AnklePicker Posted February 16 Posted February 16 What’s going on with Ono? He literally crushes every guy in the world and then decides to go train folkstyle at Penn State and rides the pine for the entire year? Has he even wrestled any freestyle? Maybe he thinks he needs to improve to beat Higuchi and earn an Olympic weight spot? I heard him say he’s 50/50 with Higuchi. Just wondering why he’d make this decision when he’s clearly already at the top of the game.
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted February 16 Posted February 16 He loves Penn State and wanted to experience American college life. He’s young and there will still be plenty of time to do freestyle after one season of folkstyle competition.
Gene Mills Fan Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) load management maybe just for his freestyle career?? he was trying to go for the Japanese qualifier but had weight issues and then sickness? I think he was considered a junior? so wouldn't get 5 dates? But why not unattached a few places? But I would think he would need to earn a start or saving him for 1? or 2? full years. Edited February 16 by Gene Mills Fan
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted February 16 Posted February 16 4 minutes ago, Gene Mills Fan said: load management maybe just for his freestyle career?? he was trying to go for the Japanese qualifier but had weight issues and then sickness? I think he was considered a junior? so wouldn't get 5 dates? But why not unattached a few places? But I would think he would need to earn a start or saving him for 1? or 2? full years. The 5 unattached dates only applies to true freshmen on redshirt.
AnklePicker Posted February 16 Author Posted February 16 9 minutes ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: He loves Penn State and wanted to experience American college life. He’s young and there will still be plenty of time to do freestyle after one season of folkstyle competition. Well he’s gotten no competition so I assume you mean next year which will put him at 2 years. Sometimes more is not always better. He seemed untouchable. I get wanting to experience American college life but in terms of his wrestling it’s a crazy decision.
AnklePicker Posted February 16 Author Posted February 16 Thinking maybe he also wanted to give his body a break from the rigorous Japanese practice style/routine.
Gantry Posted February 16 Posted February 16 He went back to Japan not too long ago to wrestle freestyle and had problems with the weight cut (he was going 57kg and not 61kg where he won worlds) and had to withdraw. Seems like it was always the plan to redshirt for folk and his freestyle plans got thrown for a loop once he committed to 57kg. I wonder if he abandons that and decides to go 65kg for this cycle.
headshuck Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I imagine the US was fun to visit but homesickness would sink in fast.
Rassling Posted February 16 Posted February 16 41 minutes ago, AnklePicker said: What’s going on with Ono? He literally crushes every guy in the world and then decides to go train folkstyle at Penn State and rides the pine for the entire year? Has he even wrestled any freestyle? Maybe he thinks he needs to improve to beat Higuchi and earn an Olympic weight spot? I heard him say he’s 50/50 with Higuchi. Just wondering why he’d make this decision when he’s clearly already at the top of the game. You got the right moniker for a wrestler who executes the move better than most.
CHROMEBIRD Posted February 16 Posted February 16 He said he came to PSU specifically to learn from Cael. And someone posted an interview clip here not too long ago of Sanderson saying that Ono's also been wrestling folk in the room but isn't good to go due to health injuries (kidney issue a few months ago?)
TAC Posted February 17 Posted February 17 I, for one, am excited to see him wrestle next season. I anticipate he will add another level of excitement.
longisland Posted February 17 Posted February 17 I think at this point he has 1 year of eligibility and they were going to try for more, since its PSU we probably will find out if they got more years at next years opening press conference. he was going to wrestle some opens but got sick/injured and that plan changed.
HokieDave87 Posted February 17 Posted February 17 I think his natural weight is his main problem for the Olympics. A bit too big for 57kg and Japan is loaded at 65kg so it would be tough for a true 61kg to earn that spot even a guy at his level.
Hammerlock3 Posted February 17 Posted February 17 12 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: He loves Penn State and wanted to experience American college life. He’s young and there will still be plenty of time to do freestyle after one season of folkstyle competition. look at this moron fabricating propoganda. "Half measures are a coward's form of insanity."
ionel Posted February 17 Posted February 17 22 minutes ago, 1032004 said: Can he still transfer to USA for 2028? Jump in the portal! .
HokieDave87 Posted February 17 Posted February 17 32 minutes ago, 1032004 said: Can he still transfer to USA for 2028? Didn't UWW make that more difficult? I recall the guy behind Ghasempour (Firazpour?) having trouble trying to be eligible as a dual citizen
AnklePicker Posted February 17 Author Posted February 17 “Plan was to wrestle some opens”…this guy steam rolled the entire world field in freestyle! This is precisely my point. It’s not like he’s won 10 in a row. To just give that up to go learn folkstyle in America and then not even wrestle seems a strange choice.
BIGTENFANBOY Posted February 17 Posted February 17 14 hours ago, headshuck said: I imagine the US was fun to visit but homesickness would sink in fast. Hes been seen at every dual sitting with the team. Not sure if homesickness is as issue here..
juniorvarsity Posted February 18 Posted February 18 On 2/16/2026 at 8:31 AM, Gantry said: He went back to Japan not too long ago to wrestle freestyle and had problems with the weight cut (he was going 57kg and not 61kg where he won worlds) and had to withdraw. Seems like it was always the plan to redshirt for folk and his freestyle plans got thrown for a loop once he committed to 57kg. I wonder if he abandons that and decides to go 65kg for this cycle. So what's the update there with him trying to represent Japan at Worlds? I know the tournament he withdrew from was an important step in their world team selection process. I heard he would need to be granted special entry to get into the last and final step in their process for world team selection(no idea if that is true). I think we will have to wait and see. It's not like Cael is going to say anything about it. He should get on an RAF card or go to a ranking series event. His last competition was against Spencer Lee. Before that, it was 2024 worlds.
OMW Posted February 18 Posted February 18 He's been putting it on Nick Lee in the room. Scrambling looks good. Won't comment about his wrestling with current PSU teammates.
PNWfan Posted February 18 Posted February 18 On 2/16/2026 at 5:50 PM, HokieDave87 said: I think his natural weight is his main problem for the Olympics. A bit too big for 57kg and Japan is loaded at 65kg so it would be tough for a true 61kg to earn that spot even a guy at his level. Excellent point. May be a classic case of being a "tweener" at the Olympic weights. Wouldn't be the first time we have seen this; Zain Retherford always seemed to be best at 70kg. PNWfan
ionel Posted February 18 Posted February 18 12 minutes ago, OMW said: He's been putting it on Nick Lee in the room. Scrambling looks good. Won't comment about his wrestling with current PSU teammates. But how's his dodgeball game? .
CHROMEBIRD Posted February 18 Posted February 18 On 2/16/2026 at 6:34 PM, 1032004 said: Can he still transfer to USA for 2028? Interestingly, I think Ono would clear the UWW's 3-year sitout rule and be eligible for the one-time transfer in time to rep the US for the 2028. We doesn't need him, though.
1032004 Posted February 18 Posted February 18 56 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said: Interestingly, I think Ono would clear the UWW's 3-year sitout rule and be eligible for the one-time transfer in time to rep the US for the 2028. We doesn't need him, though. Well our current rep at 65kg has lost twice to a guy that was basically retired
Aidan Gore Garner, North Carolina Class of 2027 Committed to North Carolina State Projected Weight: 157, 165
Will Clanton New York Military Academy, New York Class of 2027 Committed to Mercyhurst Projected Weight: 125
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