The problem is that the combination of defensive wrestling/stalling, ride out dynamics, and interminable reviews of the one action exchange in the match is making the product unwatchable. I mean really unwatchable.
2026 NCAA Championship Session VI Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
You just need to become a freestyle fan! You get to follow half the team around the world all summer long.Now. Is the darkest time as a college wrestling fan. The offseason
Not really. Freestyle is coming soon. I, for one, intend to go to the US Open in Las Vegas at the end of April. Last year I got to meet two Penn State wrestling dads, Casey Cunningham and some wrestlers. In addition, I usually bump into old friends from all over the US. You guys should consider going this year.Now. Is the darkest time as a college wrestling fan. The offseason
That's true. And imo it has some rules that I think should be in folkstyle
JD Rader saying the gap had closed at the start of the year - lol
Don't they drug test everyone before competition?
I'm just imagining that AJ is backstage telling people to pee check everyone that won a natty because he didn't
Competition is good. It staves off complacency. Not that Cael ever seems complacent. I'm thinking of the fans. Too many take this winning streak as a right. Competition is a great antidote to hubris.
Last thoughts on Okie St:
There’s not much about Forest not to like. He’s incredible at wrestling and a kid I’d be proud of as a parent
They are going to challenge us. The next few tournaments will be dog fights and likely uncomfortable and exciting. Beating a legitimate opponent has a special satisfaction.
the arms race will reach a new level. Do you think DT is going to hold serve with their low scoring weights?
Cael will reach a new level. Game changed this tournament with counters and ride outs. He’ll figure out the puzzle and redesign his wrestlers yet again
There’s not much about Forest not to like. He’s incredible at wrestling and a kid I’d be proud of as a parent
They are going to challenge us. The next few tournaments will be dog fights and likely uncomfortable and exciting. Beating a legitimate opponent has a special satisfaction.
the arms race will reach a new level. Do you think DT is going to hold serve with their low scoring weights?
Cael will reach a new level. Game changed this tournament with counters and ride outs. He’ll figure out the puzzle and redesign his wrestlers yet again
It has been a good year and weekend.
Kid is district and regional champ, 3rd in state tournament.
7 Big10 champs
4 NCAA champs
41-9 @ NCAAs
Scoring record and he has a sneaky suspicion next year's team is even better
Let the good times roll!
Messenbrink was undefeated except for one brain-fart loss to a nemesis that was graduating. Predicting that Mesenbrink would not lose again was not going out on a limb! That prediction is not worth bragging about.
The fact he went there twice all but confirms this
You should post that on HR. Maybe they will get the message.
I just rewatched the matches and in every single one of those matches other than Barr we looked considerably smaller than the opponents. Minto looked like he was 40 pounds heavier than Levi. McGowan looked like a 141 pounder against an old time 118 pound Luke. Cutting weight is overrated 
Just a possibility, Bob Nicolls calling Luke while he was standing just outside the hallway leading into the wrestling room and offering him money to leave and enroll at Iowa. Even though he was on a team, enrolled in school and not in the portal. However, I am only guessing. It could be Luke showing Cael the phone and Cael calling the number back to say "hello" makes Cael chuckle at the Bob Nicolls of the wrestling world and it is other stuff that irritates him.
Last edited:
I wasn't bragging dude. I was pointing out that MANY of us said it. Take a chill pillMessenbrink was undefeated except for one brain-fart loss to a nemesis that was graduating. Predicting that Mesenbrink would not lose again was not going out on a limb! That prediction is not worth bragging about.
That little guy hates Penn State with a passion.
Am I the only one who thinks maybe Barr moves to Heavyweight next year?
Did that really happen or is it just a rumor? If it happened, I’ll bet Cael was furious when he heard about it.
I saw what you saw with him walking up to the mat, but he must have felt the need to play up the injury because I saw him limping around after Nebraska got their team trophy.
Damn, someone actually hired Vodka directly from Independence State Hospital and put him charge of drinking and drugs.
I took a look over there. The consensus seems to be that T&T did a great job, which is a relief. I would hate to see them leave. Contract extension time!
Yep. I liked Luke's plan, and outcome much better.
He would be the shortest heavyweight in the NCAA.
I have no idea what Taylor has coming, but Spartly, Forrest and Vega has to be written on paper already.
Great photo!
I disagree. It's like losing in spring training since an antra squad match doesn't count against your record. Should we start counting wrestle offs as loses?
he made it out for the awards..... Had to sprint to make it,,, seemed like he got boo'd but he arrived in time to get his trophy
Looks good so far. Plus Jax going to OSU and Bassett to VaTech and having Hensen and Seidel as workout partners, Jax is in a much better room.
Next year ay be competetive, but Penn State will be 30+ point favorites.
Excellent point. I understand he has the championship banner from some invitational Duals tournament hanging in Covelli next to the national champion photos of Moore and Pletcher.
“They are coming” is about them, not PSU. In DT’s first year, he recruited a bunch of studs and then elevated two AAs to champions who beat all time greats on the way (Levi & Steveson). In year two, his first recruiting class produced three true freshman champs, including the first two undefeated true frosh since 1947 while establishing them as the clear #2. There’s nothing more they could have done in that time and no reason to believe that trajectory is going to change.
Next year’s PSU team will be one of the greatest collections of wrestling talent in NCAA history but I will be less confident about their chance to win the championship than I have been in years. I don’t think Ok St will quite be at the top by next year, but we’re only a year or two from nationals coming down to the last match on Saturday again, just with two schools with at least 150-160.
Add Andonian as a workout partner. He is part of the staff and wrestles with the team in the back
Caliendo looks like he just wants the photographers to hurry up and get out of there.
