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Those kids you named havent just put in a few years of club wrestling. They have been working year around since Elementary school. That is what separates the Elites from Crouse. Yes Crouse beat Easter twice but didnt Easter win when it counted? Other than his 2 wins against Easter and a win against Swarrow what else has he done? 2 good weeks of wrestling doesnt make you a State Champiopin candidate.

Again i dont want anybody to think im am hating on Crouse in any way. This is high school wrestling and i would never "put down" a high school athlete. I know how hard this sport is and i commend anybody who chooses this lifestyle. I just feel like his resume isnt as good as others.

Dont overlook Berlin at District Duals I can remember a North Star team a few years ago that got pounded by Bedford during the season 48-12 or something like that then came back and beat them at duals.....just saying

I do see your point about those other kids going to more than just 1 mat club for years. Heck, roberts went to state college Wohlers? I think and the place at ligonier all american? also on top of jodys place. I just think that crouse boy has a lot of ability and talent alone without the extra help. He still would have two years, actually 3 counting now as a soph. then as a junior and then as a senior if he would start now. 2-3 years with natural talent like he has would still make him much better. Especially if he would wrestle different styles tourney also year round. That otten and doak boy went up there also to name some others. That is top notch wrestling partners every time you go up there to practice. It would have to help you even if it is for 2-3 years.

I see your point i feel like it would help but it takes more then a few summers to make a state champ. There is a very strong correlation between mulitiple years of year around wrestling/lifting and state place winners. I know CR has other kids who have been putting in the time and its showing as well. Dibert is one i can think of off the top of my head. Which is why he is a favorite to place at states this year. Another good example would be the Brett's from bedford if they would have been dedicated from the start no doubt they would be place winners. Without the extra work they are just Regional caliber. There are a few exceptions but for the most part it holds true.

Yah, I agree. The other kid that put his time in was buttry in the offseason and it is showing. That is the heavyweight. That albright kid is a beast for only wrestling a couple of years for ridge also.

Buttry has been putting in year-round time on the mats for several years now--that is why he is getting so good. He has done national-level tournaments and FS/Greco for years now. Very good kid and has been a hard worker since I knew him as a kid.

Sorry, but Crouse is not even in the conversation with these types of kids that put the work in year-round. Easter has (2) state medals--do you really think anyone cares (or remembers outside of this messageboard) that he dropped a couple 'in-season' matches to Crouse? It matters what you do in Feb and March. Not saying Crouse is not a good kid or a good wrestler, but don't diminish what the other kids have done by saying they only win because they wrestle year-round.

Back to the Ridge at Berlin theme, I was disappointed to learn that no rematch is set to occur on Saturday at the Mountaineer Duals. ... if both Berlin and Ridge win their pools then Ridge will face the #2 from Berlin's pool in the title match. I don't know much about the out of state squads, but I'd be surprised if both squads don't win their pools.

Additionally it seems that there was some poor planning to put the dual meet between the 2 schools 2 days before the squads were participating at the same dual meet tournament and could have relatively easily forecast a likely meeting there.

That does seem odd. So if Ridge wins out, Berlin has no chance to win their tournament? That's noble of them, but I agree that's a shame.

very odd. Why would they not just wrestle again?

From Knop's Knotes:

Note: It sounds like we will not get a second helping of Lions-Mountaineers. They plan to try to avoid repeat matches. If both teams go undefeated on Saturday's pool action, only the winner of Thursday's match will advance to the championship. The loser will go to the third-place match.

Mountaineer Duals at Berlin, 9 a.m.: Pool A-Archbishop Wood, Bellwood-Antis, Berlin Brothersvalley, Centreville (Va.) and Frankfort (W.Va.) Pool B-Chestnut Ridge, HOPE for Hyndman, Osbourn Park (Va.), Southern Huntingdon, West Shamokin

*** idk what organizers will do if HOPE finishes 2nd in Pool B, as Berlin faced them a week and a 1/2 ago. Though I'd pick Southern Huntingdon to beat HOPE as SH has a full 14 member lineup. Osbourn Park's 113 lb. wrestler is pretty good.