Pyles' Cael stat dump sparks 159-0 debate with Tirapelle
Adam Tirapelle says nobody breaks 159-0, but he is not moved by the four titles at four weights part.
Christian Pyles posted the Cael Sanderson number that got wrestling X arguing, an 88 percent bonus rate across the 159-0 career. That is 140 bonus point wins in the two point takedown, three point nearfall era. Of his 19 decisions, exactly four were within three points, and the other 15 were won by four to seven points.
Shane Sparks replied to Pyles with one word, "Staggering."
Tirapelle says the record does not fall
Adam Tirapelle went longer. He wrote that Sanderson is still the best collegiate wrestler he has ever seen take the mat, dominant over 159 matches, no duals off, optional All-Star matches attended, no shortcuts. Tirapelle's framing is that today's wrestlers would need eight seasons to log that many matches, and Sanderson did it without one bad match.
"There may be another undefeated college career, but not one like that. It's one of those unbreakable records," Tirapelle wrote.
There may be another undefeated college career, but not one like that. It’s one of those unbreakable records.
The four weights part he does not buy
Where Tirapelle pushed back was the piece fans repeat most. Replying to @CoachFronhofer, he said he does not understand the fascination with four titles at four weights, because Sanderson simply got bigger. His line was that a 141 pounder winning at 165 would be the ultimate level of impressive, but watching a kid grow in college and win at different weights is not mind blowing.
Asked about it again by @eclipsegut, Tirapelle said he is not fascinated by 19 to 22 year old growth spurts, that winning at your best weight class is what everyone is doing, and that he is more impressed by moving up during the season to beat the champ from the higher class, the way Ben Askren did. To @ptbtso he added that it is hard to compare across eras with guys who could only wrestle four.
Sparks landed in a separate thread with @ChaelSonnen and @ChuckKearney22, saying you could debate that he is the greatest college wrestler of all time and pointing to the fact that he never took a redshirt. Sparks did not name anyone in that post.
Everyone knows about Cael's 159-0 record. But you maybe didn't realize his bonus rate was 88%.
4x champ. Beat Taylor. No redshirt. Those are all amazing. But the 4 different weight thing...meh.