wrestlingest2010

If AJ is only 205 then him and Brooks will be around the same weight, AB said he's around 205 now around Final X. There's a reason AB moved up. He's one of those "thick" wrestlers. AJ will have a strength advantage (as well as flexibility) AB will have the speed advantage. Combined with his technical superiority and coaching advantage (everyone knows what AJ is going to do to try to win), I'm going AB. Not that AJ isn't a formidable opponent, people predicting majors (even with 3 point takedowns) are delusional but I am pretty confident AB wins.

He does and he plans to use it

I candidly would not compare DeSanto to AJ Ferrari. Candidly it seems DeSanto for the most part had emotional control issues, not excusing it but there's something there. If you watched the Big Ten documentary, you can see how bad it got (he was threatening Marinelli even) But I candidly did not hear about any off the mat issues with him ever. AJ Ferrari is a typical narcissistic who doesn't seem to think rules apply to him. He was starting fights with Masvidal at UFC events when he was still in trouble. The fact he got away with what he did and is being worshipped as a savior by Iowa already won't help him grow out of those thoughts either IMO. Iowa fans really want to believe he gets it together this time and there is no implosion that happened at Allen, TX, at Blair, at Bergen at Stillwater .... I suppose I would also if I were them.

I'm naturally very curious to see how this experiment goes. Candidly, I am impressed it's getting off the ground (both AJ and Anthony are in by January and AJ had charges dismissed) so they've already exceeded my expectations. I can see money being a huge motivation to "behave" this time around as well since rumors is they are being sponsored very well. Color me skeptical they last 3 years though since they never have anywhere.

I think AJ would start around 5th. You can argue he should be 3rd behind the AB and Hidlay since he has never lost to Buchanan or Sloan but the "layoff" could be a factor.

My bad - I thought you were implying Nolf's injury MADE it a team race ... no, it almost ended it.

Nolf being out would have ended the team race for PSU, it went to Saturday night as is. They also needed an underperformance by Kollin Moore (who was expected to win)

No - he qualifies for it to a T but I'm not sure his body is meant for 6 years of college wrestling

You're joking right? Cael literally stated why some guys were out. Likely weight related from Thanksgiving. He wouldn't throw a bone to an opposing wrestler even if they were former Penn Staters.

125 is a weight where a lot can happen. But obviously, you need a guy qualified to do that. Would I pencil in Davis for points? No. But I wouldn't have penciled in Ventresca for points last year either and his wrestling this year makes me think it was just a good weekend. Send the freshman, he has by far the most room to grow then can redshirt later.

Penn State 125 issues have been mostly back luck with injuries and obviously I don't think anyone doubts Cody can coach them up. That being said, assuming they don't score points there this year (Davis is talented but hard to chalk him in as a point scorer), that means effectively since Nico won, PSU has scored 2 points at 125 TOTAL. (1.5 from Howard in 2021, .5 from Hildebrandt in 2022)That's 2 points over 8 years (2020 was cancelled but since they didn't have a NQ that year, it's a 0) For a school that is coaching champs left and right, can seemingly pick and choose whoever they want and with all the monetary resources they have ... it's definitely odd and worth nothing especially since there have been multiple AA portal pickups throughout the years (Cronin, Noto, Ramos, Cardinale)

I would be floored if Braeden Davis doesn't get the start this year. He's clearly a level above Steen (who actually looked solid, granted he didn't wrestle anyone good) He majored him and pinned him in the wrestleoff. With Lilledahl coming and looking like a reliable 4 year starter with no redshirt, might as well shirt Davis then get him ready to go 133 after Nagao vacates. I feel bad but I don't think Howard can ever make it all the way back, especially since shoulders are some of the most recurring injuries out there. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think you can count on him doing anything going forward. Not remotely shocked at these results, when he wrestled freestyle (his superior style) in 2022, he looked way out of it before getting hurt again and his layoff clearly shows.

Iowa's wrestlers issues is they were all seniors, any full year suspension was a de facto career ended. Betting on your own school was previously a permanent ban, NCAA decided 1 year is more appropriate (betting on your own team is still permanent as it should be) but since Cassioppi, Assad, Nelson bet on something Iowa (Nelson admitted football but apparently the WBB game was popular) they still get a year and thus are done except Nelson can apply for the year back now when he couldn't before. The reality is the NCAA couldn't go from a permanent ban to anything less than a year, would be an awfully weak look. As a PSU fan, I feel bad for all of them. You can say "they knew the rules" all you want and it would be true but end of the day, it's just a bunch of college kids doing something harmless and thinking they would never get caught. Let's be honest, we've all been there for the most part.

Then that's my bad, I thought you meant there is no way they can get it. I mean gun to my head, I would pick they do not get it.

I appreciate your research (especially breakdown of additional bonus) but how am I being a bit aggressive? I know it sounds ridiculous to put so many people that high but that's the kind of team PSU has right now. History says if anything PSU overachieves at NCAAs. I kind of evened it out if anything: 1. I kept Bartlett 3rd, moving Hardy back ahead of him after Alirez redshirts. This is after he more or less beat Nick Lee in freestyle. 2. I kept Van Ness 3rd, I am putting a true freshman and Lovett back ahead of him. This is a kid who missed his entire freshman year and if anything is due for a PSU jump since he spent his freshman year redshirting. 3. I put Kerkvliet 2nd even though he's the highest returner since I thought Hendrickson kind of looked better than him overall at NCAAs. 4. I put Mesenbrink 5th which is where the jump from 136.5 to 142.5 came from mostly, I don't think saying he can place 5th is that ridiculous after how he looked at U20s. The point is you said they don't threaten the 170 total (the total is 170 bottom line, I have no idea where they were missing a point but that's the record and that's the target if you want to beat the record), they clearly can with the breakdown we both showed. Does it happen? It'll be tough but it's definitely worth talking about.

Just go off placement and advancement Nagao 13.5 Bartlett 13.5 SVN 13.5 Haines 20 Mesenbrink 10 Starocci 20 Truax 16 Brooks 20 Kerkvliet 16 That's 142.5. With 3 point takedowns? They can very much threaten 170 with 9 guys like that. I also only picked 3 champs when SVN, Truax, Kerkvliet can win as well. I'd put Mesenbrink ahead of 5 also.

PSU was going to cruise even with Iowa at full strength. They have what 8 guys returning who project as upper AAs. Then Mesenbrink? Nagao Bartlett Van Ness Haines Starocci Truax Brooks Kerkvliet It comes down to balancing a chance for the scoring record with individual goals (Brooks/Starocci ORS maybe) Cael doesn't give two s***s about what is happening at Iowa

So he's going to be a good sized heavy? He's planning to wrestle and this year is as good of an opportunity as any.

Got a second labrum surgery. Don't expect him until January.

Why would Kennedy be out for Iowa State? He's not allowed to wrestle two dates. Imagine Iowa will have another kickoff opener and an open.

I imagine Kueter will go at 285. Unless the long shot scenario that AJ is in by January and wants to go heavyweight happens (I sincerely doubt it) Swafford at 184 makes sense, sending Arnold out at 184 as a true freshman is setting him up to fail definitely. Other than that, it's not ideal to lose Nelson but PK and Caliendo at 165/174 isn't a bad combination. Both I can see AAing at their weights. Caliendo/Nelson is much better (as Nelson is a proven Top 5 guy) but it could be worse. Assad loss hurts since he is definitely a fringe AA in that field and they don't have a good replacement.

Iowa wrestlers can fight but it seems if they bet on their WBB team, they're probably out of luck, especially since the majority of their starters are seniors anyways. Nelson, Abe, Cassioppi would be done for good with a 1 year suspension. If currently the punishment for betting on your own school is permanent loss of eligibility, how can they justify lowering it to less than a year on appeal? Everyone is watching the case, if the NCAA goes leinient then it sets the precendent you can't punish anyone for gambling. I don't agree, the whole inside information angle is very flawed (if you're betting on the team to win) The rules are dumb but they are the rules and any NCAA athlete would tell you how much it's stressed they can't do it. Woods not being involved is good news for Iowa but Nelson/Cassioppi/Kennedy/Assad would be SIGNIFICANT losses. Cassioppi being an upper AA, Nelson being a slam dunk AA almost ... hell would it shock anyone if Assad/Kennedy AA'ed in their field (184 is pretty open for Assad to finally push his way through)

As for UNC, I don't believe Ramos is their first choice. I don't agree and obviously any school would do their due diligence but seems they are going to seek a guy with HC experience first. Rob Koll would be a slam dunk and Cary Kolat would be solid as well. I think you go all in for Rob Koll (between his development abilities and also his abilities to fundraise) but if not, give the job to Ramos.

I don't think Casey Cunningham was ever offered the Michigan job? Don't get me wrong, would have been a very good move but never heard it was in play and that Bormet was always the guy. Casey is very good at what he does (among the best), development, scouting, helping his wrestlers make adjustments and cornering but the reality is running a program is a totally different animal. He instantly takes on a CEO role and it'll take away from the technical wrestling aspect that he seemingly enjoys the most. That combined with the fact that Cael has gone out of his way to make sure Casey is paid like he is a HC, that his family loves State College and both his sons will wrestle for him soon, I don't think schools will even try anymore. I heard Asher is going to be very very good. Also as for DT, I think he recently did an interview where he said the only college job he would ever want to take is Penn State. Obviously that could just be a hyperbole but I think almost everyone believes he already has a HC in waiting opportunity long term at PSU. I think the key is to watch when he takes an official assistant position on the PSU staff (and Kennedy is reassigned to NLWC) ... I think that indicates he is starting to get groomed for the HC job. Now when he would get it? Hard to tell, Cael literally just turned 44 (scary to think about) and it seems if anything, his best teams (from top to bottom) are coming in the 2020s. That being said, it's possible he might not want to coach until he is very old, he is a hands on coach by all counts (Dan Gable retired at 49 but he had major health issues that prevented him from being hands on). Nobody really knows but him.

Shapiro won't be ranked to start the season. True freshman never get ranked. That being said, anyone who has watched him would put him Top 3 at least, likely finalist, possible champ.