DT, the Pokes, and the Piper

[jackwebster]

If we take DT at his word, winning team titles and winning them now are his goals. While the immediate results have been impressive -- even historic -- if he wants to beat PSU, he will need more Forrests, Vegas, and Robideaus to replace the Swiderskis, Locketts, Facundos, and Ryders. 

Maybe I'm naive, but it seems like part (a lot) of their current success is the camaraderie, e.g. I believe Vega when he credits Swiz with preparing him for Mendez. Further, I think the decision to market the camaraderie helped fill GIA. The fans care about the wrestlers on a personal level . . . at least, they care about the group of goofy characters developed by the marketing corps (I saw Stilly Boys merch at my high school in the Mid Atlantic.)

So, question: How mercenary is DT willing to get? 

If the answer is "as much as it takes" . . .

Did all of these guys know from the jump that they would be replaced as soon as a potentially better option becomes available?

How does it change the team chemistry when former AAs are shown the door?

Again, I'm probably naive.

Edited March 28 by jackwebster

[Chiljx]

It’s a great question. DT is a win now guy but it’s everyone’s understanding that he wants to get to a point where the portal is a very uncommon occurrence. He learned a hard lesson about not truly knowing what you’re getting into with the Figueroa transfer. That said, how Vega and Jax’s weights are handled will tell a tale. Vega and Ski are very close but unless Vega redshirts, if chooses to move to 149, he’s effectively eliminating Swiderski from the lineup. As the Jax saga went, it became clear that DT may not force a decision but he’s relentlessly persuasive when he wants to see something happen. How he pulls the strings this coming off season will be a lot of fun to watch. 

[ionel]

2 hours ago, jackwebster said:

If we take DT at his word, winning team titles and winning them now are his goals. While the immediate results have been impressive -- even historic 

"historic" ... I think not

[jackwebster]

12 minutes ago, ionel said:

"historic" ... I think not

Blame espn.

[ionel]

Just now, jackwebster said:

Blame espn.

How is anything DT has done so far "historic?" 

[LoserJucoMan]

6 minutes ago, ionel said:

How is anything DT has done so far "historic?" 

Only think I can think of is Okie state having the highest score for second place ever but  even then compared to PSU breaking the record three years in a row that doesn’t mean much

[jackwebster]

11 minutes ago, ionel said:

How is anything DT has done so far "historic?" 

Got me

[LoserJucoMan]

5 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

Got me

Oh yeah he did do that. I completely forgot that these dudes were freshman. This season overall had so many streaks and records broken

[ionel]

17 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

Got me

Ahh ... thought you were suggesting something about them getting 2nd was historic ... nevermind ... carry on.  

[boconnell]

3 hours ago, jackwebster said:

If we take DT at his word, winning team titles and winning them now are his goals. While the immediate results have been impressive -- even historic -- if he wants to beat PSU, he will need more Forrests, Vegas, and Robideaus to replace the Swiderskis, Locketts, Facundos, and Ryders. 

Maybe I'm naive, but it seems like part (a lot) of their current success is the camaraderie, e.g. I believe Vega when he credits Swiz with preparing him for Mendez. Further, I think the decision to market the camaraderie helped fill GIA. The fans care about the wrestlers on a personal level . . . at least, they care about the group of goofy characters developed by the marketing corps (I saw Stilly Boys merch at my high school in the Mid Atlantic.)

So, question: How mercenary is DT willing to get? 

If the answer is "as much as it takes" . . .

Did all of these guys know from the jump that they would be replaced as soon as a potentially better option becomes available?

How does it change the team chemistry when former AAs are shown the door?

Again, I'm probably naive.

Fascinating question.  

I think PSU is so good that you can't beat them without being the best team of all-time.  That's hard to do.  Can they do it with Swiderski, Facundo, and Ryder in the lineup?  Probably not.  For example lets say next year they go Spratley 1st, Jax 1st, Vega 1st, Swiderski 5th, Robideau 2nd, Lockett 3rd, Facundo 7th, Ryder 5th, Merrill 3rd, and Ross 4th.  That is a near perfect pie in the sky with 3 champs and 10 AAs.  And they might get 2nd with that lineup.  That's how hard it is to beat PSU right now.

Either the whole team needs to get far more bonus (possible as the young guys mature), or they might need to replace 1-3 of last year's returning starters.  I think next year I'd roll out the best in house lineup I can and take my chances.  If you are runners up again, I'd start thinking about recruiting over guys in 2028.  

[flyingcement]

125: Troy Spratley
133: Ronnie Ramirez / Rin Sakamoto / Sam Smith / Jayden Raney (RS) / Rocklin Zinkin (RS)
141: Jax Forrest / Cael Hughes / JJ McComas / Jake Hamiti
149: Sergio Vega / Casey Swiderski  / Tagen Jamison / Kolter Burton / Beau Hickman / Jordyn Raney (RS)
157: Landon Robideau / Cutter Sheets / Kellen Wolbert (RS)
165: Kody Routledge / Ishmael Guerrero
174: Dee Lockett / Alex Facundo / Ethan Teague
184: Zack Ryder / Michael White (RS)
197: Cody Merrill / Austin Johnson
285: Ben Mower / Hayden Simpson / Dreshaun Ross (RS)

Short term need:
285, 133, 165 (or 174 if Lockett stays down)

No room at the in for: Cael Hughes, Casey Swiderski, Tagen Jamison, Alex Facundo

It's a good question about the chemistry aspect, but I think they keep trying to upgrade as much as possible.  David Taylor is a very competitive guy that doesn't seem to tolerate stagnation or mediocrity.

Edited March 28 by flyingcement

[mr.nonothingatall]

7 minutes ago, ionel said:

Ahh ... thought you were suggesting something about them getting 2nd was historic ... nevermind ... carry on.  

U were about to drop some history on them no?

[jackwebster]

5 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

U were about to drop some history on them no?

He/him please

[mr.nonothingatall]

3 minutes ago, jackwebster said:

He/him please

Holy she/it that made me laugh

[ionel]

11 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

U were about to drop some history on them no?

yes ... no 

Had it all typed up in my mind, you read me like a classic novel no. 

[Michael Moran]

I think both Cael and David are going to put best lineup they can on mat.

After all, OSU got Ryder and Facundo because PSU replaced them, and Ryder with a transfer.

Lockett was a stud coming in, I don't think he forgot how to wrestle.  Maybe he was at wrong weight and 174 is where he belongs.  That put him and Facundo fighting for one slot.  Or maybe Facundo goes down to 165, and he and Rutledge battle it out.  But he is going to put the best lineup on mat.

I think Forrest and Vega stay where they are if DT has any say.

At 149, if Raney is better than Swiderski, he starts.  If White is better than Ryder, he starts.  It is only fair to put the best guy on mat.  And if they can't start, Swiderski and Ryder will be able to transfer, like Travis and Carter Young did.

 

[mr.nonothingatall]

1 hour ago, ionel said:

yes ... no 

Had it all typed up in my mind, you read me like a classic novel no. 

We must have the same burner account or somthinglikethat

[jackwebster]

12 hours ago, boconnell said:

That is a near perfect pie in the sky with 3 champs and 10 AAs.  And they might get 2nd with that lineup.  That's how hard it is to beat PSU right now.

If we replace "might get" with "could only hope to get," then I completely agree: they roll out the best in-house line-up and continue their zany feel-good, band-of-brothers PR onslaught.

Tbh, I'm only really worried about what happens to CS, and my sentimentality is juvenile. These guys have likely moved from one mercenary all-star team to another for their entire careers. Why should I feel bad for CS if Raney (or Vega) takes the spot when he ended some other dude's cowboy dreams this year? (Btw I don't know about Vega to 149. He won't want a redshirt; but if 149 is the plan, a redshirt and a new attitude about weight training might be in order.)

[alex1fly]

19 hours ago, jackwebster said:

If we take DT at his word, winning team titles and winning them now are his goals. While the immediate results have been impressive -- even historic -- if he wants to beat PSU, he will need more Forrests, Vegas, and Robideaus to replace the Swiderskis, Locketts, Facundos, and Ryders. 

Maybe I'm naive, but it seems like part (a lot) of their current success is the camaraderie, e.g. I believe Vega when he credits Swiz with preparing him for Mendez. Further, I think the decision to market the camaraderie helped fill GIA. The fans care about the wrestlers on a personal level . . . at least, they care about the group of goofy characters developed by the marketing corps (I saw Stilly Boys merch at my high school in the Mid Atlantic.)

So, question: How mercenary is DT willing to get? 

If the answer is "as much as it takes" . . .

Did all of these guys know from the jump that they would be replaced as soon as a potentially better option becomes available?

How does it change the team chemistry when former AAs are shown the door?

Again, I'm probably naive.

Maybe I’m naive too but he doesn’t seem so cutthroat as to do “whatever it takes”. He wants to implement his system with a particular type of athlete. And in sports in general there’s ALWAYS a risk of getting replaced. Injuries, motivation, chemistry, coachability etc. 

[jackwebster]

27 minutes ago, alex1fly said:

And in sports in general there’s ALWAYS a risk of getting replaced. Injuries, motivation, chemistry, coachability etc. 

No doubt, but I guess their marketing worked. I care about these guys, these total strangers. 

[bnwtwg]

On 3/28/2026 at 5:28 PM, ionel said:

How is anything DT has done so far "historic?" 

He's undefeated in fantasy matches wrestling against Dake.

What's to say he doesn't go on a historic run in fantasy coaching against Carl?

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

On 3/28/2026 at 6:35 PM, LoserJucoMan said:

Only think I can think of is Okie state having the highest score for second place ever but  even then compared to PSU breaking the record three years in a row that doesn’t mean much

It is not even the highest second place score in the last ten years.  (And that is with inflated individual match scores).

I would think the four Freshmen finalists (three true freshmen), would probably be considered historic.

[Offthemat]

Based on the conversation before last season I was under the impression that 157 would have been the better weight for Lockett, and that 165 was to avoid weight cutting. He’s not tall, that wouldn’t seem to favor him moving to 174.  
 

Vega probably needs to go up, so it looks tough for Swidersky.  The extra weight for Vega will most certainly translate to increased strength.  That’ll be entertaining to watch.  
 

As for Facundo and Ryder, Ryder would, no doubt, benefit from having two shoulders, and both could benefit from the DT effect, as in Hamiti and Hendrickson. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

2 minutes ago, Offthemat said:

Based on the conversation before last season I was under the impression that 157 would have been the better weight for Lockett, and that 165 was to avoid weight cutting. He’s not tall, that wouldn’t seem to favor him moving to 174.  
 

Vega probably needs to go up, so it looks tough for Swidersky.  The extra weight for Vega will most certainly translate to increased strength.  That’ll be entertaining to watch.  
 

As for Facundo and Ryder, Ryder would, no doubt, benefit from having two shoulders, and both could benefit from the DT effect, as in Hamiti and Hendrickson. 

Is the "DT effect" still a thing? Didn't all three transfers end up doing worse than they were expected to six months ago?

[BloodRound]

17 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Is the "DT effect" still a thing? Didn't all three transfers end up doing worse than they were expected to six months ago?

Facundo, definitely. 

Swiderski I kind of always expected to finish in that 7/8 range, even after he took out McNeil.  I remember right after that, nobody really expected him to finish out the season.

Is it really fair to judge Ryder's performance when he wasn't even half as healthy as he was 6 months ago?