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It’s early but…….

Not worried about Kueter's conditioning at all. I would guess he had some time off the mat after worlds (at least I hope he did).

Shape is the last thing I'm worried about on opening night.

Block deserves time. We shouldn't panic unless we get into the big ten schedule and he still doesn't look like a solid starter. The lack of hand-fighting and leg attack setups is definitely something to keep an eye on. Everything was straight on from space and he wrestled like that a lot in high school too. I'm not sure he's physically gifted enough to make that work at this level, but we'll see.

The only real frustration I had was Nelson and it wouldn't be a frustration at all if he was just at 184. He can be boring at 184 all he wants imo. I just want Arnold at his correct weight.
 
IMHO, that version and style of wrestling by Nelson will not do us any good at NCAAs. Wrestling like that is how you lose a fluke match against a weaker opponent because you let him hang around and trip you up in the final seconds of the match. Maybe Nelson beat Gabe in the room, but for my money I think Gabe finishes higher on the national scene with his style vice Nelson's style. Like so many of you have said countless times, it's a lot easier to wrestle and win close matches in the room because you know your opponent so well. And as much as I've been pulling for NB and have been on the NB bus the entire off-season, I do not want to watch another 7 mins of him wrestling like that let alone the entire season. If Angelo is the best man at 84 and both Brands and Gabe are at 74, let's pull Angelo's shirt and have Gabe be our guy at 74. We need guys who score points, and it was glaringly obvious that Gabe is that guy if it's between NB and Gabe. And barring PSU injuries, the only chance we likely have against them at NCAAs is to perform or outperform to our seeds and try our damnest to match their bonus points...and you know those boys are going to score some bonus points.
My question for you is, do we want the points this year when Penn State could be on the verge of breaking the record again OR Wait a year for the old crew to grad. And the new guys come in and we have a chance to beat them next year.
 
My question for you is, do we want the points this year when Penn State could be on the verge of breaking the record again OR Wait a year for the old crew to grad. And the new guys come in and we have a chance to beat them next year.
You can't assume any ensuing year is going to be easier against PSU. So, take the most points and best team now. If you burn a year of someone's eligibility now, fill it with a one year transfer portal later.
 
You can't assume any ensuing year is going to be easier against PSU. So, take the most points and best team now. If you burn a year of someone's eligibility now, fill it with a one year transfer portal later.
Yeah, PSU minus Kerk, Carter and Beau, with 133, 157, and 197 a year better. Iowa minus Brands, Parco and Teemer, with several weights potentially improving.
 
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My question for you is, do we want the points this year when Penn State could be on the verge of breaking the record again OR Wait a year for the old crew to grad. And the new guys come in and we have a chance to beat them next year.
With Lilledahl, Sealey, Ryder, and the two Mirasola kids, PSU's recruiting class this year is one of the best ever, along with Duke and Henckel set to join next year with the other holdovers (Mesenbrink, Haines, Kasak, Davis, etc). I don't think you should try to time when the best time to compete is. They will be just as strong for the entire foreseeable future.
 
With Lilledahl, Sealey, Ryder, and the two Mirasola kids, PSU's recruiting class this year is one of the best ever, along with Duke and Henckel set to join next year with the other holdovers (Mesenbrink, Haines, Kasak, Davis, etc). I don't think you should try to time when the best time to compete is. They will be just as strong for the entire foreseeable future.
Very true. They also will have Josh Barr, Nagao, Facundo in the mix as well as incoming Nate Desmond (#5 @ 126), Dalton Perry (#3 @ 138) & Asher Cunningham (#4 @ 165). A lot of high end talent and depth for the foreseeable future. We need to put our best team out every year.
 
With Lilledahl, Sealey, Ryder, and the two Mirasola kids, PSU's recruiting class this year is one of the best ever, along with Duke and Henckel set to join next year with the other holdovers (Mesenbrink, Haines, Kasak, Davis, etc). I don't think you should try to time when the best time to compete is. They will be just as strong for the entire foreseeable future.
We understand Penn State is loaded. Thank you for reminding us again.
 
We understand Penn State is loaded. Thank you for reminding us again.
I know I provide a valuable service here. LOL.

My point wasn't even as much about that as it was that it's foolish to try to time when you're going to try to compete with when they are relatively weaker. This year with the senior transfers (i.e. Parco, Teemer, and Buchanan) has a chance to be Iowa's strongest lineup since the championship year. I don't see why anyone would consider punting on that.
 
With Lilledahl, Sealey, Ryder, and the two Mirasola kids, PSU's recruiting class this year is one of the best ever, along with Duke and Henckel set to join next year with the other holdovers (Mesenbrink, Haines, Kasak, Davis, etc). I don't think you should try to time when the best time to compete is. They will be just as strong for the entire foreseeable future.
Bored To Death Yawn GIF by Rose McGowan
 
Did you see all of Gabe's matches last year? He had a few lackluster wins against questionable opposition. Sometimes you have an off night, or a tough style match-up. I'm not saying Brands is better, but he has AA"d. Gabe is still somewhat unproven at this level. He had a couple big wins, and some close ones that shouldn't have been. Let's not throw anyone under the bus the first meet of the season.
You’re comparing a true freshman last year who went 12-1 with his lone loss being a 5-1 loss to last year’s runner up at 184, to a 6th year senior who has AA’d exactly 1 time in all his seasons of wrestling. NB is who he is, he has no offense and relies almost exclusively on his defense to win matches. His first two matches this year have looked exactly like nearly every match he has wrestled in an Iowa singlet. I could see NB being, at best, no better than a R12 guy this year.
 
You’re comparing a true freshman last year who went 12-1 with his lone loss being a 5-1 loss to last year’s runner up at 184, to a 6th year senior who has AA’d exactly 1 time in all his seasons of wrestling. NB is who he is, he has no offense and relies almost exclusively on his defense to win matches. His first two matches this year have looked exactly like nearly every match he has wrestled in an Iowa singlet. I could see NB being, at best, no better than a R12 guy this year.
Nelson was barely inside the top 100 pfp coming out of high school. The only reason people have such high hopes for him is because he is Terry’s son. A guy like that is usually a career room guy, so he has over performed. His competition, Kennedy, was top 5 pfp in high school. Theoretically, this shouldn’t even be a question who is better.
 
Nelson was barely inside the top 100 pfp coming out of high school. The only reason people have such high hopes for him is because he is Terry’s son. A guy like that is usually a career room guy, so he has over performed. His competition, Kennedy, was top 5 pfp in high school. Theoretically, this shouldn’t even be a question who is better.

It’s funny how many people grasp this.
 
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Nelson was barely inside the top 100 pfp coming out of high school. The only reason people have such high hopes for him is because he is Terry’s son. A guy like that is usually a career room guy, so he has over performed. His competition, Kennedy, was top 5 pfp in high school. Theoretically, this shouldn’t even be a question who is better.

And the only reason he was seen as a decent recruit - a guy on the upswing - was his attack rate. He got to Iowa and just stopped attacking. Which - is on the coaches.
 
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And the only reason he was seen as a decent recruit - a guy on the upswing - was his attack rate. He got to Iowa and just stopped attacking. Which - is on the coaches.
I think he just got gun shy when he realized guys at this level have much better counter offense, especially the year he bumped up to be an undersized 184.
 
Nelson needs to talk to Morpheus from The Matrix. Free his mind. His commitment to boring style is just another form of Control.
 
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Nelson needs to talk to Morpheus from The Matrix. Free his mind. His commitment to boring style is just another form of Control.
Seems to me he has decent athleticism and basic techique, but like most humans, tends to be more averse to a loss than he is motivated to win. Sometimes a useful mindset, but also a recipe for boring mediocrity.
 
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