JVStateChamp

To be fair this is true for multiple teams and it will be the way that coaches have to operate to either jump levels or remain on towards the top. Every team is trying to bring in established transfer portal wrestlers, their job is to put the best team forward, and utilizing the transfer portal is now part of their job.

I would think Obe Blanc would be the front-runner. He's been at NDSU for multiple years now and has experience with different universities. Keeping a familiar face may also help retain most of their talent. He would be a good selection as he has the experience and accolades.

I had also seen some rumors that Oklahoma wanted to keep some of their staff on board for whoever was hired next, not sure if that was just a rumor or if it had any credibility. Would love to see Obe take over at NDSU, could be a good opportunity for both universities.

Going back to the COVID year, I was really excited and interested in how a football stadium would host an NCAA wrestling tournament. I would imagine that there would be plenty of tickets for people, I just imagine the seating being a little far from the mats for some. Still, a cool concept would've loved to see how it would have played out.

While I agree with what you are saying about "adulting is hard" making it easier on the child is not most beneficial in growth and development, every school is now trying to buy an NCAA championship team, and I do not see a difference whether the money is coming from a parent or someone that donates a significant amount of money to a program so that they themselves feel connected to the program in their way. But the overarching theme I do agree with. I suppose this mostly goes back to beating the dead horse of is NIL really good for NCAA wrestling, which I do not want to go down that rabbit hole.

This is only speculation correct? In my opinion, I do not see this as protective helicopter parents, like you said they are able to do with their money as they please. Helping a program/university that your child attends does not seem like anything surprising. This case is different in that they have the means to supply a lot more money than most parents, but I would say 99% of parents on any team donate money to the program within their financial means. The athlete is not guaranteed a starting spot by this, actually, quite the opposite as they will bring someone in who is significantly better. Again, this is speculation but let's not say it's a helicopter parent when many of us would provide the same for our child had we been in their position financially.

I went back and rewatched a couple of the finals matches, I must say after three times watching the Sasso/Berger final minute I am not sure I agree with the ruling of the challenge. It did not seem like Berger did anything that enabled Sasso to expose his chest wrap and felt like the scoring should have remained 2 and 1, but again I will be the first to admit I am not a genius on the freestyle scoring more just a fan.

Techs are actually very difficult to come by actually. FRL just discussed how rare a tech fall is in the NCAA tournament, out of the 640 matches in the NCAA wrestling tournament there were only 9 tech falls. 1.4% of matches ended in a technical fall that does not seem too easy

I am not an Iowa fan in the slightest but let's not be naive and think that other programs PSU included aren't throwing money around just the same. It is outlandish to think that Iowa is the only program that is trying to get recruits with the use of NIL money. There is a lot to be said about trends and success. PSU has done a great job of adapting to the times, training is much different now than it was 20 years ago. Now that PSU has built its success people want to be attached and part of it. This ship will change to the next program whether it be Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia Tech whatever school like everything it will come to an end and someone else will take over.

If I were PSU I would look to see if Ayala has any interest in moving to Happy Valley. Seems like a good fit for him

The way I understand NIL which I may be completely wrong so I will admit that if this is not correct, but in my interpretation, NIL was made for an athlete to promote themselves using their face or name such as host wrestling camps, do individuals with their names and post it on whatever platform they desire or have a company use their name or face to promote a product. I did not believe it was intended to be used for an athlete to say school X offered me $10,000 NIL can you match or exceed that offer?

My viewpoint is that you are correct that NIL is not supposed to be used as a recruiting tool and many predicted that this would become a big issue once NIL came into fruition, but let's not act like the NCAA did not know this either. NCAA was getting scrutinized by everyone for not allowing NCAA athletes to get any money for their name, image, and likeness. Then they allow it and are being scrutinized because its because used as a recruiting tactic. Cannot have it both way and I understand this goes way beyond wrestling and wrestlers are in reality a very small fish in a big pond in terms of NIL money.

I agree with the viewpoint of the transfer portal being more of an issue. With your point of NIL counterbalances the Transfer Portal in theory that is an appropriate assumption and conclusion to come to. In reality, more specifically wrestling than football the other schools like Lock Haven, George Mason, etc. do not have the funding or athletic support compared to those of a PSU, Michigan, Penn State, even NC State. To argue that NIL will balance transfers is unrealistic the mid-majors are already fundraising just to raise money that the school does not give their program. But with this being said I do not have a solution to this off-balance of power as it is above my intellectual level LOL

I do not think the argument that NIL is ruining wrestling is a completely fair argument, I think the combination of the Transfer Portal and NIL developing at the same time has turned recruiting into the wild wild west. Eventually, this may trickle down on high school recruiting where college coaches do not want to commit to a high school prospect but instead, save their resources for the transfer portal and take their chance at an already established wrestler. Is this good for the sport of wrestling?

What would the positive be to this hybrid model? It seems if we try to combine the dual and individual into a hybrid model we're eliminating the opportunity for any mid-major school. It seems every idea or change that is being made to enhance the sport is actually moving towards taking away more programs.

This was my interpretation of why the ruling was illegal, this move and position is seen in every practice room and competition. If Shilson does not get knocked out the move is not even questioned. The moves intention is to use the momentum from the bounce to withdraw your elbow. If you remove this position by making it illegal more wrestlers will shoot for the intention to just hang onto the elbows.

I think there are many factors as to why the transfer portal has developed the way it has in the landscape of college wrestling. 1. The COVID free year has really shown its teeth with more grad transfers than I can remember, is it the athlete's fault? Absolutely not but in typical years we would not have as many grad transfers as we are seeing this year. 2. The timing of the transfer portal and the timing of NIL. Both of these features of college athletics were introduced very close to each other. The idea was they were going to be two completely separate factors for college athletes, but we are seeing them hand and hand with each other.

I understand where you are coming from and the conflicts that are going to continue with the transfer portal, but this is also what people have been begging for and promoting more athlete freedom to leave. Seems like a situation of cant have it both ways. Should the athletes be restricted from transferring because someone else has a commitment?

I would add Collin Gaj (PA) to the list of big recruits in the class of 2025. Kid is an absolute stud, excited to see how he does at US Open U17, him and Rath (if they meet) could be a great match

I agree, I find this instance very similar to Dean coming to PSU even though they already AA Beard. I know Teske does not have the same credentials but just a similar example. It did not harm PSU with recruiting in other weights and I am going to assume that it will not hurt Iowa with recruiting at other weights either.

No, I was not suggesting that whatsoever, it was more of a relative term. I worded it poorly but it winning in this instance is very broad.

Going back to the original post and question, I believe Iowa would and should recruit Nagao over Teske if they feel that gives them the best wrestler at 133. Every school in the country will recruit over their guy if it gives them a better shot at winning, college wrestling is a business and coaches treat it as such.

Take away the headgear, I am tired of seeing teams deducted a team point for someone throwing their headgear in celebration (i.e Andrew Alirez)

Just out of curiosity, how are these teams formed? This event is great and spot lights a ton of high caliber wrestlers just wasn't sure how these teams are put together

I would say the level of competition that Lee used his cross wrist tilt on was better than any of the Pepplemans accomplished combined.