Can anyone stop Matt McDonough next year?

Mark Bader 9 months ago

The 125lbs weight class has 5 of the 8 all-americans returning for the 2012-2013 season lead by 2x NCAA champion Matt McDonough of Iowa. McDonough will return for his senior campaign in search of his third NCAA title while Nico Megaludis of Penn State, and a host of others, will attempt to dethrone him. Nico Megaludis surprised many when he upset #2 seed Zach Sanders of Minnesota in the quarterfinals at the NCAA tournament and then beat Cornell's Frank Perrelli for a birth in the finals against McDonough.

Also coming back will be Ryan Mango of Stanford, a very talented multiple time all-american who wants that elusive national title in his final year of college. Other returning as all-americans are Jesse Dlegado of Illinois and Steve Bonanno of Hofstra. Jesse Delgado was the only guy to defeat McDonough last year in a first semester dual meet. Missouri's Alan Waters has been ranked near the top in each of his first two years of college but has not been able to do it at the big dance, could Sammie Henson be the guy he needs in his corner to get him over the hump?

Here is a list of the wrestlers returning at 125 from the all-americans to those who made it to the round of 12 and round of 16:

1. Matt McDonough- Iowa Sr.

2. Nico Megaludis- Penn State So.

5. Ryan Mango- Stanford, Sr.

7. Jesse Delgado- Illinois, So.

8. Steve Bonanno- Hofstra, Sr

Round of 12. Anthony Zanetta- Pitt, Sr

Round of 12. Trent Sprenkle- NDSU, Sr

Round of 12. Alan Waters- Missouri, Jr

Round of 16. Camden Eppert- Purdue, Jr

Round of 16. Pat Rollins- Oregon State, So

Round of 16. Morrison- Oklahoma State, Jr

Round of 16. Matt Snyder- Virginia, Sr

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68 comments

T Thomas 2 months ago

wow!! what I year later looks like?? Delgado Champion... Nico 2nd and Matt doesn't even place... wow!!!

Huck Finn 2 months ago

Both Matt McDonough and David Thorn look like stick figures out there with their cheeks all sucked in. Especially McDonough. It's not naturally for somebody to be at the same weight at 22 as they were at 18, the body is still growing.

Can't really blame them for cutting the weight, they couldn't beat the guy at 133 on their teams. It would have been interesting to see how McDonough would have performed at 133.

Ryan Coughlin 2 months ago

Yes, apparently multiple people stopped him.

Anonymous Coward 6 months ago

Thorn!!!!

Respecttherogo 6 months ago

Mcdonough can beat anyone at 125 doesn't matter how much he has to cut as long as he can maintain weight all the power to him

NJstate 9 months ago

@ Justin Weber
Couldnt agree with you more, leave McD alone. I mean it :)
But seriously tho, he deserves ton of credit. This is a bold statement but I think if he were to wrestle for PSU (my fav) or OSU (either one) people would be all over him. Think about it, 2x time Champ and beaten by Robles in the finals (Robles is Robles. It was just his year) and people think its ok to talk so much $hÃt about him?
Matt, YOU ARE THE MAN. Even tho Mega (PSU) is my boy I would love to see you win it this year again so these pinheads can eat it. But I guess haters will hate no matter what. Just ask Dake ;)
And Its Jordan, not Justin.

Anonymous Coward 9 months ago

Iv talked to him n he said his plan is 25

what?? 9 months ago

Thielke will not make a whole season of 125, he couldn't even make 121 once for the Olympic Trials which was his best shot.

what idiots 9 months ago

you cant say sucking weight will give you an advantage. if you can suck the weight and still wrestle well, theres nothing wrong with that. cutting too much weight is the problem, but you wouldnt wreslte well.. so theres a trade off

Anonymous Coward 9 months ago

Jesse thielke is a stud n will surprise everyone he was the undisputed num 1 in h.s he's beat everyone handily n redshirted last year to train for Olympics n took 3rd at trials as a 19 year old kid... He has a great partner in Tyler graff he will b top 3 if not champ

Collin Weber 9 months ago

Patterson is very good. I wasn't really thinkng about him I think McDonough can take care of him though. Giving him an unfair advantage? Correct me if I am wrong, doesn't he actually have to make the 125lb weight limit? OR does the NCAA now give only Matt McDonough at weight allowance? Stop being absurd! He makes the weight along with everyone else, he just wins!! Sorry!

Aaron Shaw 9 months ago

How is Matt dropping to 125 give him an unfair advantage? That makes zero sense. If it isn't his true "wrestling weight" (wrestling weight being defined as the lowest weight all wrestlers drop to while still maintaining full strength and health) then he would be weak - far to weak to be dominance against great wrestlers! Sorry to burst your bubble, but all wrestlers drop 10-30 lbs from off season weight to wrestling weight.

PROPINQUITY 9 months ago

McDonough is no more a 125 pounder than Mike Evans is a 165 pounder they suck massive amounts of weight to gain an unfair advantage.

Anonymous Coward 9 months ago

You completely forgot about jarrod patterson from OU. Hes the only one to give robles a close match at nationals a couple years ago. got screwed against megaludis last year.

Nick McClellan 9 months ago

Keep in mind that Levi Mele of Northwestern has beaten Jesse Delgado and Nico Megaludis. He should be on the list and is a threat.

Collin Weber 9 months ago

Well if it is confirmed that Thorn is making it down to 25, your BigTen Championship in my opinion will be a preview of your NCAA Championship. Thorn and McDonough, I'll take McDonough. That's no disrespect to Thorn, he is a damn good wrestler, but I feel that we are slgihting Matt too much, remember that he is a two-time NCAA Champion. This is probably the most disrespect that any two time champion has ever recieved. He's a two time champion for a reason, the boy can go! Please remember that last year everyone thought anyone Minnesota wrestler would take down "MM"?

As for Thielke, he is an animal, again I am not sure that he can make 25, but if those 3 all go 25, whoa! What a loaded BigTen tournament, with Megaludis and Delgado in the field as well. I just think that MM is too good, has too good of a work ethic. Much like Metcalf did his senior, just would not be denied a NCAA Championship. He may lost to one of those other 4 throughout the season, but I just cannot see it when it matters come March.

PSU4eva 9 months ago

We would of been talking about a 3x NCAA Champ by now if Robles didnt take him down. I personaly think Anthony shouldnt been allowed to wrestle due to his advantage but WhoTF am I to say this? I loved how Matt didnt play a victim, he just wrestled and left off the mat as a true champ. Respect from PSU fan. I think he's gonna win it, tho Mega has chance at it.

Anonymous Coward 9 months ago

Jesse thielke incoming frosh for Wisconsin. Will b a contender

usa wrestling 9 months ago

unless there's another one legger out there Matt is walking home with the bracket once again.... hes a beast and has shown it for the last 3 years.

usa wrestling 9 months ago

unless theres another one legger out there Matt is walking home with the bracket once again.... hes a beast and has shown it for the last 3 years.

pico 9 months ago

I agree about Matt being bigger and sucking weight just to dominate at a lower weight. Stieber would make mince meat out of him he needs to go up and test himself he is a true 141 pounder if i ever saw one. Stop starving yourself Matt and really prove something this year !

Anonymous Coward 9 months ago

Delgado can take it.
That quick shot from way outside is hard to stop.

Thorn 9 months ago

Thorn was already getting down to weight this summer to better handle the cut. His brother reported him at 132 after a workout and that he will be the man at 125 this year.

Collin Weber 9 months ago

Megaludis and Delgado are both super talented Sopres, but I do not see either one of them taking down McDonough, Matt is going to be huge, again. He is so long and strong, often times people cannot handle it. Megaludis did a nice job when wrestling McDonough at PSU in the duals, didn't beat him, though. Delgado did get over on Matt, once, but was unable to do it again. McDonough is too mentally strong and focused to lose to someone more than once. Give the young man a lot of credit for that.

The Thorn statement is interesting. Is it confirmed that he is going to make 25? I am not completely sold that he can make that weight and wrestle at a high level consistenly. Or for that matter make 25 at all... Although, if he does make it he could create a match-up problem for Matt. Either way, I think McDonough wins, but has fits with Thorn. This year I think McDonough has a mindset much like Metcalf did his Senior campaign, destruction, that's all he will be looking to do on the mat. I think he is going to have a monster year for Iowa, and just flat out kill people.

9 months ago

David Thorn will be the one to knock McD off next year. Thorn is gonna be HUGE, maybe bigger than McD!!!! I think McD is going to have trouble with someone who is actually his size. The reason McD has had so much success is because of his size and length, which Thorn will neutralize.

I see David Thorn beating McD multiple times next year!!!!

I agree 9 months ago

David Thorn

The ? Should b... 9 months ago

....who will beat Ramos at 125?? Mcd too big to make 125 again. He goes 133 n gets smoked by Stieber and Ramos takes the title at 125. At 133 i dont know if Mcd even makes finals at ncaas, Carter prob beats him too.

Randy Barz 9 months ago

waters is at what weight?

Randy Barz 9 months ago

Gulibon.. I think not!

Take down freak 9 months ago

Gulibon may not beat McD but it certainly won't be from work ethic hardest working kid Iv ever come in contact with!