If that was the only piece of information on Herold, it would have had more impact, but then the Eastern States happened. Rankers aren’t in the business of trying to guess how well a wrestler would have competed if they were healthy.

Information is key to doing this objectively, and when wrestlers haven’t competed enough at the weight they plan to finally compete at in the sections, the fair thing to do is to give preference to the wrestlers who have the match-ups at the weight that permit reasonable conclusions.

My only reason for responding is to help readers understand what’s involved in putting a ranking together and for the wrestlers to understand why they aren’t ranked when maybe they think that they should.

Rankings should never be a favorites list or a who you know list or who is lobbying list. In my view, it should be a list of who is getting it done on the mat based on results to the extent results permit it. Obviously early in the season, the results aren’t there so it’s more subjective, but as the season progresses, it should be less.

here is my response
person beat levine 2-0…levine loses to reina in overtime…that was levines 1st match back after a big injury to his knee…herold didnt place at eastern states because he forfited bc or his shoulder injury. also doria never beat levine 15-5? well ur also saying doria would beat person because he beat reina and reina beat levine…well in this case also person beat herold, herold beat leshinger, and leshinger beat raghunandan, and raghunandan beat sewkumar, and sewkumar beat doria! there you go!