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Just a joke on this one -- I really like the Cornell team and Dake, Yianni, and Vito all seem like nice guys so I'm bummed to see none of them get through this year. With that said crazy huge for Jax and OSU

I don't think it's a negative on Cornell that they have a 2x NCAA and world Champion, and 4x NCAA champion and World Finalist losing in Final X. And the "high school" kids also beat how many NCAA champions on their route to the finals? It would have to be a knock on recruiting for every other college program who can't beat these high schoolers as well.

Looking at my Lehigh files that go back more than 50 years now (somehow I don't look any different than I did back then) -- these are guys with no state or prep titles who placed at NCAAs. Some were blue chip recruits anyway, most weren't. Mike Lieberman, 2x Natl Preps 2nd, NCAA 1st, 3rd in 1975-76 (the last collegian to beat Chris Campbell). Tihamer Toth-Fejel, California 3rd one time, NCAA 5th in 1976. Denny Reed, PA A 4th and 2nd, NCAA 7th in 1980 (pinned A/A's to start and finish in his only NCAA tournament); I don't know that he was considered the team's starter at 142 until tournaments. Chris Ayres, 69-25 in NJ, 19-7 with Blair, no places, NCAA 6th in 1999. Mark Dufresne, NJ 4th once, 6-17 as a freshman at Lehigh, once wrestled both JV and varsity on the same afternoon at Army, NCAA 6th in 2000 as a senior. John Van Doren, NJ 2nd and 3rd, NCAA 3rd and 5th. Dave Esposito, NJ 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, NCAA 3rd and 2nd. Chris Vitale, PA AAA 5th and 2nd, NCAA 7th. Mario Stuart, PA AAA 3rd and 2nd, NCAA 5th and 4th. Current Lehigh Associate Head Coach Brad Dillon, PA AAA 5th and 3rd, NCAA 5th (after the worst OT screwing in NCAA history) and 4th. Derek Zinck, PA AAA 5th, 5th, 2nd, NCAA 8th and 5th. Honorable mention to Robert Hamlin, 4x VT 1st, 2x New England 1st, NCAA 2nd, 4th, 2nd -- I believe he's the only A/A in Vermont's history. Nicknamed The Vermontster (a few years later Connor McGonagle of New Hampshire wisely passed on the proposed nickname of The New Hampster). Scott Parker, PA AAA 4th, 3rd, 2nd, NCAA 8th and 7th. Ryan Preisch, 2x PA AA 3rd, NCAA 4th.

"Should I air it all out?" screams "attention whore."

Here is my guess for the fighting Tim Flynn’s of West Virginia 125- RS Freshman Louie Gill (14-3 last year as a RS at nc state) 133- Sr. Jett Strickenberger (2023 NJCAA national champ ,Big 12 champ, 2x NQ, R12 last year) lost in OT in ncaa quarterfinals and blood round, struggled at 133 last season 141- Sr. Jordan Titus (3x NQ , 11-18 last year) 149- Sr. Willie McDougald ( 3x NQ, R16 in 2022, 21-8 last for Oklahoma) 157- RS Soph. Ty Watters ( NCAA 4th in 2024 , 6-0 last year with 2 wins over AAs before injury , should be considered a legit contender at 157 this year) 165- Either RS Sr - Caleb Dowling (9-7 at 157 last year) or RS Freshman Shawn Taylor (13-5 in redshirt last year ) 174- RS Jr. Brody Conley ( 13-8 last year , injuried late in the season and med FF out of big 12s, NQ in 2024) 184- RS Jr.- Ian Bush (NQ 21-13 up at 197 , beat 3 AAs total last season ) 197- RS Fr. Rune Lawerence ( 18-7 as a redshirt last year) biggest recruit in the Flynn era and has a lot of expectations around him 285- a black hole that will be filled with either RS Soph Wilson Spiries (4-10 last year, 9 of those loses by bonus) or True Freshman Brock Kehler…this weight will be a problem all year again , I know they went hard after Catka and a few other guys but West Virginia as a university has banned all big donors from donating to all sports other then football and men basketball so not much NIL money in Morgantown to bring in transfers

This happened in the middle of action. Not during a break. Vito put his hands on his knees, dropped his head and looked straight down. I actually thought Vito might just literally just stop wrestling and leave the mat at this point. It was clear he didn't want to be there anymore and had realized he couldn't win in his current state.

Vito looked tired half way into the first period. Spent a good 15 seconds adjusting his socks during a break. I can't remember the last time I saw Vito look so lethargic on the mat. Probably back when he was wrestling 125. Kudos to Jax though.

To be fair to Strick, I don't think we saw peak performance him at 133lbs last season. I think he was intentionally light because he was on descent, which also means his strength/speed was going to be lacking. I think 140lb Strick, cutting to 133lbs is much different.

even if he beats him now, in an exhibition, while taylor is coaching and nickal is training....no one cares. this is like when he gets bored and begs for attention on twitter.

He can't pay me enough to listen to him, or visit his podcast or whatever it is that he does.

‘One time David didn’t hold the door for me and another time he made me pay full price at his wife’s juice shop…can you believe this guy?’ *Cassar nods* ‘totally bro’

So far I see two confirmed transfers to Little Rock: 133: Draegen Orine, younger brother of former All American Kai Orine from NC State (who still has all four years of eligibility) 157: Brock Herman, sophomore from Ohio State, whose best wins include an 11-4 victory over All-American Caleb Fish which occurred last year. Also during his redshirt year, Herman pinned Northwestern's Sam Cartella.

My brother was a survivor of Dr. Strauss and an ongoing victim of Ohio State (stealing a line from the doc). I was a mediocre wrestler at Oregon State. My brother is 6 years younger than me and was highly recruited. I had not heard good things about Coach Hellickson from people I trusted and tried to talk him out of going to Ohio State. He had friends there, and he really loved Coach Jordan. He is not interviewed in the documentary, but his name does appear prominently during the portion of the doc where they are highlighting the names of the guys being interviewed on the original lawsuit filing, below Coleman's name. He was warned by some of his teammates and fellow plaintiffs not to watch it. But he was at kid nationals in Iowa and his roommate fell asleep watching HBO. My brother woke up to the documentary about 10 minutes in. Called me in the middle of the night completely falling apart. After all, he was going to be in the UNI-Dome the next day with scores of people he knew. He got through that OK, although there was one guy who kept harassing him about it, "It wasn't really that bad. Why didn't you just kick his ass, etc." One of my brother's people got rid of that guy. The suffering continues for these men. The current administration at Ohio State is trying to wash their hands of it: "it happened before we were here...statute of limitations...etc." But they continued to take actions to cover it up, because they knew it went deeper than the 177 original plaintiffs. Now for my mea culpa: My brother went from a star student committed to a championship lifestyle to struggling with school and substance abuse. For years, I resented him for "wasting" the talent and all his hard work. He continued to wrestle, NAIA AA, OTC Athlete, etc. but was a shadow of himself. I blamed him for it, and of course, we all make our choices. Like I tell my athletes, "There are reasons for things not excuses." I mostly cut him out of my life for a handful of years. Fortunately, a sports psychologist at the OTC recognized there was something else going on with him and he got help, even though it wasn't until years later that he unearthed the horrors he endured. He came to watch my son compete in Pocatello in 2012 and it was the first time he had anything to do with wrestling in years. He is now a great coach and mentor to kids. We are closer than we have ever been but I will never forgive myself for my lack of empathy and anger toward him. There are hundreds and hundreds of stories like his. Strauss destroyed what these men could have been. Ohio State could have stopped it. It is on record that the athletic administration, and Coach Hellickson, knew about it before my brother enrolled in Columbus. They could have stopped it. They could have warned him. But they didn't. I have a special distaste for Congressman Jordan. But, as my mental health professional wife once pointed out, it is quite possible that Jim was a victim as well. Yes, he went to U of Wisc. but he was an Ohio phenom and I am sure he spent plenty of time in Columbus.

No kidding about 133. Here is who is expected to be returning with wrestlestat starter ranking in parenthesis: Two former champions: 2) Lucas Byrd (1st in 2025, R12 in 2023, 5th in 2022 and 2021) Richard Figueroa (1st in 2024, National Qualifier in 2025) Ten additional returning AAs: 1) Ryan Crookham (3rd in 2024) 3) Drake Ayala (2nd in 2025 and 2024, National Qualifier in 2022) 4) Zeth Romney (3rd in 2025, National Qualifier in 2024) 5) Zan Fugitt (4th in 2025) 9) Jacob Van Dee (7th in 2025, National Qualifier in 2024) 10) Evan Frost (6th in 2024, R12 in 2025) 11) Tyler Knox (8th in 2025) 13) Dylan Ragusin (5th in 2024, R12 in 2022, R16 in 2023, National Qualifier in 2021) 15) Dylan Shawver (7th in 2024, R12 in 2025, R16 in 2022) 32) Chris Cannon (7th in 2022 and 2021, National Qualifier in 2023) Three Former Bloodrounders 12) Jett Strickenberger (R12 in 2025, National Qualifier in 2024) 27) Brett Ungar (R12 in 2023, R16 in 2024) 39) Zach Redding (R12 in 2023, National Qualifier in 2021) Two Freshman Phenom 6) Marcus Blaze (true freshman phenom) 7) Ben Davino (redshirt freshman phenom) That's two champions, twelve all-americans, three bloodrounders, two freshman phenom, and a partridge in a pear tree.

lets call it the "crazy dad era"

Well done Jax! Whoa, Flo. Camera blocked by coaches doing the oh so surprising -- standing up during flurries on the mat to coach, with no backup plan for another camera or moving that camera. And while hands are being raised an ad pops up and drowns out commentators commentating. Bummer - but Flo gotta Flo I guess.

Vito's body language is crap. This camera angle is crap

Agree with this. If anything, it's a feather in Cornell's cap that they had 3 guys in Final X (including Dake), which is outstanding. Second only to PSU (with 4), right? What's more, each of these Cornell Final X'ers have world medals to their credit. Any recruit worth having is going to know full well how credentialed Vito, Yianni and Dake are, and that Cornell produced them. There's zero shame in losing to a high schooler when they beat everyone else too.

I'll be ready.

Ah *I poop my pants, don't laugh at me*. So we can lump Cali and Jersey in to one boat... Le me tell ya'll something... 20 years ago? Everyone was like "You know what's wrong with Philadelphia? People from New Jersey live in Philly. Know what's wrong with New Jersey? People from New Jersey are from New Jersey." Now when you compare that to turdbrains from Cali? Gawd. I'd rather live in back alley of Newark with an old, retired show donkey than in the $HlT-hole state of California.

HE'S AT IT AGAIN!!! (Mellow... mellow... mellow... ooooooohhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm! ) D3

Is this a 'dog on Cali' thread? If so, I am in.

I never said I know. How would you, or anyone else posting here know? If you (they) have actual information, provide it. If not, they're just making things up to stir the pot. That’s not a discussion - it’s just being petty. As for the age comment - sure, I was off by a year. He’s almost 19, not almost 18. Doesn’t change anything. What’s clear is that some folks are taking Bassett’s decisions way too personally. He’s not obligated to meet our expectations. He’s arguably the most followed high school wrestler ever, with a massive NIL upside, and he’s handling things in a way that suits his goals, not yours. And why would he follow any other path than his own, which is going to make him a millionaire within five years? He’s already making a huge impact on the sport, and that’s only going to grow over the next 6–7 years. Tearing him down because you don’t like his path doesn’t say anything about him - but it says plenty about all the haters, and their toxic energy.

Don’t act like you care about the victims, you care only about anything that will give you something to cry over your ‘wingers’, all while pretending like this file didn’t sit through four years of the previous administration without going anywhere. This topic is one that the powers that be of both the right and the left are in agreement on.

I kind of agree, but I also get that it is just too much of a cut. He did pretty good at 61kg for u23s. He took 2nd and only lost to Nic Bouzakis. I think that if he takes the full offseason to fill out 133 and can avoid off-mat distractions, he will be much better at 133 than he was last year. I could see him making a midseason decision to go down to 125 if he feels that is a better spot for him

If I'm Tim Flynn and co. (and if I'm Strick for that matter), I'm cutting him back down to 125. He was a hair away from the podium and is a title threat at 125. At 133 he's shown to be much less than that.

And gets Spencer to cut to 48 kg despite the fact that it no longer exists

I actually think it’s a fantastic claim by Nickal that he thinks he’d beat Taylor today. Father Time and all that but since their last match set, Taylor has lost to just Yazdani, Brooks, and Sadulaev, and won the Olympics 1x and worlds 2x, and gotten silver 1x and bronze 1x up a weight pretty recently. Whereas Nickal has beat some cans in a different sport and got roughed up in his last fight and has entered exactly zero WTT despite having multiple chances.

Nickal has got to be one of the most annoying guys in recent memory to come out of NCAA wrestling... The entitlement and arrogance he speaks with on his podcasts is nauseating. He's the kind of guy that is either figuratively or literally going to get punched in the mouth in his life and hopefully is force-fed some humble pie.

No, I don't. It's not like there's official documentation filed saying "you are dismissed. " The Bassett thing even less likely as that seems like it was a unilateral Bassett decision based on their feelings about Iowa compliance's interpretation of the rule. Basically that seems like they got jealous of what Forrest was getting.

Here are the NCAA point totals as scored from the round of 32 using a 1.5 point TF for all 15 point wins and the current placement point allocation for all pairs of champs at back to back weights since 1970 inclusive. The 2000-present best Iowa 1-2s are also included. The list is ordered by combined team points first than year. The minimum number of team points from two champs is 40 (assuming no subtractions and zero bonus) and the maximum is 60 (all pinfalls). No one pair hit the maximum. The closest a single wrestler was to the max in the set was David Taylor in 2012 with 29.5. One pair hit the minimum - Steve Marianetti and Ernest Benion both won titles in 1995 without scoring a single bonus point. 2012: David Taylor (1st 165), Ed Ruth (1st 174); Total (29.5+26.5=56) 2017: Zain Retherford (1st 149), Jason Nolf (1st 157); Total (28+27=55) 1973: Wade Schalles (1st 158), Bill Simpson(1st 167); Total (28+24=52) 1983: Ed Banach (1st 190), Lou Banach (1st Unl); Total (25+27=52) 1992: Tom Brands (1st 134), Troy Steiner (1st 142); Total (25+26.5=51.5) 1972: Ben Peterson (1st 190), Chris Taylor (1st Unl); Total (27+24=51) 1986: Kevin Dresser (1st 142), Jim Heffernan (1st 150); Total (26+25=51) 2019: Bo Nickal (1st 197), Anthony Cassar (1st 285): Total (27+24=51) 1992: Terry Brands (1st 126), Tom Brands (1st 134); Total (25.5+25=50.5) 2005: Johny Hendricks (1st 165), Chris Pendleton (1st 174); Total (25+25.5=50.5) 2024: Aaron Brooks (1st 197), Greg Kerkvliet (1st 285); Total (27+23.5=50.5)* 2017: Jason Nolf (1st 157), Vincenzo Joseph (1st 165); Total (27+23=50) 2017: Mark Hall (1st 174), Bo Nickal (1st 184); Total (22.5+27.5=50) 1975: Chuck Yagla (1st 150), Pat Holm (1st 158); Total (25+24.5=49.5) 1997: Lincoln McIlravy (1st 150), Joe Williams (1st 158); Total (24+25.5=49.5) 1970: Jason Smith (1st 167), Chuck Jean (1st 177); Total (25+24=49) 1982: Dave Schultz (1st 167), Mark Schultz (1st 177); Total (24+25=49) 1970: Dwayne Keller (1st 126), Darrell Keller (1st 134); Total (25.5+23=48.5) 1990: Terry Brands (1st 126), Tom Brands (1st 134); Total (23.5+24.5=48) 2018: Zain Retherford (1st 149), Jason Nolf (1st 157); Total (25+23=48) 1980: Joe Gonzales (1st 118), John Azevedo (1st 118); Total (24.5+23=47.5) 1984: Jim Scherr (1st 177), Bill Scherr (1st 190); Total (20**+27.5=47.5) 1996: Joe Williams (1st 158), Daryl Weber (1st 167); Total (22.5+25=47.5) 1987: Tim Krieger (1st 150), Stewart Carter (1st 158); Total (22+25=47) 1998: Teague Moore (1st 118), Eric Guerrero (1st 126); Total (23+24=47) 2002: Jared Lawrence (1st, 149), Luke Becker (1st 157); Total (23+24=47) 1993: Lincoln McIlravy (1st 142), Terry Steiner (1st 150); Total (21.5+25=46.5) 2023: Carter Starocci (1st 174), Aaron Brooks (1st 184); Total (24+22.5=46.5) 1970: Dave Martin (1st 158), Jason Smith (1st 167); Total (21+25=46) 1985: Melvin Douglas (1st 177), Dan Chaid (1st 190); Total (22+23=46) 1987: Royce Alger (1st 167), Rico Chiapparelli (1st 177); Total (25+21=46) 1999: Doug Schwab (1st 141), TJ Williams (1st 149); Total (22+24=46) 2005: Jake Rosholt (1st 197), Steve Mocco (1st 285); Total (20+23=46) 2021: Roman Bravo-Young (1st 133), Nick Lee (1st 141); Total (22.5+23.5=46) 2022: Roman Bravo-Young (1st 133), Nick Lee (1st 141); Total (23+23=46) 2025: Ridge Lovett (1st 149),Antrell Taylor (1st 157); Total (22.5+23.5=46)* 1998: Mark Ironside (1st 134), Jeff McGinness (1st 142); Total (23.5+22=45.5) 2000: Juergens (1st 133), Schwab (3rd 141); Total (25+20.5=45.5)+ 2017: Vincenzo Joseph (1st 165), Mark Hall (1st 174); Total (23+22.5=45.5) 1994: Pat Smith (1st 158), Mark Branch (1st 167); Total (24+21=45) 2018: Jason Nolf (1st 157), Vincenzo Joseph (1st 165); Total (23+21=44) 2021: Lee (1st 125), DeSanto (3rd 133); Total (24.5+19.5=44)+ 2022: Carter Starocci (1st 174), Aaron Brooks (1st 184); Total (22+22=44) 2008: Perry (1st 165), Borschell (3rd 174); Total (25+18.5=43.5)+ 2012: McDonough (1st 125), Ramos (3rd 133); Total (26+17.5=43.5)+ 2012: Steve Bosak (1st 184), Cam Simaz (1st 197); Total (21+22.5=43.5) 2022: Aaron Brooks (1st 184), Max Dean (1st 197); Total (22+21.5=43.5) 1972: Greg Johnson (1st 118), Pat Milkovich (1st 126); Total (22+21=43) 1993: Markus Mollica (1st 158), Ray Miller (1st 167); Total (20+23=43) 1993: Kevin Randleman (1st 177), Rex Holman (1st 190); Total (20+23=43) 2000: Strittmatter (3rd 125), Juergens (1st 133); Total (18+25=43)+ 2001: Strittmatter (2nd 125), Juergens (1st 133); Total (20+22=42)+ 2010: Jake Varner (21st 197), David Zabriskie (1st 285); Total (22+20=42) 2021: Carter Starocci (1st 174), Aaron Brooks (1st 184); Total (20+21.5=41.5) 1976: Lee Kemp (1st 158), Pat Christenson (1st 167); Total (21+20=41) 2001: Juergens (1st 133), Schwab (2nd 141); Total (22+19=41)+ 1995: Steve Marianetti (1st 150), Ernest Benion (1st 158); Total (20+20=40) 2017: Gilman (3rd 125), Clark (1st 133); Total (19.5+20=39.5)+ 2010: McDonough (1st 125), Dennis (2nd 133); Total (23.5+16=39.5)+ 2010: Marion (2nd 141), Metcalf (1st 149); Total (16+23=39)+ 2016: Gilman (2nd 125), Clark (2nd 133); Total (21.5+16=37.5)++ 2007: Perry (1st 165), Luedke (3rd 174); Total (22+13.5=35.5)+ 2005: Johnston (2nd 157), Perry (2nd 165); Total (17+18=35)++ 2010: Dennis (2nd 133), Marion (2nd 141); Total (16+16=32)++ * 3 point TD ** Bye in the round of 32 + One non-champ in the duo ++ Two non-champs in the duo

Pat Christenson (University of Wisconsin) was an NCAA champ (167) in 1977. Prior to that, he had never placed at the NCAA nor did he place at the state meet while in high school (Wisconsin). Came out of nowhere.

Something seems off with all this hyping up of Hendrickson on the Iranian wrestling thread at the intuitive level. The logical part of my brain is asking if he that good why he is not getting his own thread on the main international thread where all the homerism can run rampant for a wrestler who as yet has no international credentials to speak of (though I guess he is likely to have done well in an attenuated competition like the pan am).

I want Bo vs MMartin

Did WrestleStat get rid of the transfer section or am I hammered

For ASU. I really am wanting to see what happens at 133 and 141. As well as 157 165 and 174. Kyler Larkin wrestled at 61kg this summer and Nico Ruiz at 70kg. Do they stay down at those weight for college. Jude Randall wrested 72kg. Where does that leave Kyler. Yas. Kaleb. Nico. And Jude. With holes and weaknesses. The lineup is better with all the guys in there.

My plumber gave me good advice on which balm to purchase for a burn I received. My lawyer was unhappy that I had used a balm.

Kai is now an assistant at LR, too

don't like the bro-ese, but yeah. then again, the point is to drive traffic, and bc we are enslaved by the algorithm it will work. we're a bunch of marks.

I'd love to hear him air out his petty grievances.

Bo Nickal is the worst, NIL is legal for HS kids in both PA and OK. NCAA compliance is a different gray area but he has no idea what he's talking about and his description made it illegal for Marcus Blaze to train at PSU prior to his very recent graduation

Tom Martucci, Trenton State (College of NJ), 1981 NCAA 190 1st, from Palisades Park, NJ. 3rd place finish at States.

I definitely notice that the above listings were past & established wrestlers consisting that 1-2 punch in the lineups. But can I put forth a potential 1-2-3 punch in next season's LEHIGH lineup? Sheldon Seymour (6th/125) @ 125 Ryan Crookham (3rd/133) @ 133 and Luke Stanich (5th/125) @ 141 It's been awhile since LEHIGH had such a potential start (IF the dual starts at 125) in a dual like they do now. (Huzzah!) D3

A " small" correction there, OMW... Newton HS in Sussex Co. NJ + Blair Academy(PG?) Dist. champ & Reg. runner-up... so he qualified for the NJSIAA state tournament. https://www.njherald.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2019/01/22/newton-s-ayres-shaping-pride/4155747007/ But I laud you for picking up on Chris's accomplishment for LEHIGH! My late wife and yours truly were in attendance at PENN ST/Bryce Jordan Arena in 1999. to witness Chris getting AA honors (6th). His losses were all close bouts (5-3 to runner up Clint Musser Penn St QF... 4-3 in the consi-SF to Bryan Snyder of Nebraska who finished 4th... and Minnesota's Chad Kraft, 2-1 in the 5/6 bout.) Bonus (IF my memory of it was correct... ) was that Chris, after getting his medal on the podium, proposed to his then GF and future wife, Lori. What a way to end your collegiate career, eh? D3

If Garrett Thompson, currently at Ohio, was the #4 seed at 174 and won 2 matches at NCAAs this past year, ever gets on the podium he might be a good answer - never even qualified for PA states. He's got one year left at Ohio to try and AA

Brian Picklo is likely the best answer for that. Brock Lesnar would also be a good choice as I think his best HS finish was 3rd in SD (not a powerhouse wrestling state).

Kind of a tangent but just some commentary on the Zain/Nolf vs Starocci/Brooks stuff. If you take out Starocci's 5th year to make it even: Zain/Nolf scored 165.5 combined team points at NCAAs Starocci/Brooks scored 154.5 combined team points at NCAAs Zain/Nolf essentially spotted them 13 placement points and still beat them by 11; thats crazy. I'm not a Penn St fan but I very much appreciated watching Zain/Nolf demonstrate their craft. . . much less so on the latter duo . . .

That doesn't pay bills.