ionel Posted February 25 Posted February 25 11 minutes ago, jajensen09 said: 17 is very young for college. Why? .
silvermedal2 Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Hardy is a class act and another great representative from a great program
jajensen09 Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 1 hour ago, Fletcher said: He's 25 yrs old. It's time to get a job. Nope. Wrestling for his 4th AA then freestyle after that!
1032004 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 2 hours ago, Fletcher said: Vast majority every year decline to redshirt and compete 4 yrs. instead of 5. I don’t believe this is true among D1 wrestling starters, but no I don’t have the specific stats
Fletcher Posted February 26 Posted February 26 38 minutes ago, 1032004 said: I don’t believe this is true among D1 wrestling starters, but no I don’t have the specific stats You're right if you limit the pool to Big Ten D1 starters. For every starter there's 2-3 guys behind them working on their degrees. Not to mention the guys at the Ivies, SoCon, EIWA, etc. Most of these guys are 4 year grinders who recognize this is just a college extracurricular activity.
Fletcher Posted February 26 Posted February 26 3 hours ago, MPhillips said: If I'm the DI starter at 17 or 18 there must be a reason... Yeah - injury to the starter.
MidwestMan Posted February 26 Posted February 26 9 hours ago, Fletcher said: If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way about lawyers, consultants, and other professionals working into their 70s and refusing to pass clients/work onto the younger generation. Just greedy. That would include a big part of congress and the current head of our nation. I'm 70+ and I'd be all for it. There is a time to step out of the way and let the next wave have their opportunity. Just an old man's perspective.
Fletcher Posted February 26 Posted February 26 3 hours ago, jajensen09 said: 17 is very young for college. And im sure the vast majority of the wrestlers were a 3x all American too?? The vast majority decline to redshirt?? Hmm more like the very high end dont redshirt Are we trying to turn college wrestling into college football?
MPhillips Posted February 26 Posted February 26 23 minutes ago, Fletcher said: Yeah - injury to the starter. That's on the coach who puts a kid in a bad place... .
1032004 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 2 hours ago, Fletcher said: You're right if you limit the pool to Big Ten D1 starters. For every starter there's 2-3 guys behind them working on their degrees. Not to mention the guys at the Ivies, SoCon, EIWA, etc. Most of these guys are 4 year grinders who recognize this is just a college extracurricular activity. I’m not sure it’s true for non-B10 starters. I’d also bet many B10 backups do redshirt. Heck isn’t there a stat that a significant # of people that aren’t even athletes take 5 years to get their degree anyway?
Fletcher Posted February 26 Posted February 26 10 hours ago, MidwestMan said: That would include a big part of congress and the current head of our nation. I'm 70+ and I'd be all for it. There is a time to step out of the way and let the next wave have their opportunity. Just an old man's perspective.
Dogbone Posted February 26 Posted February 26 21 hours ago, Fletcher said: I don't cheer for any of these old timers who keep hanging around college, taking opportunities from younger wrestlers. Until they make NCAAs a U23 event, you are going to have to keep crying about it. It's a college tournament and you get 4 years to compete no matter when you start college. Those younger guys need to earn their spots not have it handed to them. I am not a fan of just handing opportunities without merit. Unlike the professional fields you referenced, in wrestling you get what you earn and if you can't beat the guy in front of you, you don't get to start. No opportunities have been taken from younger wrestlers because they haven't earned it.
ionel Posted February 26 Posted February 26 9 hours ago, 1032004 said: I’d also bet many B10 backups do redshirt. So if a backup never wrestles a first string varsity match did he actually redshirt? .
Fan4Life Posted February 26 Posted February 26 I think Hardy went on a church mission right out of high school, so was probably 20 before even getting into the Nebraska wrestling room for the first time. Having not wrestled at all for the better part of 2 years, he came back pretty rusty, taking a redshirt year his initial freshman year with the team. So yes, he is older than most graduating seniors; but he really hasn't spent more time in a collegiate wrestling program than many others -- especially factoring in those who got the extra Covid year.
1032004 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 3 hours ago, ionel said: So if a backup never wrestles a first string varsity match did he actually redshirt? If he’s on the team for 5 years, yes.
Konquest Posted February 26 Posted February 26 (edited) 4 hours ago, Fan4Life said: I think Hardy went on a church mission right out of high school, so was probably 20 before even getting into the Nebraska wrestling room for the first time. Having not wrestled at all for the better part of 2 years, he came back pretty rusty, taking a redshirt year his initial freshman year with the team. So yes, he is older than most graduating seniors; but he really hasn't spent more time in a collegiate wrestling program than many others -- especially factoring in those who got the extra Covid year. This is true, and he did his Mormon mission in impoverished areas of Brazil, where he had no real training possibility other than bodyweight exercises/calisthenics and running. His mission did not give him some edge on the competition. If anything, it set him back in wrestling. Edited February 26 by Konquest
MPhillips Posted February 26 Posted February 26 4 minutes ago, Konquest said: His mission did not give him some edge on the competition. Perspective... .
AgaveMaria Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 4:38 PM, Fletcher said: When it comes to white-collar professionals, they're not doing what they love. They just want the cash grab. As far as athletes go, nothing was sadder than seeing MJ play for the Wizards, late-career Muhammad Ali, even Randy Lewis get teched by Muz at Midlands a while back. People need to know when to move on to the next stage in life. Then we have a Tom Brady who did just fine & bowed out while still doing well. Agree though on those who hang on when they should realize it is time. I understand it - where else can you get paid for playing the games you love. Some never lose the desire even as they lose the quick reactions needed to stay at the top of their game. Dropping a few notches still has many top guys in contention though in reality they are no longer able to perform above everyone else. The lure of the game & competition is hard to give up. ” Never attribute to inspiration that which can be adequately explained by delusion”.
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 11:50 AM, Fletcher said: If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way about lawyers, consultants, and other professionals working into their 70s and refusing to pass clients/work onto the younger generation. Just greedy. wow. what if they actually helped someone who was falsely accused? what if they actually found a way to help someone in need?
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 11:50 AM, Fletcher said: If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way about lawyers, consultants, and other professionals working into their 70s and refusing to pass clients/work onto the younger generation. Just greedy. btw, brock is an old timer b/c he took a 2 year mission. then went to college. so greedy
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 3:45 PM, Gene Mills Fan said: Just be careful in Omaha riding around the University!. UNO doesn't have wrestling anymore.
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 4:57 PM, Fletcher said: Would you want to be a 17 or 18 year old college freshman standing across from him in a dual meet? Doesn't seem fair, does it? ask forrest
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 5:25 PM, Fletcher said: Vast majority of wrestlers opted not to take the covid year. Vast majority every year decline to redshirt and compete 4 yrs. instead of 5. lol YOU just made this up. vast majority. no.
Scouts Honor Posted February 27 Posted February 27 On 2/25/2026 at 5:25 PM, Fletcher said: Vast majority of wrestlers opted not to take the covid year. Vast majority every year decline to redshirt and compete 4 yrs. instead of 5. lol YOU just made this up. vast majority. no.
Nevaeh Lavarias Pearl City High School, Hawaii Class of 2027 Committed to Kent State Projected Weight: 124
Braeden Simoneaux New York Military Academy, Louisiana Class of 2027 Committed to Wyoming Projected Weight: 184, 197
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