Aden Valencia is a beast, but that’d be a tall task to get him out of Stanford. Kid’s a big brain who’s getting a free Stanford education. He’s just a freshman and his family is less than an hour from the Stanford campus. Maybe after he’s finished school in a few years, he goes the Real Woods route, but hard to envision the kid trading a Business degree from Stanford for a degree in wrestling from Iowa.
Block's natural weight at his height should be 157. In the absence of Parco/Teemer level transfers next year, 149/157 is pretty murky between Estrada, Block, and the 2 Voino brothers. I'd guess Estrada at 149 and Block at 157 is the best lineup, but it's tough to say with VV3 being out for so long. The good news is that all of those guys are pretty good, so it's not like picking between a bunch of scrubs, it's picking between guys who would be legit starters at most places. Either way, I think Block at 141 is not feasible going forward.
Yeah I had just assumed that Block would be going up to 157 next year. Estrada at 149 seems like his natural weight. It would be interesting to see how those two perform at their natural weights. I am not counting on either though. I remember hearing how good Petersen was looking this offseason and I just chalked it up to another one of those under the radar guys that gets talked about in the room and then does not do much during the year. I think there is about one of those every year.
Estrada probably qualifies as such, but he's looked the part when he's gotten a chance, too. I wouldn't call Block "under the radar", or VV3 for that matter. They were both very highly regarded recruits who had a lost year due to injury.
I’m a huge Miguel Estrada fan, but the fact that Cael Voinovich beat him straight up gives me pause to anoint Estrada as the 149ber next year. I imagine Rathjen, VV, CV and Estrada will all see some time there and it’ll be interesting to see who ends up as the starter when the dust settles.
While a business degree from Iowa is not "Stanford", it certainly is highly respected.
If the 2021 Hawks team taught me anything...many things can happen and the team you thought would be the best, have things happen to them and they are no longer that team.
And, I bet Real Woods thought he was going to do a lot with his Stanford education too. You can get a great education no matter where you go. Just need to apply yourself.
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure he finished his degree before he came to Iowa maybe not the best example.
They were asking not one, but two guys, to cut an apparently unreasonable amount of weight.
If they can make it happen, collusion between OSU and Iowa NIL heavy hitters that results in each pulling one returning finalist-contender from PSU next year is probably the most efficient way to achieve what you’re after. Those parties seem to be safe with respect to tampering. What body would come down on them for collusion if they’re not considered part of the staff or admin of the schools? Who’s our resident antitrust attorney?
He was a psych major I believe. Typically grad school is the next step for Psych grads if they actually want to pursue that field. No idea if he’s is pursuing that at Michigan?
Yeah, I didn't see that match, so I can't really comment on it, but what I've seen of Estrada looks like the real deal (to at least be an AA contender at the right weight). Is CV better? Maybe, we'll see, but Estrada also seemed to be improving in real time as the season went on, so that's what I base my opinion on, but the uncertainty is why I said the situation is murky. There are a bunch of guys there who are good but a little shy of elite. It should be a great competition to see who emerges.
Yeah, you never know. PSU could be the school hit hard by the injury bug next year, but I try not to factor that into my thinking because it's usually pretty random.
That was my point. The 2026 trophy has not been handed out yet. There's a whole off season and wrestling season to go through after 2025 tourney is over.
Not at all. The point was Real went to Stanford and everyone said it was for the education. You can get a good education anywhere. If you’re a world class wrestler and want to pursue it, go to any good school because they all have good academics if you apply yourself. Iowa is good enough school to tout their academics as well. In other words, go get Valencia
This probably shouldn't have to be explained, but here we are:
Thread is about rentals.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Injuries and a whole list of things can change the dynamics of a team.
Yeah a degree from Stanford commands a whole lot more respect and will open up a whole lot more grad/professional opportunities than a degree from Iowa. Just the truth.
From what little I saw of him wrestling good competition he looks defensive like Bartlett in folk, great defense slow to the offense. He's still in high school so we shall see but I'm guessing he is a better freestyler than folk.
Two huge hurdles to pry him out of Stanford prior to graduation. 1) He’s getting a $60,000 a year college tuition from one of the best academic schools in the country. (most of it likely paid for by the university).
Nobody is claiming otherwise as near as I can tell. Point is simply that....it's not that simple. Guarantee you there are Iowa grads who are more successful than Stanford grads with same degree. Details matter, individuals matter, who you know matters, personality matters, work ethic matters.... No clue if we could pull Valencia away, but to suggest little chance just because of a "Stanford degree" is pretty naive.
who the hell is "High Fuctose" ? lmao
High Fuctose = Facundo
Forgive me for getting to the party late, but Angelo top 5? You’re an idiot!!!
agreed he probably needs to graduate before making the move.
184 won’t be weak next year. PSU has maybe Barr, maybe Ryder who beat Gabe last summer. Rocco Welsh returns and is looking pretty salty.Mccenelly back as a sophomore. 5th is Probly low but it’s not a foregone conclusion
SEE BELOW
TY - kid has no place to go in the F*** st line up. I would be looking to add him in at 157 if he can make that weight?
YES people have been stealing my lines, ideas etc.... for many years!!!
Rocco will hopefully be a HAWK if AJ is not!!!
Rocco Welsh has been wrestling internationally at 79KG (174lbs).
