Riddle that year.

 

If memory serves me, it was a Grand Canyon kid while GCU was transitioning form NAIA to D1. Definitely a NAIA Arizona school though. 

[pennsyrules 222]

I knew we are going way back, but as a kid, my first NCAA championship i person, I watched Andy Daniels from Ohio U pinned John Acevedo in the first period!

[HoundedHawk 83]

Go back a few more years, I'd say Darryl Burley over Mike Land has to rate in the top 10.  Land was a three time finalist riding a long winning streak while Burley was only nine months out of high school.  While he had 'potential', I'm told no one saw the kid getting that good that fast.

 

I remember Mike Land coming to our wrestling room in Boone, IA.  Then I was there at the nationals in Ames when Burley beat Land. I was indeed shocked.  Burley landed on his back and somehow came out on top.  

[HoundedHawk 83]

In my 20 years of watching the finals two shockers come to mind.  Metcalf losing to Caldwell as badly as he did.  I just remember everyone in the arena just stunned.

 

The other big shocker was Lambrecht losing to Rohn. Lambrecht was up by 12 or so and the only way he could lose was by getting pinned.

 

My son was so upset he had to go out and pace in the corridor / mezzanine or whatever you call it.  He was all by himself for a couple seconds, and then a lone individual arrived who also started pacing, being in shock and pain. It was Gable.  

[Frank_Rizzo 336]

Rohn beating Lambrecht wasn't a surprise.  They were 1-1 against each other up until that point, with Rohn winning earlier in the season. 

 

Rohn hitting a 3rd period mixer on Lambrecht whle being down 14-3 was the surprise.    

[TripNSweep 765]

If memory serves me, it was a Grand Canyon kid while GCU was transitioning form NAIA to D1. Definitely a NAIA Arizona school though. 

 

He lost to one of the Chang brothers from Embry-Riddle (maybe Tyler?) after barely beating whoever he wrestled from GCU that morning/afternoon.  I think it might have been D2 AA Teddy Bristol.  I was at that dual and I think Teddy was the starter at 157 then.  This was also a year or two before GCU announced their transition.  I remember everybody being very surprised by this because Bubba came in with a lot of hype behind him.  

 

Edit: It was Josh Chang who wrestled at nearby Mingus Union High in Cottonwood, AZ and was a 3x AZ state champion and lost in the state finals his senior year.  Also interesting too Chang was a 149 lber who apparently wrestled up that day.  

Edited February 26, 2018 by TripNSweep

[Alwayswrestling 227]

Ricky Stewart pinning Dave Schultz in first period was a shocker!

[TobusRex 2,108]

I'd say Coleman Scott flattening Joey Slaton was a pretty big surprise (don't know if you can call it an upset), but the biggest upset had to be Derek Moore techning Lang.

[PhiferFuqua 187]

I would say Metcalf downing the GOAT, Lance Palmer, in 2010.

Edited February 27, 2018 by PhiferFuqua

[GranbyTroll 452]

He lost to one of the Chang brothers from Embry-Riddle (maybe Tyler?) after barely beating whoever he wrestled from GCU that morning/afternoon.  I think it might have been D2 AA Teddy Bristol.  I was at that dual and I think Teddy was the starter at 157 then.  This was also a year or two before GCU announced their transition.  I remember everybody being very surprised by this because Bubba came in with a lot of hype behind him.  

 

Edit: It was Josh Chang who wrestled at nearby Mingus Union High in Cottonwood, AZ and was a 3x AZ state champion and lost in the state finals his senior year.  Also interesting too Chang was a 149 lber who apparently wrestled up that day.  

 

I knew there was a GCU kid in there, I watched it on Flo and couldn't believe how bad Bubba looked. 

[TripNSweep 765]

I knew there was a GCU kid in there, I watched it on Flo and couldn't believe how bad Bubba looked. 

 

He looked pretty gassed.  If I remember correctly he got some helpful calls towards the end that prevented it from getting to OT.  

[RichB 227]

I'd say Coleman Scott flattening Joey Slaton was a pretty big surprise (don't know if you can call it an upset), but the biggest upset had to be Derek Moore techning Lang.

I picked Derek Moore in the finals gamble, and won like $50. 

[TripNSweep 765]

I picked Derek Moore in the finals gamble, and won like $50. 

 

Whoever did the odds for I think Bodog during Burrough's senior year was an idiot.  They had Burroughs +350 vs the field.  A buddy of mine who is in that business told me that the person who laid down the odds based them off of previous year results, which there were none for Burroughs because he missed the previous year with an ACL injury.  Casinos apparently hate giving away free money.