EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions

[RockyChi]

Probably lose Desmond if it shakes out this way. He showed a lot of promise and was the only guy that beat Luke. A redshirt from Blaze gets Nate in the lineup and you figure things out the following season.

Desmond, Sealey, Henkel, Cunningham, and Connor Mirasola are all guys who have immense talent that are at least capable of AA’ing but are going to struggle to get in lineup

Issue will never go away with most of them even if you delay it for a year by redshirting someone. Might have Ono for two years and a lot of hammers coming in 2027-2028

I’d be somewhat disappointed if both Blaze and Duke redshirt.

 

[dicemen99]

Probably lose Desmond if it shakes out this way. He showed a lot of promise and was the only guy that beat Luke. A redshirt from Blaze gets Nate in the lineup and you figure things out the following season.

If Blaze decides he wants the RS to get stronger (possible after this year’s finish) or if Desmond beats him in a wrestle off then it could go this way.

Otherwise, it’s best 10. In sure the coaches do pay attention to eligibility, but it’s not driving the train like it does on these boards. If someone isn’t good enough to make the lineup they don’t wrestle and there’s no “hey, let’s sit you so this other guy you can beat doesn’t waste a year.” Before someone rebuts with Kasak, that wasn’t the case this year. If Tyler could have wrestled he would have. Next year if PJ wants to and can win the 65 spot, he will. Whether he can is another story, but I wouldn’t bet on him not being confident he can.

Long, long way to go until September and I would wager not even the staff sees it this far ahead every year. It will work itself out and the best kids in the room that want to be on the mat that year will be on the mat if they’re ready. This is very much still a meritocracy.

 

[WV lion]

If Blaze decides he wants the RS to get stronger (possible after this year’s finish) or if Desmond beats him in a wrestle off then it could go this way.

Otherwise, it’s best 10. In sure the coaches do pay attention to eligibility, but it’s not driving the train like it does on these boards. If someone isn’t good enough to make the lineup they don’t wrestle and there’s no “hey, let’s sit you so this other guy you can beat doesn’t waste a year.” Before someone rebuts with Kasak, that wasn’t the case this year. If Tyler could have wrestled he would have. Next year if PJ wants to and can win the 65 spot, he will. Whether he can is another story, but I wouldn’t bet on him not being confident he can.

Long, long way to go until September and I would wager not even the staff sees it this far ahead every year. It will work itself out and the best kids in the room that want to be on the mat that year will be on the mat if they’re ready. This is very much still a meritocracy.

That isn't necessarily true. There are several guys that could have made the team instead of taking a redshirt. Most notably Zain.

 

[District 4]

If Blaze decides he wants the RS to get stronger (possible after this year’s finish) or if Desmond beats him in a wrestle off then it could go this way.

Otherwise, it’s best 10. In sure the coaches do pay attention to eligibility, but it’s not driving the train like it does on these boards. If someone isn’t good enough to make the lineup they don’t wrestle and there’s no “hey, let’s sit you so this other guy you can beat doesn’t waste a year.” Before someone rebuts with Kasak, that wasn’t the case this year. If Tyler could have wrestled he would have. Next year if PJ wants to and can win the 65 spot, he will. Whether he can is another story, but I wouldn’t bet on him not being confident he can.

Long, long way to go until September and I would wager not even the staff sees it this far ahead every year. It will work itself out and the best kids in the room that want to be on the mat that year will be on the mat if they’re ready. This is very much still a meritocracy.

So if there are a select number of guys who will oly redshirt who do we think they are and that has to play into who will go next year as the following year a ton of guys will be sitting if they oly redshirt

 

[Corby2]

Cael isn't punting and letting DT win that's not happening. 2027 will determine who takes the ORS. Win a medal and you can wrestle NCAAs if you don't you gotta train freestyle

 

[poorwrestler]

You guys should send Joe Sealey over to Minnesota as reparations for stealing Nagao from us lol. Not a single lineup projection posted here has him sniffing a spot. Insanity.

 

[El_Jefe]

There is a huge difference between Cunningham (black knight invite) or even Southern Scuffle and end of season.

Welsh is a whisker away from being a national champ and I have my doubts also, but I have heard Cunningham is right there with him.

This team rewrote record books, next year's is probably better. It is going to be fun watching the dynamics play out.

I have golf to play right now though. I should be just about terrible, but I will still be playing

Even if we put aside the 13-5 match at Black Knight, there's a world of difference between being "right there" with one guy in the room vs being able to beat 4 of the nation's biggest ***-kickers consecutively.

Cunningham did beat a couple NQs this year, including Campos who placed 4th (albeit by drawing MFF Ferrari in consis). So he probably could make the tourney and win a few matches, maybe knock on the podium door.

Campos lost 11-5 to Ferrari in Round 2 and then 17-4 to Sinclair in the 3rd place match, so while still an AA, he's a clear step behind the top guys. Beating him is still good, just not as useful as beating the 4th placer at several other weights.

 

[dicemen99]

That isn't necessarily true. There are several guys that could have made the team instead of taking a redshirt. Most notably Zain.

That was 10 years ago. And if Zain wanted to wrestle that year, he would have. He took the year and got bigger. Blaze could do the same thing. What’s good for the wrestler counts in the equation.

My point is that we have some posts - some, not all - each time we do this type of thread, saying this is guy is wrestling, this guy is redshirting, that way everyone maxes eligibility, etc. It does not work that way. Yes, some times someone will sit and it works out for the team, but usually because they know or they’ve been persuaded (maybe by a result in the room) that it will be better for them in the long run. But it’s a meritocracy. That is what is going on.

To put it simply as an example, if PJ wants to wrestle next year (and I wouldn’t rule that out at all), Cael’s not telling him he needs to redshirt because he needs Tyler (I don’t think he wants to go back to 57, but just using this as an example) or Henckel in the lineup so they don’t lose a year. And if he wants to go 65 and he wants to challenge Mitch, he’s letting him. Meritocracy. And the kids will work out the lineup that way.

 

[dicemen99]

Even if we put aside the 13-5 match at Black Knight, there's a world of difference between being "right there" with one guy in the room vs being able to beat 4 of the nation's biggest ***-kickers consecutively.

Cunningham did beat a couple NQs this year, including Campos who placed 4th (albeit by drawing MFF Ferrari in consis). So he probably could make the tourney and win a few matches, maybe knock on the podium door.

Campos lost 11-5 to Ferrari in Round 2 and then 17-4 to Sinclair in the 3rd place match, so while still an AA, he's a clear step behind the top guys. Beating him is still good, just not as useful as beating the 4th placer at several other weights.

I would bet Asher is knocking at the door. Not sure he can kick it open because Rocco is an a$$ kicker, but I would think we have two top 5 184s next year. Just like we will at half the weights next year. A lot to be determined in a lot of time before next season.

 

[dicemen99]

So if there are a select number of guys who will oly redshirt who do we think they are and that has to play into who will go next year as the following year a ton of guys will be sitting if they oly redshirt

2 years from now is a long, long time away. Lots of stuff can happen. Let’s see what happens in 26-27 first.

 

[RockyChi]

You guys should send Joe Sealey over to Minnesota as reparations for stealing Nagao from us lol. Not a single lineup projection posted here has him sniffing a spot. Insanity.

People are saying to RS Duke as he doesn’t have a spot so it’s tough to make room for Sealey. Then there’s James coming in too.

I understand if he transfers and would root for him should he go to Minnesota or anywhere else (against anyone not PSU of course)

 

[poorwrestler]

People are saying to RS Duke as he doesn’t have a spot so it’s tough to make room for Sealey. Then there’s James coming in too.

I understand if he transfers and would root for him should he go to Minnesota or anywhere else (against anyone not PSU of course)

Yeah I wasn’t even saying insanity that people aren’t projecting him to start, insanity that you have 2-3 guys that are almost guaranteed to be better.

 

[WV lion]

People are saying to RS Duke as he doesn’t have a spot so it’s tough to make room for Sealey. Then there’s James coming in too.

I understand if he transfers and would root for him should he go to Minnesota or anywhere else (against anyone not PSU of course)

No room at the inn for sealey.

 

[District 4]

2 years from now is a long, long time away. Lots of stuff can happen. Let’s see what happens in 26-27 first.

I guess my point was if there are kids definitely taking that year off would that play into who goes next year. For example, if duke is eligible to take an olympic redshirt based on his freestyle results and will take 2028 off does that effect his decision to go next year?

 

[Efejle]

How about this? Everyone stays at their current weight, and we wrestle off for the spots? If so, the

 

[Efejle]

I wonder if Cunningham goes down to 174?

 

[dicemen99]

I guess my point was if there are kids definitely taking that year off would that play into who goes next year. For example, if duke is eligible to take an olympic redshirt based on his freestyle results and will take 2028 off does that effect his decision to go next year?

I have no idea, but I wouldn’t assume that PJ is taking off in 27-28 if he wrestles next year. I would bet his decision in 27-28 rest entirely on whether he thinks competing in the regular season helps or hurts his chances of making the Olympic team. Different people have different opinions on that and the past has seen mixed results as well.

As far as next year, it likely be made upon what he thinks is best for his NCAA career. I would take it year by year. He sure sounds as if he plans on wrestling next year to me, but it’s a long way off.

 

[lemonears]

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.

Is Elijah Brown a possibility for HW next year?

 

[WV lion]

Is Elijah Brown a possibility for HW next year?

Not beating Cole next year.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

If Tyler could have wrestled he would have.

Why couldn't Tyler wrestle this year?

 

[Junglekat]

What do you have welsh doing?

The same thing a lot of other studs have done. Continue to try to win the spot back.

 

[Junglekat]

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 guess that settles it

 

[dicemen99]

Why couldn't Tyler wrestle this year?

There have been plenty of posts on here this year that answered this question indirectly. I’m not going to answer it directly either, but if you read my last half dozen posts on this subject, you would see that I have repeated one word describing how spots are sorted out over and over.

 

[eddy line]

There have been plenty of posts on here this year that answered this question indirectly. I’m not going to answer it directly either, but if you read my last half dozen posts on this subject, you would see that I have repeated one word describing how spots are sorted out over and over.

IIRC, Tyler also had recurring concussion issues, and redshirting gave him the opportunity to fully heal.

 

[Efejle]

I think IF PJ shirts next year, he should be ready just in case...Kasak's concussion history is worrisome

 

[Efejle]

The Coach John Smith memorial line up:

125 LL
133 Ono
141 SVN
149 Kasak
157 Duke
165 Mesenbrink
174 Welsh
184 Barr
197 Mirasola
285 Mirasola

 

[JA1339]

That was 10 years ago. And if Zain wanted to wrestle that year, he would have. He took the year and got bigger. Blaze could do the same thing. What’s good for the wrestler counts in the equation.

My point is that we have some posts - some, not all - each time we do this type of thread, saying this is guy is wrestling, this guy is redshirting, that way everyone maxes eligibility, etc. It does not work that way. Yes, some times someone will sit and it works out for the team, but usually because they know or they’ve been persuaded (maybe by a result in the room) that it will be better for them in the long run. But it’s a meritocracy. That is what is going on.

To put it simply as an example, if PJ wants to wrestle next year (and I wouldn’t rule that out at all), Cael’s not telling him he needs to redshirt because he needs Tyler (I don’t think he wants to go back to 57, but just using this as an example) or Henckel in the lineup so they don’t lose a year. And if he wants to go 65 and he wants to challenge Mitch, he’s letting him. Meritocracy. And the kids will work out the lineup that way.

@dicemen99 , I always really enjoy your posts.

Your comments have me super pumped with the notion that the best 10 wrestlers go vs the notion that Duke and Blaze will need to redshirt because certain wrestlers need to fit into the lineup.

When I look at your lineup projection, my thoughts are 8 current wrestlers minus Levi and Scooter return to lineup and we add Kasak and Ono. So we have 4 returning National champs, 4 other wrestlers that have finished 2nd thru 4th (Kasak, SVN, Blaze, and PJ), and maybe one of best pound for pound wrestlers in the world in Ono. That team would absolutely obliterate the field imo.

I get that the Pokes are coming on strong, but Dices lineup projection looks like we could beat an all star team from the field next year.

 

[dicemen99]

IIRC, Tyler also had recurring concussion issues, and redshirting gave him the opportunity to fully heal.

Not exactly what I heard. If Tyler wasn’t recovered from his concussion, why would he have wrestled at nationals and then again in freestyle in early November?

That must have been posted by the same guy who lamented our lack of athleticism and the negative impact of freestyle on our tournament performances (I know not the same guy, but examples of the inanity of this board at times).

 

[El_Jefe]

IIRC, Tyler also had recurring concussion issues, and redshirting gave him the opportunity to fully heal.

I think IF PJ shirts next year, he should be ready just in case...Kasak's concussion history is worrisome

NO.

Cael and Monthley allowed Kasak to compete at B10s and NCAAs last year after his concussion, and then train for and compete at Bill Farrell in the fall, and then train for and compete at the Zagreb Open in February.

Perpetuating this concussion narrative is essentially accusing Cael and Monthley of medical malpractice. Let's stop doing this.

 

[RockyChi]

@dicemen99 , I always really enjoy your posts.

Your comments have me super pumped with the notion that the best 10 wrestlers go vs the notion that Duke and Blaze will need to redshirt because certain wrestlers need to fit into the lineup.

When I look at your lineup projection, my thoughts are 8 current wrestlers minus Levi and Scooter return to lineup and we add Kasak and Ono. So we have 4 returning National champs, 4 other wrestlers that have finished 2nd thru 4th (Kasak, SVN, Blaze, and PJ), and maybe one of best pound for pound wrestlers in the world in Ono. That team would absolutely obliterate the field imo.

I get that the Pokes are coming on strong, but Dices lineup projection looks like we could beat an all star team from the field next year.

I’m hoping it’s ten best, or at least not both Blaze and Duke RS.

Cole would be the weak link in that lineup and he will probably start out ranked in top 5. And has a few wins over some of those possibly ranked ahead of him

 

[WV lion]

NO.

Cael and Monthley allowed Kasak to compete at B10s and NCAAs last year after his concussion, and then train for and compete at Bill Farrell in the fall, and then train for and compete at the Zagreb Open in February.

Perpetuating this concussion narrative is essentially accusing Cael and Monthley of medical malpractice. Let's stop doing this.

100%. Concussion talk is a dead issue.

 

[eddy line]

Delete.

 

[Hardwork830]

Looking ahead some with upper weights. When does Cunningham get in the lineup? Does he go up to 197 when Barr is gone or stay 184 to replace Rocco when he is gone? Is Henkle a career 174? Seems like the 197lb Mirasola brother is the odd man out?

 

[Sloepoke20]

Is Elijah Brown a possibility for HW next year?

No

 

[MPPosterDeuce]

These are my completely uneducated, gut feelings on some guy’s weights just by looking at them. This doesn’t factor in how they’d best fit in the lineup with other teammates. It’s just what their best weight would be for them. Full disclosure, I know nothing.

Blaze - He looked like he needs to get thicker. So many times I’d see him and just want to give the poor kid a sandwich. I think a redshirt year to bulk up to 141 would be ideal. He’s got the length for it.

Ono - 133 seems like it should be the max for him. A lot of people on here are saying 141 but he’s way too short for that. I understand that he can easily get up to that weight, but could you imagine seeing him standing next to Vega? He’d never get off bottom.

Barr - I can’t believe there are people actually throwing out the idea of him going up to HWT. That is insane. He’s a perfect 197.

Cole - I think he’s just maxed out how much weight he can add. There isn’t an endless amount of good weight everyone can put on. It’s been 2 years now and he basically still looks the same as his brother Connor.

Mitchell - I’d really like to see him stay at 165. He could go up to 174 and I’m sure he’d still be really good. But he’d be sacrificing a little bit of his greatest attribute… his quickness.

 

[Biffkin]

The Coach John Smith memorial line up:

125 LL
133 Ono
141 SVN
149 Kasak
157 Duke
165 Mesenbrink
174 Welsh
184 Barr
197 Mirasola
285 Mirasola

The training table budget would be cut in half.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

There have been plenty of posts on here this year that answered this question indirectly. I’m not going to answer it directly either, but if you read my last half dozen posts on this subject, you would see that I have repeated one word describing how spots are sorted out over and over.

Gotcha, PJ won the spot.

 

[Biffkin]

The decision on who gets the open spot at 174 next year will set the middle of the PSU lineup. Maybe PJ takes the Haines route and jumps two weights. As far as Marcus goes, he's going to look like Joey in two years after a RS next year.149 or 157 in 28.

 

[jstross]

Jax has the frame for 149.

I think Okie state will have some issues with Vega and Jax growth going into next year. First world problems, but I'd be shocked if Jax and Vega both don't move up. Swiderski isn't beating out Robadue at 157 so way too early prognostication is he's odd man out unless someone redshirts. I can see some redshirts in Stillwater because Penn State will be the heavy favorite again next year. Raney's are a non factor next year IMO.

 

[jstross]

No way is Ono a 141. Saw him in person- he is 125 as a 1st option or 133 second

LL stays at 125 because why move a champ that easily makes weight. Ono 131 is pretty clear IMO. Blaze could go 141, but it will be his choice as Caael lets them decide.