Open letter/suggestions for Tom

[augiehawk]

Since we know we have insiders here and this can get to the staff, I figured we could post ideas/suggestions for the program. Let's not turn this into a bitch fest, fire Tom thread, as we know he is not going anywhere. Just post your open ideas/suggestions to improve the program. I also know Tom has forgot more about wrestling than most of us have ever known.

Mine is to bring in a non-Iowa assistant. I know loyalty is great and all, and I'm sure that Tom asks for feedback from his coaches, but when all of the coaches probably have the same line of thinking, not a lot of new ideas are created.

 

[AFHawk86]

Reinvigorate the HWC with world class athletes and coaches, both men and women.

 

[PSU Mike]

Wear jeans more often.

Buy flowers for the locker room.

Invest in plastics.

 

[Squarehat]

Facebook live practices

 

[johnyt9]

Reinvigorate the HWC with world class athletes and coaches, both men and women.

Would love to get Trent Hidlay

 

[MitchLL]

GO GET KEM BACK TO IC!

Create some random position for MStar.

 

[lookleft goright]

Would love to get Trent Hidlay

You guys desperately need a scrambler on your staff.

 

[Gobblin]

You guys desperately need a scrambler on your staff.

Or in the lineup….

 

[Chips28]

Reinvigorate the HWC with world class athletes and coaches, both men and women.

Remove women and this is a good answer. Matter of fact drop the women’s program total waste of time, money and resources spent on something no one cares about.

 

[Chips28]

Need a change on the coaching staff. Outside presence like a Nolf or bring back Kemerer.

 

[TNTwrestle]

Or in the lineup….

We have a few. Unfortunately, most of them are gone next year.

 

[Slim45]

We have a few. Unfortunately, most of them are gone next year.

I think maybe @Gobblin is hinting at something…

 

[Gobblin]

We have a few. Unfortunately, most of them are gone next year.

Maybe we’ll find a couple new ones to replace them with.

 

[GableBeer]

You guys desperately need a scrambler on your staff.

I personally thought Iowa was noticeably better at scrambling this season…

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Reinvigorate the HWC with world class athletes and coaches, both men and women.

I can’t believe this hasn’t been the main priority.

 

[GableBeer]

If we could add Hidlay and retain Buchanan that would make for very good upper weights for the HWC. We would just need a 65kg (Hopefully we can keep Otoguro around).

 

[acuhawk]

I personally thought Iowa was noticeably better at scrambling this season…

Even PK with some huge scrambles at NCAA's. Before it was almost auto TD if you could get through his head/hands to his legs.

 

[GableBeer]

Even PK with some huge scrambles at NCAA's. Before it was almost auto TD if you could get through his head/hands to his legs.

Also Mikey outscrambling Mantanona, Drake was a few extra seconds from winning a championships from scrambling and his scrambling was poor last year.

 

[acuhawk]

Also Mikey outscrambling Mantanona, Drake was a few extra seconds from winning a championships from scrambling and his scrambling was poor last year.

Keuter good scrambler. Cruz is decent scrambler if the weight class was 118. Gabe's not bad either at the proper weight. Honestly pretty odd take from the look left guy since lack of scrambling wasn't really an issue with this years team. It's another case of regurgitating stuff which is easier than objectively looking at it. Same thing with the injuries. Always regurgitate the same thing. I opened it up for discussion over the last 4 years but no takers. It's easier to just keep throwing out the same old comments.

 

[tiltman]

Even PK with some huge scrambles at NCAA's. Before it was almost auto TD if you could get through his head/hands to his legs.

I noticed this with PK against I believe it was Hamiti. I think he tried a roll through or something when Hamiti had a single in the air and I couldn’t believe it.

 

[24timenattychamps]

Everyone bags on the HWC but it’s stronger than all but a few, especially if Buchanan sticks around
Spencer Lee 3x NCAA champ, Olympic Silver
Stephen Buchanan NCAA champ, 4x AA
Austin Desanto 3x AA
Jacob Warner 4x AA
Otoguro Olympian
Alex Marinelli 4x B1G champ( owns Vincenzo Joseph) 3x AA
and I’m sure others are around

 

[Hawkgma]

Everyone bags on the HWC but it’s stronger than all but a few, especially if Buchanan sticks around
Spencer Lee 3x NCAA champ, Olympic Silver
Stephen Buchanan NCAA champ, 4x AA
Austin Desanto 3x AA
Jacob Warner 4x AA
Otoguro Olympian
Alex Marinelli 4x B1G champ( owns Vincenzo Joseph) 3x AA
and I’m sure others are around

Unless you're an Iowa fan only one of those names does anything for excitement.. For me anyways and I am what most would call a casual.

 

[OILCHECKER]

Everyone bags on the HWC but it’s stronger than all but a few, especially if Buchanan sticks around
Spencer Lee 3x NCAA champ, Olympic Silver
Stephen Buchanan NCAA champ, 4x AA
Austin Desanto 3x AA
Jacob Warner 4x AA
Otoguro Olympian
Alex Marinelli 4x B1G champ( owns Vincenzo Joseph) 3x AA
and I’m sure others are around

I dont think anyone outside of iowa would consider that a strong room.

Not certain if Buchannon sticks around and he has virtually no experience (hope he does)
Desanto isnt making any top teams, neither is Warner
Marinelli isnt competing
Otoguro is/was a good guy to bring in

 

[nu2u]

Bring in a PED guru in order to level up but for god’s sake keep Grip220 away from the athletes because that guy is a human anabolic steroid detector and cannot be trusted!

 

[ChiPackHawk]

I dont think anyone outside of iowa would consider that a strong room.

Not certain if Buchannon sticks around and he has virtually no experience (hope he does)
Desanto isnt making any top teams, neither is Warner
Marinelli isnt competing
Otoguro is/was a good guy to bring in

Outside of the PSU room, what individual wrestling club is stronger? I'm asking as I certainly do not know.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

Remove women and this is a good answer. Matter of fact drop the women’s program total waste of time, money and resources spent on something no one cares about.

I personally couldn’t give 2 sh*ts about women’s wrestling. If I ever watch a full match, it’ll be my first. That being said if Iowa pioneering women’s wrestling brings money into the men’s sport (not sure if it does or doesn’t) then I’m all for it.

 

[MilleGinja]

Everyone bags on the HWC but it’s stronger than all but a few, especially if Buchanan sticks around
Spencer Lee 3x NCAA champ, Olympic Silver
Stephen Buchanan NCAA champ, 4x AA
Austin Desanto 3x AA
Jacob Warner 4x AA
Otoguro Olympian
Alex Marinelli 4x B1G champ( owns Vincenzo Joseph) 3x AA
and I’m sure others are around

It’s a reflection of the state of the collegiate program over the last decade or so. Good not great. PSU/NLWC is the gold standard obviously, and it obviously tips the scales further when they pick off other clubs’ most accomplished wrestlers.

How many world team members each year are NCAA champs vs “just” multiple time AAs? Our champs over the last decade are Clark, Lee, and now Buchanan?

 

[Gobblin]

I personally couldn’t give 2 sh*ts about women’s wrestling. If I ever watch a full match, it’ll be my first. That being said if Iowa pioneering women’s wrestling brings money into the men’s sport (not sure if it does or doesn’t) then I’m all for it.

It doesn’t.

 

[24timenattychamps]

How many world team members each year are NCAA champs vs “just” multiple time AAs? Our champs over the last decade are Clark, Lee, and now Buchanan?

McKenna, Gomez, Rivera, Green, and Gilman have/had really good freestyle careers recently with no national titles.

 

[acuhawk]

Everyone bags on the HWC but it’s stronger than all but a few, especially if Buchanan sticks around
Spencer Lee 3x NCAA champ, Olympic Silver
Stephen Buchanan NCAA champ, 4x AA
Austin Desanto 3x AA
Jacob Warner 4x AA
Otoguro Olympian
Alex Marinelli 4x B1G champ( owns Vincenzo Joseph) 3x AA
and I’m sure others are around

Jayden Eirman also who's a great scrambler. He's good at watching the matches and working with guys on things that could be done different/better.

 

[24timenattychamps]

Jayden Eirman also who's a great scrambler. He's good at watching the matches and working with guys on things that could be done different/better.

Yep, forgot about him.

 

[MilleGinja]

McKenna, Gomez, Rivera, Green, and Gilman have/had really good freestyle careers recently with no national titles.

Yes. Now list the NCAA champs? And compare their senior level credentials.

I think my point still stands?

 

[acuhawk]

I dont think anyone outside of iowa would consider that a strong room.

Not certain if Buchannon sticks around and he has virtually no experience (hope he does)
Desanto isnt making any top teams, neither is Warner
Marinelli isnt competing
Otoguro is/was a good guy to bring in

So short sighted. I've said it before but some of the big names everyone wants wouldn't do half as much for the college guys as someone like Marinelli and DeSanto do. If the argument is HWC prestige than of course Dake, Snyder, etc are the better options. If the argument is what's best for the college guys, I will say Bull/ Austin are as good or better since they're all in for helping the college guys. Many of the big names don't go live that often, and aren't wrestling the college guys daily. So it depends on what the argument in.

A perfect world would have both, but that's going to take a lot of money. I would rather the money go to recruits and college guys. Keep them around after in the HWC. I don't know how much money is available, but I'd prefer a college team getting loaded with studs over the HWC having guys like Dake if we have to choose. That's a question for someone who has insight on how much money there is to build with such as Eldeen or Novak. I have no insight on the $ available.

 

[OILCHECKER]

So short sighted. I've said it before but some of the big names everyone wants wouldn't do half as much for the college guys as someone like Marinelli and DeSanto do. If the argument is HWC prestige than of course Dake, Snyder, etc are the better options. If the argument is what's best for the college guys, I will say Bull/ Austin are as good or better since they're all in for helping the college guys. Many of the big names don't go live that often, and aren't wrestling the college guys daily. So it depends on what the argument in.

A perfect world would have both, but that's going to take a lot of money. I would rather the money go to recruits and college guys. Keep them around after in the HWC. I don't know how much money is available, but I'd prefer a college team getting loaded with studs over the HWC having guys like Dake if we have to choose. That's a question for someone who has insight on how much money there is to build with such as Eldeen or Novak. I have no insight on the $ available.

I am not talking about guys like desanto, warner, marinelli, etc, and their impact on the current college guys in the room. I know it is significant. I am talking about guys making noise or making runs at world or olympic teams that the recruits see and want to come for that. Just having one guy (Spencer) doesnt seem like enough of a draw.

 

[The Vak]

I will say that the scrambling did seems better this year. Still not a team wide strength, but better than it has been, so hopefully that progression continues next year.

 

[lookleft goright]

Keuter good scrambler. Cruz is decent scrambler if the weight class was 118. Gabe's not bad either at the proper weight. Honestly pretty odd take from the look left guy since lack of scrambling wasn't really an issue with this years team. It's another case of regurgitating stuff which is easier than objectively looking at it. Same thing with the injuries. Always regurgitate the same thing. I opened it up for discussion over the last 4 years but no takers. It's easier to just keep throwing out the same old comments.

I admit that the Hawks scrambled better this year than in the past. I am only saying that they need a coach who can really teach it and feel it and pass that on to the kids. I can teach scrambling, but not at a level to help elite athletes.

I was not saying they are terrible scramblers, although it is usually something they do in response to the other guy scrambling. They do not initiate it as often as it is initiated against them. To me, is seems like Ferrari was by far the best scrambler on the team and one of the best in the country. So the well is not totally dry, but my point still stands that they could use on one the staff.

 

[jayridescarbon]

Bust out a little cement and put in some windows.

 

[Grip220]

Love to see Kemdawg back and on staff, bring in to the HWC a top contender for Oly spots make an offer to Gomez and Marstellar

 

[pointtheway]

Reinvigorate the HWC with world class athletes and coaches, both men and women.

Iowa Women's team is already loaded with world class athletes. Kilty, Welker and Blades are world and/or olympic medalists, and Coach Chun is definitely world class as a coach.

 

[js8793]

I will say that the scrambling did seems better this year. Still not a team wide strength, but better than it has been, so hopefully that progression continues next year.

Agree and the finishing was cleaner too. I think we saw that reflected in a pretty solid NCAA tournament. Can't leave points on the mat when the matches are so tight.

Still need to combine the improved efficiency with increased volume, but an encouraging step forward.