MSU158 1,983 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 If you go ONLY when officially wrestling for PSU, who would you pick? The Retherford topic had me thinking. Who are the top candidates and how many are not under the Sanderson era? Here are the handful of guys I think have an argument that were not under Sanderson: Andy Matter- He was limited by the no freshman rule, plus he took an upset pin in the 2nd round(soph year) and couldn't wrestle back due to the old repechage rules and that was his only loss that season. 59-2 going DNP,1st,1st Kerry McCoy- His freshman year hurts here as he went 19-17, but after that, WOW. He went 132-1 finishing 1st,3rd,1st Jim Martin- 155-9-4 4,2,1,3 Sanshiro Abe-125-15 4,3,2,1 Now here are the Sanderson guys: Zain Retherford- 126-3 with a nearly 75% bonus rate and finishes of 5th,1st,1st,1st Ed Ruth-136-3 with a bonus rate of nearly 80% and finishes of 3rd,1st,1st,1st D. Taylor-134-3 with a bonus rate of 93% and finishes of 2nd,1st,2nd,1st Q. Wright-116-23 with a bonus rate over 50% and finishes of 6th,1st,2nd,1st F. Molinaro-121-29 with a bonus rate over 50% and finishes of 8th,5th,2nd,1st N. Megaludis-119-20 with a bonus rate over 50% and finishes of 2nd,2nd,3rd,1st Finally: You now have a couple guys trying to finish their careers as 4X finalists and 3X Champs Jason Nolf- entering his final season with an 86-3* record(asterisk due to a fluky injury while leading), a bonus rate of 88% and finishes of 2nd,1st,1st,? Nolf has a legit chance to have a 100% bonus rate his final season. If this happens, he will have a very compelling argument. Bo Nickal-entering his final season with an 90-3 record, a bonus rate of 75% and finishes of 2nd,1st,1st,? You then have V. Joseph with a chance at being their 1st 4Xer and Hall could match the 4X Finalist and 3X Champs. Honestly, I am leaning towards Nolf, if he can run the table with a 95%+ bonus rate. Who would you pick? 1 stp reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IronChef 1,077 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Zain, Taylor, and Nolf are my top three in some order, though I think Nolf can pull away and take this if he does what we should all be expecting next year. Zain and Taylor both finished their careers without a dual meet loss. Taylor did not miss a dual in four years. Did Zain? 1 Peso reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jammen 336 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Honestly, I am leaning towards Nolf, if he can run the table with a 95%+ bonus rate. But would he have beaten Dake? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigTenFanboy 1,790 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 But would he have beaten Dake? Ofcourse he would have. EVERYONE would have beaten Dake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WillieBoy 713 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 On the record... Ed Ruth. Was exciting to watch and all he did was win, win, win. Would say Taylor but Bubba and Kyle stand in the way. Will hold on the current team members. Reality has a way of intruding on predictions and expectations in too many ways. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hammerlockthree 2,584 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 (edited) Bubba Jenkins obviously. He owned Taylor twice, and thats one of the front runners. Edited August 1, 2018 by hammerlockthree 2 GockeS and scribe reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GockeS 534 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 prescott doesn't have an amazing record... but several of his losses occured at 26 52-2 his last two years and both losses at 26, one to brands Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeanGuy 147 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I would go with Ruth. Save a knee injury who knows how that year ends up. I know that he was trailing at the time of the default but he was wrestling hurt for some of those points. Ruth doesn't get the same accolades as Taylor but I think his record speaks for itself. 1 GockeS reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowrestle 689 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Bubba Jenkins obviously. He owned Taylor twice, and thats one of the front runners. Bubba is now upset that you included him among PSU greats. Remember that he doesn’t like Cael or Frank Molinaro. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hammerlockthree 2,584 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I have a feeling Bubba would take the comment in the spirit i wrote it 1 John Coctostan reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KTG119 820 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 'greatest' ....fun for discussion, nearly impossible to say for sure at a place like PSU with many worthy contenders. Nolf, Bo, Cenzo, Hall....complete book remains to be written, no consideration from me just yet. I'll lean towards Zain given better final 3 year run. Ruth did lose to Dean late in career. But it's real close for me between those two with Taylor and McCoy not far behind either. Matter is too far off my radar to really comment on but the record speaks for itself. Molinaro, Nico, Wright....great as they were, not even in discussion fwiw my favorite PSU wrestler ever is prob Jim Martin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tightwaist 390 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I think Nolf will run the table next year, dominate everyone and earn the title of “best ever†at PSU. There will be five guys with 3 losses in their career, assuming Nolf & Nickal go unbeaten. Nolf technically only has 2 losses, and those were to a guy who is Illinois’ best wrestler ever...who also only has 3 career losses (all to NCAA Champs) Outside of Martinez, Nolf hasn’t even been challenged by anyone. Zain had some close ones with Sorensen and Collica. Ruth had the one bad loss to Stanford. Taylor got decked in the finals. Bo has the loss to Nate Jackson. I’d rank em this way, assuming Nolf has another dominating year: 1. Nolf 2. Taylor 3. Ruth 4. Zain 5. Bo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Peso reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pennsyrules 222 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Damn, quite a list. If Nolf, continues this year, he gets my vote. Only knock on him is he hasn't had the level that some others have had(with the exception of Martinez). 157 has not been loaded. Zain with his win against Stieber as a freshman and his career is a very close 2nd. I also was a fan of Jimmy Martin who did lose to some all time greats(Ricky Bonomo). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBar1977 4,494 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I think Nolf will run the table next year, dominate everyone and earn the title of “best ever†at PSU. There will be five guys with 3 losses in their career, assuming Nolf & Nickal go unbeaten. Nolf technically only has 2 losses, and those were to a guy who is Illinois’ best wrestler ever...who also only has 3 career losses (all to NCAA Champs) Outside of Martinez, Nolf hasn’t even been challenged by anyone. Zain had some close ones with Sorensen and Collica. Ruth had the one bad loss to Stanford. Taylor got decked in the finals. Bo has the loss to Nate Jackson. I’d rank em this way, assuming Nolf has another dominating year: 1. Nolf 2. Taylor 3. Ruth 4. Zain 5. Bo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk All I know is that when Bo Nickal is only your 5th best guy the past 10 years your program is blessed. 5 KTG119, ConnorsDad, herma48852 and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishhook 142 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I'd go with whomever ends up with the highest results at the end of their international career. Who has the most or the highest results at Olympics and worlds? Does that make it Abe? Or perhaps Frank at Olympics. Taylor and Retherofor have done well and Chertow was an Olympian. McCoy or Abe seem to have the highest results so far. The amount of NCAA titles is good, but as far as best wrestler, those world results speak more about wrestler IMO. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KTG119 820 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I'd go with whomever ends up with the highest results at the end of their international career. Who has the most or the highest results at Olympics and worlds? Does that make it Abe? Or perhaps Frank at Olympics. Taylor and Retherofor have done well and Chertow was an Olympian. McCoy or Abe seem to have the highest results so far. The amount of NCAA titles is good, but as far as best wrestler, those world results speak more about wrestler IMO. OP said only based on time wrestling for PSU but to add in international honors, McCoy was much more accomplished than Abe 1 cjc007 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MSU158 1,983 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 OP said only based on time wrestling for PSU but to add in international honors, McCoy was much more accomplished than Abe Yep, fish's answer is the EXACT reason I clarified that in my initial post. I don't care what you did in another style before, after or even when they were enrolled and competing for PSU. I was strictly speaking folkstyle wresting while attached to PSU......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cooch1 147 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 that'll be enough of that; enolf is enolf I think Nolf will run the table next year, dominate everyone and earn the title of “best ever†at PSU. There will be five guys with 3 losses in their career, assuming Nolf & Nickal go unbeaten. Nolf technically only has 2 losses, and those were to a guy who is Illinois’ best wrestler ever...who also only has 3 career losses (all to NCAA Champs)Outside of Martinez, Nolf hasn’t even been challenged by anyone. Zain had some close ones with Sorensen and Collica. Ruth had the one bad loss to Stanford. Taylor got decked in the finals. Bo has the loss to Nate Jackson.I’d rank em this way, assuming Nolf has another dominating year:1. Nolf2. Taylor3. Ruth4. Zain5. BoSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HokieHWT 593 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Cary Kolat 5 NJDan, ConnorsDad, Fishhook and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GockeS 534 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 lol... i tried to like the cary kolat post and told i had been positive enolf for one day. they lock posts for negativity etc... but dont like positivity lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MSU158 1,983 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Cary Kolat If you went that route, wouldn't you then have to include Bubba Jenkins? Kolat did his best wrestling for Lock Haven and Bubba pinned the Unicorn rider for ASU. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Billyhoyle 2,472 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 (edited) Zain is easily first. 3X NCAA champion and world team member while still in the NCAA. Taylor may prove to have the better overall career, but in terms of performance while an eligible NCAA athlete, Zain is #1. Zain never lost a match after his true freshman year. Edited August 1, 2018 by Billyhoyle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBar1977 4,494 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Not a knock on Zain and you can only beat who they put on the mat to oppose you, but he never faced anyone like Kyle Dake. Zain is awesome still. 1 Cletus_Tucker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stp 564 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 (edited) Mark Hall will make this list, once he's graduated. Edited August 1, 2018 by stp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KTG119 820 Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Not a knock on Zain and you can only beat who they put on the mat to oppose you, but he never faced anyone like Kyle Dake. Zain is awesome still. Logie Bear was ok 1 Peso reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites