go with what you feel most comfortable with. Why risk giving up a riding time point, especially when the referees were clearly not worried about calling stalling throughout the evening?

Twice to make the right choice. Just like Ridge last year, just because it didn’t work out doesn't mean it was the wrong decision.

Its easy to second guess after the fact. Caleb Knows what he is doing. Just didnt go his way this time but he wrestled a smart match IMO.

Very similar situation to last year but Lovett CHOSE top when tied 0-0 going into the 3rd (which shows you how confident he is on top). Henson got out but it took >40 secs if I recall. Lovett has has an advantage on the mat, and especially on top. Henson has an advantage from neutral. This match was wrestled entirely from neutral. Henson has to be able to get the TD within 7 full minutes, and he would more times than not, but couldn't do it when it counted.

in their semifinal. Even with Lovett double boots in, Bryce rolled from underneath and got reversals. Amazing stuff..Henson did same maneuver to escape and win last year. Too risky to try again knowing Lovett had to have a counter waiting. So neutral was best choice. Question: in waterfall position why doesn't the top wrestler just push both opponents legs straight back and turn while opp is falling back? is that illegal?

You guys missed the point . Lovett wrestles completely different last period having a lead not tied . Not moving forward at all into Calebs strength .He was winning not tied , He knows if he doesnt have to shoot he cant be taken down .And as long as Caleb gets out in 2nd period in less than a minute ,which I think most believe likely since hes extremely good on bottom ,he ends up with even more time in neutral with the 2 minute OT period. As a side note the stalling call was brutal as Lovett should have been hit for the non wrestling move body block out of bounds . Caleb should have been hit also in 1ST period for backing up so much. Lovett having no stall warnings and Caleb with one likely changed both wrestlers approach .I think the additional neutral OT period is what makes giving up the escape point wrong Robie and Frayer forgot more about wrestling than ill ever know , but i disagreed with decision then and i disagree with it now for reasons stated. Have a good morning and go Hokies

in the last period to see if he can get that point. if not cut him. Again. We can all call it how we want. He made the best decision for him. He also went after it. Hats off to the Caleb

so in less than a minute against one of the premier top wrestlers in the country. How about Lovett maintains control for over a minute and suddenly Caleb escapes but is now down 1 just like he was by going neutral. And Caleb has spent a lot of energy that minute under. IMHO it was the right decision playing to Caleb's strengths. Assuming Caleb could escape because he can against most wrestlers in the country is a bad assumption.

I am sure this decision was made at breakfast Saturday morning or at some point after Caleb’s win Friday night. Having coached at a fairly high level in Virginia, there are numerous times I have had this same conundrum. You need buy-in from the kid as well. We always say that for the most part, matches are won and lost on your feet! Caleb was in on four good shots. Stalling is so darn subjective. We had a referee who was not conducive to Caleb’s aggressiveness on his feet. A different referee may have hit Lovett due to one shot taken in 7 minutes, lol. Caleb did all the work, but did not finish on the one TD he needed. In hindsight, I am sure this was a decision made by Caleb, Robie, and Frayer.

In the ref’s eyes. My kids said that Caleb was going to get hit for stalling 10 seconds before he did. I think the perception was Ridge was attacking even though I personally felt he was just pushing and preventing Caleb from circling back in.

It seemed Ridge was trying to show the ref he was the aggressor early, and show Caleb he wasn't going to get bullied... ...although I thought he did end up getting bullied and was losing steam the second half of the match. The one thing that came to mind in the 3rd period for me was - if he had maybe taken top in the 3rd and put a hard ride on 1) to maybe work towards the riding point, but 2) to just make Ridge work underneath for a bit. He seemed to be cracking even if just a bit. I just wonder if putting in some work on top would have opened things up a little more later. All that said, still okay with the call. Dude knows what he's doing