Elevator

some recent discussions that Kasak might have grown and compete for spot at 157.

I am not sure it is a logjam, but Cornell seems to be quite deep at the first four weights with blue chip recruits coming this year and next (grey shirts?) and the already rostered: Unger and Gregg D (cover 125 and 133?), Cornella 141, Saunders (141 or 149), and Handlovic 149. With Shapiro at 157 seems like there may be no room for Handlovic or others to move up and little room for recruits to take a spot next year. Interested to hear if there is a plan and if any of the several blue chip recruits are expected to challenge for a spot next season?

Telford probably an IOWA top ten HWT? https://hawkeyesports.com/coach/bobby-telford/ Telford graduated from the University of Iowa in 2015. Following graduation, he competed for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and climbed as high as No. 5 in the country at 125 kilograms. Telford wrestled for the Hawkeyes from 2011-15, earning All-America honors in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He completed his career with an overall record of 108-27 while wrestling at 285 pounds. Telford lives in Iowa City with his wife, Alex.

now we are talking! Concrete Charlie was aHOF field player both ways!

hurtful

better to have a top ten list!

Not sure I see the parity you see. What we had was wrestlers not getting paid!

Isn't it pretty clear that Ohio State will be #2 and PSU will coast once again?

This assumes a verbal promise is not an enforceable contract. Why not?

I think RBY is so good on his feet that he is capable of beating anyone. I think SLee is so good on top in par terre, that he is capable of beating anyone and likely to beat most at the Olympics because of his combined skills.

Would guess some of the comp to assistants and associates is routed through RTC, NIL, and/or camp rather than University salary.

Is this sustainable? Mr. Carroll healthy and happy at this weight for a full season?

If they need a lighter weight who can get on the mat, Vito?

Assuming the team stays healthy, Kerk's return has the most impact on the lineup strength. Starroci and Bartlett could be very valuable and may be important team leaders overall (?), but the point differences compared to likely starters if they had moved on probably not like the challenge at 285 without Kerk. I may be selling PSU short at HWT behind Kerk - never know what is going on in the room. Even top recruits have often had early struggles at the highest weights.

There is the Casey C exception to this assumption. I am not sure short term wrestler uncertainty during a hiring process is a reason for a program like this to rush. NIL $$ may reduce such concerns as well.

He might be the Casey Cunningham of Ok State and be just fine in that role. He might be happy to leave the CEO stuff to Taylor or another new HC and dig in on the in-room coaching. Probably enough funding to have a deeper leadership structure in place than the old school model of one in-room coach expected to manage and lead all of the team and program building work.

I guess in this scenario Ryder and Kasak redshirt and Miro redshirts only if Kerk takes the NIL offer and returns? Any idea how hard it is for Carter or Barr to make 174? Is Facundo comfortable fattening up to 174. PSU has some crazy depth except at 285. Between Carter, Barr, and Ryder who is the best fit for 197 if Mirosola is redshirted?

Some guys achieve at the highest levels in high school, college, and international wrestling -- and seem to handle it just fine. But with others, there seems to be a price that is paid.

is portal entry the new normal for negotiating NIL opportunities?

As per above, I'd bet too much depth/overlap at the lower weights 123 - 141 coming for a 4 timer.

skeptical of this analysis Lehigh and the other Patriot League Opponents will be fine and also avoid injuries from a too many match qualifying tournament. It will not be finals or you are done - I'd bet more than half the weights have auto qualifiers at least 3 deep. I do not believe there was any requirement for EIWA teams to schedule matches with other EIWA teams - so schedule flexibility will not change much. Ivy teams have an overall date restriction on the number of competitions. This is why they often schedule multiple duals on the same day or choose tourneys to get more matches. American had some glory years and a few top competitors but do not recall them as a team being "very very good" at least not for very very long. How many times was American in the top 3 of the EIWA team race - do not think it was very many at all.

Nobody asked me and I did not like the idea of leaving the EIWA. But it is not without benefits and its no joke. The 6 man bracket is a feature and not a bug - minimizing injuries and puts the pressure on the wrestlers to earn AQ's during the season rather than try to steal one earned by another in the conference tourney. I do not think the Ivy coaches or AD's care that internet posters do not support the idea of a Ivy only conference tourney.

"broke his femur and had some breaks in and around his knee" yikes - that is rough. I am no physician, but some broken femurs cannot be casted and need a rod implanted. Hoping this is not as bad as it sounds and he can make a quick recovery.

I met him once - he was not very gracious. Maybe I caught him on a bad day.

A story about Dick DiBatista. One of his NCAA titles came against a wrestler who was a heavy favorite and years older (I believe had come back from WWII). Might have been an AAU champ back when that was a big credential. He took the loss badly and came into the locker room looking for a fight. Dick was in the shower and a peace-loving man. No fight occurred. Not sure if there was a rematch - but Dick was undefeated.