EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions
- Thread starter backdrft76-1
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He could definitely add some muscle by hitting the weights, but Cael.has never been a proponent of muscle bound wrestlers. See ole "noodle arms" Nickal as an example.
This. PJ isn’t going to RS, at least not at this point. Maybe Cael subtly convinces him over the next 6 months, but I wouldn’t count on it.
If PJ wants to go, it will happen and “the kids will figure it out,” as a coach near and dear to most on this board has said a time or two.
I posted this about 10 posts above yours so it’s not really an off the wall take. Those 10 are going most likely.
Agreed. This is also a plausible scenario. PJ could well take his shot at MM and then see what they lay of the land is.
Freestyle is such a different beast. Ono is one of if not the best wrestler on the planet. As we've seen at these championships though, mat wrestling is huge.
As I said. If you can't see a top 5 hwt in Mirasola next year, well
Stanich would fit nicely at 141
For the folks who think we're gonna import a HWT, 15 guys finished same or higher than Mirasola.
Of them, 7 are SRs: Bastida, Trumble, Ghadiali, Doucet, Szuba, Mora, Catka. (Cole beat the last 2.)
That leaves: Ford Focus (lol), Kueter, Carroll, Amos, Pitzer, Colbert, Hopke, and Feldman. Of these 8 guys, who is leaving? Cole beat 4 of them this year and is better than Pitzer and Hopke.
The best HWT shirts by far are ISU's Herrera (22-15 NQ last year), Michigan's Sahakian (0-0 true FR), and Arizona State's Whitehead (0-0 true FR).
Throw in Taylor if you think he'll leave Lehigh, but he lost in Round 1 as the 6 seed, then got knocked out by an injured Feldman.
We're not looking at anybody else who finished below Cole, right?
So that leaves Josh Barr as the only viable HWT import.
Of them, 7 are SRs: Bastida, Trumble, Ghadiali, Doucet, Szuba, Mora, Catka. (Cole beat the last 2.)
That leaves: Ford Focus (lol), Kueter, Carroll, Amos, Pitzer, Colbert, Hopke, and Feldman. Of these 8 guys, who is leaving? Cole beat 4 of them this year and is better than Pitzer and Hopke.
The best HWT shirts by far are ISU's Herrera (22-15 NQ last year), Michigan's Sahakian (0-0 true FR), and Arizona State's Whitehead (0-0 true FR).
Throw in Taylor if you think he'll leave Lehigh, but he lost in Round 1 as the 6 seed, then got knocked out by an injured Feldman.
We're not looking at anybody else who finished below Cole, right?
So that leaves Josh Barr as the only viable HWT import.
This is a great point, makes sense how hard Cael went after Ross just not a lot of elite heavies right now.
And Ross doesn't beat Cole for at least 2 years.
He went after Ross as a matter of talent accumulation. IIRC Ross has yet to beat either twin, so it wasn't a matter of trying to find an immediate starter.
125 LL
133 Ono
141 Desmond
149 SVN
157 Kasak
165 MM
174 JJ
184 Welsh
197 Barr
HWT Mirasola
133 Ono
141 Desmond
149 SVN
157 Kasak
165 MM
174 JJ
184 Welsh
197 Barr
HWT Mirasola
I wanted to wait until after the season officially ended:
125 LL - one more year until Sidun arrives, or 2 more years if he can make it comfortably to RS Sidun
133 Desmond - they said he'll never make 25 again so excited for him at 33 and Blaze Rs
141 Ono - hopefully over a year in the room will have him ready to wrestle on the mat, he'll be a force on his feet
149 SVN - one more year to get to the top of the podium, another year getting better
157 Kasak - slots back in
165 MM - Duke RS
174 Henckel
184 Cunningham - from what I heard from an extremely reliable source, he could have started this year, but it was already decided on a RS
197 Barr
285 Mirasola - I never thought his wrestling was the problem, but another year of putting on good weight and getting stronger and hes an AA
125 LL - one more year until Sidun arrives, or 2 more years if he can make it comfortably to RS Sidun
133 Desmond - they said he'll never make 25 again so excited for him at 33 and Blaze Rs
141 Ono - hopefully over a year in the room will have him ready to wrestle on the mat, he'll be a force on his feet
149 SVN - one more year to get to the top of the podium, another year getting better
157 Kasak - slots back in
165 MM - Duke RS
174 Henckel
184 Cunningham - from what I heard from an extremely reliable source, he could have started this year, but it was already decided on a RS
197 Barr
285 Mirasola - I never thought his wrestling was the problem, but another year of putting on good weight and getting stronger and hes an AA
What do you have welsh doing?
184: Welsh beat Cunningham 13-5 at Black Knight invite. Perhaps gap closed
The Raneys don’t fit given same weights as Jax and Vega
Ross is a stud but last summer Cole handled him twice in freestyle
other guy is “only” #11, who might be replacement for 125 when Spratley leaves
PSU is knocking, James coming in next year and in 2027 have a great class lined up in lower/middle weights which will fit like a glove
I think he put on around five pounds from last year. Slow and steady increase will make a difference
Many of big gorillas that have been in school long enough to be doctors are graduating
Cole is an Askren kid and they ALL improve gradually, not suddenly. Cole will be just fine. However I have no idea why anyone thinks Ono is going to wrestle at 141 
. His match with Vega would look like David vs Goliath .
What do I want? I want Stanich actually.
. His match with Vega would look like David vs Goliath .What do I want? I want Stanich actually.
As far as that 13-5 Welsh vs Cunningham match, I am sure that Rocco is still the top guy here, but Cyler Sanderson 9 David Taylor 2. That also happened at about the same time in his career also....you never know.
Well Cael actually knows I'm pretty sure he has a plan . But no freaking way Ono goes 141
Well Cael actually knows
I'm pretty sure he has a plan . But no freaking way Ono goes 141PJ Duke could really use a redshirt year though. The mental side of the sport is also important and that weight cut had to wear and tear on his mind. I think if he wants to, he will redshirt. If he doesn't? Listen, Mitchell is another one of our Mt Rushmore Gods of wrestling and if it was for the best for the team then hell yeah he would move up to 174 and just like the others he will major everyone and then beat poor Minto again in the final, who would have to be screaming to himself "just when I had the title THIS **** happens again
Jax’s length is a major problem. Have no idea how he makes 133. Same thing with Vega. His length advantage is insane. How does he make 141?
While moving away from his Olympic weight might not be ideal for Mitchell, I think he might need to do so just to find a new group of wrestlers to compete against (and beat up on - in a good way).
We’d need to check his eligibility status and have some sanctions on Russia lifted but sure, shoot for the moon!
Ono 33… bigger/stronger Blaze/Desmond 41 matches my eyeball sense of sizeAs far as that 13-5 Welsh vs Cunningham match, I am sure that Rocco is still the top guy here, but Cyler Sanderson 9 David Taylor 2. That also happened at about the same time in his career also....you never know.
Well Cael actually knows
Crazy. Cael staggers his classes better than any coach. Taylor loaded heavy for 2 classes. That looks great some years, but then when you lose all those guys it hurts.
Mirasola should be a top 8 285 next year, IF he can add some muscle mass while keeping his quickness/agility.
One thing, I'm pretty sure Cole won against Ross and Mocco during the freestyle circuit primarily using step outs. I don't know or remember if he took either down, pretty sure mocco actually won the takedown battle maybe? Either way, to me, the heavier the guys get the less useful freestyle results are in judging folkstyle level success. Generally speaking that is.
Ono will wrestle 133, Desmond 141.
174 is a mixture of Henckel, Duke and James
184 Cunningham is a much stronger possibility than most realize, but he wasn't replacing Welsh this year.
I think if Desmond can put on decent weight and walk around at about 145, he should do great at 141. Don't think Cunningham beats Welsh.
Cole seems to be one of those guys that just can't gain weight been there 2 yrs now just seems odd if he can't get bigger it be hard at heavy for him!
Just imagine if Ono is actually as good at folk style as we think he can be. Humble son of a soy sauce proprietor from Shimane Prefecture comes to a foreign land to destroy souls sounds like a story to rival a 19 year old high school kid eschewing high school for college
If he is that good, this will be me in November as the season ramps up:
If he is that good, this will be me in November as the season ramps up:
anyone know Onos walking around weight he looks so small!