Is Iowa cutting enough weight ?

[jmoney]

Cruz is an undersized 125 pounder and wrestles at times. Ayala doesn’t look big to me. Bailey bumping up to 141 against Echemendia who dropped from 149 led to Bailey being manhandled by 11 points. If Iowa’s technique isn’t carrying them, where is the grit with weight cuts at? Ryder Block and Jordan Williams also bumped up.  

The guys who have not bumped up this season (Caliendo, Kennedy, Ferrari, Keuter) are doing well. We all saw how Micic wrestling 141 for fun went for him at Michigan. Same with recovering  Ragusin yesterday. All the talent in the world sometimes can’t overcome a weigh bump unless you’re in a Penn State singlet. 

if Bouzakis can make 125 why isn’t Ayala? We wouldn’t be questioning if there would be an Iowa finalist if Ayala was at 125. 

[nhs67]

Using Micic (who was injured) isn't a good example.  He still beat Iowa's Eierman at NCAAs.  He was too small, though - I agree.

Ragusin is too small, sure.  That wasn't his problem yesterday.  Desmond wrestled 125lbs to start the season.  Ragusin's problem is he isn't letting it fly.  That makes me think he is still injured, or the injury haunts him.

[nhs67]

Also, I do believe Bailey, Williams, Kennedy, and Ferrari all could be down a weight.  That much is true.  I also agree that Bailey and Williams might have done better at 133/149 respectively.  Kennedy has to grind a bit more, but his peak at 174 is the same as it is/was at 165: 2nd.  I don't think Ferrari comes close to beating Haines.  He has a chance to win 184lbs, though.

[MNRodent]

At this point they should all drop a weight just to see how it goes.  What could go wrong?

[1032004]

Good point.  Cruz should probably cut to 118

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

Penn State's guys often look significantly smaller than their opponents --- it doesn't seem to hinder them.

[mr.nonothingatall]

Ayala looks like a skeleton out there. No way he can cut more than he already does

[Gus]

Dean Peterson is there starting 125 and he is a normal sized 125. Ayala is a good sized 133. Bailey is probably small at 141. Block is a good sized to big 149. Williams is too small at 157. Caliendo is doing well at 165. PK is doing well at 174. Angelo looks undersized at 184 to me. Keuter needs to keep eating but I think his problem is not letting it fly out there moreso than weight.

[ScottishSteel]

The results at 149 for Block have been less than Iowa was probably hoping for but just watching him wrestle in comparison to last year at 141 and it's pretty clear Block is at the correct weight

[Rassling]

6 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

The results at 149 for Block have been less than Iowa was probably hoping for but just watching him wrestle in comparison to last year at 141 and it's pretty clear Block is at the correct weight

I don’t know he looked pretty good @ 149 going after the pin a few weeks ago against Nebraska. 

[ScottishSteel]

2 minutes ago, Rassling said:

I don’t know he looked pretty good @ 149 going after the pin a few weeks ago against Nebraska. 

But then turned around and lost to Drew Roberts; I think he's much better at 149 than at 141 - he was right there w/ SVN too until the big move. 

 

He's been in every match but he is 1 - 4 in conference duals since the calendar turned.  I think he could flip all of those losses (even SVN) at the conference tourney but the results being "less than Iowa was probably hoping for" feels accurate for his current ledger.  

[Rassling]

6 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

But then turned around and lost to Drew Roberts; I think he's much better at 149 than at 141 - he was right there w/ SVN too until the big move. 

 

He's been in every match but he is 1 - 4 in conference duals since the calendar turned.  I think he could flip all of those losses (even SVN) at the conference tourney but the results being "less than Iowa was probably hoping for" feels accurate for his current ledger.  

The incredible results the kid enjoyed in highschool will prove successful in Iowa in due time. I agree with you Scott, the season isn’t over yet.

[ScottishSteel]

1 minute ago, Rassling said:

The incredible results the kid enjoyed in highschool will prove successful in Iowa in due time. I agree with you Scott, the season isn’t over yet.

I do question if it's a little mental; carrying the weight of being an Iowa superstud in an Iowa singlet kinda thing that's locking him up late in matches - I've got no real proof of that; just speculation and something that's run through my mind

[Rassling]

Just now, ScottishSteel said:

I do question if it's a little mental; carrying the weight of being an Iowa superstud in an Iowa singlet kinda thing that's locking him up late in matches - I've got no real proof of that; just speculation and something that's run through my mind

It’s very possible. I still predict he’ll win a natty at least once in his college career. Who knows, perhaps this year.  

[ScottishSteel]

18 minutes ago, Rassling said:

It’s very possible. I still predict he’ll win a natty at least once in his college career. Who knows, perhaps this year.  

If he hits one year of eligibility remaining and hasn't broken through to the podium yet, internally I'll be hoping he transfers to like a South Dakota St or Wyoming kinda place for his final year to let it rip pressure free

[Maxwell Smart]

Hawkeye fans are in a bad way mentally. Carrying the weight of being an Iowa super stud in an Iowa singlet is going very deep for reasons of not being as successful as expected. Super stud? Came in late to the post, wasn't sure which super stud on the team was being referenced. Perhaps thinking Hawkeye wrestlers are super studs carrying this big weight adds to the angst of a let down.

[juniorvarsity]

I have never thought any Iowa wrestlers were undersized any prior year. They have two transfer portal guys who went up a weight and they appear small. That's it. Ayala went up from 125 and got 2nd at NCAAs. Weight is not his issue. Angelo looked undersized last season, seems a bit small again this year, but doesn't appear to be an issue and it is what is best for the team, obviously.

[ScottishSteel]

21 hours ago, Maxwell Smart said:

Hawkeye fans are in a bad way mentally. Carrying the weight of being an Iowa super stud in an Iowa singlet is going very deep for reasons of not being as successful as expected. Super stud? Came in late to the post, wasn't sure which super stud on the team was being referenced. Perhaps thinking Hawkeye wrestlers are super studs carrying this big weight adds to the angst of a let down.

I was referring to Block w/ that comment; "Iowa super stud" being his accolades and expectations as an Iowa native coming out of HS and theorizing that might be part of why he's struggling to finish matches with the win - that gets in his head and locks him up a little

[Gene Mills Fan]

Block is good when attacking but stands too upright and people get to his legs when he's not. He also has had issues on the bottom.

[Spladle]

Iowa’s issue is the way the recruited transfers with the way their roster was. 
 

Took Caliendo when PK’s best weight is 165. Took PK a year to adjust to 74, but he’s best at 165. 
 

Took Jordan Williams when clearly his best weight is 149, he looks small at 157. 
 

Nasir Bailey is a small 141 but he was never going to beat Drake for 133. Should have wrestled Petersen from day 1 and RS Bailey. 
 

2 or 3 guys not wrestling at their best weight due to the rest of the roster. 

[Gene Mills Fan]

4 minutes ago, Spladle said:

Iowa’s issue is the way the recruited transfers with the way their roster was. 
 

Took Caliendo when PK’s best weight is 165. Took PK a year to adjust to 74, but he’s best at 165. 
 

Took Jordan Williams when clearly his best weight is 149, he looks small at 157. 
 

Nasir Bailey is a small 141 but he was never going to beat Drake for 133. Should have wrestled Petersen from day 1 and RS Bailey. 
 

2 or 3 guys not wrestling at their best weight due to the rest of the roster. 

I agree they should have RS Bailey but hind sight is 20/20.  I don't think Caliendo and Franek were recruited they wanted a change same with: Parco and Bailey, Williams, Buchanon.  Teemer I think saw what Kyle was getting and. I think the wrestlers know where they can fit and what is the compensation.  

[silvermedal2]

Block is a big 149 and has run out of gas on occasion.  

[jmoney]

3 hours ago, Spladle said:

Iowa’s issue is the way the recruited transfers with the way their roster was. 
 

Took Caliendo when PK’s best weight is 165. Took PK a year to adjust to 74, but he’s best at 165. 
 

Took Jordan Williams when clearly his best weight is 149, he looks small at 157. 
 

Nasir Bailey is a small 141 but he was never going to beat Drake for 133. Should have wrestled Petersen from day 1 and RS Bailey. 
 

2 or 3 guys not wrestling at their best weight due to the rest of the roster. 

I think this is exactly right. Transfers did not fit into their lineup well. I wonder if they start having much more difficult time getting ideal transfers now that becoming a finalist isn't an Iowa guarantee. Some of their recent transfers are a bit of headscratchers to me.

[Gantry]

If any of these NIL numbers are even in the ballpark of being true, there's too much money tied up in them to pay them to redshirt.