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For those concerned of Gabe Arnold's height at 184

Because Gabe will place higher at 184 this year vs. Last? Gabe could be shirting this year while the dogs are still out saving him for greener days ahead. This looks like a true mess tnt created for themselves. Can't shirt Gabe now the next 3 years. Iowa needed Gabes pts last yr.
The plan was to red shirt him all along. Not sure why you can’t understand that. Him burning a year was hardly worth a handful of team points.
 
My main reasoning for thinking Gabe would be better at 174 is his own words. He was asked last year after competing up at 184 is he was moving up permanently , and he said something to effect of “this is a one time thing, I’m 5’7”!” Perhaps he and coaching staff have changed their minds, but I think he’ll score more points at 174. I think Brands will have similar results at either weight.
I remember that interview as well, I think it was after the ISU dual last year. Maybe he has changed his mind and really prefers 184 now, but if that was the case I don’t think he would have bothered with a wrestle-off with NB at 174.
 
It would require 4 weeks if he’s weighing in close to 184.
Someone said on this board awhile back that the results of the Soldier Salute were going to be the determining factor in who goes 174-184 the rest of the season. If that’s really the case and if Gabe wants to try for 174, it sounds like he would need to start cutting pretty soon after the ISU dual as the Soldier Salute is scheduled for Dec 29-30.
 
Unless Angelo is strongly opposed to redshirting, at this point I'm more interested in getting PK in the 74 mix soon than I am in Gabe and Nelson swapping. PK may not produce more than NB at Natty's, but I have to believe he'll be much more entertaining to watch while trying. Early in season or not, NB just isn't giving me confidence. In the end, I'm still confident it will sort itself out in a fair way that's best for the team.
 
I remember that interview as well, I think it was after the ISU dual last year. Maybe he has changed his mind and really prefers 184 now, but if that was the case I don’t think he would have bothered with a wrestle-off with NB at 174.
this might be the response you're remembering. but a year later, who knows, maybe he filled into 184 a bit.

 
Handful of points would have been 2nd.
You are doing the exact same thing the basketball board does with Kris Murray. He's in the NBA now so by rights he should have started as a freshman. Well, as a FRESHMAN he was not good enough. He got better. This current version of Gabe is better than last year. This version isn't the one that would have been on the mat last year. He may, or most likely, may not have AA'd at 184. Would he have gotten more than 4 points that would have given Iowa the first loser spot? Who knows and who really cares.

And for the record - Gabe was certainly good enough to have earned the 184 spot last year. I just don't think he was a lock to AA and wasting a year for the outside shot at 2nd Place in 2023 is what is at issue.
 
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The way I look at it is PK was not a full size 174 last year. This year he is. He will get his chance. TnT are not going to just hand Nelson a spot. They are not doing him any favors in life by doing so. You get what you earn! If Nelson doesn’t turn things around don’t be surprised if someone else is at 174 come BIGS. That being said. It’s early, no need to panic. Guys Norman is really good. He beat Shane Griffin last year who crushed PK twice last year. I think we all know 2nd place is the ceiling this year and we should all enjoy the season, cheer on are guys, and hope for some fantastic recruiting news from the 2026 class.
 
Counter wrestling and wrestling styles now, can definitely play against shorter wrestler. I realize the Brands brothers 1990s approach to wrestling clearly works now:), but using an example from the 1970's isn't reassuring. If the Brands' truly consider performance on the mat as the best tryout, the best indication of who needs to wrestle, then Arnold needs to be at 174 and Nelson needs to be wrestling off with Ferrari at 184. I don't care if Brands can barely beat Arnold in a wrestle off, Nelson has had zero takedowns. He's always been that way and nothing is going to change. Problem is now, it would take Arnold at least a couple months to get down depending what he weighed in at, right?.
I remember NB scoring a fair amount of points in HS or am I wrong?
 
I remember NB scoring a fair amount of points in HS or am I wrong?
He did; against Iowa high schoolers not D1 wrestlers. I don’t even remember him doing much for national tournaments so I wouldn’t equate putting a bunch of points on Iowa high schoolers to being able to rack up points at a D1 level.
 
He did; against Iowa high schoolers not D1 wrestlers. I don’t even remember him doing much for national tournaments so I wouldn’t equate putting a bunch of points on Iowa high schoolers to being able to rack up points at a D1 level.
There's no reason he can't still wrestle with the same pace and effort. I don't normally say negative things about Iowa wrestlers, but Nelson needs to ask himself why he is wrestling this year. Is it to just be on the team for one more year or to have the best season of his career? I was hoping we would see more offense and effort from him this season, but as of now I don't see it. He has all the tools to go hard, real hard every match and take the fight out of the guy he is wrestling. Unfortunately, at this point I don't know if the switch can be flipped.
 
There's no reason he can't still wrestle with the same pace and effort. I don't normally say negative things about Iowa wrestlers, but Nelson needs to ask himself why he is wrestling this year. Is it to just be on the team for one more year or to have the best season of his career? I was hoping we would see more offense and effort from him this season, but as of now I don't see it. He has all the tools to go hard, real hard every match and take the fight out of the guy he is wrestling. Unfortunately, at this point I don't know if the switch can be flipped.
Stated very well. Nelson needs to decide if he wants to wrestle tight and have a very average last year or if he wants to wrestle loose and offensive this year and dare I say have some f%@. I know which one will end better for him, but only he can make that change. It is all upstairs. He has the tools, but he needs to decide if he is going to use them or not.
 
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this might be the response you're remembering. but a year later, who knows, maybe he filled into 184 a bit.

But there are alleged unnamed paid media haters. As such, it might be wise to engage all media suspects with disinformation, as part of an overall comprehensive counter-intelligence initiative.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what Gabe was doing.

That, or he might want to make good on beating Carter Starocci to be the man.

Either makes sense to me.
 
He did; against Iowa high schoolers not D1 wrestlers. I don’t even remember him doing much for national tournaments so I wouldn’t equate putting a bunch of points on Iowa high schoolers to being able to rack up points at a D1 level.

Well.. actually....

Nelson absolutely changed who and what he was after a year in the Iowa room. One of the biggest reasons he jumped in success level (from not qualifying for state as a freshman) was his attack rate.

Nelson was seen as a decently athletic guy who wouldn't stop shooting. Regardless of the person in front of him.

His best losses in high school were to david carr (8-4) and braunagel (13-7) in Freestyle. But he went down shooting. A LOT. And its how he operated in high school. I remember watching him as a sophomore at the Dvorak. See the below match, but this version of Nelson was who we thought we were getting, but then he turned into this handfighter will to stand around and wait for the perfect shot.

 
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Well.. actually....

Nelson absolutely changed who and what he was after a year in the Iowa room. One of the biggest reasons he jumped in success level (from not qualifying for state as a freshman) was his attack rate.

Nelson was seen as a decently athletic guy who wouldn't stop shooting. Regardless of the person in front of him.

His best losses in high school were to david carr (8-4) and braunagel (13-7) in Freestyle. But he went down shooting. A LOT. And its how he operated in high school. I remember watching him as a sophomore at the Dvorak. See the below match, but this version of Nelson was who we thought we were getting, but then he turned into this handfighter will to stand around and wait for the perfect shot.

Thought I remember him setting the all-time Iowa state high school record for takedowns JR or SR year?
 
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There's no reason he can't still wrestle with the same pace and effort. I don't normally say negative things about Iowa wrestlers, but Nelson needs to ask himself why he is wrestling this year. Is it to just be on the team for one more year or to have the best season of his career? I was hoping we would see more offense and effort from him this season, but as of now I don't see it. He has all the tools to go hard, real hard every match and take the fight out of the guy he is wrestling. Unfortunately, at this point I don't know if the switch can be flipped.
It's risky trying to win 1 TD matches at NCAA's. Some might even say your taking a gamble in doing so.....

Ok I will see myself out now.
 
Gabe on full feed isn't walking around at 183. Phil has stated that previously in highschool he got over 200.
He's been well north of 200 in the past. It's been a few years but I believe Phil Keddy was 5'7 or 5'8. Matt Brown seemed to be about that.
 
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