1997 Champs vs. 2007 Champs

[Earl]

I'm borrowing this topic from another board I frequent (The Wrestling Talk)

Who wins? (even though the weights were slightly different)

Typical thinking has been that 125 thru 165 is all the 97 guys, with 174 and 184 going to Askren and Herbert. The top two weights may be considered toss-ups.

My only gripe is that I think that Valenti beats Guerrero. He was lights out the past two years.


125: Jesse Whitmer (Iowa) vs Paul Donahoe (Nebraska)
133: Eric Guerrero (Oklahoma State) vs Matt Valenti (Penn)
141: Mark Ironside (Iowa) vs Derek Moore (UC Davis)
149: Cary Kolat (Lock Haven)vs Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro)
157: Lincold Mcllravy (Iowa) vs Trent Paulson (Iowa State)
165: Joe Williams (Iowa) vs Mark Perry (Iowa)
174: Mark Branch (Oklahoma State) vs Ben Askren (Mizzou)
184: Barry Weldon (Iowa State) vs Jake Herbert (Northwestern)
197: Lee Fullhart (Iowa) vs Josh Glenn (American)
HWT: Kerry Mccoy (Penn State) vs Cole Konrad (Minnesota)

Any thoughts....

[tigerpark135]

I think class of 2007 is to premature to properly evalutate and conclude winners. We need a little more time to see how 2007 compares in the world events as we have already seen from some in the 97 class. great topic though.

[vaisforlovers]

i cant think of any close matches from 125-165. 74 to askren, 84, toss up. 97 Fullhart for sure. hwt conrad. I definitely didn't realize how insane 97 was.

[gg121and2]

Those of you that know me from other boards know that I can ramble endlessly about the 1997 NCAA tournament and the Hawkeye performance that year. Here are a few thoughts.

First, the comparisons should be made based on the wrestlers' abilities in their respective years.

Second, earlier this year a poll of Des Moines Register readers named the 1997 Hawkeye wrestling team the greatest sports team in the history of the state.

www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=iowa_best

There's a short video clip on the page also.

Third, I would be very intrigued by a Williams/Perry match. You know that Joe would hit at least 1 freight train double. However, Joe could be ridden - not necessarily turned, but he could be ridden. He also didn't like to ride much. The total difference in styles would make this interesting.

Finally, here's a hi-lite video of "the strongest man in the world".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtVCTYX4gc

[ne125]

I don't think this is a close match at all...

125-Whitmer dec Donahue (whitmer is too physical though this match would be tight)
133 -Geurerro dec Valenti ....closer match than most would think
141-Ironside wins an easy Decision over Moore (no disrespect for Moore here, Ironside was just that tough)
149-Kolat dec Gillespie....I don't see this being particularly close
157 Mac dec Paulson (see comments from 149)
165 Joe Williams dec Perry (see comments from 149)
174- Askren over Branch-actually would be a REAL tight match between Askren and the much underrated Branch.
184-Herbert dec Weldon (herbert too dominant)
197-Glenn dec Fullhart (I don't think Fullhart was the best kid at 197 his sophomore year)
HWT-McCoy dec Konrad- real good match, I think kerry was a little better.