Elevator

Probably ?! But PSU is so deep at 174 and 184 that maybe Barr goes 197, particularly if he is as effective in the post season as his regular season suggests. This suggestion is not based on any insider or actual knowledge - just a wild ass guess. 197 and 285 seems to be the weights where PSU does not have quite the same depth from what I can tell from the cheap seets. Also may be good idea to add another weight class and shuffle the weights and this may impact lineups.

Hurtful. PSU is hurting at 133. Not even a #1 or #2 ranking. The cupboard is bare. Ono notices and does the honorable thing!

ESPN+ wrestling announcenrs - so bad I just turn the sound down

2nd ish? Ceiling is 2nd. Iowa should be content with 2nd as its ceiling, if it is being realistic.

I assume PSU uses an AI model to mine all of the wisdom from the intermat college wrestling forum and other similar august collections of old wrestler wisdom. But don't tell the other programs as this is the real secret to their success!

You may be right, but PSU coaches probably mix up partners and training methods like use of play wrestling to ensure everyone is progressing. Guessing, but too big/quick a cut might be the bigger factor. Also credit to Cannon who might be the biggest reason for the score.

Maybe to keep it fair for the competitive wrestlers at top programs not in the lineup, the NCAA should keep a few NCAA tourney spots at each weight and let them wrestle unattached w no points for the team race! Like the Russians in the Olympics.

I prefer to have strong opinions about things I know little about, but I do not have an opinion on this yet. Interested in the opinions of others and reasons they offer. I will say it is probably more important to have accurate seeding of the top 8 than if you stop at 16. So I am not completely without related opinions.

Mean Gene called and wants a wrestle off.

Was suprised at how dominant Cannon was in this match. Not sure if Sealey is not as far along as I would expect or Cannon is that good.

Like SVN against Lovett and a few moments of Davis v. Bouz, Lille was too quick and comfortable in wrestling in his opponent's favorite positions. Possible that lessons are learned and will be overcome. Seems PSU has some smart coaches? From a very old clinic Dave Schultz gave: in a big match wrestle in your ties/positions and try to dictate the pace of the match. This might be easier said than done for most. Even the most accomplished NCAA wrestlers have to be aware of how hard Ohio State drills cradle set ups and finishes and plan to avoid. Might be good for Lille to review some tape on Ramos, who also has some tricks.

DeJean also wrestled in Iowa as a youth - have not seen video yet.

Penn's DiBatista was 2x NCAA champ (1940's) and also played football. Several in the modern era as well, including Joey Allen (285 and LB) and the Ron Dayne of sprint football (fka lightweight football), Tim Ortman (yardage record as RB and EIWA champ). Ortman had 363 yards in one game against Navy. I only saw him wrestle - was good!

love these guys!

thanks D3 - apologies to Mr. Trephan. He looks beast and I hope he has a good EIWA and NCAA tourney.

Have not studied it, but my casual impression is that Penn competes directly with Lehigh for many recruits and at the least has held its own in recent years. A big exception is the portal, where Lehigh got at least Beard and Trepham as a grad student (according to the ESPN+ commentators). Lehigh and non-Ivies have more flexibility in the portal as transfers can compete as grad students. I do not recall any impact portal transfers for Penn in recent years.

I thought 9 was a little much

125 Lille > Spratley 133 Romney > Byrd 141 Bartlett > Alirez 149 SVN > Lovett 157 Kasak > Shapiro 165 MM (OW) > Barraclaugh 174 Haines > KOT 184 Keck > Foca 197 Barr > Ferrari 285 Kerk > Steveson

Lehigh's release: https://lehighsports.com/documents/2025/2/12/Penn_match_notes_021325.pdf

Penn's release: https://pennathletics.com/news/2025/2/12/wrestling-closes-out-home-action-against-23-lehigh-thu-and-princeton-sun.aspx

Penn hosts Lehigh. Lehigh is heavy favorite at the last two weights. Penn probably needs to win at least six of the other matches to win it. 125 and 133 might be the best matches - so tune in early. ESPN+ Penn v. Lehigh 125 Gallagher < Seymour (should be close, Seymour a little higher ranked) 133 Miller > Lopes (Lopes looks tough and this could be close) - Any word on Crookham return? 141 Composto > Bailey 149 Wasilewski > Hines (Hines is mercurial, Wasilewski has been solid) 157 Swisher > Rozynski/Gonzalez 165 Troczynski v. Grungo/Dubler (unranked match, Penn might need this one) 174 Incontrera > Rylan Rogers 184 Hale > Caden Rogers 197 Beard >> ? (Penn has been bumping up 184lbers) 285 Trephan >> Pardo (undersized true frosh)

Great news! On the broader landscape of protecting the viability of collegiate wrestling, you have to tip your hat to Mike Moyer and the magic he and his staff have performed through the NWCA platform.

For these and other reasons from the post/data above, the statistical comparison between the early decades and current period is not meaningful: "In the 1930s the only way to score points was to place in the top 3 or via pinfall. There were no advancement points or other ways to score bonus. In that era first place was worth a whopping 56% of placement points (it is worth 24% today). So the 30's really was a winner takes all era. That Sanderson's PSU, Gable's Iowa, and Smith' Oklahoma State teams are even on the list is pretty remarkable." Apples and oranges. The sport has evolved so much in so many ways. Dick DiBatista - undefeated and 2x NCAA champ (no NCAA tourney one year due to WWII and frosh could not compete) in the has passed but prior to that he would openly discuss how much the sport had evolved and that his era could not be compared to the competition today (which impressed him).

Smart move to upgrade to the "Badgers"! Lehigh went from "Engineers" to "Mountain Hawks" and have really soared as a result.

Interesting take. We shall see. Guessing PSU would be open to 285 portal acquistion at least for depth. Have not looked at the rankings to see who might be out there with eligibility left that might be interested. Also, do not know the recruiting landscape for 285 other than board mentions of a new generation Mocco.