You could probably add Brendan McCrone’s name to that coming off redshirt list for the Bucks.
He’s gotta be the odds on favorite (maybe, I think??) to be Ohio State’s 125 pounder next year, that is unless they pull some miracle 125 pound grad transfer out of their Azzzzzz last minute (since the underclass portal is now closed).
The only logic that would make any sense to me for Vinny Kilkeary to get the nod instead would be because Ben Davino is coming too right behind Kilkeary, and both are coming in for the 125 class… 133 is completely filled and actually overcrowded, at least for the next few seasons.
So if Tom Ryan envisions Davino being the future at 125, and Kilkeary more of a depth/swing type guy in his future role with the team, it would make sense to give Kilkeary a shot and at least 1 year at the weight until Davino arrives on campus the following year and see what Kilkeary’s got.
Then he could redshirt Davino and have Kilkeary man 125 for his first 2 seasons, and Kilkeary could take his redshirt in his 3rd year while Davino takes over 125 as a redshirt freshman.
That scenario would allow 133 and Bouzakis/Mendez 3 years to grow and move up a weight class or 2 prospectively and if that were the case there could potentially be room for both Davino and Kilkeary in the lineup at the same time down the road.
Unfortunately for Kilkeary however, I would be surprised to see Davino not man 125 right out the gate as a true freshman and take advantage of the stacked roster he’s coming in behind in search obviously for a team title.
So Kilkeary could go 125 his freshman year, redshirt his 2nd year, and would just have to see how things turn out lineup wise that 3rd year coming off redshirt.
That should be one of Ohio State’s more intriguing wrestle offs too if they do in fact pit McCrone and Kilkeary up against each other for that 125 spot.
And also Andre Gonzalez you would think would try and put himself in this mix considering 125 next year is BY FAR AND AWAY his best chance and opportunity to crack this lineup… but apparently that’s not an option and not a consideration according to Tom Ryan himself.
He recently said emphatically in an interview on Flo Gonzalez will never go 125 again, and will be a part of that crowded 133 weight class at Ohio State next year and for the foreseeable future.