In early season discussions on FRL, this particular Penn State streak came up. Would they pass Iowa's dual win streak at 69 (2008-2011) or the 1937-1951 win streak from Oklahoma State which stands at 76?  We started circling potential dual meets where the record could fall, and January 31 in Iowa City fit the bill against the Hawkeyes.  Almost nobody saw Penn State's 19-18 loss to Arizona State coming.  If Penn State could figure out a way to knock off the 2018 Ohio State team and the myriad other landmines they’ve navigated the last 4 years, it just made sense that PSU would figure it out.  

While the result is shocking, if you’re a wrestling fan, there are a few key takeaways from this dual meet.

Calm The Conel Hysteria

Clamors for Michael Beard’s redshirt to be pulled are a bit myopic to me.  Kyle Conel's impact is for March, always.  He’s got a big ol knee brace and doesn’t appear to be in top condition.  Conel has had one great tournament in his career and that was the big dance in 2018.  While he’s a far cry from that guy currently, consider how much could change between now and March.  Also, look at the opportunity for replacement.  If Michael Beard was setting the world on fire currently, maybe you’d consider it.  But an 11-8 loss to Greg Bulsak (who Beard beat last year) doesn’t necessarily show he’s a major upgrade.  

Additionally, you sacrifice a year of eligibility where you could lose Beard's best year.  Imagine using Bo Nickal his True Freshman year when he lost to Andy McCulley of Wyoming.  Not only was Bo not ready to win a title that year (whereas a year later he was as dynamic a Freshman as we’ve seen), but you would have lost Bo’s 5th year which yielded his third title and a Hodge Trophy.  

Now, before you tell me to slow down, allow me to slow myself down.  I don’t think Beard is on a Nickal-like trajectory, but even if he isn’t, I still don’t like the idea of 1) Pulling a guy who has been 3rd at NCAA’s before with two wins over the current #1. 2) Inserting a True Freshman who has not proven he would be a marked March upgrade and 3) Losing potentially the most productive year of Beard’s eligibility for what will likely be his least productive year.  

I say stick with Conel, and see where you’re at in March.  Certainly making an irreversible move (pulling out Beard) in November is unnecessary.

Where Penn State’s Great, They’re Great

Nick Lee, Hall, Cenzo, and Cassar are all going to score 20+ points at NCAA’s.  Barring an injury, these guys are going to score mega-points in March.  This dual did nothing but cement that further.  Cenzo handled a tough Shields, Hall bonused a stud in Anthony Valencia, Cassar nearly pinned an All American and Nick Lee can’t stop scoring points. This core, plus RBY, Shakur, and Berge will have them in position to win their 5th straight. 

125 And 149 Are As Expected

Brody Teske and Jarod Verkleeren both performed consistently with who they’ve been throughout their careers.  Teske has the heart, but his time as a big time point scorer doesn’t look to be this year.  Verkleeren is going to be in a lot of matches with guys like Maruca, but it’s hard to win those close matches consistently. However, he’s not their only option with a savvy Luke Gardner trying to work his way into the lineup. The memories of James English, who came from 3rd string at 149 to scoring the title-winning points at NCAA’s of 2014 loom large.  They’ve had guys lay in the cut before that turn it on come NCAA time.  I wouldn’t predict it with Gardner or Verkleeren necessarily, but nobody predicted English to place 7th and beat NCAA Champ Kendric Maple either.

They Need Berge And Shak Back

And obviously they will be when they’re ready.  Shakur was there, weighed in,  and warmed up for the match.  The decision to not send him against Zahid makes sense. The points Shakur can help score in a dual are a “nice to have.” The points Shakur will score at NCAA’s are “must have.”  They can’t have Shakur contribute low points again if they want to hold off Iowa.  Everyone knows this.  At his best, he’s proven.  Even last year with a torn ACL, he beat the current #7 in the country, Taylor Venz. Venz famously was a cleared ankle away from upsetting Zahid Valencia two weeks ago.  

PSU has to feel like Shakur will be in the title hunt this year.  Cael will be making the decision many of the best coaches have made the last few years: Sit a guy who maybe could go in the name of long-term optimization. Don't forget about Brady Berge who many wrestling fans expect to have a solid year up at 157. 

I Love Duals

They’re perfect.  They’re a very fan-friendly way for two teams to compete against one another.  I love how much one result can provide such a tremendous swing and yield an upset.  I love the match within the match where a guy scraps for a late TD to prevent or earn that bonus point that means nothing for the individual match but could mean it all for the dual meet.  I love the energy a wild crowd can bring to a match.  I love that the nature of dual meets provides the underdogs a much better chance at victory!  You see this on an almost weekly basis, where teams that would never beat another team at NCAA’s knock off those teams in dual meets.  Which is why…

I Hate Duals

If we’re talking about determining the NCAA Team Champion, keep duals out of it.  This is unquestionably correct for a few reasons.

1. We already have the best event, the NCAA individual tournament.  It’s a proven winner and mega-sell-out every year.  It’s the most fun fan experience as proven by its incredible attendance and energy, year in and year out.

2. Lucky for wrestling, not only do we have the best wrestling tournament already, but it also happens to provide the best way to determine a TEAM title every year.  Very simply: Which will yield proof of the best team?  A tournament where each team's entry competes in a field with every other team's entry and is assigned a point value based on performance relative to the field.  OR a given wrestler competes against one other wrestler from another team.  The individual tournament rewards the wrestler's skill relative to the whole country, a truly meaningful point value.  The dual rewards matchups.  When an unranked pinning an unranked means twice as much as #1 winning by decision against #2, we have a problem. How your team competes relative to the entire field is a far better judge of team strength than the dual meet. Long may she reign.

Now, If the NCAA wanted to step up and have a dual bracketed tournament, I would love it and couldn’t wait to attend.  However, I still would want a team title given at NCAA individual championships.  That’s the true measure of the best team in the country. 

The Penn State vs Arizona State dual was great.  Wonderful fodder for wrestling fans, a great experience for the ASU fans in attendance, what more could you ask for?  If you’re a Penn State fan, you’re exactly where you were before Friday’s dual.  If you’re an Iowa fan, you know what you knew: The Hawks can down Penn State.