For me a moment is an instance where you immediately recall where you were, what you were doing and how you felt when it happened.  

Whether it's the highs of a great win or exciting action; or the drama of intense controversy, the D1 season spared us no drama last year.  Narrowing a list down to 10 was not an easy task, with a number of deserving moments in time.  For myself these were the ones I found to be the most dramatic and impactful.

10.  The Logan Stieber v. Nick Dardanes scoring mishap:  
Willie and I went in depth on the situation on FRL.  On this episode we describe what happened: With Nick Dardanes storming back late against Logan, a stall point was awarded to Dardanes, but never put up on the scoreboard.  This caused Dardanes to cut Stieber late when a rideout would have secured overtime and a potential win for Dardanes.  Not only do we place blame about this, Willie deftly and eerily foreshadowed worst case scenario on FRL: What if this happened at NCAA's?  I'm sorry we had to find out.  More to come on that issue.  This match was huge beyond the scoring mishap in that it would have been the lone blemish on Stieber's season and could have potentially eliminted him from Hodge Contention (or at least made it a more uphill battle). Tune in to 2:30 for our take on the situation and Willie's prophecy.


9. Josh Kindigs epic takedown against Drake Houdashelt at the Southern Scuffle.
It is flurries like this that will remind me of Josh Kindig.  His no-handed back-arch throw, whatever you want to call it was one of the most discussed exchanges of the season.  Whether you believe it was a bad 2 call or not, let's just appreciate great wrestling and a riveting moment.


8.  Iowa v. Penn State at Bryce Jordan Center.
I said it then and I said it again.  The bar was raised.  Forget the fact that they crammed in the 2nd biggest crowd in NCAA history.  It was a visual spectical in every way. Sure there was the wrestling great with a number of fantastic matches.  For me it was the atmosphere, lighting and environment that set it apart and made it (for me) the one of greatest dual atmospheres I've witnessed.



7. Hunter Stieber's heroic win over Beitz at Big 10's.
Everybody knew the elbow-less Hunter was a shell of himself.  Everybody also knew that this win over Beitz would secure his spot at NCAA's.  Hunter Stieber personified guts in this last second win over Beitz.  While it didn't lead to any points for TOSU at NCAA's, Hunter's guts and fight were widely considered a catalyst and rallying cry for the Buckeyes to bring home the title.

6. Missouri v. Iowa at National Duals (AKA Flap-gate)
National Duals were especially dramatic this year.  We had Lehigh taking down the NCAA Champs early.  Palacio's SHHH at the Iowa crowd and it all culminated with Flap-gate. This one literally dominated the internet for a few days.  Waters getting flung back with legs in by Gilman, the bizarre penalty point, the jawing from coaches and athletes and who can forget the conveniently timed "flaps" from Waters.  It all went down in D1 wrestling's most raucous setting: Carver Hawkeye Arena.  This one set the wrestling world abuzz.  Everybody took a side.  Relive the insanity below.

 

5. Dylan Ness says goodbye.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the sport.  Sometimes they take some of wrestling's best entertainer's off the mat.  I loved what Dylan Ness did.  After injuring his shoulder beyond what could be wrestled on against Realbuto in the NCAA semi's,  Dylan came out for his match against Nick Brascetta the next morning.  Not to wrestle, but to say goodbye to the Minnesota faithful.  What I love about wrestling is that while fans have favorite teams, but they all appreciate entertainers.  The ovation from the entire crowd to Dylan is one I won't forget.  Can't wait to see Ness as he heals up and transitions into Greco either!


4. Zeke Moisey pins Thomas Gilman.
Haven't heard an arena that loud since Metcalf v. Caldwell in 2009.  It was that loud.  Louder than Bubba/DT even.  The crowd was already dialed in after Moisey's quick strike to take a 2-0 lead.  They were glued early.  Then the quick release, quick shot and cradle got the place downright lawless!  I was (attempting) to commentate the Tomasello/Waters match at the time and distinctly remember not being able to hear myself speak.  It was an incredible moment and one you only really get at NCAA's. 

3. Logan Stieber wins #4.
Such an historic accomplishment and rarified air.  Logan Stieber joined just Pat Smith, Cael Sanderson and Kyle Dake as 4-time NCAA Champs.  This certainly could be number 1 for some.  It was something I (and many others) had seen coming and expected after he won #2.  I was prepared for it and he did it in workmanlike fashion.  It didn't have the pop of a DT/Dake type of rivalry (fair or not).  Logan just outclassed the field that much.  

2. We all live in the matrix. (NCAA Seeding insanity)
We didn't hold back much on our distaste for the NCAA seeds on FRL (tune into 16 minutes in).  Jason Borelli came on and gave us some explanations and revelations: Losses do not matter.  At all.  Go ahead, lose to a winless wrestler.  It makes no difference.  VT Head Coach Kevin Dresser said he'd seen Middle School tournaments seeded better.  I was going to name a few of the worst gaffes, but I'd be writing all night. 

1. #FreeIanMiller
I re-listened to Willie and I go off about this on FRL and I got furious all over again.  When 7 minutes was up, Ian Miller had one more point than Brian Realbuto.  Despite the Kent State coaching staff asking if the score was right, the refs dismissively sent them back to their corner and let an overtime begin that never should have occurred.  A gassed Miller loses the match in OT.  It would be nice if that was the worst of it.  The NCAA committee voted to double down on incompetence after the fact and name Realbuto the winner despite having the power to do the opposite.  The NCAA made Kent State Coach Jim Andrassay the scapegoat for their own mistakes saying he should have done an official challenge.  There's much more to the story and we were able to question a member of the NCAA Committee. The backlash was rampant throughout the community with nearly everyone recognizing Miller as having been screwed.  Watch the match here.