Best season, not so great post season wrestler

Johnnythompsonnum1 · 04-05-2007, 10:37 AM

My vote would have to go to former Nittany-Lion Dewitt Driscoll. Injuries kept him out for the most part but come Big 10 time, this guy just could never put it together.

He was behind Scott Moore his freshman year, although he did once beat Moore at a tournament. As a sophomore he lost the 7th/8th place match to Andy Simmons in overtime and was not selected as a wildcard. As a junior he suffered an injury and did not wrestle in the 7th/8th place match against Tommy Owen, who he pinned eariler in the tournament. He was once again not selected as a wildcard and had to stay home. Finally his senior year he won the 7th/8th place match against Cassio Pero and then won a match or two at the NCAA's before being eliminated by Dereck Hoffman of Virginia Tech.

I always thought that Driscoll would be an All American. He has wins over some top caliber wrestlers, but he just could never put it together when the pressure was on to do well. He has I believe 3 victories by Fall over Ryan Lang of Purdue, he has a win over Daniel Frishkorn, pin over Manuel Rivera, as well as many others.

Stardust · 04-05-2007, 11:29 AM

I feel fortunate that he's now a part of North Carolina's coaching staff. I always enjoyed watching him wrestle because of his style. He may not have always been the best wrestler on the mat but he wasn't going to give up and nobody was going to work harder.

Big · 04-05-2007, 11:40 AM

Michalak and Max Askren

wew · 04-05-2007, 01:19 PM

One more facet to the Dewitt Driscoll story....we were very lucky that he made it through his career, alive.
Dewitt broke his arm (upper arm) in high school and it was set. During his freshman summer he began to have some pain, and finally a fever which behaved like mono.....and was getting worse. X-rays and thorough examination revealed that the original break had been 'slightly infected' for two years, and that the sickness had caused the infection to expand out of control. Surgery was performed and the infection(larger than a baseball by now) was removed. Had the infection seeped out into his body at any time in the last few months, he would have died within hours. The six inch scar on the bicep was always a thoughtful reminder of being thankful for each day, I'm sure.
***He also beat Cooperman pretty well in State College during the famous Jon Trenge DQ match(2005, I believe).

goferphan · 10-04-2007, 07:30 PM

i know its almost sacreligious but if Rivera and Dretsch have similar years this year and do nothing at Nationals, I am going to put them both in this category for sure. Rivera gets a bit of a pass for last year because of his knee I am not 100% sure he didn't shut it down mentally a little bit at Nationals as well.

JensenS · 10-04-2007, 07:50 PM

Purdue's Ryan Lange was a 174 pounder. Did Driscoll really beat NW's Lang 3 times?

bluestater · 10-04-2007, 08:08 PM

Hopefully, that will be a one-time thing for Max. Reggie Wright didn't really live up to his expectations in the post-season.

goferphan · 10-04-2007, 10:15 PM

If the shoes fits....(Maskren)...The good news is that he will NOT let that happen again...he has had plenty of time to think about it over the past six months.

Stardust · 10-04-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JensenS

Purdue's Ryan Lange was a 174 pounder. Did Driscoll really beat NW's Lang 3 times?

In the 04-05 season, Driscoll pinned NW's Lang in the first period during the regular season dual, but that's the only one I remember off the top of my head.

RYou · 10-05-2007, 05:59 AM

Even though he place 6th last year, CP Schlatterbug hasn't had the best of post seasons given his record and seedings entering the tournament.

We'll see how he handles it in '08

04-05-2007, 10:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Johnnythompsonnum1 Round of 12 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 484	Best season, not so great post season wrestler My vote would have to go to former Nittany-Lion Dewitt Driscoll. Injuries kept him out for the most part but come Big 10 time, this guy just could never put it together. He was behind Scott Moore his freshman year, although he did once beat Moore at a tournament. As a sophomore he lost the 7th/8th place match to Andy Simmons in overtime and was not selected as a wildcard. As a junior he suffered an injury and did not wrestle in the 7th/8th place match against Tommy Owen, who he pinned eariler in the tournament. He was once again not selected as a wildcard and had to stay home. Finally his senior year he won the 7th/8th place match against Cassio Pero and then won a match or two at the NCAA's before being eliminated by Dereck Hoffman of Virginia Tech. I always thought that Driscoll would be an All American. He has wins over some top caliber wrestlers, but he just could never put it together when the pressure was on to do well. He has I believe 3 victories by Fall over Ryan Lang of Purdue, he has a win over Daniel Frishkorn, pin over Manuel Rivera, as well as many others. __________________ "Within all of us there burns a passion of fire. Forever feel the heat from the flames of your desire"

04-05-2007, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Stardust Resident Riverdancer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chapel Hill-ish, NC Posts: 5,553	I feel fortunate that he's now a part of North Carolina's coaching staff. I always enjoyed watching him wrestle because of his style. He may not have always been the best wrestler on the mat but he wasn't going to give up and nobody was going to work harder. __________________ Super 32 Challenge - October 30, 2010 NC Mat "Cradle, Metcalf! Cradle! Jeepers!!" -- Mark Ironside, 1.16.10

10-04-2007, 07:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
goferphan Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,807	Re: Best season, not so great post season wrestler i know its almost sacreligious but if Rivera and Dretsch have similar years this year and do nothing at Nationals, I am going to put them both in this category for sure. Rivera gets a bit of a pass for last year because of his knee I am not 100% sure he didn't shut it down mentally a little bit at Nationals as well. __________________ Looking forward to the greatest team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, dominating their way to a third straight NCAA title with my role model and paragon of virtue, Tom Brands, at the helm.

10-04-2007, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
JensenS Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delaware Posts: 13,675	Re: Best season, not so great post season wrestler Purdue's Ryan Lange was a 174 pounder. Did Driscoll really beat NW's Lang 3 times?

10-04-2007, 08:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
bluestater Hearts Zadick Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,242	Re: Best season, not so great post season wrestler Hopefully, that will be a one-time thing for Max. Reggie Wright didn't really live up to his expectations in the post-season. __________________ Eamus Tigris! Cage Writer • NBC Chicago• Fourth Place Medal

04-05-2007, 11:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Big Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: On the forums Posts: 8,350	Michalak and Max Askren

04-05-2007, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
wew Redshirt Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 14	One more facet to the Dewitt Driscoll story....we were very lucky that he made it through his career, alive. Dewitt broke his arm (upper arm) in high school and it was set. During his freshman summer he began to have some pain, and finally a fever which behaved like mono.....and was getting worse. X-rays and thorough examination revealed that the original break had been 'slightly infected' for two years, and that the sickness had caused the infection to expand out of control. Surgery was performed and the infection(larger than a baseball by now) was removed. Had the infection seeped out into his body at any time in the last few months, he would have died within hours. The six inch scar on the bicep was always a thoughtful reminder of being thankful for each day, I'm sure. ***He also beat Cooperman pretty well in State College during the famous Jon Trenge DQ match(2005, I believe).

10-04-2007, 10:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
goferphan Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,807	Re: Best season, not so great post season wrestler If the shoes fits....(Maskren)...The good news is that he will NOT let that happen again...he has had plenty of time to think about it over the past six months. __________________ Looking forward to the greatest team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, dominating their way to a third straight NCAA title with my role model and paragon of virtue, Tom Brands, at the helm.

10-05-2007, 05:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
RYou Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 7,678 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Best season, not so great post season wrestler Even though he place 6th last year, CP Schlatterbug hasn't had the best of post seasons given his record and seedings entering the tournament. We'll see how he handles it in '08

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode