Marcus Blaze
- Thread starter Crab Ride
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JasonRoush
Well-known member
Has any high schooler ever went on a run like Marcus Blaze just did. He just began his senior year of HS and just beat Seth Gross, NashonGarrett, and Daton Fix…. IN A ROW.
Dave Schultz finished second at the Tbilisi his senior year of high school. I have absolutely no idea who he beat to make it to the finals. However, given that it was pretty easily the toughest tournament in the world at the time, I imagine he had a pretty nice string of victories to make the finals.
Yankeefan33
Well-known member
Pico beat Jayson Ness-Jordan Oliver-Reece Humphrey at 2016 Olympic trials and won R1 vs Frank Molinaro. He would have been just graduated from high school if he went the traditional route.
I wonder how old Pico was. Blaze is still 17 for a couple more months.
I just looked. Pico would’ve been nearly 20 years old.
Brownsfan19
Well-known member
I agree. He is the best high school wrestler in USA and the best Ohio has ever produced. I don't think he will beat vito but I'm definitely cheering for Marcus
I enjoy wrestling
Well-known member
Better than Stieber? I believe Hunter was ranked #2 in the country as a Senior in high school. That ranking included all wrestlers. Blaze is doing awesome things. But, win 4 NCAA titles and make a splash on the world stage and I'll agree.
Brownsfan19
Well-known member
I don't recall any high school wrestler ever being one step away from making a senior world team. Stieber wasn't in high school when he won his 4 NCAA titles.
Logan Stieber was ranked #1 most of his HS career after his freshman year. He lost his first match to David Taylor in the Ironman finals when he was a freshman and Taylor a sophomore. That was also his last and only loss in High School. I think Blaze ended 2024 HS season at #2 after a loss in the pre-season to Ben Davino at Ironman finals by a 3-2 UTB. He was ranked #1 pre-season at 126 ahead of both Lilledahl and Forrest, but wrestled the season at 132. Davino did not lose the rest of the year so Blaze never got a chance to displace him at #1. He finished his 2023 HS season at #3 at 126 behind Lilledahl and Forrest on the national rankings.
Could be argued that Logan Stieber was the better of the two in HS, but also could be argued that Blaze was better if only because he faced stiffer competition in his weigh class throughout his HS career in Lilledahl, Davino, and Forrest. Blaze has done more in international FS competition. What happens in college and beyond is yet to be seen, but getting 4 NCAA titles will be tough as will winning a World Championship. Tough to predict where a guy will end up as they age and start adding more weight and move up in their weight classes.
I enjoy wrestling
Well-known member
My ranked 2nd claimed included all wrestlers. College was included. But I don’t really remember. Both were and are very good.
Blaze will be hard pressed to even match Stieber’s folkstyle college career, as it’s hard to match being a 4 timer. I do however think he will have a better freestyle career. Stieber was unfortunately a classic tweener between 57 and 65. I do see Blaze filling out and being a nice sized 65 in a few years.
Nope. I believe he took 4th.
Jake Deitchler was 0 steps away...
10 Inch Falcon
Well-known member
Talking strictly high school it's Blaze after that run. Arguably the best High School wrestler in US history as a senior. He beat several NCAA champs, a world silver medalist and hung in there with a reigning world champ. That being said he still has a long way to go to if we're extending this beyond his HS career.
LucMurphy134
Well-known member
Far be it for me to disagree with a highly regarded college coach, and I'm as big of a Joey Blaze fan as one can be, but more upside than Marcus? Seriously?? Would have loved to hear his reasoning.
Joey B is sure fun watch, and he'll scramble with anyone, but MB is simply on another level. Such perfect positioning, such savvy mat awareness, stingy defense, and attacks & re-attacks for days.... He's a special talent.
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How could you not laugh? If Marcus was a freshman in college, right now, he’s in the conversation as a title contender. As good as Joey is, and he is REALLY REALLY good, he was not in that conversation. I would also need to understand what “willingness to wrestle more positions” even means.
keithcarter
Active member
What cant be lost in this discussion is this kid hasnt wrestled a match his senior year and is 17!!!! With all the holdback talk and i dont want to start that here, its amazing that Blaze is 17 and doing this.
When was his last loss and who was it to?
The scary part is there are so many other kids in the country right now that are doing amazing things, he just appears to be one step ahead.
Does he get scored on this year, other than escapes? 2 time NCAA Champ and world champ, didnt take him down in 12 mins of wrestling. I realize its freestyle rules but idk that a takedown was close.
When was his last loss and who was it to?
The scary part is there are so many other kids in the country right now that are doing amazing things, he just appears to be one step ahead.
Does he get scored on this year, other than escapes? 2 time NCAA Champ and world champ, didnt take him down in 12 mins of wrestling. I realize its freestyle rules but idk that a takedown was close.
He said that when he wrestled marcus he was sticking his legs out waiting for him to attack so he could wrestle him. He said it was frustrating that he couldn't get him to do much. Again, not my words, but a big ten coach.
I think after the 3 NCAA all Americans he had as an athlete and more as a coach, who in the heck would I be to question him. He did go on to say he might be shocked and the kid went on to win 4 NCAA titles.
WrestlingGuy285
Active member
Most Recent Loss in freestyle: Vito Arujau in WTT Finals
Most Recent Loss in freestyle in age group: Ono from Japan at U20's
Most Recent Folkstyle Loss: 2023 Ironman lost 3-2UTB to Davino
First, which B10 coach, cause that context matters he's probably not in the running for Marcus, Second how many times would you take the bait if you knew you were being baited? Third, staying in a great position is bound to frustrate anyone. Marcus plays chess while most play checkers! I could care less what any coach says about him, those are opinions. His resume is factual.
I'm not gonna throw the name out there.. but I'll still not roast him for his opinion. I was at 2 camps with him this summer actually. He is someone who is very in the know for the brothers. I'd say that a 3x ncaa all american and big ten coach understands the game much much better than the yappi keyboard warriors.
the fact is that talking anything about his future is in fact an opinion.
I'm not trying to be a keyboard warrior, it is funny though how coaches who have no shot at recruits can always find something negative to say. I'm pretty certain if said coach had a chance to land Marcus Blaze he would be saying he was the next coming of (Dave Schultz) Not all great wrestlers make good coaches.
Wasn't referencing you as a keyboard warrior. Sorry if it came across like that. Watching the guy coach in the ncaa finals kinda gives me the impression that beyond being a multiple time aa he knows what he is doing as a coach too.
Has to be Cael and thats why he should avoid PSU
JasonRoush
Well-known member
With all due respect, I'm not sure the "willingness to wrestle more positions" is the positive attribute that coach thinks it is. I understand his logic to an extent, but I'd argue the best of the best are UNWILLING to let matches get to positions they don't want to be in. Marcus is certainly not a risk taker (especially when he is 17 years old and wrestling grown men with NCAA & World Titles under their belt) but he is a great example of what staying in position, great head/hands defense, and lightning quick re-attacks will do for you.
Joey Blaze is awesome, no doubt, but he went 17-12 this season. I would bet A LOT of money that Marcus doesn't lose 12 matches in his entire college career.
That coach is lying to you or himself or both Lol
10 Inch Falcon
Well-known member
I watch a decent amount of VT wrestling because I've followed Andonian for a while, extremely exciting wrestler. Andonian is way more fun to watch than Mekhi Lewis or Caleb Henson. If Andonian was a little more careful about being "willing to wrestle any position" he maybe has a natty or two. As it turns out he has none and Mekhi Lewis and Caleb Henson each have one. Hate to knock on Bryce but this argument is a perfect example of why he lost to Levi Haines in the quarters, he tried to stepover when he had no reason to, could've easily gotten a stalemate and stalled his way to the semis. (he also beat Levi the first time that was a pin)
Danimal Dan
Well-known member
I never agree with IEW but I totally agree on this point. Blaze is amazing, but Stieber delivered for 4 NCAA titles. Nothing would make me happier to see Blaze duplicate or surpass Logan's achievement, but damn that gonna be hard to do.