Probably a combo of weight, confidence, and last years covid schedule.

Camacho's 2020 ACC tourney win over Jack Mueller, really helped boost Sam's 2021 NCAA seed since neither of them really faced many highly ranked opponents during the regular season.

That's not to say Sam didn't earn his AA last year. He did with solid win's over Camacho, Mckee, Cardinale, and DeAugustino.

Just trying to put in perspective where he stands in the 125 pecking order. This year there's probably 3 tiers at the top of the rankings:

1 Lee - if his knees hold up
2. Vito, Glory, Courtney, maybe Suriano
3. the next 10 or so guys

Last year Sam pulled out close wins against most tier 3 guys (loses vs LaMont and Hilldebrant). This year he's losing close (and some times getting caught underneath) to these tier 3 guys.

If he can get his weight management down and confidence back up, he could make a run at AA again this year. Though at 4-6 currently, his seed is going to be rough.

In response to this post by emhokie

Posted: 12/22/2021 at 10:36AM

Arujau beats Latona by major decision 12-2. Cornell 4-0. -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:07PM

BEFORE LATONA MATCH BWHITT OVER JACK WAGNER OF UNI AT THE JOOURNEYMAN OPEN! -- aenggeorge 12/21/2021 6:02PM

Is Sam's issue this year weight (tough to maintain 125) or technique? ** -- UpperQuad 12/21/2021 4:25PM

I’m not an insider, but the eyeball test tells me it’s weight. -- emhokie 12/21/2021 4:39PM

Probably a combo of weight, confidence, and last years covid schedule. -- hokie576 12/22/2021 10:36AM

Hard to say if there is an issue or not with 2nd quest for AA. -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 4:33PM

If I could go back in time, I would prepare Latona for 141 this past -- dallasvt 12/21/2021 5:46PM

Myers wins 9-3. Cornell 4-3. -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:18PM

Gerardi wins 6-0. VT now leads the dual 6-4. ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:28PM

Montgomery loses 19-3 to Yianni. Cornell leads 9-6.** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:37PM

Brady wins 2-1. Team score now tied at 9. ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:46PM

Ulrey drops a 4-2 decision to #9 Ramirez. Cornell back up 12-9. ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 4:55PM

Mekhi wins 3-1 in tiebreakers. 12-12. -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:08PM

Bolen blows a lead and loses 7-5 in SV. Cornell 15-12. ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:18PM

Smith back in the lineup but loses 3-2 to #19 Cardenas. Cornell 18-12. -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:27PM

Traxler wins 5-3, but Cornell wins the match 18-15. ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:38PM

That hurt ** -- HokienGeorjaw 12/21/2021 5:22PM

Why did he go neutral for 3rd? ** -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 5:19PM

We needed a pin to tie the team score. -- emhokie 12/21/2021 6:08PM

Um I was talking about 184 ** -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 6:19PM

Um otay ** -- emhokie 12/21/2021 7:53PM

Help me out here. -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 10:16PM

??? -- emhokie 12/22/2021 06:35AM

I guess it was to not lose riding time (he had 1:27). ** -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:22PM

IMO makes no sense. ** -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 5:31PM

Only legitimate reason not to go bottom would be fear of the opponent's top -- dallasvt 12/21/2021 5:42PM

Brady did the same thing earlier in the match, presumably for that reason. -- nvpbrown 12/21/2021 5:52PM

Yes but the diff was brady had 56s versus Bolen's 1:27 -- Hokie Flyer 12/21/2021 6:21PM

Looks like Smith is warming up for 197 ** -- hokie576 12/21/2021 5:12PM

Probably a combo of weight, confidence, and last years covid schedule.

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