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The Raneys

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Wait a minute,,, Spooner never wrestled???? 😳
I never did either unfortunately. Atleast not "organized" in high school. Not by choice certainly.

My mother is a devout Jehovah's Witness(not talking religion, I assure you) and had very strict rules. Not playing sports was a big one. "Bad association spoils useful habits". 🙄

That really sucked because my brother and I were very athletic kids. Still are really. We did lift weights before and after school, and I would often roll around with the wrestlers and regularly beat them around my weight. The coaches begged my parents to let us play sports but they might aswell have been talking to a wall.

The funny thing is I know quite a bit about wrestling now, and my son's coaches have asked my input several times. They also know I never got to wrestle myself. It doesn't seem bother them. It only bother's me as a uncontrollable regret I can't change.

Everyone has a different story to tell. I am really enjoying watching my son's wrestle now, I can tell you that! My oldest is falling in love with it at 6 years old. How cool is that? A small part of me is living vicariously through them and I'm here for it.
 
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How many HS prospects can compete for an NCAA title as true freshman, the list is extremely small. Like 1-2 kids per recruiting class, everyone else has to be developed for at least a couple years. Miguel is losing very close matches to the #4 & #6 ranked wrestlers up a weight at 157, he also beat a top #20 ranked wrestler from IL. If he wrestled from the beginning of the year at 157 he'd probably be ranked top 20 which is good as a true freshman. He'll most likely redshirt next year and then have a legit shot to be an AA the next 3 years. So he's a good prospect for you guys. We'll just see how it plays out.
I concur. What little I have seen of Estrada I've been pretty impressed with. Seems like a really tough kid who has some room for improvement. What's not to like about him?
 
I never did either unfortunately. Atleast not "organized" in high school. Not by choice certainly.

My mother is a devout Jehovah's Witness(not talking religion, I asure you) and had very strict rules. Not playing sports was a big one. "Bad association spoils useful habits". 🙄

That really sucked because by brother and I were very athletic kids. Still are really. We did lift weights before and after school, and I would often roll around with the wrestlers and reugularly beat them around my weight. The coaches begged my parents to let us play sports but they might aswell have been talking to a wall.

The funny thing is I know quite a bit about wrestling now and my son's coaches have asked my input several times. They also know I never got to wrestle myself.. It doesn't seem bother them. It only bothers me as a uncontrollable regret I can't change.

Everyone has a different story to tell. I am really enjoying watching my son's wrestle now, I can tell you that! My oldest is falling in love with it at 6 years old. How cool is that? A small part of me is living vicariously through them and I'm here for it.
Let him practice and learn to love it. I wouldn't let him do tournaments until he's 11-12. We put so many kids in competition way to early with adults screaming at them from the side of the mat and they don't even know WTF is going on. And we lose many because they get discouraged at a young age losing and the parents care more about it than they do. Let him learn to tumble and control his body first. We put kids out there and expect them to do things and they can't even do a hand spring or a flip yet. My rant is over 🤣🤣
 
I never did either unfortunately. Atleast not "organized" in high school. Not by choice certainly.

My mother is a devout Jehovah's Witness(not talking religion, I asure you) and had very strict rules. Not playing sports was a big one. "Bad association spoils useful habits". 🙄

That really sucked because by brother and I were very athletic kids. Still are really. We did lift weights before and after school, and I would often roll around with the wrestlers and reugularly beat them around my weight. The coaches begged my parents to let us play sports but they might aswell have been talking to a wall.

The funny thing is I know quite a bit about wrestling now and my son's coaches have asked my input several times. They also know I never got to wrestle myself.. It doesn't seem bother them. It only bothers me as a uncontrollable regret I can't change.

Everyone has a different story to tell. I am really enjoying watching my son's wrestle now, I can tell you that! My oldest is falling in love with it at 6 years old. How cool is that? A small part of me is living vicariously through them and I'm here for it.
Im of course just busting Spooners chops, everyone knows he needs a little bit of noodling.
I personally believe wrestling is for everyone and everyone can benefit from the trials and tribulations of wrestling, that includes fans that never competed but somehow got into the sport for whatever reasons.
One of the biggest wrestling fans that never wrestled and knew just about everything about the sport was my mother.
She dated my father since HS and My father was Long Island champion before they had state championship in NY. She raised 6 kids 4 boys who all wrestled to some point and two girls one of which I have no doubt would have been a state champ if they had wrestling for girls.
I know some of the best wrestling fans never laced them up trust me I have witnessed many!
 
You frighten me, Ron! I'd never do that. I'm a fat, old man. You probably don't even have a singlet that fits.

Fairly interesting message board rule you have, that one has to have played a certain sport to talk about it. Like one has to know how to execute a proper spladle to inform some dork that Tom Brands doesn't run hawkeyesports.com. That guy might actually have wrestled. Does that make him right?
It isn't about being a fan. Hell, it isn't even that you aren't or can't be a knowledgeable fan. It is more about the "type" of fan you are. It is really hard to accept and give credence to how critical you are of so many aspects without you actually ever experiencing them firsthand. Unless you experienced what goes on day to day and even year to year in a DI room, it is nearly impossible to truly, and fairly, analyze a coach. Even then, if you aren't spending time in that exact room, you still may have no clue.

Unless of course it is all just a "schtick" and then I will give you all the credit in the world for never breaking character!!!
 
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I never did either unfortunately. Atleast not "organized" in high school. Not by choice certainly.

There are people here that think you don't deserve to post. Even if it's about the stupid shit posted by PSU fans or some of our resident geniuses.

It isn't about being a fan. Hell, it isn't even that you aren't or can't be a knowledgeable fan. It is more about the "type" of fan you are. It is really hard to accept and give credence to how critical you are of so many aspects without you actually ever experiencing them firsthand. Unless you experienced what goes on day to day and even year to year in a DI room, it is nearly impossible to truly, and fairly, analyze a coach. Even then, if you aren't spending time in that exact room, you still may have no clue.

Unless of course it is all just a "schtick" and then I will give you all the credit in the world for never breaking character!!!

Holy. Hell. I will take criticism all day from Ron Mexico, but from you? L...O...Freaking...L.
 
I never did either unfortunately. Atleast not "organized" in high school. Not by choice certainly.

My mother is a devout Jehovah's Witness(not talking religion, I assure you) and had very strict rules. Not playing sports was a big one. "Bad association spoils useful habits". 🙄

That really sucked because my brother and I were very athletic kids. Still are really. We did lift weights before and after school, and I would often roll around with the wrestlers and regularly beat them around my weight. The coaches begged my parents to let us play sports but they might aswell have been talking to a wall.

The funny thing is I know quite a bit about wrestling now, and my son's coaches have asked my input several times. They also know I never got to wrestle myself. It doesn't seem bother them. It only bother's me as a uncontrollable regret I can't change.

Everyone has a different story to tell. I am really enjoying watching my son's wrestle now, I can tell you that! My oldest is falling in love with it at 6 years old. How cool is that? A small part of me is living vicariously through them and I'm here for it.

Crazy wrestling dad in 5, 4, 3....
 
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There are people here that think you don't deserve to post. Even if it's about the stupid shit posted by PSU fans or some of our resident geniuses.



Holy. Hell. I will take criticism all day from Ron Mexico, but from you? L...O...Freaking...L.
I didn’t expect you to “take it” but you certainly deserve it!
 
There are people here that think you don't deserve to post. Even if it's about the stupid shit posted by PSU fans or some of our resident geniuses.



Holy. Hell. I will take criticism all day from Ron Mexico, but from you? L...O...Freaking...L.
I didn't think you'd take MSU's post without at least a little feedback. LOL!
 
It still amazes me today that people that run their mouths on here argue with those of us who have wrestled our whole lives when we talk about certain things and they have never wrestled.

Wrestling is a completely different animal than any other sport.

In wrestling, you get better by wrestling guys that are better than you in certain areas. If you are having trouble getting off the bottom you wrestle with guys that are good on top. You don't get better on your feet and have a more dynamic offense by wrestling a guy that just ties up and hand fights the whole match. You get better by live goes with guys that shoot, scramble and push you in every position. Our coaches can't do that to our studs and most of our HWC guys can't either.

Spencer would be great for our 25-41 pounders to go with. Marinelli would be a great partner for our middleweights. That is where it ends in my opinion. Tom and Terry are both too old to give any real studs a true test. Dennis, meh. M* was never an offensive guy but did ok in his day. Big Bob, meh. We need the best guys in the country in our room as coaches and at the HWC if we are going to get back to the top where all Iowa fans want us to be.
 
It still amazes me today that people that run their mouths on here argue with those of us who have wrestled our whole lives when we talk about certain things and they have never wrestled.

Wrestling is a completely different animal than any other sport.

In wrestling, you get better by wrestling guys that are better than you in certain areas. If you are having trouble getting off the bottom you wrestle with guys that are good on top. You don't get better on your feet and have a more dynamic offense by wrestling a guy that just ties up and hand fights the whole match. You get better by live goes with guys that shoot, scramble and push you in every position. Our coaches can't do that to our studs and most of our HWC guys can't either.

Spencer would be great for our 25-41 pounders to go with. Marinelli would be a great partner for our middleweights. That is where it ends in my opinion. Tom and Terry are both too old to give any real studs a true test. Dennis, meh. M* was never an offensive guy but did ok in his day. Big Bob, meh. We need the best guys in the country in our room as coaches and at the HWC if we are going to get back to the top where all Iowa fans want us to be.
I agree, I have been beating this dead horse for years. We obviously need to recruit better, which we are, now that the recruits are coming in, we need a RTC presence. Spencer, Desanto, Marinelli, Warner, Young Sorensen, and Eierman. I only see Spencer and DeSanto competing much in the future. The other guys are basically bodies for the college guys. I like keeping these guys around to train with the college guys and to be good role models but we need someone competing for a US open title and top 3 at trials at every weight. Recruiting combined with a RTC presence is how you build a title contending team year in and year out. The only team to have that is the FUN team out east.

I know this costs $ and paying portal guys and NIL is likely taking up most of the money. If we are not going to go out and get some senior level guys then I wish we kept guys like Real Woods and Kemerer. I'd absolutely love to have a Jason Nolf, Trent Hidlay, and J'den Cox. Maybe Parco, Teemer, and Buchanan stick around for a few years and train with the HWC. I'd love to have world team members at every weight but that is unrealistic. What is not unrealistic is a placer at all 10 weights at the US open with a couple World team members.
 
It still amazes me today that people that run their mouths on here argue with those of us who have wrestled our whole lives when we talk about certain things and they have never wrestled.

I completely agree with this. The devil, as it almost always is, is in the details. You don't see me commenting on strategy or execution much, if at all.
 
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It still amazes me today that people that run their mouths on here argue with those of us who have wrestled our whole lives when we talk about certain things and they have never wrestled.

Wrestling is a completely different animal than any other sport.

In wrestling, you get better by wrestling guys that are better than you in certain areas. If you are having trouble getting off the bottom you wrestle with guys that are good on top. You don't get better on your feet and have a more dynamic offense by wrestling a guy that just ties up and hand fights the whole match. You get better by live goes with guys that shoot, scramble and push you in every position. Our coaches can't do that to our studs and most of our HWC guys can't either.

Spencer would be great for our 25-41 pounders to go with. Marinelli would be a great partner for our middleweights. That is where it ends in my opinion. Tom and Terry are both too old to give any real studs a true test. Dennis, meh. M* was never an offensive guy but did ok in his day. Big Bob, meh. We need the best guys in the country in our room as coaches and at the HWC if we are going to get back to the top where all Iowa fans want us to be.
In nearly all sports, you get better by going against people who are better than you at certain things
 
It still amazes me today that people that run their mouths on here argue with those of us who have wrestled our whole lives when we talk about certain things and they have never wrestled.

Wrestling is a completely different animal than any other sport.

In wrestling, you get better by wrestling guys that are better than you in certain areas. If you are having trouble getting off the bottom you wrestle with guys that are good on top. You don't get better on your feet and have a more dynamic offense by wrestling a guy that just ties up and hand fights the whole match. You get better by live goes with guys that shoot, scramble and push you in every position. Our coaches can't do that to our studs and most of our HWC guys can't either.

Spencer would be great for our 25-41 pounders to go with. Marinelli would be a great partner for our middleweights. That is where it ends in my opinion. Tom and Terry are both too old to give any real studs a true test. Dennis, meh. M* was never an offensive guy but did ok in his day. Big Bob, meh. We need the best guys in the country in our room as coaches and at the HWC if we are going to get back to the top where all Iowa fans want us to be.
Isn't Warner still in the room? Don't you think Buchanan has improved considerably since coming to Iowa? Hell, it could be argued that the upper weights are the most productive thing going for Iowa right now. You don't think Marinelli and Warner are HEAVILY pushing Caliendo, Kennedy, Brands, Arnold, Angelo, Buchanan and even Kueter?

Many teams don't have actual coaches that are wrestling day to day with their guys. As much as I love Casey and know how incredible he was in the room in his early coaching days, I find it hard to believe a guy that is nearly 50 is doing what he once did. The key is having enough guys in the HWC to push the best guys that may not have top level competition in the main room. I would argue that Spencer, Austin, Marinelli and Warner cover a pretty damn wide spectrum.

Now, I don't know the inner workings of the room, so I don't know if Telford is rolling around with Kueter at all, but let's not act like Telford was chopped liver. He did have wins over multiple NCAA Finalists...
 
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If you are a Flo subscriber, watch the Under 17 best of 3 matches between the Raney brothers. Great entertainment!
 
In nearly all sports, you get better by going against people who are better than you at

Isn't Warner still in the room? Don't you think Buchanan has improved considerably since coming to Iowa? Hell, it could be argued that the upper weights are the most productive thing going for Iowa right now. You don't think Marinelli and Warner are HEAVILY pushing Caliendo, Kennedy, Brands, Arnold, Angelo, Buchanan and even Kueter?

Many teams don't have actual coaches that are wrestling day to day with their guys. As much as I love Casey and know how incredible he was in the room in his early coaching days, I find it hard to believe a guy that is nearly 50 is doing what he once did. The key is having enough guys in the HWC to push the best guys that may not have top level competition in the main room. I would argue that Spencer, Austin, Marinelli and Warner cover a pretty damn wide spectrum.

Now, I don't know the inner workings of the room, so I don't know if Telford is rolling around with Kueter at all, but let's not act like Telford was chopped liver. He did have wins over multiple NCAA Finalists...
I agree with a lot of what you said. Here is my problem. Compare our staff to some other top teams. We don't compare. Tom and Terry were as good as anyone in the world. Were. Look at PSU's staff. Look at Okie State. Look at Nebraska and several others. Why couldn't Iowa go get a Tervel? Why couldn't Iowa get a Dake or a Taylor or a Nolf or.... Because of Tom and Terry. It is truly simple. Keep Tom, move Terry to HWC and hire 3 young hammers. The money is there and it would do amazing things for our team and for recruiting. Imagine Bassett training with Metcalf every day. Imagine Kueter and Ludington training with Taylor or Tervel. Imagine Ferrari, Kennedy and Gabe wrestling Kemerer every day. It's a no brainer and people would be upset but who cares if we all truly want to be on top again......
 
I agree with a lot of what you said. Here is my problem. Compare our staff to some other top teams. We don't compare. Tom and Terry were as good as anyone in the world. Were. Look at PSU's staff. Look at Okie State. Look at Nebraska and several others. Why couldn't Iowa go get a Tervel? Why couldn't Iowa get a Dake or a Taylor or a Nolf or.... Because of Tom and Terry. It is truly simple. Keep Tom, move Terry to HWC and hire 3 young hammers. The money is there and it would do amazing things for our team and for recruiting. Imagine Bassett training with Metcalf every day. Imagine Kueter and Ludington training with Taylor or Tervel. Imagine Ferrari, Kennedy and Gabe wrestling Kemerer every day. It's a no brainer and people would be upset but who cares if we all truly want to be on top again......

I also want to make it clear that we share the same opinion that Iowa should be a destination for top assistant coaches. It's the names you throw out that I don't always necessarily agree with. Metcalf? Fairly meh coaching results but he might finally be starting to show what he can do. But why not Coleman Scott instead? Kemerer? Sharp guy, might very well end up proving himself as a coach. But why him, and not say Alex Dieringer? Not only an amazing talent himself but also brings experience under good coaches like Smith and Bormet.

I just don't care for the focus on ex-Iowa wrestlers, who we wouldn't even be talking about if they had competed elsewhere in college. In your post here, you mention Tervel. That's the kind of guy I'd like to see.
 
I also want to make it clear that we share the same opinion that Iowa should be a destination for top assistant coaches. It's the names you throw out that I don't always necessarily agree with. Metcalf? Fairly meh coaching results but he might finally be starting to show what he can do. But why not Coleman Scott instead? Kemerer? Sharp guy, might very well end up proving himself as a coach. But why him, and not say Alex Dieringer? Not only an amazing talent himself but also brings experience under good coaches like Smith and Bormet.

I just don't care for the focus on ex-Iowa wrestlers, who we wouldn't even be talking about if they had competed elsewhere in college. In your post here, you mention Tervel. That's the kind of guy I'd like to see.
I agree Spooner but I have personally been around the guys I mention with the exception of guys from other programs.
I absolutely think Metcalf, Ramos, McD, Borschel and now Kemerer will/would make outstanding coaches. Corey C was always very quiet when I was around so I don't truly know much about him. StJohn same thing but it sounds like he is doing a great job in Ames.

I heard some big negatives about Coleman when Taylor was hired in Stillwater so I would be a no on him.

O'Toole from Missouri would be a kid the HWC should kick the tires on. He is dynamic and would be a great addition in Iowa City either on the staff or the HWC. I don't think we need to have someone prove they are a great coach before we reach out. If it doesn't work out, part ways and get someone else. Big names on the staff open doors to guys that our current staff don't get. The Iowa on the warmup is going to pull some, but great coaches and workout partners will bring in a few also.
 
I agree Spooner but I have personally been around the guys I mention with the exception of guys from other programs.
I absolutely think Metcalf, Ramos, McD, Borschel and now Kemerer will/would make outstanding coaches. Corey C was always very quiet when I was around so I don't truly know much about him. StJohn same thing but it sounds like he is doing a great job in Ames.

I respect your opinion about people who might be good coaches. I suspect you're much more right that wrong about the above crew. But my belief is that you don't replace a Terry Brands with a "might be."

Jay got out of college wrestling a decade ago and switched careers. A good coach has to have both interest and drive, and he clearly doesn't have it. Great guy, first class, knows his stuff, good influence and a good teacher otherwise, no doubt. But he's demonstrated he has other priorities in life.
 
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You frighten me, Ron! I'd never do that. I'm a fat, old man. You probably don't even have a singlet that fits.

Fairly interesting message board rule you have, that one has to have played a certain sport to talk about it. Like one has to know how to execute a proper spladle to inform some dork that Tom Brands doesn't run hawkeyesports.com. That guy might actually have wrestled. Does that make him right?
Lesson #1: Wrestlers wrestle. We don’t play.
 
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