Um, yes. He's not listed as a starter at 74, but is at 84. The line-up would otherwise be Arnold-Brands/Ferrari and not Kennedy/Brands-Arnold/Ferrari. If Ferrari can beat2 Arnold at 84, he can likely beat Kennedy or Brands at that weight also.
Not as true freshman. Go get a guy in the portal for 1 year
Because history has shown that the Brands don’t handle lineup conflicts well. I hope they are proactive with the Gabe Ferrari situation but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if one of them enter transfer portal.
No reason why both can’t make the line up next year. Kennedy may be odd man out his last year.
Agree, you need a year in the room to even hang with the likes of Sinclair, Carroll, Merrill, AJ and Barr. And if we aren't beating ISU, PSU or OSU with a RS freshman, you might as well RS. Similar thinking with Gabe this year, if Ferrari can't beat Plott, Starocci or Welsh this year, then might as well RS him,
Sure, crazier things have happened but not in my opinion at all. I defended Kennedy as the top 174lber in the room for 5 pages on this forum. People tend to think he's underachieved at Iowa even though he still has 2 seasons left. He was ranked as high as #4 last season and had one bad match at NCAAs while wresting up a weight. Truly a 165lber. He's a goer, has been getting better and grew into 174 now and will be a tough out for anyone outside of Haines, O'Toole, maybe Hamiti. Had Kennedy beat Lewis (close match) in the wrestle backs he would have AA'd. If he AA'd we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Why are you so confident in that Kennedy would beat Gabe at 174? It really feels like a tossup at best no?
Because if he would beat him then it would be Kennedy vs Arnold for 74 and Brands vs Ferrari for 184. All 4 can make 174 and all 4 can make 184. But if Arnold can beat Kennedy and Brands can beat Ferrari the line-up talk would be 174 Arnold, 184 Brands/Ferrari, where nobody would lose eligibility or care if Brands lost his final year. If Kennedy had only this year, you might see Arnold take the spot even if he was slightly behind but being that he has another year you can't make the slighter better guy sit for 2 years.
Why are people so confident that Gabe can beat Kennedy? Or, who has more potential against common opponents?
I don’t think most people feel strongly about any of it but any of the edge is Probly due to the fact Kennedy had been in the room for 4 seasons and not made the podium while also a bit undersized last year. Where as Gabe was a true freshman last year and had several ranked wins filling out the weight.
Oh people feel VERY strongly, go read some of the past threads. Now that Kennedy is wrestling tough as hell, people are less passionate about sitting Kennedy
I don’t think anyone is beating Ferrarri at 184 this year.. it’s just a matter if Ferrari will RS this year imo.. either way.. if Ferrari doesn’t go up to 197.. or if Caliendo doesn’t go 157 next year… then someone really good will be left out of the lineup.. probably most fair way is to just have a wrestle off for 174 + body of work into consideration..
Like you said, Kennedy is a legit top 5 guy at the weight.. but so is Arnold(indicated by his ranking).. so it’s going to be a tough choice either way who to start… both are top 5 guys..
Arnold's ranking is as much about potential and the fact that he's the starter at Iowa than anything else. A RS freshman being ranked 5, with wins over Feldkamp and Wittlake is very generous. Not enough data to be ranked 5 in my opinion
Also, Kennedy is 6-0 this season with all bonus point wins. Arnold has close wins against the kid from Army and Bellarmine, both unranked.
I think Ferrari can beat at least two of those three you mentioned...or at least I haven't seen anything to tell me otherwise. Yes, Star and Keck could definitely be a bridge too far, and Welsh looks really good, but he also lost to Ed Ruth last year. He also had some very tough wins including an OT win against PK last year. As for Plott, yes he looks very good this year. But so does Angelo. Yes, I'd be willing to say Angelo can stand his ground this year. Not saying it's the right move - though I think it is if Angelo wants to go as tomorrow is promise to no one - but I think he can be in the top 3.
I was at the Bellarmine dual...that kid gave Gabe everything he wanted and more. That body style scares me, especially if it's attached to a ranked opponent.
He either majored or teched the same guy at SS.
I don’t even disagree with you but you’re just the other side of the coin and keep beating the Kennedy drum. I want him to show out as much as anybody. The issue is when you’re in the program for four years and don’t show out regardless of the reason there’s going to be heat. Add to that most guys aren’t making jumps as 4th year guys whereas true freshman will. Plus this whole issue was created when Brands and Kennedy got wrapped up with the gambling fiasco.
As a coach, I come from the school of that that if you have a vet and a youngster who are neck and neck for position, you go with youth. I’m sure that’s what people are thinking—at least that’s how I view it, anyway.
Don't show out? He still has 2 years of eligibility left and he has a pretty awesome track record if you consider who he lost to. A third of his losses are to national champs or finalists, another third are to high AA, the other third are to top 10-20 ranked guys. It's not like he's Assad, Ybarra, Schriever or even Teske....I'd be more worried about Block, Cruz, Rathjen, V. Voinovich, Riggins (as a recruit) or Gabe than I would Kennedy. Murin was a 4 year starter in the program and placed low AA once, Assad never placed. If Kennedy were at 165 last year I think he places already. He's right there with Ramirez, Hamiti, Amine and Caliendo but not quite a Messenbrink, Carr, Griffith or O'Toole.
Marinelli AAd 3 times and beat PK straight up for the spot. Also regarding one of your other posts, PK does not have 100% bonus this year.
You’re just arguing to argue. I agree with you. But yes. If you’re a blue chip top 10 guy at Iowa and you have 0 AAs after being there 4 seasons I’d say you haven’t showed out. And you lose credibility putting Marinelli into the convo. None of those other guys are at the level of Kennedy
I agree if Ludington is okay with taking a shirt next year to develop. As of now, Buchannan graduates and Ludington is next years starter with our current roster. TnT will have to make a decision on possible upgrades in the portal, if it is worth it or not. Alot of blue chip recruits out of high school are ready to go today.
Gabe is like 13-1 through a 1.5 seasons with a 5-1 loss to Plott. Gabe has beat Feldkamp and Wittlake.
Sure, but at 197 it's a lot harder. Carroll (RS) and Sinclair just got bonused against Buchanan and Merrill was ridden for 2 minutes, and stalled for 4. And those guys all wrestled at World Championships I believe in HS. I can think of AJ and Elam of recent who made the jump quickly.
Buchannan is elite of the elite. If Hawks can snag a one year Buchannan type and the money is there for it, then great. Could even set up another great soldier salute final next year. As a fan, Im good either way.
Herk can have his Kennedy in the line up this year again, but it’s Brands he has to beat out. Stop comparing him to Gabe, that will be for next year. Gabe still looked small compared to some of his opponents at the SS. Kennedy even said in his interview after SS, he is fighting for the spot against Nelson this year. Angelo will be redshirted. I would love to see him get Star and Plott just so he has a chance to see where he is against top experienced 184’s before next year. Gabe only lost 5-0 to plott last year, when he was wrestling as a 174. Plott was easily beating everyone besides keck last year. We have yet to see how Gabe handles the pressure of NCAA tournament, but Kennedy
He’s wrestling better than ever this year at Iowa. Brooks was destroying everyone last year. Hidlay looked great, but proved not to be as close to Brooks as I hoped on the finals.
Ludington is a nice recruit, is currently ranked 20 pfp by Flo with the 2026 class thrown in, I believe # 12 pfp in his senior class. He can’t be expected to jump into 197 and AA without a year develope physically and work in a tough college room. I’m sure he’ll win more than he loses if forced into action, but would benefit him and the team if he could redshirt. Angelo was top 5 and probably redshirting, and Gabe top 7 and redshirted. Deluca was 18, but I think this is falsely low for him since he hadn’t competed in a long time. I think he is more of a 5-10 type recruit.
You are correct, my friend. Sadly I couldn't watch the SS and didn't realize it was the same guy he faced during the dual. Perhaps he wasn't feeling well at the Bellarmine dual as 5-3 and 17-4 are much different results.
He also majored that same guy at the SS last year (2023) 12-2You are correct, my friend. Sadly I couldn't watch the SS and didn't realize it was the same guy he faced during the dual. Perhaps he wasn't feeling well at the Bellarmine dual as 5-3 and 17-4 are much different results.
You're 100% assuming here. I could easily assume Gabe can beat PK... and equally assume the reasons Gabe is at 184 is bc 1. he can more easily make it and hang there strength wise than PK, 2. Nelson didn't want to go 184 and 3. Gabe is a team first guy who was willing to do whatever it took to get in the lineup.
I know it sounds crazy but.. why not have the two wrestle off for the 174 spot if Angelo goes 184 this year.. ?
I don't think the plan is or ever was for Angelo to burn his shirt this year. Someone had to man 184, it just so happens it's the guy I think is our best shot at a high finish at 174.
Agree, would be nice if Buchannan had another year but as it stands right now Ludington is it next year. Now if a AA 97 wants to transfer in and Hawks got the moolah, then lets give him a year. Hope Warner and Buchannan are around to work with him.
