CHROMEBIRD Posted February 18 Posted February 18 53 minutes ago, 1032004 said: Well our current rep at 65kg has lost twice to a guy that was basically retired Depends on which weight Ono goes, but either way we've got a solid inventory between our 57/61 and 65/70kg'ers.
alex1fly Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Kinda reminds me of Rin at OSU. Freestyle accolades in Japan, comes to Stillwater to learn folkstyle, doesn't wrestle much except for a few trips back home. Maybe the thought is to absorb as much as possible and then hit the ground/mat running.
ironmonkey Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Maybe he heard how much fun Penn St is and is now having a blast
CHROMEBIRD Posted February 18 Posted February 18 He probably is having a blast. He's there at duals cheering with the team and Blaze says he's a fun roommate and they play video games and go out to eat and pretty much act like normal college kids. I'm sure he's stoked to be hanging out and training with the RTC guys also
BruceyB Posted February 18 Posted February 18 4 hours 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. Why is this even being discussed? Why would a proud Japanese wrestler decide to compete for and represent another country just because he thought it would be fun and exciting to wrestle in the U.S. for a legendary wrestler/coach at the school that many of his favorite U.S. wrestlers attended during their college careers? There has been literally zero reasons to speculate that Ono's ultimate goal is to assimilate into being American.
BruceyB Posted February 18 Posted February 18 On 2/16/2026 at 5:06 AM, 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. We've all seen the crowds at Senior Worlds. He got the opportunity to make undoubtedly a good amount of money and compete for his favorite U.S. school in front of 16,000+ fans next year. I'm sure he is still receiving sponsorship money from Japan and getting to have an awesome experience. I don't think there is any strong evidence that spending time wrestling folkstyle hurts a wrestler's freestyle ability, and I would argue that it's probably only going to even further someone like Ono's ability who is already the best in the world with his freestyle skillset and will be able to add to his game with weird nuances that you're much more likely to feel from experiencing folkstyle. But at the end of the day, I would be that making a significant amount of money and getting to wrestle for PSU who he grew up watching as a fan is a win-win and he's probably not worried about spending a couple of years wrestling folk derailing his freestyle prospects. Japanese guys sit out in non-Olympic years regularly, so playing around in folkstyle for two non-Olympic years is probably even less strange to the Japanese than it would be here. It's not like Higuichi has been competing either.
MPhillips Posted February 19 Posted February 19 9 minutes ago, BruceyB said: But at the end of the day, I would be that making a significant amount of money and getting to wrestle for PSU who he grew up watching as a fan is a win-win Foreign kids on F-1 / J-1 Visas can't usually receive NIL money... .
ionel Posted February 19 Posted February 19 7 minutes ago, MPhillips said: Foreign kids on F-1 / J-1 Visas can't usually receive NIL money... ... sure but folks aren't following the rules and the NCAA (nor any others) enforce the rules. .
1032004 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 1 hour ago, BruceyB said: Why is this even being discussed? Why would a proud Japanese wrestler decide to compete for and represent another country just because he thought it would be fun and exciting to wrestle in the U.S. for a legendary wrestler/coach at the school that many of his favorite U.S. wrestlers attended during their college careers? There has been literally zero reasons to speculate that Ono's ultimate goal is to assimilate into being American. I was mostly joking, but I wouldn’t hate seeing him as our 65kg rep. Who is projected to be NLWC’s 65 for 2028? I guess Blaze?
HokieDave87 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 41 minutes ago, MPhillips said: Foreign kids on F-1 / J-1 Visas can't usually receive NIL money... There are workarounds, I think it's as simple as paying them while they're back home but not 100% on that
BruceyB Posted February 19 Posted February 19 6 minutes ago, 1032004 said: I was mostly joking, but I wouldn’t hate seeing him as our 65kg rep. Who is projected to be NLWC’s 65 for 2028? I guess Blaze? You wouldn't mind seeing him as our rep..? Would you like Sadulaev to come be our rep at 97kg too? What's the point of having a team if they aren't even your own wrestlers? This isn't a professional wrestling league where the goal is to build the best team possible, it's about having a system in your country to grow and develop talent. It would be an absolute shame if Ono took the spot from an American born wrestler for the World Championships. But like I said before, he's Japanese. He will represent his country when it comes to competing for a nation. He's not a refugee thanking America for giving him freedom and opportunity, he's an exchange student.
1032004 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) 14 minutes ago, BruceyB said: You wouldn't mind seeing him as our rep..? Would you like Sadulaev to come be our rep at 97kg too? What's the point of having a team if they aren't even your own wrestlers? This isn't a professional wrestling league where the goal is to build the best team possible, it's about having a system in your country to grow and develop talent. It would be an absolute shame if Ono took the spot from an American born wrestler for the World Championships. But like I said before, he's Japanese. He will represent his country when it comes to competing for a nation. He's not a refugee thanking America for giving him freedom and opportunity, he's an exchange student. If they want to become a citizen here and live here full-time, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Do you have this same disdain for the American wrestlers that represent other countries despite still living here? (Maybe you do, just curious) Edited February 19 by 1032004
CHROMEBIRD Posted February 19 Posted February 19 1 hour ago, BruceyB said: Why is this even being discussed? Why would a proud Japanese wrestler decide to compete for and represent another country just because he thought it would be fun and exciting to wrestle in the U.S. for a legendary wrestler/coach at the school that many of his favorite U.S. wrestlers attended during their college careers? There has been literally zero reasons to speculate that Ono's ultimate goal is to assimilate into being American. Did you really not understand from that it was light banter?
Nak21 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2 hours ago, MPhillips said: Foreign kids on F-1 / J-1 Visas can't usually receive NIL money... A lot of talk about money here…we’re aware Ono’s family is wealthy and he really doesn’t likely need it and might just maybe be legit living out a dream to wrestle for PSU and Cael because he can due to his family being wealthy…right?? I know it’s easier here to just assume PSU is breaking rules…in this case federal laws? Than go with any other reason that could be more plausible…
MPhillips Posted February 19 Posted February 19 5 minutes ago, Nak21 said: A lot of talk about money here… My reply was pointed Nak... .
Nak21 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 5 minutes ago, MPhillips said: My reply was pointed Nak... I’m sorry, that wasn’t really directed at or accusing you of anything, probably should’ve quoted another post or just submitted it stand alone. Sorry…wasn’t attacking you or what you said.
BruceyB Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2 hours ago, 1032004 said: If they want to become a citizen here and live here full-time, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Do you have this same disdain for the American wrestlers that represent other countries despite still living here? (Maybe you do, just curious) I don't have any problem with transfers in general, but I don't like the idea of a transfer taking a spot from another high caliber wrestler. If RBY wants to represent Mexico, that's fine because it makes for a better Worlds bracket and I don't even know that Mexico would send an athlete otherwise, let alone a competitive rep. I hate that each country only gets one representative for Worlds. I think it would be a lot better and more exciting to have a qualification system and see all of the best guys duke it out. If Ono wanted to represent Taiwan or the Philippines instead of risking not making the Japanese team, I wouldn't really have any opposition. But whoever we send at 65kg will be a medal threat, and him taking that spot would be a shame. Also, I agree with you in regards to someone who lives here full-time and is a U.S. citizen. If they feel American and want to represent this country because they consider this home and that feels right to them, I'm all for it. I would put Kikiniou in that category. He is Belarusian, and competed for Belarus, but then moved to America, is raising his family here, his children have represented the USA in wrestling at age level events, and he has as much of a right to compete for USA as anyone else IMO.
TAC Posted February 19 Posted February 19 I believe Ono is just an exchange student who wants to wrestle for his favorite college team that he has been following for several years. Nothing more. He comes from a family with money, so that is not a factor. Most coaches are trying to follow the rules. He is not allowed to receive NIL. I always get so tired of people not in the know, throwing out that someone is always cheating without having any idea or proof. I coached many years at the college level (different sport), but we always tried to do things the right way, as I believe the other coaches in my conference also did.
ScottishSteel Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2 hours ago, TAC said: I believe Ono is just an exchange student who wants to wrestle for his favorite college team that he has been following for several years. Nothing more. He comes from a family with money, so that is not a factor. Most coaches are trying to follow the rules. He is not allowed to receive NIL. I always get so tired of people not in the know, throwing out that someone is always cheating without having any idea or proof. I coached many years at the college level (different sport), but we always tried to do things the right way, as I believe the other coaches in my conference also did. Well that's exactly what a coach who was cheating would say! Now if you'll excuse me I need to go pick up a new tinfoil hat Irrationally proud former WPIAL wrestler No Scotland, No Party . . . Go Beavs
jchapman Posted February 19 Posted February 19 Big universities are teeming with rich foreign students, especially rich Asian students. This is nothing new. Works out well for both parties, the students pay full price and get to return to their home country with a degree from an american university. Craig Henning got screwed in the 2007 NCAA Finals.
Gene Mills Fan Posted February 19 Posted February 19 No doubt Ono can get to anyone's ankle and shelve it; but I would think an Ono deficiency might be scrambling? He may have little experience with someone exposing themselves diving to grab an ankle and getting in leg pass positions involving rolling.
1032004 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 On Willie and Basch today, Basch listed a potential PSU lineup for next year that included Ono (only change from this year besides inserting Kasak at 157 and bumping up Duke and Mesenbrink), and Willie said “I’m not sure if that’s gonna be the lineup.” Is it possible Ono doesn’t actually wrestle for PSU and is just there “having fun”?
Jimmy Cinnabon Posted February 19 Posted February 19 16 minutes ago, 1032004 said: On Willie and Basch today, Basch listed a potential PSU lineup for next year that included Ono (only change from this year besides inserting Kasak at 157 and bumping up Duke and Mesenbrink), and Willie said “I’m not sure if that’s gonna be the lineup.” Is it possible Ono doesn’t actually wrestle for PSU and is just there “having fun”? Well it's not a given that Ono would be able to beat out a guy like Kasak in folkstyle. He still has to win the spot over guys like Kasak, Duke, etc which isn't a given.
Gene Mills Fan Posted February 19 Posted February 19 8 minutes ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: Well it's not a given that Ono would be able to beat out a guy like Kasak in folkstyle. He still has to win the spot over guys like Kasak, Duke, etc which isn't a given. I think he meant Ono 141 "no other changes"
Pinnacle Posted February 19 Posted February 19 15 minutes ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said: Well it's not a given that Ono would be able to beat out a guy like Kasak in folkstyle. He still has to win the spot over guys like Kasak, Duke, etc which isn't a given. Poor jimmy
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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