Elevator

Has Shapiro ever beaten VanNess or any of the other top 8 guys in the preseason rankings?

Cornell could be a spoiler too - might be greater upset risk in a dual meet than at NCAAs.

Would be interested in posts with inside knowledge/assessment of EIWA teams, including Ivies - other than Cornell which is covered above and frigging scary. Do not see them getting knocked off the top rung of EIWA teams.

Big Red has impressive depth in addtion to their rock stars. The program has been hitting on all cylinders. Do not see them slowing down even with Yianni out of eligibility.

real question: who gives the better interview?

Griffith is very good. Agree about Yianni also very good. Brooks was hilarious. Some guys could use some training on interviewing in the NIL era.

BB seemed like he was really struggling to generate offense and perform at the highest levels during the NCAA season. But credit to him for a very strong NCAA tourney and impressive freestyle showing at the Open level. He is going to be interesting to watch.

I do not think anyone is going to convince TwoPointsTakeDown84 (who joined yesterday perhaps for purposes of making this point) to reconsider the posted critical views. I do not find them remotely persuasive. There are of coruse many alumni, family, and supporters and probably a variety of views on the state or the program and its leadership. I doubt that there are many that are deeply unsatisfied and expect most are very pleased and optimistic. Similarly, my sense without direct knowledge is that this is a model program that is thriving from the perspective of the Penn administration and AD's office. Being near the top of the Ivy and EIWA wrestling, spliting the dual 5/5 with Cornell at Cornell (a top ten team w two NCAA champs competitive for olympic spots), two record years of NCAA qualifiers (17 in two years) and a lot of returning qualifiers and exciting recruits/underclassmen, and a returning AA with three years left - this is considered proof of leadership, a valued culture, and strong program. While Princeton has had their own success (hats off to them), I do not think Penn supporters think Princeton overall is ahead of Penn. Feels like a health rivalry. Also glad that Columbia and Brown have some good recruits and signs of strength. Not sure Ivy wrestling has ever been this strong.

You can say that again.

#1 - far better now than the circumstances inheritted. The PRTC has been built and ideally will provide long term institutional support to Penn and Drexel programs and eccosystem (including the Beat the Streets). Penn admin and alumni properly love and value this. Does any other program do as much for the community? #2 - it is going in a very good direction (despite a down year in recruiting and actual 2023 NCAA AA results). Strong programs can have a disappointing NCAA tourney. #3 - for every recruit that underperformed, there are more that developed and overachieved expectations. Example: on the mat today, is Senior Level Freestyle AA Max Hale who had a breakout year. There is no development problem at Penn - to the contrary. #4 - CJ Composto was an NCAA AA in '22, sat out this year and served Beat the Streets, has three more years. There are several others who may achieve AA.

I think Urbas did get even tougher on top and seemed to develop a little better leg attack. But, when competing against top talent, he had some struggles. I admire how much he has accomplished even if it is short of his goals. Its a tough sport.

Good summary and good questions - I think there is a lot to be sorted in the middle. I do note that Cruise and Hale are competing this weekend (I think a read that somewhere), so these guys may be in the plan? Not really sure where Cosgrove is in terms of weight or challenge to Urbas. He had some matches in high school at 215, but not sure he weighed that much then or has the size for 285. I wonder if Revano can go down to 157 or wants to? Hauserman may be in the mix at 149 too? Troczynski at 149 or 157? Spencer possible for 157 or 165? There are a lot of young guys and you never know who might emerge.

At this point, PSU is a magnet program where the top transfers seem to be seeking an opportunity as much as PSU coaches seeking them. Anyone on the PSU team knows that a new recruit or competititve transfer may be coming and competing for the spot. There have been plenty of other magnet wrestling programs, but the PSU magnet seems to be pretty powerful right now. I hope Howard or other guys on the team are healthy and win the spot.

Chromebird - Check that, he chose PSU not Iowa.

brilliant! Could not possible go wrong!

Formidable lineup and room - but will still be plenty of intrigue. Can PSU get ten in the finals like a dual meet? What is the record for number of champs? Or PSU could get blanked in the finals. Could see Starocci and Brooks take an OLY and PSU get no champs or even finalists: 125 - Figueroa v. Noto or Ramos 133 - Vito v. Fix 141 - Woods v. that guy who got lucky in the finals against him this year 149 - Sasso v Lovett 157 - Franek v. Robb 165 - KOT v. Carr rematch (these guys are good) 174 - Foca v. Lewis 184 - Keckeisen v. Hidlay 197 - Elam v. Sloan or that guy who won as a true frosh who may find his way back to competition (is he heading to Iowa w his brother?) 285 - Cassioppi v. Hendricksen (Schultz is a gamer too) Would be a hollow team title for PSU to win it without a champ. (Food for thought - but I do not think this will happen).

seems like there is a chance!

Sounds anticompetitive and a violation of antitrust and other legal protections of the student athletes. NCAA athletes had to sue to get these rights and only after years NCAA schools reaping the economic rewards of student athletes.

I was kidding about a few - but hard for me to tell the relative benefit of some of these guys who I do not know that well and do not know the PSU guys in the room that well.

Who would be best for PSU?

Might refer Ferarri to the Hadith: Trust in Allah, but tether your camel.

Same - lean providing a path of redemption.

Truax w one year may give PSU upper weights more flexibility in taking a regular or OLY redshirt. I do not know the talent at 125 and 133 and Howard's recovery well enough to understand the value of some of the other potential transfers for those weights. Does Truax commitment translate to less likely that Messenbrink commits or is he lighter? Have not actually seen him in folkstyle, but will look him up.

How much eligibility does Allirez have?