Hodge Front Runners

[bwh27]

I tried to put these in order, but it's hard after the first few. For example, #7 Hochstrasser has been completely dominant and if he beats Oliver might move to #2 or #3. Rey and Russell are having incredible seasons but haven't dominated enough to win a Hodge, whereas Fittery and Oliver have had the misfortune of only facing two ranked opponents. In my opinion, if Burroughs wins the title, especially against a near 100% Howe, then he will be a lock. Robles could make things interesting though if he dominates at NCAAs, and to be perfectly honest, may be a sentimental pick (hell, I'm cheering for him). As dominant as David Taylor has been, I think they'll be more inclined to give it to an upperclassman, and DT doesn't have the toughest weight class. The rankings are based on TOM's that came out earlier today.



Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska, 165 (tech #8 Yohn, maj #15 DesRoches 20-8, dec Howe 10-7, dec #2 Caldwell 7-3) - Midlands OW
24-0, 6 falls, 9 techs, 4 majors, 3 FF/DEF, 2 dec - 22/24
Impending: Duals against #11 Toal, #12 Bailey, #7 Sorenson; Big 12's against all of the above and #2 Caldwell

Anthony Robles, Arizona State, 125 (tech #6 Sanders in All-Star, tech #5 Patterson, tech #14 Garnett, maj #5 Patterson, maj #8 Morrison, maj #11 Bedelyon) - Reno TOC OW
24-0, 2 falls, 17 techs, 3 majors, 2 dec (against unranked opponents) - 22/24
Impending: Dual against #7 Mango; Pac 10's against Mango

David Taylor, Penn St, 157 (maj #5 Peppelman 15-4, maj #8 Cocozzo 13-3, maj Vollrath 12-0, dec #4 Dong 9-3, maj #9 (at 165) Sponseller 14-1, tech Zeerip, tech #6 Young, tech #18 Cathell, maj #6 Young 14-3, maj #9 St John)
26-0, 6 falls, 10 techs, 9 majors, 1 dec - 25/26
Impending: Dual against Zeerip; Big 10's against #6 Young, #13 Welch and St John

Jon Reader, Iowa St, 174 (dec #14 Lofthouse 6-1, dec Beets 9-3, maj #14 Lofthouse 11-2, dec #8 Letts, dec #5 Bennett 9-4, dec #17 Swartz 4-1, dec #17 Swartz 8-2, maj #12 Glasser 13-3, maj #15 Benefiel 11-2, dec #3 Lewnes 7-6)27-0, 3 falls, 9 techs, 7 majors, 1 FF, 7 dec - 20/27 Impending: Dual against #19 Henderson; Big 12's against #15 Benefiel and Henderson

Steve Fittery, American, 157 (pin #13 Welch 4:40, tech #14 Nelson 15-0)
19-0, 10 falls, 5 techs, 1 major, 3 dec - 16/19
Impending: Duals against #7 John, #8 Cocozzo; EIWA's against #10 Saddoris, #12 Meagher, #5 Peppelman, Cocozzo

Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State, 133 (dec #2 Hochstrasser in All-Star, fall #16 Keller, maj #7 Carter)
17-0, 8 falls, 5 techs, 2 maj, 2 dec (against unranked opponents) - 15/17
Impending: Dual against #2 Hochstrasser

Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise State, 133 (LBD to #1 Oliver in All-Star 7-8, maj Kubec 11-0, maj #13 Ray 15-1, dec #7 Carter 9-3, dec #3 Graff 7-3, maj #14 Drucker 2x, maj #12 Novachkov 16-2, maj #14 Drucker 12-3)
20-0, 4 falls, 2 techs, 7 majors, 2 FF, 5 dec (none close) - 15/20
Impending: Duals against #13 Ray, #1 Oliver; Pac 10's against Novachkov and Drucker

Zach Rey, Lehigh, 285 (dec #6 Tomei 2-1TB, dec #5 Wade 4-2TB, dec #10 Apland 5-2, dec #4 Bradley 3-2TB, dec #2 Trice 2-1TB, maj #14 Brantley 10-2, dec #7 Flores 5-2, dec #2 Trice 2-1, pin #10 Apland 2:21, dec #13 Barlow 5-0, dec #18 Marone) - 11/23 against ranked opponents
23-0, 5 falls, 4 majors, 14 decisions - 9/23
Impending: Duals against #7 Flores, #3 Russo; EIWA's against Flores, Russo and Tomei

Kellen Russell, Michigan, 141 (dec #10 Von Ohlen 4-3, pin #4 Kennedy 1:16, dec #3 Novachkov 4-3, dec #6 Alton 4-3, dec #2 Thorn 6-2, dec #6 Alton 2-1)
25-0, 3 falls, 1 tech, 6 maj, 15 dec - 10/25
Impending: Duals against #6 Alton, #2 Thorn, #5 Marion; Big 10's against all of the above and #4 Kennedy

[RYou]

Lotsa good stats there, but bottom line nothing else matters Wins and pins, wins and pins.

Steve Fittery, American, 157 19-0, 10 falls
Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State, 133 17-0, 8 falls
David Taylor, Penn St, 157 26-0, 6 falls
Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska, 165 24-0, 6 falls
Zach Rey, Lehigh, 285 23-0, 5 falls
Andrew Hochstrasser, Boise State, 133 20-0, 4 falls
Kellen Russell, Michigan, 141 25-0, 3 falls

[vaisforlovers]

I think you are remiss to not include tech falls.

[bwh27]

It depends on the year. Oliver or Taylor are not going to win it over a senior just because they have a few more falls. Fittery and Oliver are leading the way in pins, but they've both only faced two ranked opponents, so that really doesn't separate them from the pack like an Askren or Stephen Neal. Gutches wasn't much of a pinner and won it in 1997. There have also been several years in which an undefeated wrestler had more pins than the Hodge winner, but they gave it to a senior instead who very well may have been much better in the other award critera. This is the order...

1. Record 2. Number of pins 3. Dominance 4. Past credentials 5. Quality of competition 6. Sportsmanship/citizenship 7. Heart

[kr1963]

I was just about to say that....