Chances Tomorrow

[bcdeputy]

Every year, like clockwork, these idiots come out of the woodwork. So called "fans" that only show up to bitch and moan... It's like they can't wait us to have a bad result. How pathetic must their lives be??

Please tell us what kind of "fans" to be? I'm purely interesting in your vast knowledge on the subject. Is it a "bad fan" to expect better production out of Sorenson, a wrestler that many on this board felt could win a national championship yet he always comes up short? Is it the bad fan that expects him to rise up like Hawkeye wrestlers used to do? Or should we rejoice in the fact that he almost never seems to win the bigger matches?

 

[Exo]

Please tell us what kind of "fans" to be? I'm purely interesting in your vast knowledge on the subject. Is it a "bad fan" to expect better production out of Sorenson, a wrestler that many on this board felt could win a national championship yet he always comes up short? Is it the bad fan that expects him to rise up like Hawkeye wrestlers used to do? Or should we rejoice in the fact that he almost never seems to win the bigger matches?

Dude, he's a junior who has finished 4th and 2nd at NCAA's. He's won plenty of "bigger" matches and has never not shown up at NCAA's. Yeah, were pissed he lost to Micah Jordan but he will be ready to go in STL, just like he has the last two years.

 

[Good30]

At this point with Sorenson I am just hoping he lands with a seed on the opposite side of the bracket as Retherford for nationals. That would be considered a win for me anyway! I consider his matchups with Collica and Jordan to be 50/50 matchups depending on who gets the first takedown.

 

[AFHawk86]

At this point with Sorenson I am just hoping he lands with a seed on the opposite side of the bracket as Retherford for nationals. That would be considered a win for me anyway! I consider his matchups with Collica and Jordan to be 50/50 matchups depending on who gets the first takedown.

At this point I don't think it's likely that Sorensen is on the opposite side. He would have to be #2, 3, or 6. Probably a #4 or 5 behind Retherford, Collica, and Jordan. And possibly Mayes. Don't think he drops to 6 regardless of his result today.

 

[ltsimmer]

Some of these posters must have dream lives or are spoiled beyond dreams. I have a feeling that these same posters would gloat and brag to other fans when the Hawks are on top. We have not won in awhile and we are not happy about it, but please have some dignity. And when we do rise to the top soon (best dream ever), maybe we can all be gracious about it.

 

[hawkssox1]

Damn that sucks. If Carton and Sorensen would of had a better day would we be in contention?

IF the dog hadn't stopped to shit he would have caught the rabbit.Too many if's with this team for too long.

 

[caliPSUfan]

Haven't posted on your board in awhile and I'm hopeful that all are aware that I always come in peace...

Just wanted to say that you'll have a ton of PSU fans cheering for your boys today (call me Captain Obvious)! I like that Clark and Brooks are the ones we're leaning on the most - they're easily some of my favorite current Hawks! I'll even be rooting for Gilman today for good measure and early momentum! Looking through the brackets there's not really any Hawks that won't have my support (except Kem of course ).

From a place of respect (and selfishness) good luck today!

 

[hawkssox1]

Question is, looking ahead to next season at this point, how many weights will Iowa be considered very strong at? Just seems in recent years we routinely have 2-3 weights we have every little chance at when/if qualifying for Nationals.

149,157???????

 

[UndercoverHawk]

At this point I don't think it's likely that Sorensen is on the opposite side. He would have to be #2, 3, or 6. Probably a #4 or 5 behind Retherford, Collica, and Jordan. And possibly Mayes. Don't think he drops to 6 regardless of his result today.

The only scenario I see is if Thomsen beats Mayes again at MAC and slides into 5 seed so it would go:
1 Retherford
2 Collica
3 Jordan
4 Mayes
5 Thomsen
6 Sorensen

More than likely BS is the 5 which is no different than him winning yesterday and losing today. Jordan and Sorensen will be 4 and 5 and face each other in quarters

 

[Squarehat]

Every year, like clockwork, these idiots come out of the woodwork. So called "fans" that only show up to bitch and moan... It's like they can't wait us to have a bad result. How pathetic must their lives be??

This X 1000

 

[TarpHawk]

The only real head scratcher loss in terms of opponents is Lugo and even he is pretty good. All losses prior to this were in OT so its not like BS is getting his ass kicked and today he just got out-Sorensened by Micah. Sorensen is not an elite wrestler/dominator but he can knock off any of the above named guys. He's not scoring his first period TD, which he usually has done in the past. If he gets it together mentally, which is what his problem is, I can see him making the finals. Yea, I get frustrated by his lack of offense but it's not like that many are dominating him on their feet.

You can keep on calling people dumbasses who believe in Brandon but it's not a good look. Blame it on TnT as well...it's the team they put together but look at the guys in the finals for the tOSU:

133-#10 recruit
149-#6 recruit
174-#1 recruit
184-#4 recruit
197-#81 recruit (the success he has had is pretty amazing...I believe Holloway beat him before. Working with MyMar and Snyder has paid dividends)
HWY-#1 recruit

PSU

149-#3
157-#4
174-#1

Iowa

125-#16
133-#23
157-#8
184-#20

So it's no surprise that our guys do not look as talented because you can only do so much. Gilman and Clark are different because they have each other plus McD and Dennis to roll with. Because of that type of competition, they have been made better and surpassed others. TnT used to subscribe to the Gable school of thought about development but they aren't Gable. It's one thing to get good guys in the room; it's a whole different thing to get them to overreach on the mat on an every year basis. Sure, they have done it with some guys but this is why we are seeing the difference in recruiting. It's why a Kemerer can come in and consistently beat a guy like Brian Murphy (#27 Intermat). Yes, coaching has something to do with it but Kem was talented coming in.

What has become clear to most over the past 6 years is that D1 coaching is now 75% recruiting and 25% motivation/training/retention. Not the other way around, as perhaps it once was. (Not sure it ever was, actually.)

As an analogy, think about college academic rankings. Why is Harvard great? 75% recruiting and 25% motivation/training/retention. Harvard could keep the same great faculty, but if it decided to go after mid-tier SAT scorers and "coach them up" it would experience the same decline that Iowa experienced with that strategy. That was a bad mistake.

But we have a new-and-improved recruiting strategy that can be articulated in one word: Kemerer.

As for this tourney, it doesn't seem like an implosion to me. 4 in the finals is good. Could've had 5, true. But we're only in year 1 of the Kemerer era; we still have 5 weights of old-era recruiting strategy to fix.

 

[pablow]

The only scenario I see is if Thomsen beats Mayes again at MAC and slides into 5 seed so it would go:
1 Retherford
2 Collica
3 Jordan
4 Mayes
5 Thomsen
6 Sorensen

More than likely BS is the 5 which is no different than him winning yesterday and losing today. Jordan and Sorensen will be 4 and 5 and face each other in quarters

Might as well catch Zain on Friday morning before he's had breakfast.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

I apologize for coming off as a prick. Sometimes being such a big Hawk fan can cause over the top knee jerk reactions. Let me approach it this way. I have a tendency to forget about a Gilman and focus on a Meyer. It's like I expect all Hawks up and down the lineup to dominate so when they do it is assumed and when they don't I get pissed. Did the same thing with for example Nick Moore. I would focus on him and forget about other typical Hawk results cause he irritated me so much. Think of a scratch golfer. Makes par it is expected no reaction makes a bogey or worse they get pissed and that is what they remeber after a round, the 2 bogeys not the 16 pars. But then I extrapolate that to the whole team when 1 or some don't appear aggressive, see e.g, Meyer and BS yesterday. Anyway, I apologize and go Hawks today.

With all due respect, this is a problem that affects countless Iowa fans. Even if subconsciously, Iowa fans have a tendency to judge our guys compared to the Gable era. I'm not saying our standards should be lowered -- just that we need to be realistic about the current landscape of college wrestling and appraise our results based on reality rather than unrealistic expectations. We also need to view current performance in light of incoming talent and recognize that this Iowa team is going to be spitting vinegar, loaded with talent, and itching to get back on top of the heap in a couple of years.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

What has become clear to most over the past 6 years is that D1 coaching is now 75% recruiting and 25% motivation/training/retention. Not the other way around, as perhaps it once was. (Not sure it ever was, actually.)

As an analogy, think about college academic rankings. Why is Harvard great? 75% recruiting and 25% motivation/training/retention. Harvard could keep the same great faculty, but if it decided to go after mid-tier SAT scorers and "coach them up" it would experience the same decline that Iowa experienced with that strategy. That was a bad mistake.

But we have a new-and-improved recruiting strategy that can be articulated in one word: Kemerer.

As for this tourney, it doesn't seem like an implosion to me. 4 in the finals is good. Could've had 5, true. But we're only in year 1 of the Kemerer era; we still have 5 weights of old-era recruiting strategy to fix.

I agree with your overall take, Tarp, but I don't think it's been as much a case of strategy as of success. We've been going after the top dogs all along, but we've had numerous near misses on studs, some of whom are currently killing it for PSU, along with some highly unfortunate failures of high-profile recruits to materialize and a rash of ill-timed and devastating injuries to a disproportionate number of our top point-scorers in recent years.

We're currently on an upswing in recruiting success, and I expect that to continue, but I don't think our staff ever really set their sites lower; they're just now starting to land more of the "big fish" than they had been in recent years.

 

[Azchief32]

Please tell us what kind of "fans" to be? I'm purely interesting in your vast knowledge on the subject. Is it a "bad fan" to expect better production out of Sorenson, a wrestler that many on this board felt could win a national championship yet he always comes up short? Is it the bad fan that expects him to rise up like Hawkeye wrestlers used to do? Or should we rejoice in the fact that he almost never seems to win the bigger matches?

By rising, do you mean losing the second match his freshman year at the NCAA tourney and winning five matches to get to the 3/4th place match? Or was it getting to the finals last year?

http://nwhof.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NCAA2015.pdf

I get that people are frustrated but help is on the way in the form of Marinelli, Young, Spencer Lee, Gavin Teasdale, Jacob Warner, Max Murin and maybe a few more. 125-174 and 197, HWY is going to be stout with top 1-30 ranked kids...something we have not had at Iowa in the Brands years...even when they won three in a row. You can't expect the coaches to get water from a rock all the time...sometimes a rock is just a rock.

Teams are not going to lay down for us because we have Iowa on the front of our singlet. Nothing is going to be given...But I am happy I am going to be in Iowa City to see us take it back.

 

[AFHawk86]

I'm not saying our standards should be lowered -- just that we need to be realistic about the current landscape of college wrestling and appraise our results based on reality rather than unrealistic expectations.

High standards are healthy; tempered expectations maintain sanity

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Please tell us what kind of "fans" to be? I'm purely interesting in your vast knowledge on the subject. Is it a "bad fan" to expect better production out of Sorenson, a wrestler that many on this board felt could win a national championship yet he always comes up short? Is it the bad fan that expects him to rise up like Hawkeye wrestlers used to do? Or should we rejoice in the fact that he almost never seems to win the bigger matches?

I'd say the first step is to avoid knee-jerk reactions to just rip on kids who are busting their asses to win championships and may happen to come up short. I'd suggest understanding who these kids are, how they wrestle, the nature of their competition, and how much they're getting out of their natural ability.

Brandon Sorensen is an exemplary young man. He's a tenacious worker, a humble guy, and a very good sport. He's tremendously dedicated to his sport and gives it all he has. He may not be the quickest and he may not have a huge arsenal of attacks, but he's had incredible success with what he does. He won 4 Iowa state championships and he's almost a certain 4x AA, with a finals appearance last year as a sophomore. He loses a close one to an all-everything recruit in Micah Jordan and suddenly he's a bum? Has it ever occurred to some fans that Brandon may actually be getting far more out of his natural ability than many others could? I'm not saying we shouldn't expect or hope for him to win Big Tens and Nationals every time out, but let's have some perspective. This kid has done everything right. He's given it all he can. Who doesn't think he's more disappointed than anyone else that he lost in the semis? Do we think he's out partying and doesn't care?

Gobblin isn't any better than any other fan. Nor am I, or any other diehard Iowa wrestling fan. We understand that. At the same time, it does chafe the diehard crew when relatively unfamiliar avatars start showing up at Big Tens and Nationals, slashing and burning our guys, questioning why they aren't winning titles like the "good ol' days", etc. Perspective and a little bit of education about the current reality of Iowa wrestling are all we really ask. I don't think that's too much.

 

[Azchief32]

As an analogy, think about college academic rankings. Why is Harvard great? 75% recruiting and 25% motivation/training/retention. Harvard could keep the same great faculty, but if it decided to go after mid-tier SAT scorers and "coach them up" it would experience the same decline that Iowa experienced with that strategy. That was a bad mistake.

Going with your academic theory, there is also a lot of competition at the Harvards. They are all top ten kids academically so at Harvard, they are nothing special and have to go out and compete against their classmates for better grades (ignoring rampant grade inflation these days). Once we start getting all of these guys in, the standard three time state champ like a Rathbun or even a four timer like Happel is either going to sink, tread water, or swim above their skill level instead of automatically be given a slot at 133 or 141. Stock the pond with good Iowa guys that want to be part of something special and throw in some sharks like Lee, Kemerer, Teasdale to see if the fish can grow into sharks and adapt to their environment. This is where Gable succeeded...and it's where Cael is now.

We want the guys that look at a Marinelli and want to take him out of the line-up by coming in and shocking everybody by beating him up...even if it doesn't happen.

 

[Azchief32]

I agree with your overall take, Tarp, but I don't think it's been as much a case of strategy as of success. We've been going after the top dogs all along, but we've had numerous near misses on studs, some of whom are currently killing it for PSU, along with some highly unfortunate failures of high-profile recruits to materialize and a rash of ill-timed and devastating injuries to a disproportionate number of our top point-scorers in recent years.

We're currently on an upswing in recruiting success, and I expect that to continue, but I don't think our staff ever really set their sites lower; they're just now starting to land more of the "big fish" than they had been in recent years.

While I agree they may have "went after" some top dogs, I don't think it was in the numbers that they are doing it now. For example, TnT target one or two guys that they want to be studs and fill in the rest with decent guys...ala 2008-2010. Plus, they made a commitment in PA. TnT might as well have second homes out there. If they had done this before with Young Guns, perhaps Nolf would be at Iowa because he was interested. I also think they realize that just being "Iowa" is not good enough anymore and are hitting the road more instead of just letting M* be the guy.

 

[wasdt21]

that's exactly what i was thinking about teske the other day, he's already really good, put him in the room with spencer and tea the skys the limit.

 

[JohnBasedow]

After looking at allocations if Cashe wins his 7th place match tomorrow he will punch his ticket. That would be 8 qualifiers.

Gunther will get a wild card.

 

[dhm47]

I am starting to wonder if BS is either a little burned out or has a nagging injury. If I remember correctly Borschel and McGinness both had letdowns their Jr. years. He has been wrestling a long time with a lot of expectations. Maybe it is just taking its toll. He is still capable of making the finals and even winning it all but right now it is not looking good. I think everybody is frustrated with him because we know what he is capable of. We just need to remember that life is complicated and its hard to tell what a person is going through. Lets face it, to us these guys should be bullet proof, but in the end they are just young men (not kids) and they face the same trials in life everybody else does. They just have to strap it on each day and compete against the best in the country regardless of how they feel or what they are dealing with.

Great post.

 

[bcdeputy]

So only longtime posters should post on this board? And if you just read the board often and don't post then your opinion isn't of any value to the long timers? Ahhhh, now I get it.

Seems the fact that I've been watching and rooting for the Hawkeyes since the mid 1970's doesn't mean I know a thing about wrestling, or my opinion is just totally worthless. Wish I could claim I wrestled in college, but I didn't, only high school level

Seem to recall Hawkeye wrestlers constantly wrestling above their seed back then, and the ones that got upset early would bust their asses in the wrestlebacks. Doesn't seem like that's happening quite as often currently. I'm frustrated too, but the fact that I don't post here very often doesn't coincide with my wrestling knowledge in any way, shape or form

 

[Sett1997]

You're not making any sense. Your rationality is that he lost to Jordan today so he can't make the finals. However, he beat Jordan earlier in the season? So, why is it so hard to believe that he can beat him again? I understand you are disappointed, but step back from the ledge, he will be alright come nationals.

Your arguement is correct, as you know.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

I really thought Sorenson would have a good season. Don't get it.

Sorensen is tough! Still can be an NCAA finalist

 

[Gobblin]

Please tell us what kind of "fans" to be? I'm purely interesting in your vast knowledge on the subject. Is it a "bad fan" to expect better production out of Sorenson, a wrestler that many on this board felt could win a national championship yet he always comes up short? Is it the bad fan that expects him to rise up like Hawkeye wrestlers used to do? Or should we rejoice in the fact that he almost never seems to win the bigger matches?

The kind that isn't fair weather... The kind that understands today's college wrestling landscape... The kind that knows Micah Jordan is a stud who is capable of beating anyone... The kind that can appreciate a wrestler that's well on his way to being 4x AA... That kind.

 

[Azchief32]

So only longtime posters should post on this board? And if you just read the board often and don't post then your opinion isn't of any value to the long timers? Ahhhh, now I get it.

Seems the fact that I've been watching and rooting for the Hawkeyes since the mid 1970's doesn't mean I know a thing about wrestling, or my opinion is just totally worthless. Wish I could claim I wrestled in college, but I didn't, only high school level

Seem to recall Hawkeye wrestlers constantly wrestling above their seed back then, and the ones that got upset early would bust their asses in the wrestlebacks. Doesn't seem like that's happening quite as often currently. I'm frustrated too, but the fact that I don't post here very often doesn't coincide with my wrestling knowledge in any way, shape or form

As opposed to the one's that only stop by when things don't go right? Don't know which you are BC, don't really care...it's a free country and all that.

 

[Knight563]

The reality is we can still have 5 finalist on Saturday night at nationals! Not too shabby. Tarp mentioned the transition to 75% recruiting now - Can't agree more and more importantly TnT have adjusted and the horses are in the stable w more to come! Trust the process.

 

[Kwoodhawk]

So only longtime posters should post on this board? And if you just read the board often and don't post then your opinion isn't of any value to the long timers? Ahhhh, now I get it.

Seems the fact that I've been watching and rooting for the Hawkeyes since the mid 1970's doesn't mean I know a thing about wrestling, or my opinion is just totally worthless. Wish I could claim I wrestled in college, but I didn't, only high school level

Seem to recall Hawkeye wrestlers constantly wrestling above their seed back then, and the ones that got upset early would bust their asses in the wrestlebacks. Doesn't seem like that's happening quite as often currently. I'm frustrated too, but the fact that I don't post here very often doesn't coincide with my wrestling knowledge in any way, shape or form

As a long time fan you should have gained some perspective and understanding over time. That's all anybody is asking for. Doesn't matter how many posts you have. But if you post like a newby, and only show up to complain, (not saying you did) then you'll get called on it.

Perhaps your lack of posting here often doesn't conincide with your wrestling knowledge. But then you need to demonstrate good knowledge.............right?

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

So only longtime posters should post on this board? And if you just read the board often and don't post then your opinion isn't of any value to the long timers? Ahhhh, now I get it.

Seems the fact that I've been watching and rooting for the Hawkeyes since the mid 1970's doesn't mean I know a thing about wrestling, or my opinion is just totally worthless. Wish I could claim I wrestled in college, but I didn't, only high school level

Seem to recall Hawkeye wrestlers constantly wrestling above their seed back then, and the ones that got upset early would bust their asses in the wrestlebacks. Doesn't seem like that's happening quite as often currently. I'm frustrated too, but the fact that I don't post here very often doesn't coincide with my wrestling knowledge in any way, shape or form

That's a pretty weak attempt to argue against a straw man.

Longevity or frequency of posting on this board is completely irrelevant. Longevity as fan is completely irrelevant. It doesn't take a lot of time or a lot of posts on this board to have a clue about Iowa wrestling, nor does it take much time or experience to be respectful of our wrestlers or realistic in your expectations. I strongly suspect you know the answer to your own question but are reluctant to acknowledge it.

 

[madmax1191]

As opposed to the one's that only stop by when things don't go right? Don't know which you are BC, don't really care...it's a free country and all that.

Wow this board is sadly full of PC, everything is always rosy, if you have a negative take your not a true fan, spineless soft do-gooders. Are these boards for positive posts only? I call it like I see it. I can be positive or negative. It just depends on the situation. Why are people always afraid w/ a different opinion than their own? I'll go w/ my opinions and I'm completely fine w/ it. If you don't like it ignore me already as I have done to a bunch of so called Hawk fans. I and many other on these forums can't stand pc fans always looking at things w/ the wrestling program as if everything is always ok. Seriously?? You PC types are whats wrong with this country today.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Wow this board is sadly full of PC, everything is always rosy, if you have a negative take your not a true fan, spineless soft do-gooders. Are these boards for positive posts only? I call it like I see it. I can be positive or negative. It just depends on the situation. Why are people always afraid w/ a different opinion than their own? I'll go w/ my opinions and I'm completely fine w/ it. If you don't like it ignore me already as I have done to a bunch of so called Hawk fans. I and many other on these forums can't stand pc fans always looking at things w/ the wrestling program as if everything is always ok. Seriously?? You PC types are whats wrong with this country today.

Political correctness is completely unrelated to common decency. I'll assume you realize this. I don't see many PC folks on this board, as far as I can tell, and I sure as heck am not one. I do see a lot of fans who have our guys' backs, though, and don't appreciate seeing anonymous fans taking unfair shots at them.

There's a big difference between voicing your opinion and unfairly and anonymously ripping on a college kid who's busting his butt to do as well as he can but may not have met your lofty expectations. It's not hard to distinguish between the two. (I'm not speaking directly to you -- just to fans in general) As far as I've seen over the last two decades on this board, a wide range of opinions has always been welcome. But when fans just drop by this board around tournament time and start throwing bombs at our program, they're going to get some push-back -- as they should.

 

[24 so far]

I've said many times on this board that I think Brandon Sorensen is our best wrestler, and has been since the 1st day he stepped on the Varsity Mat. Sadly, I no longer believe that. He's still got the most tools IMO, but he doesn't have the mindset, for whatever the reason, and I don't think he's going to find it before he leaves Iowa. At this point it is what it is and hope for the best.

 

[madmax1191]

I've said many times on this board that I think Brandon Sorensen is our best wrestler, and has been since the 1st day he stepped on the Varsity Mat. Sadly, I no longer believe that. He's still got the most tools IMO, but he doesn't have the mindset, for whatever the reason, and I don't think he's going to find it before he leaves Iowa. At this point it is what it is and hope for the best.

That was my point.
Duck for cover 23. The pc crowd is ready and waiting to disembowel you bc your opinion isn't all smiles and happy faces. And doesnt jive w/ theirs. Clearly your a troll.

 

[madmax1191]

Political correctness is completely unrelated to common decency. I'll assume you realize this. I don't see many PC folks on this board, as far as I can tell, and I sure as heck am not one. I do see a lot of fans who have our guys' backs, though, and don't appreciate seeing anonymous fans taking unfair shots at them.

There's a big difference between voicing your opinion and unfairly and anonymously ripping on a college kid who's busting his butt to do as well as he can but may not have met your lofty expectations. It's not hard to distinguish between the two. (I'm not speaking directly to you -- just to fans in general) As far as I've seen over the last two decades on this board, a wide range of opinions has always been welcome. But when fans just drop by this board around tournament time and start throwing bombs at our program, they're going to get some push-back -- as they should.

Gag

 

[Kwoodhawk]

Wow this board is sadly full of PC, everything is always rosy, if you have a negative take your not a true fan, spineless soft do-gooders. Are these boards for positive posts only? I call it like I see it. I can be positive or negative. It just depends on the situation. Why are people always afraid w/ a different opinion than their own? I'll go w/ my opinions and I'm completely fine w/ it. If you don't like it ignore me already as I have done to a bunch of so called Hawk fans. I and many other on these forums can't stand pc fans always looking at things w/ the wrestling program as if everything is always ok. Seriously?? You PC types are whats wrong with this country today.

I understand that you may believe what you posted is true. I think you may be overestimating your own thoughts by a good bit. Most of what you posted looks like made up fantasy and exaggeration. Not exactly factual observations at all. But you are certainly welcome to your own delusions.........like we all are.

 

[madmax1191]

I understand that you may believe what you posted is true. I think you may be overestimating your own thoughts by a good bit. Most of what you posted looks like made up fantasy and exaggeration. Not exactly factual observations at all. But you are certainly welcome to your own delusions.........like we all are.

Ignored. See how easy it is? And kinda fun!

 

[CumberlandHawk]

I've said many times on this board that I think Brandon Sorensen is our best wrestler, and has been since the 1st day he stepped on the Varsity Mat. Sadly, I no longer believe that. He's still got the most tools IMO, but he doesn't have the mindset, for whatever the reason, and I don't think he's going to find it before he leaves Iowa. At this point it is what it is and hope for the best.

He may just be in a slump(almost all athletes have them) or he may be dinged up and not saying anything or he may be a bit tired and burned out. I would not count him out yet. If he still has the tools he can still make a run.

 

[wasdt21]

you would think somebody from same town as one of our wrestlers would show some respect.shows how smart this guy is.

 

[Jaybird319]

Going with your academic theory, there is also a lot of competition at the Harvards. They are all top ten kids academically so at Harvard, they are nothing special and have to go out and compete against their classmates for better grades (ignoring rampant grade inflation these days). Once we start getting all of these guys in, the standard three time state champ like a Rathbun or even a four timer like Happel is either going to sink, tread water, or swim above their skill level instead of automatically be given a slot at 133 or 141. Stock the pond with good Iowa guys that want to be part of something special and throw in some sharks like Lee, Kemerer, Teasdale to see if the fish can grow into sharks and adapt to their environment. This is where Gable succeeded...and it's where Cael is now.

We want the guys that look at a Marinelli and want to take him out of the line-up by coming in and shocking everybody by beating him up...even if it doesn't happen.

This might b your best post of Iowa's current/recent past situations.

Retention is another problem that is occurring far to often for one reason or another. TnT have to keep the room numbers up. Losing 2-5 guys yearly really hurt the chances of a potential single season AA during a "down" or "gap" recruitment years.