Sparro

If Ridge drops to 65kg for Olympic trials..and the weight cut isn’t a killer..I could see him highly in the mix to represent us in 2028. He’s a handful..not afraid to let it fly. Looked great tonight. Thoughts?

This weight is loaded. Going to be fun. Bassett, Woods, Lovett, Mendez, Forrest, Blaze, Davino, Seidel, Vega, Raney, Stanich, Henson, Van Ness, Hardy, Valencia, Robideau?

Super early…but here are my predictions. 57 - Lee 65 - Bassett 74 - Messinbrink 86 - Valencia 97 - Snyder H - Hendrickson

Catchweight of 190 got me. Nolf/JB/Carr has to be coming hopefully!

Interested to see what JB weighs in at tonight. If he continues for a 2028 run as he said…74 has to be a super tough pull.

Nolf looked good tonight. He’s not MM good and I think that’s a huge ask. Carr and Nolf would be entertaining. Would love to see him give it a go in 2028.

Their lineup is looking good. Obviously a lot of factors to play out until then. Lower weight recruits look strong. Even with Bo at VT, this still feels to me like a OKState PSU battle a couple years from now.

Danis is the issue. No where near the quality of wrestler to be on this card. One and done no doubt. Plenty of guys at 205-210 for Chimaev here. Terrible main event. Pico looked great. Love to see him at 70kg and then drop for Bo/Woods at 65kg. Bo woods, Oliver, Zain, Vito, pico and McKenna… with Jax and blaze possible? Wow

Also….sorry for not recognizing…but great write up and analysis. Great stuff. Much appreciated!

I am with AP here. I think Spencer will have a sense of urgency here. He needs to win here after the Open loss and I think he does. World silver and generational guy. May be different in 2028. OT trials are going to be something between these two in 15 months. I think Jax and Blaze is a toss up. I lean Jax but with the Blaze defense nothing would surprise me. Jax at 65 for OT is going to be fun. At 65, I think Bo is ready right now to be out US rep and beat Real. I am not sure if that will translate to international success yet. I could see Bo winning the spot and in the repechage at Worlds. If I had to predict I see Real getting one but losing matches close with Bo’s motor. Last, Snyder beats Steve B. 2028 Olympic trials will be fun with weight changes…but Kyle is ready for SB and wins in 2.

Thoughts on him being our 2028 rep at Olympics?

Are you really calling these guys out? Gillman is done competing and the Brooks stuff is an anomaly. I don't like the path, but Brooks after 2 years he could arguerable the best wrestler in the US. You hate where our US team is headed. Let's not forget why Russia can't compete and is under the IAN.

55 - close. This is make or break for Spencer. I think he knows the urgency of winning and I think he gets it done. If he doesn't win here, I don't think he wins O Trials. Luke is only getting better and some 61kg guys will try at O Trials (Jax?) Spencer wins, I think he wins Worlds. Luke top 3 if he wins. 61 - so tough to call. I lean Jax...the Davino win was impressive. Marcus and Cael have been prepping for Jax for months. Probably goes 3. Probably the best matchup of the WTT. Either way, one makes the World finals. 65 - Real has been an excellent freestyler throughout his career. But he keeps a lot of matches close. But Bo is a different animal. I think Bo's tank is the big factor here. He will have a couple months to prepare for Real. I think this a Bo sweep. I think 3rd is the ceiling for either guy...with more upside for Bo. 70 - Great matchup. I think Ridge is just breaking the surface of his freestyle potential....and love his direction. I think he gets it done. Really tough to pick against Zain..but the close matches at WTT challenge make me lean toward Ridge in 3. Tough sledding at Worlds. Good draw is needed for Ridge....but if it's Zain and his experience I could see him placing. 74 - Tough. I don't think James knew who would be at the challenge to prep. I think the WTT weight here was not great. No MM or Duke. I think this is close but the Carr performance at Worlds previously (very impressive) makes him my choice over Green. His gas tank vs Jayden concerns me . I am a Jersey guy so it is tough to pick against Green. Neither place at Worlds. 79 - Silver medal at Worlds Haines is tremendous. Incredible for some someone that was still in college. My head says Haines but my heart says Chance. Bronze or DNP at Worlds. 84 - This and 61 are the best matchups. 2 world champs. I think father time and weight have caught up with Kyle. But he has had a year to prep with Cael and Casey for Zahid. I think David will have Zahid focused. 2 close matches with a Zahid win. Both guys would/will place. 92 - I think this is Hidlay to the Worlds 2-0. Mike is a familiar opponent that is close with Trent. 2 controlled matches for Trent. I think Trent is great but had a nice draw at prior Worlds and may not place. Hope I am wrong. 97 - Buchanan has had a great post college run, but in his most recent performance he get exposed. This is Kyle all day. 2-0 and probably not close. Tough to call Kyle at Worlds. Depends on draw. Gold ceiling, silver/bronze likely. 125 - Wyatt beats Parris 2-0. Probably biggest mismatch of WTT. I don' think either place here but think there is potential to place at Olympics.

Rescind Chris Weinke Heisman.

I’ll bite. I think he is the best US offering we have at the weight. No Geno. It’s Zare. I am confident that in Freestyle he beats Wyatt and Mason. His 2028 $ value for placing at Worlds exceeds his RAF pay. Ceiling for us at Worlds is silver.

Impressive performance thus far from Bo at the Open. Grew up in the Kolat era so I tend to lean towards the older guy in terms of who was better…but Bo has been impressive. Who was better at this point? Great era of wrestling due to parody and great athletes at 61 and 65kg. I think the 2028 Olympic cycle is going to be one of the best events in wrestling ever…if Iran is involved as I would expect.

Rutgers feels like the easy answer. What is the Knox path? Rutgers feels below him with the options at VT or Michigan. There is more to the story. Why not feel out the NIL from other teams before Rutgers? He is a stud and could fill some 125 holes for a lot of teams. I wish him well.

I would think Michigan and VT have to be in play. Feels like there is more here. The court issues may be an issue. On the other side, maybe Knox saw a fit at VT with Bassett, Miller, Seidel, Noah Burton and Sasso to think it was a better fit. No skin in the game…but VT would be my guess.

Ironman is already is the best HS wrestling season tourney of the year. This year New Jersey season starts earlier and many of the top NJSIAA teams will be attending as well as top ranked wrestlers. And already great tournament gets better with Delbarton (Sontz, Marchetti, Terranova, DeGeorge, James, Logan, Betz CBA (S. Kenny, P. Kenny, Duffy) RFH (Amato) all ranked for their classes. Huge upgrade to an already great event>

Justin Spates Mark Manchio

Gable and Albright. 5 each.

Yianni will likely win the spot at 70kg at Final X. It’s obvious he will be trying to make the team through the next Olympic cycle. I think the only path would be at 65kg similar to the pull Zain had to make. Can’t think he can beat MM or Carr at 74 IMO. In addition, 74kg will be loaded at the next Olympic trials with the young talent out there. Does he make the team at 65kg if has to make the cut vs the group at 65kg in a couple years?

Please add me to the waitlist. Sounds like fun!

If Jax goes to Okie St., do we ever get to see these guys at the same college weight?

Tremendous performance. Aside from Gable or Carter, probably the best wrestler in college. 2 years left. Is he the 74kg rep in 2028?