Stanford

[H82Lose]

22 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

As an alum. I'm not sure where the money came from, seems to be pretty sudden.  Idk about the grad program took my 5 years and I didn't get a grad degree lol

Dresser is really good at raising money. There is some dude that has a lot of it, I am not sure what he does, but he is loaded. He is VERY involved, and he will write a 50K-100K check for a kid in a blink of an eye. 

[mr.nonothingatall]

8 minutes ago, H82Lose said:

Dresser is really good at raising money. There is some dude that has a lot of it, I am not sure what he does, but he is loaded. He is VERY involved, and he will write a 50K-100K check for a kid in a blink of an eye. 

That's true, I was there during the Kevin jackson era. So there was definitely a lot less motivation to donate

[H82Lose]

14 minutes ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

That's true, I was there during the Kevin jackson era. So there was definitely a lot less motivation to donate

What I don't like. If you look, 3 years ago, Dresser did not like the portal. He told me directly, he wanted to grow internally and not play the portal game. You cannot compete if you do not play the portal game, well you can compete, but not be a top 5 program (imo). He is all in on this portal now. I would bet money that he has a 125 coming in, that is why Castillo portaled. He will have middle weights stacked with the Standford team. 

[mr.nonothingatall]

40 minutes ago, H82Lose said:

What I don't like. If you look, 3 years ago, Dresser did not like the portal. He told me directly, he wanted to grow internally and not play the portal game. You cannot compete if you do not play the portal game, well you can compete, but not be a top 5 program (imo). He is all in on this portal now. I would bet money that he has a 125 coming in, that is why Castillo portaled. He will have middle weights stacked with the Standford team. 

That is the good thing about dresser, h is Will mg to change and adapt. I am really interested where castillo ends up, was really hoping he stayed tho

[Thumper]

My mistake - I thought this was a thread on STANFORD.  How silly of me.

[Spladle]

9 hours ago, H82Lose said:

What I don't like. If you look, 3 years ago, Dresser did not like the portal. He told me directly, he wanted to grow internally and not play the portal game. You cannot compete if you do not play the portal game, well you can compete, but not be a top 5 program (imo). He is all in on this portal now. I would bet money that he has a 125 coming in, that is why Castillo portaled. He will have middle weights stacked with the Standford team. 

Not why Castillo is transferring. 
 

He’s heading back home, and he had some concussion issues going on. 
 

As for Stanford transfers, one of them might end up at ISU but they are not getting 3 or 4 like everyone seems to believe. 

Edited April 4 by Spladle

[flyingcement]

8 minutes ago, Spladle said:

Not why Castillo is transferring. 
 

He’s heading back home, and he had some concussion issues going on. 
 

As for Stanford transfers, one of them might end up at ISU but they are not getting 3 or 4 like everyone seems to believe. 

any idea if Meza is heading back home too?

[Spladle]

8 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

any idea if Meza is heading back home too?

Wouldn’t be a surprise. 

[Idaho]

Chris Ayer’s post tonight  a long one but well worth the read: 

 

Fourteen days ago Aden Valencia, with the Stanford “S” on his chest, let out a primal roar after he scored the winning takedown to realize his dream of winning an NCAA National title. After getting his hand raised he had multiple choices for his first celebratory embrace. The coaches were waiting with open arms and the closest choice, but he chose his teammates, who rushed the platform despite security’s efforts to stop them.
In the embrace were six All-Americans, Provo, Knox, Cardenas, Garvin, Posada, and our newly crowned National Champion, Valencia. It was a special moment. No other team raced to greet their National Champion.

That’s our culture. That’s love. I hope we can keep it.
It was an enjoyable five days after our historic finish at NCAAs, but it didn’t last. The first one to call and let me know they were going in the portal was Tyler Knox. That was Friday of last week and by Tuesday Hunter Garvin was in and then on Thursday Nico Provo joined them. Cardenas is also graduating, and has had “offers” in the past, but he is staying strong in not going in the portal…for now.
I’m not going to get into a lot of detail, but the conversations were basically the same with each of them. They love Stanford and don’t want to go, but would be fools if they didn’t enter the portal to find out the real numbers…their “market value”. From numerous back channels, the “poachers” were getting numbers to them and they were high. So I really couldn’t blame them for going in. 
$200,000+. But nothing could be verified without hitting the portal, so here we are. Three All-Americans in the portal, one holding out. 
We are trying to run this program differently. Of the top 10 teams we are the only team without a transfer on our roster and I’m guessing this could include most of the top 20. Culture matters, so I don’t like the idea of a transfer coming in and trying to take the spot of someone that has been developing in our environment. So I am doing everything I can to keep these guys. They are Stanford wrestlers. They are the ones that built this. I’m staying out of the portal as long as I can. These are my guys and I don’t want to do it with anyone but them. We believe in them. 
But we need more help.
When looking at the top 10 programs we are the most under-resourced by far. Only 6.9 scholarships when the old cap was 9.9. Every program at Stanford was at the NCAA max except wrestling before the rules changed with the “House” settlement. We are moving above that old cap, but not for at least 2 more years. While the major programs add to the old cap, we are still playing catch up. 
And then there are the overall budgets. Penn State’s revenue share for wrestling is 1.8 million. That is more than our total budget. Iowa State Cyclones wrestling revenue share is $1.0 million. We beat Iowa State at the last NCAA’s. How? 
It’s our culture. Love. I hope we can keep it.
Every other team with a legitimate shot at a trophy at the national tournament looks at each athlete as a number, points at the NCAA Championship. That is the transactional nature of Division I wrestling right now.
I view each individual as a person and wrestling is the vehicle for education. The goal is not just to produce great wrestlers, but great men. Men who can handle adversity, who can lead, who can serve something bigger than themselves. That has always been the mission here. Winning is the byproduct of doing that at a high level. Not the starting point.
Call me crazy, but I believe we will win a national championship. Only one private school has ever done it, Cornell College (IA) wrestling. Only one school west of the Mississippi has done it, Arizona State Sun Devils wrestling in 1988, right in the middle of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling dynasty. Nobody thought it could be done then either.
If we keep these wrestlers we return the 3rd most points to the NCAA. We have to get better. We have to score more bonus points. But the reality is that we are in the hunt with this team. 
Imagine Stanford being the team that does it now. From being dropped in 2020, to 6th place in 2026, to National Champion in 202?. If we fall short, we still win a trophy.
And think about what that would mean beyond our room.
A trophy coming back to Stanford would not just belong to our program. It would belong to the Bay Area. To California. To every young wrestler on the West Coast who has grown up believing they had to leave home to chase this dream. It would prove that you can stay, that you can build something here, and that you can do it the right way. Like Aden Valencia did 14 days ago. 
It would show that culture still matters. That love still matters.
Right now, that future is hanging in the balance. 
To use Silicon Valley terms, Stanford Wrestling is the startup that is willing to challenge the corporate giants (PSU, Oklahoma State, and Iowa). History is full of moments like this, when smaller, more agile organizations disrupt industries that once felt untouchable. Netflix taking on Blockbuster. Airbnb competing with the largest hotel chains in the world. Uber challenging an entire taxi industry that had been in place for decades.
They did not start with more resources. In fact, it was the opposite. What they had was a vision, strong culture, and people willing to think differently. They moved faster. They believed more. And over time, they forced the entire industry to adjust.
We are not asking for the numbers PSU, OSU, and Iowa have to use to fund their success, and neither are our wrestlers, but we need more. The reality is they are spending 4-7x the money institutionally, and probably more than that in the RTC. We can win a national title for a fraction of the cost.

The KSW effort got the seed money to get us started, $12m, which our supporters are still paying off, but now we need new investors and new ways of operating. We “Kept” Stanford Wrestling and now we are in that next phase, the one every great startup eventually reaches. The moment where belief and early traction have to be matched with resources to scale.
We have product market fit. We have proof of concept. A 6th place finish at the NCAA Championships with one of the most under-resourced programs in the country is not theoretical, it is real.
We have a short window, about two weeks, to keep this group together. To protect what they have built. To give them the opportunity to finish the job. 
Now the question becomes simple. Do we stay small or do we invest in what is already working and give it a real chance to compete at the highest level?
If you have ever thought about helping, this is the moment.
If you believe in what this program represents, I would ask you to reach out to me directly. Join this team!
We have something special. It would be a shame to let it slip away. 
The opportunity is here. The team is here. The culture is here. Now we need the backing to match it. 
If you have the capacity to help, or any ideas of people I should be talking to, please reply to the email. We can set up a time to talk. Even if it's just a conversation, I would welcome it.
We have less than two weeks.

[Fletcher]

Started as an homage to culture and loyalty ... and turned into a request for cash. Wild ride.

[ScottishSteel]

10 hours ago, Spladle said:

Not why Castillo is transferring. 
 

He’s heading back home, and he had some concussion issues going on. 
 

As for Stanford transfers, one of them might end up at ISU but they are not getting 3 or 4 like everyone seems to believe. 

So Arizona St the likely destination for him?

[1032004]

Ayres seems to be reiterating that he thinks they might still stay. I know there have been some, but have there been many notable cases of guys entering the portal but not actually transferring?  If that happens with any of these guys, I wonder if there’d be much awkwardness.  And if they’ve graduated, do we know if they’ve already been accepted into grad school at Stanford?

Edited April 5 by 1032004

[Fletcher]

30 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Ayres seems to be reiterating that he thinks they might still stay. I know there have been some, but have there been many notable cases of guys entering the portal but not actually transferring?  If that happens with any of these guys, I wonder if there’d be much awkwardness.  And if they’ve graduated, do we know if they’ve already been accepted into grad school at Stanford?

Alirez at Northern Colorado. Probably others but that was a high profile one.

[H82Lose]

12 hours ago, Spladle said:

Not why Castillo is transferring. 
 

He’s heading back home, and he had some concussion issues going on. 
 

As for Stanford transfers, one of them might end up at ISU but they are not getting 3 or 4 like everyone seems to believe. 

Doesn't make sense why Perryman and Castllo are leaving if there is not a big time 125 name coming in.  Perryman has stayed through it all, and now he is leaving? Is there a better staff at ASU than ISU for concussions, or he just want to be closer to home in case something happens. Not doubting you on the Castillo thing, I am just saying, there has to be a big name 125 name coming in for Perryman to be leaving too. 

 

On Stanford, I got a call yesterday, and I was told Knox is "playing the game". He is looking for the best deal. 

[moodybooty]

9 hours ago, Idaho said:

To use Silicon Valley terms, Stanford Wrestling is the startup that is willing to challenge the corporate giants (PSU, Oklahoma State, and Iowa). History is full of moments like this, when smaller, more agile organizations disrupt industries that once felt untouchable. Netflix taking on Blockbuster. Airbnb competing with the largest hotel chains in the world. Uber challenging an entire taxi industry that had been in place for decades.

I think Coach Ayre’s post was inspiring and well written, but this made me laugh.

The idea that Stanford, perennial Director‘s Cup winners, are the little guys because some barely-R1 State Schools are dominating a single niche Olympic sport is funny, even if it’s situationally true.

I don’t think Stanford can win NCAA’s even with extra support, and I don’t think they need to. But everything in Silicon Valley needs an 8+ figure evaluation to be taken seriously.

[mattramosjr]

https://www.on3.com/college/stanford-cardinal/news/stanford-wrestling-coach-chris-ayres-releases-eye-opening-statement-amid-cardinal-wrestlers-in-transfer-portal/

Article about Stanford Situation. 

[cl415]

My question is why does none of the wrestling media care about ISU’s tampering?

Everyone seemed up in arms over Iowa and Michigan getting transfers but they are mum about ISU when everyone knows it is happening. This was way worse and happened at the NCAA tournament as ISU was crapping the bed. 

It’s ridiculous. Call them out.

[crzyctldy]

17 minutes ago, cl415 said:

My question is why does none of the wrestling media care about ISU’s tampering?

Everyone seemed up in arms over Iowa and Michigan getting transfers but they are mum about ISU when everyone knows it is happening. This was way worse and happened at the NCAA tournament as ISU was crapping the bed. 

It’s ridiculous. Call them out.

Delete.

Edited April 5 by crzyctldy

[Spladle]

4 hours ago, H82Lose said:

Doesn't make sense why Perryman and Castllo are leaving if there is not a big time 125 name coming in.  Perryman has stayed through it all, and now he is leaving? Is there a better staff at ASU than ISU for concussions, or he just want to be closer to home in case something happens. Not doubting you on the Castillo thing, I am just saying, there has to be a big name 125 name coming in for Perryman to be leaving too. 

 

On Stanford, I got a call yesterday, and I was told Knox is "playing the game". He is looking for the best deal. 

Castillo has been quoted in saying it’s not the right fit for him. Got concussed twice. Once in competition and once in practice, take that info as you wish. 

Perryman wants to start. He’s a great kid but if he was ever the guy for ISU at 125, they’d be in trouble at that weight. 

[Spladle]

18 minutes ago, cl415 said:

My question is why does none of the wrestling media care about ISU’s tampering?

Everyone seemed up in arms over Iowa and Michigan getting transfers but they are mum about ISU when everyone knows it is happening. This was way worse and happened at the NCAA tournament as ISU was crapping the bed. 

It’s ridiculous. Call them out.

Somebody started an insane internet rumor, and of course people are latching onto it. 
 

If you think ISU is openly recruiting at NCAAs while other schools are sitting on their thumbs in their hotel rooms I’ve got some ocean front property in Iowa I’d like to sell you. 

[1032004]

1 minute ago, Spladle said:

Somebody started an insane internet rumor, and of course people are latching onto it. 
 

If you think ISU is openly recruiting at NCAAs while other schools are sitting on their thumbs in their hotel rooms I’ve got some ocean front property in Iowa I’d like to sell you. 

Well PSU implied they aren’t, but yeah I’m sure plenty of other teams are too.  Also pretty sure it was already known that ISU was one of the teams doing this in the past, IIRC they’ve already had numerous transfers commit to them within a day after entering the portal as do not contact.

[Spladle]

8 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Well PSU implied they aren’t, but yeah I’m sure plenty of other teams are too.  Also pretty sure it was already known that ISU was one of the teams doing this in the past, IIRC they’ve already had numerous transfers commit to them within a day after entering the portal as do not contact.

I’m not sure that this is true either. 

[cl415]

22 minutes ago, Spladle said:

Somebody started an insane internet rumor, and of course people are latching onto it. 
 

If you think ISU is openly recruiting at NCAAs while other schools are sitting on their thumbs in their hotel rooms I’ve got some ocean front property in Iowa I’d like to sell you. 

Sure, I am sure Ayres mentioned ISU and $200k for no reason. 
 

Edited April 5 by cl415

[1032004]

9 minutes ago, Spladle said:

I’m not sure that this is true either. 

Which part?

[Spladle]

38 minutes ago, cl415 said:

Sure, I am sure Ayres mentioned ISU and $200k for no reason. 
 

I’ve read this. 
 

I also read the part where he says his wrestlers called him and told him them were going to put their names in to see what they were worth. Seems like an odd thing to say if you’ve already found that out, no?