Live On Flo This Week: Dec. 16-18 Reno TOC | Dec. 16 Cornell at OK State | Dec. 16-17 KC Stampede | Dec. 16-18 GR/WFS US Open | Dec. 17-18 Beast Of The East | Dec. 18 Virginia Tech at WVU.

The 2017 Hodge Trophy race has been a common discussion among wrestling fans. The usual suspects are off to a fantastic start so far.

This early in the season, it is tough to make judgements or put the favorites in order. Schedules are different. Some guys haven't hit much, if any, ranked competition. Gabe Dean has wrestled against a lot of ranked opponents and smashed them all. For that reason, he's our leader at this point if you look at the Hodge criteria. The Penn State three, IMAR, Thomas Gilman, etc., will have their chances to get more matches as well as bouts against elite competition as the season progresses. That's when they'll have their chance to narrow the gap between themselves and Dean.

Hodge Trophy Criteria:

1. Record
2. Number of pins
3. Dominance
4. Past credentials
5. Quality of competition
6. Sportsmanship/citizenship
7. Heart

Hodge Trophy Stats

Gabe Dean, Cornell: Two-time NCAA champion, three-time NCAA All-American
Record: 12-0 (9 pin falls, 1 tech fall, 2 major decisions); Elite wins: NCAA champion Myles Martin; Ranked wins: Nick Gravina, Zack Zavatsky, Jordan Ellingwood

Dean tech-falls Zavatsky:


Zain Retherford, Penn State: NCAA champion, two-time NCAA All-American
Record: 9-0 (8 pin falls, 1 tech fall); No ranked wins

Jason Nolf, Penn State: NCAA finalist
Record: 9-0 (6 pin falls, 3 tech falls); Ranked wins: May Bethea, Russell Parsons

Bo Nickal, Penn State: NCAA finalist
Record: 8-0 (7 pin falls, 1 major decision); Ranked win: Steven Schneider

Nickal wears down Sliga, then gets the fall:


Isaiah Martinez, Illinois: Two-time NCAA champion
Record: 5-0 (1 pin fall, 2 tech falls, 1 major decision, 1 decision); Elite win: Daniel Lewis

Kyle Snyder, Ohio State: NCAA champion, two-time NCAA finalist
Record: 4-0 (3 pin falls, 1 major decision); Elite win: Tanner Hall

Kyle Snyder -- now a pinning machine:


Thomas Gilman, Iowa: NCAA finalist, two-time All-American
Record: 7-0 (4 pin falls, 3 tech falls); Ranked Win: Markus Simmons

J'den Cox, Missouri: Two-time NCAA champion, three-time NCAA All-American
Record: 6-0 (2 pin falls, 1 tech fall, 2 decisions); Elite win: Jared Haught; Ranked Wins: Kollin Moore, Kevin Beazley

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