Tom formerly Tofurky

https://www.ncaa.com/video/wrestling/2025-03-15/dii-wrestling-championship-2025-full-replay-44960

https://www.ncaa.com/video/wrestling/2025-03-15/diii-wrestling-championship-2025-full-replay-44978

Yes, this discussion comes up every single championship season, but it is worthwhile.

The same can be said for any sport with a "professional" option, so I, for one, am not persuaded by that argument. Here is a graph from the NCAA, circa 2016. The odds haven't increased. No one complains about rule sets for kids and youth sports progressing with age, while the opportunities for being among that tiny fraction who make a living by competing in a sport are shockingly small. I also don't understand the argument of preparing people for careers in MMA. That's not the responsibility of the sport; wrestling doesn't bill itself as the minor leagues of mixed martial arts, so I am not certain why fans feel the need to do so. Building a foundation for opportunities that exists beyond college makes financial sense. The pro leagues are happening elsewhere, and they absolutely can happen here, but not with American folk.

Thank you for your opinion(s). This passage helps me understand much more about this discussion.

It is not.

According to the UWW Database, 2011 was the first year since 1994 that Cadets were contested at the World level. The United States sent 10 guys for 10 weights. Juniors in 2010, the U.S.A. sent eight guys for eight weight classes. Juniors in 2011, the U.S.A. sent eight guys for eight weight classes. https://uww.org/historical-results I admit that I am confused with your quoted statement. I've been around for a little bit, and your comment doesn't really line up with the history of wrestling at Cadet and Junior wrestling in the United States.

So... the college guys who aren't currently wrestling Freestyle full-time can be the best in the world right now, but they are not because they can't beat the guys who stopped wrestling American folk years ago, and wrestle Freestyle full-time? Am I understanding what you're saying?

I'd like to hear more about your idea regarding American folk and American culture.

Awesome to see the kid be so humble and make this video about his teammates. He showed no ego, zero pity for himself, and an amazing, positive attitude. The sport needs more of this, and I wish him great luck in whatever is to come in his life.

The discussion at the NWCA tournament has been had to move the season to a January start with a culmination of the season in April.

https://www.luchafit.com/articles/new-york-just-changed-girls-wrestling-forever-6mzdk?fbclid=PAY2xjawJG9BhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABpt2dz5EXwg2-HUcqX1pWbzo9GC0vFXYQ078IcUp8puSR8h2rwbSfQ6D0vw_aem_zOehJqqa8SDD3BUczaur7A

His coach is a friend of mine and the coach told me that Henschel is "100% bought in and a great representative for the program." My only guess is that a lot of guys probably want to knock Henschel off his pedestal, so to speak, because they might feel like he doesn't belong. The kid seems to just wrestle hard and win a lot, so the spotlight on the sport, at that level, is a net positive from what I can tell.

These days, you usually see D1 back-ups/shirts wrestling non-D1 guys. There are enough options for higher end D1 starters/second stringers that they don't need to hit the Roger Denker Open or go to the "Shorty" Hitchcock to get mat time. Midlands is strictly D1 anymore. That's a shame, because having a mix of invite only guys to mix it up made things interesting.

There are just too many variables to accurately predict what would happen, but each guy presents his own abilities, good or bad. I do agree that D1 coaches don't miss many of the top guys anymore, so the distance between D1 and everyone else is slowly increasing.

D2: 1 Neb.-Kearney, NE Nebraska-Kearney, NE (GET) UNK 10 115.0 2 Augustana (SD), SD Augustana (SD), SD (GET) AUG 4 63.0 3 St. Cloud St., MN St. Cloud State, MN (GET) SCSU 8 57.5 4 Lander, SC Lander , SC (GET) LAND 8 56.0 5 Central Okla., OK Central Oklahoma, OK (GET) UCO 6 55.5 6 UMary, ND UMary, ND (GET) UMARY 5 51.0 7 Central Mo., MO Central Missouri, MO (GET) UCM 4 43.0 8 Kutztown, PA Kutztown, PA (GET) KUTZ 6 42.5 9 Maryville (MO), MO Maryville, MO (GET) MU 3 39.0 10 West Liberty, WV West Liberty, WV (GET) WLU 3 38.5 11 UIndy, IN Indianapolis, IN (GET) UINDY 6 38.0 12 Glenville St., WV Glenville State, WV (GET) GSU 7 36.0 13 Pitt-Johnstown, PA Pitt-Johnstown, PA (GET) UPJ 5 33.5 14 Grand Valley St., MI Grand Valley State, MI (GET) GVSU 5 32.0 14 McKendree, IL McKendree, IL (GET) MCK 7 32.0 16 Gannon, PA Gannon, PA (GET) GU 9 31.0 17 Colorado Mesa, CO Colorado Mesa, CO (GET) CMU 5 30.0 17 Minnesota St., MN Minnesota State, MN (GET) MSU 3 30.0 19 Wis.-Parkside, WI Wisconsin-Parkside, WI (GET) UWP 5 28.0 20 Tiffin, OH Tiffin, OH (GET) TU 4 27.5 125 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Jakason Burks of Central Mo. 2nd Place - Zachary Ourada of Neb.-Kearney 3rd Place - Jaxson Rohman of Augustana (SD) 4th Place - Trevon Gray of Pitt-Johnstown 5th Place - Shane Corrigan of Wis.-Parkside 6th Place - Anthony Aniciete of Tiffin 7th Place - Dayson Torgerson of Colorado Mesa 8th Place - Colton Drousias of Glenville St. 1st Place Match Jakason Burks (Central Mo.) 31-4, Sr. over Zachary Ourada (Neb.-Kearney) 18-5, Jr. (Dec 5-2) 3rd Place Match Jaxson Rohman (Augustana (SD)) 23-5, Sr. over Trevon Gray (Pitt-Johnstown) 27-8, RS Jr. (Fall 2:20) 5th Place Match Shane Corrigan (Wis.-Parkside) 25-12, Jr. over Anthony Aniciete (Tiffin) 23-7, RS So. (Dec 10-8) 7th Place Match Dayson Torgerson (Colorado Mesa) 23-8, So. over Colton Drousias (Glenville St.) 31-16, RS Jr. (MD 8-0) 133 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Reece Barnhardt of UMary 2nd Place - Peter Rolle of Central Okla. 3rd Place - Christian Davis of Lander 4th Place - James Anderson of Ouachita Baptist 5th Place - Hector Serratos of Neb.-Kearney 6th Place - Sam Spencer of St. Cloud St. 7th Place - Jeremiah Echevarria of Gannon 8th Place - Max Shore of Tiffin 1st Place Match Reece Barnhardt (UMary) 30-3, Sr. over Peter Rolle (Central Okla.) 21-4, RS So. (Dec 10-4) 3rd Place Match Christian Davis (Lander) 34-7, Fr. over James Anderson (Ouachita Baptist) 23-9, Jr. (MD 19-6) 5th Place Match Hector Serratos (Neb.-Kearney) 24-7, Sr. over Sam Spencer (St. Cloud St.) 27-7, RS Fr. (MD 12-1) 7th Place Match Jeremiah Echevarria (Gannon) 27-6, RS Jr. over Max Shore (Tiffin) 27-9, RS So. (Dec 4-2) 141 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Johnny Lopez of San Fran. St. 2nd Place - Khyvon Grace of West Liberty 3rd Place - Sean Solis of UMary 4th Place - Joseph Airola of Neb.-Kearney 5th Place - Colton Stoneking of Fairmont St. 6th Place - Isham Peace of Lander 7th Place - Ronan Schuelke of McKendree 8th Place - Luke Kunath of Belmont Abbey 1st Place Match Johnny Lopez (San Fran. St.) 27-2, RS So. over Khyvon Grace (West Liberty) 15-7, Jr. (Dec 8-7) 3rd Place Match Sean Solis (UMary) 28-7, RS So. over Joseph Airola (Neb.-Kearney) 21-9, Jr. (Dec 12-7) 5th Place Match Colton Stoneking (Fairmont St.) 32-6, Jr. over Isham Peace (Lander) 30-7, Sr. (MD 12-3) 7th Place Match Ronan Schuelke (McKendree) 27-7, RS Jr. over Luke Kunath (Belmont Abbey) 14-9, Jr. (MD 12-0) 149 1st Place - Cael Larson of Augustana (SD) 2nd Place - Nick James of Neb.-Kearney 3rd Place - Brennan Watkins of King (TN) 4th Place - Dean Noble of Western Colo. 5th Place - Jackson Hoover of UIndy 6th Place - Chris Donathan of Grand Valley St. 7th Place - Joey Semerad of McKendree 8th Place - Gabriel Onorato of Glenville St. 1st Place Match Cael Larson (Augustana (SD)) 23-5, RS Jr. over Nick James (Neb.-Kearney) 7-1, RS Sr. (Dec 8-1) 3rd Place Match Brennan Watkins (King (TN)) 27-10, RS Jr. over Dean Noble (Western Colo.) 22-5, . (Dec 9-8) 5th Place Match Jackson Hoover (UIndy) 19-5, Sr. over Chris Donathan (Grand Valley St.) 14-1, Jr. (M. For.) 7th Place Match Joey Semerad (McKendree) 31-9, Sr. over Gabriel Onorato (Glenville St.) 26-12, RS Jr. (Dec 5-4) 157 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Gabe Johnson of Central Okla. 2nd Place - Joel Jesuroga of St. Cloud St. 3rd Place - Aaden Valdez of Adams St. 4th Place - Owen Cline of Colorado Mesa 5th Place - Caleb Meunier of Minnesota St. 6th Place - John Ridle of Central Mo. 7th Place - Kaden Renner of UMary 8th Place - Casey Barnett of Tiffin 1st Place Match Gabe Johnson (Central Okla.) 26-1, RS Fr. over Joel Jesuroga (St. Cloud St.) 26-1, RS So. (SV-1 4-1) 3rd Place Match Aaden Valdez (Adams St.) 21-2, RS Fr. over Owen Cline (Colorado Mesa) 16-5, RS So. (M. For.) 5th Place Match Caleb Meunier (Minnesota St.) 32-9, RS Jr. over John Ridle (Central Mo.) 27-9, RS Sr. (MD 8-0) 7th Place Match Kaden Renner (UMary) 18-10, RS So. over Casey Barnett (Tiffin) 19-6, RS Jr. (Fall 2:27) 165 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - David Hunsberger of Lander 2nd Place - Jack Haskin of Lake Erie 3rd Place - Dajun Johnson of Wis.-Parkside 4th Place - Nick Novak of St. Cloud St. 5th Place - Cory Peterson of McKendree 6th Place - Jace Fisher of Newman 7th Place - Nolan Gessler of Tiffin 8th Place - Bailey Gimbor of Kutztown 1st Place Match David Hunsberger (Lander) 30-2, Jr. over Jack Haskin (Lake Erie) 26-4, Sr. (MD 10-2) 3rd Place Match Dajun Johnson (Wis.-Parkside) 33-7, RS So. over Nick Novak (St. Cloud St.) 25-5, Sr. (Dec 12-10) 5th Place Match Cory Peterson (McKendree) 26-8, . over Jace Fisher (Newman) 30-9, Sr. (Dec 7-2) 7th Place Match Nolan Gessler (Tiffin) 21-7, RS So. over Bailey Gimbor (Kutztown) 26-5, Jr. (Dec 7-5) 174 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Cole Ritter of Maryville (MO) 2nd Place - Jacobi Deal of Neb.-Kearney 3rd Place - Drake Hayward of Minnesota St. 4th Place - Bryce Dagel of St. Cloud St. 5th Place - Matt Ortiz of McKendree 6th Place - Lawson Losee of Upper Iowa 7th Place - Joshua Kenny of Grand Valley St. 8th Place - Dalton Gimbor of Kutztown 1st Place Match Cole Ritter (Maryville (MO)) 32-7, RS Jr. over Jacobi Deal (Neb.-Kearney) 22-5, RS So. (Dec 5-1) 3rd Place Match Drake Hayward (Minnesota St.) 32-7, Jr. over Bryce Dagel (St. Cloud St.) 26-5, RS Jr. (Dec 4-3) 5th Place Match Matt Ortiz (McKendree) 27-11, RS Sr. over Lawson Losee (Upper Iowa) 27-13, So. (Dec 7-3) 7th Place Match Joshua Kenny (Grand Valley St.) 20-7, RS Jr. over Dalton Gimbor (Kutztown) 21-9, Jr. (Dec 7-3) 184 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Ty McGeary of West Liberty 2nd Place - Keegan Gehlhausen of Chadron St. 3rd Place - Matt Weinberg of Kutztown 4th Place - Damon Ashworth of Central Mo. 5th Place - Cade Mueller of Augustana (SD) 6th Place - Garrett Wells of Central Okla. 7th Place - Kyle Homet of Glenville St. 8th Place - Jacari Deal of Neb.-Kearney 1st Place Match Ty McGeary (West Liberty) 33-1, RS Sr. over Keegan Gehlhausen (Chadron St.) 22-3, . (TF-1.5 6:40 (20-4)) 3rd Place Match Matt Weinberg (Kutztown) 32-1, RS Sr. over Damon Ashworth (Central Mo.) 27-9, RS Jr. (Fall 1:44) 5th Place Match Cade Mueller (Augustana (SD)) 22-7, RS Sr. over Garrett Wells (Central Okla.) 22-7, Jr. (Dec 5-2) 7th Place Match Kyle Homet (Glenville St.) 38-10, RS Sr. over Jacari Deal (Neb.-Kearney) 13-6, RS So. (TF-1.5 6:26 (17-2)) 197 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Derek Blubaugh of UIndy 2nd Place - Tereus Henry of Fort Hays St. 3rd Place - Jackson Kinsella of Neb.-Kearney 4th Place - Max Ramberg of Augustana (SD) 5th Place - Nicholas Johnson of Glenville St. 6th Place - Wyatt Miller of Grand Valley St. 7th Place - Marvelous Rutledge of Lander 8th Place - Dominic Murphy of St. Cloud St. 1st Place Match Derek Blubaugh (UIndy) 21-3, RS Sr. over Tereus Henry (Fort Hays St.) 16-7, RS Sr. (Dec 5-1) 3rd Place Match Jackson Kinsella (Neb.-Kearney) 23-8, Sr. over Max Ramberg (Augustana (SD)) 34-7, Jr. (Dec 7-2) 5th Place Match Nicholas Johnson (Glenville St.) 31-7, Jr. over Wyatt Miller (Grand Valley St.) 11-10, RS Jr. (Dec 10-3) 7th Place Match Marvelous Rutledge (Lander) 28-13, Jr. over Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud St.) 26-3, . (SV-1 4-1) 285 Guaranteed Places 1st Place - Ryan Herman of Maryville (MO) 2nd Place - Isaiah Vance of Pitt-Johnstown 3rd Place - Dorian Crosby of Gannon 4th Place - Crew Howard of Neb.-Kearney 5th Place - Freddie Retter of Kutztown 6th Place - Jake Swirple of Minot St. 7th Place - Tyler Doyle of Colorado Mesa 8th Place - Carter Blough of Grand Valley St. 1st Place Match Ryan Herman (Maryville (MO)) 28-2, RS Sr. over Isaiah Vance (Pitt-Johnstown) 26-5, RS Jr. (TB-1 3-2) 3rd Place Match Dorian Crosby (Gannon) 27-4, RS Sr. over Crew Howard (Neb.-Kearney) 28-2, Sr. (Dec 4-2) 5th Place Match Freddie Retter (Kutztown) 13-3, RS So. over Jake Swirple (Minot St.) 26-9, RS Fr. (MD 12-1) 7th Place Match Tyler Doyle (Colorado Mesa) 26-7, Jr. over Carter Blough (Grand Valley St.) 28-7, RS So. (SV-1 4-1)

Id also like to see Intermat and Flo do more in-season coverage of D2 and D3 wrestling, as they do with D1. It would only strengthen their platforms.

That is a real issue. Many of the conferences around the country are trying to monetize those streams, which is fracturing the ability to see D2 and D3 Duals regularly. They do, however, post that content for free shortly after the event is over. That being said, I do know that Flo is working to try and get teams/conferences to utilize their platforms for duals. I don't think it has really grabbed hold just yet. The NSIC or GLVC would be the logical places to start in D2.

Unseeded heavyweight Freddie Retter from Kutztown to the semis!

The number one seeds at 141, 174 and heavyweight did not make the semis. Christian Small, the top seeded 141, injury defaulted with a 5-3 lead in the match. Top seeded 174 Hayden Pummel from Glenville State, loses by second period fall in the round of 16 and unneeded wrestler with a 12-12 record coming i to the tournament. #1 seeded at heavyweight, crew from Nebraska-Kearney, dropped his opening bout, 8-2. At 125, unseeded, two-time All-American, Shane Corrigan from Wisconsin-Parkside (seventh in 2023 and sixth in 2024), advances to the semifinals after defeating the seventh and second seeds, also returning All-Americans, to make the semis. WILD!!!!!

Already to the semifinals and many of the three seeds are having a lot of trouble!

I used to coach a young man who went through a lot before I met him. When he came to us, he literally had only a jock strap and would wash it by hand in the sink after each workout. The guys on the team would complain to use constantly. They may have banned them after that year because of him.

What's the take from D1 fans why they don't pay attention to D2s or D3s? I don't pretend to know.

SF State has/d a kid who is doing something similar to Henschel. Here is a recent video: D2 and D3 deserve WAY more promotion than they receive. D1 makes up less than 20% of all collegiate wrestling opportunities.

Great kid and great ambassador for the sport. D2s and D3s are this weekend in Indianapolis and Providence, RI, respectively. Here are links to the NCAA Championship sites for each, including video of last year's finals for both divisions. D2 - https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2025-03-07/2025-ncaa-dii-wrestling-championship-qualifiers-list-selections-info-times-dates D3 - https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2025-03-01/2025-ncaa-diii-wrestling-championships-qualifiers-schedule-history