Elevator

You can say that again.

#1 - far better now than the circumstances inheritted. The PRTC has been built and ideally will provide long term institutional support to Penn and Drexel programs and eccosystem (including the Beat the Streets). Penn admin and alumni properly love and value this. Does any other program do as much for the community? #2 - it is going in a very good direction (despite a down year in recruiting and actual 2023 NCAA AA results). Strong programs can have a disappointing NCAA tourney. #3 - for every recruit that underperformed, there are more that developed and overachieved expectations. Example: on the mat today, is Senior Level Freestyle AA Max Hale who had a breakout year. There is no development problem at Penn - to the contrary. #4 - CJ Composto was an NCAA AA in '22, sat out this year and served Beat the Streets, has three more years. There are several others who may achieve AA.

I think Urbas did get even tougher on top and seemed to develop a little better leg attack. But, when competing against top talent, he had some struggles. I admire how much he has accomplished even if it is short of his goals. Its a tough sport.

Good summary and good questions - I think there is a lot to be sorted in the middle. I do note that Cruise and Hale are competing this weekend (I think a read that somewhere), so these guys may be in the plan? Not really sure where Cosgrove is in terms of weight or challenge to Urbas. He had some matches in high school at 215, but not sure he weighed that much then or has the size for 285. I wonder if Revano can go down to 157 or wants to? Hauserman may be in the mix at 149 too? Troczynski at 149 or 157? Spencer possible for 157 or 165? There are a lot of young guys and you never know who might emerge.

At this point, PSU is a magnet program where the top transfers seem to be seeking an opportunity as much as PSU coaches seeking them. Anyone on the PSU team knows that a new recruit or competititve transfer may be coming and competing for the spot. There have been plenty of other magnet wrestling programs, but the PSU magnet seems to be pretty powerful right now. I hope Howard or other guys on the team are healthy and win the spot.

Chromebird - Check that, he chose PSU not Iowa.

brilliant! Could not possible go wrong!

Formidable lineup and room - but will still be plenty of intrigue. Can PSU get ten in the finals like a dual meet? What is the record for number of champs? Or PSU could get blanked in the finals. Could see Starocci and Brooks take an OLY and PSU get no champs or even finalists: 125 - Figueroa v. Noto or Ramos 133 - Vito v. Fix 141 - Woods v. that guy who got lucky in the finals against him this year 149 - Sasso v Lovett 157 - Franek v. Robb 165 - KOT v. Carr rematch (these guys are good) 174 - Foca v. Lewis 184 - Keckeisen v. Hidlay 197 - Elam v. Sloan or that guy who won as a true frosh who may find his way back to competition (is he heading to Iowa w his brother?) 285 - Cassioppi v. Hendricksen (Schultz is a gamer too) Would be a hollow team title for PSU to win it without a champ. (Food for thought - but I do not think this will happen).

seems like there is a chance!

Sounds anticompetitive and a violation of antitrust and other legal protections of the student athletes. NCAA athletes had to sue to get these rights and only after years NCAA schools reaping the economic rewards of student athletes.

I was kidding about a few - but hard for me to tell the relative benefit of some of these guys who I do not know that well and do not know the PSU guys in the room that well.

Who would be best for PSU?

Might refer Ferarri to the Hadith: Trust in Allah, but tether your camel.

Same - lean providing a path of redemption.

Truax w one year may give PSU upper weights more flexibility in taking a regular or OLY redshirt. I do not know the talent at 125 and 133 and Howard's recovery well enough to understand the value of some of the other potential transfers for those weights. Does Truax commitment translate to less likely that Messenbrink commits or is he lighter? Have not actually seen him in folkstyle, but will look him up.

How much eligibility does Allirez have?

I expect Facundo to hit his stride soon and just had some bad mojo at NCAA's this year. Every program will have some boneheaded fans who are overly critical of wrestling below seed and early expectations.

Do not know how you watch that video and think Labriola was joking - seems like a heartfelt comment on his gratitude for his coaches. Something special in many wrestler-coach relationships and it is nice to see that expressed. I am not much a fan of sticking a mic in front of wrestlers in the first few seconds they get off the mat, but this one seemed to work.

If Yianni and Vito transferred, I doubt we would have had the Covid deaths and long covid and they probably would hve been undefeated this year and likely would have split the '23 Hodge. Think about it. Quite a price to pay. I hope it was worth it.

I remember some Wask matches - he is very interesting!

Looked at the on-line roster and all of those guys are listed as seniors for Penn so I assume out of eligibility. Might be some recruits from before '23 that will be entering the lineup for Penn that were not rostered this year. Cosgrove was a '22 recruit and I wonder if he might be ready for action next year. Some other too?

cement mixer at NCAA's GOAT - Rob Rohn mat return to back w lomg/arm short arm move GOAT - Matt Valenti Half from the knees - Mean Gene

Pretty good talent. Probably short of beating Cornell. Would like to see insiders with an early guess of Penn, Princeton, and Columbia. I expect these might be the top 5 in the EIWA next year although I do not know the Navy and Army teams and pipelines very well. Harder to keep track of who might have another year left, but at Penn I think Zapf and Goldin are out of eligibility and not sure about Aratalona? Penn has some interesting recent recruits - a lot of state champs (OH, NJ, NY and a high PA placewinner) who may be ready to step in? CJ Composto returns I'd guess at 141 or 149 but will be interested to see. Someobody must know something?

Brooks really moving up?

I could not watch it either - but no surprise that there are some tight calls. Yianni is a guy whose style flirts with danger, but I guess not as much as Spencer Lee.