EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions

Random4598375

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2020
589
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No love anywhere for Joe Sealy.
If Sealy isn't in the portal on Wednesday, then he'll certainly get a shot to challenge Kasak for 157. I don't really like his odds, but everyone gets their shot, and Sealy is certainly no pushover, so we'll see.

I feel like he's going to want to shoot his shot somewhere and not wait for possibly one year as a starter after Kasak graduates (and have to hold 157 that whole time, too, if the plan is for Duke to slot in at 165 after MM leaves), so portalling would not surprise me at all. I wouldn't blame him, either. He's too good to be a career room guy, so unless he's happy with the freestyle training he's getting and thinks he can make a bigger mark in international freestyle than NCAA folkstyle, there's no real reason to stay.
 

Efejle

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2023
859
2,020
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Come on guys, 13 pages and we still haven't put together next year's lineup.
Cael is counting on us to solve this problem.
A bunch of old guys on a message board know far better than the greatest wrestler and coach in the history of the sport. Write that down. 😂
 
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zzs006

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2017
784
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If Sealy isn't in the portal on Wednesday, then he'll certainly get a shot to challenge Kasak for 157. I don't really like his odds, but everyone gets their shot, and Sealy is certainly no pushover, so we'll see.

I feel like he's going to want to shoot his shot somewhere and not wait for possibly one year as a starter after Kasak graduates (and have to hold 157 that whole time, too, if the plan is for Duke to slot in at 165 after MM leaves), so portalling would not surprise me at all. I wouldn't blame him, either. He's too good to be a career room guy, so unless he's happy with the freestyle training he's getting and thinks he can make a bigger mark in international freestyle than NCAA folkstyle, there's no real reason to stay.
He is a much better freestyler so if he has Olympic aspirations staying put makes sense. He seems to really enjoy it at PSU. Sometimes there is more than starting all 4 years but I wouldn’t blame him if he left. He’s definitely AA caliber right now
 
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Matter7172

Senior
Oct 30, 2021
272
902
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He is a much better freestyler so if he has Olympic aspirations staying put makes sense. He seems to really enjoy it at PSU. Sometimes there is more than starting all 4 years but I wouldn’t blame him if he left. He’s definitely AA caliber right now
This ^^^

He does seem happy and I imagine his freestyle aspirations will not be better served elsewhere.
 

RockyChi

Sophomore
Feb 4, 2026
100
170
43
The whole idea of maximum point production in a vacuum is a useless exercise. It's not productive, in fact it's destructive. The fact you think your method is superior to Cael's is absurd. You didn't say it but you sure implied it.
lol I don’t even know what you are saying. I’ve never suggested a method. Weird crowd
You're approaching MSU level of tenaciously sticking to a ridiculously stupid argument. Adding 5-10 points to what is likely a 25-30 point margin at the expense of moving people away from their optimal weights is just not going to happen. If Mitch wants to move up to 174 for some unknown reason, that is the only way he'll be at 174. If he wants to stay at 165, which I and most others expect, he will, period. There's no math about forcing guys out of the weights they want to wrestle going on at all. Cael has never operated like that.
I’m not making an argument dummy, I’m just explaining to certain people why some in media are saying Mitch could move up to 174. Quite simply it produces the highest scoring lineup which you acknowledge yourself.

Why does this send people into a hissy fit? It’s a simple statement based on a simple concept. And I’ve never suggested we should do this nor think at this time we will.

Relax
 
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Random4598375

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2020
589
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lol I don’t even know what you are saying. I’ve never suggested a method. Weird crowd

I’m not making an argument dummy, I’m just explaining to certain people why some in media are saying Mitch could move up to 174. Quite simply it produces the highest scoring lineup which you acknowledge yourself.

Why does this send people into a hissy fit? It’s a simple statement based on a simple concept. And I’ve never suggested we should do this nor think at this time we will.

Relax
Backtracking is a good decision on this one. LOL.
 
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Sullivan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,677
2,274
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We obviously have a number of talented freestyle wrestlers on our team.

Other than Ono, which one has the best chance to win a gold medal and not start at Penn State.
 

Efejle

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2023
859
2,020
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lol I don’t even know what you are saying. I’ve never suggested a method. Weird crowd

I’m not making an argument dummy, I’m just explaining to certain people why some in media are saying Mitch could move up to 174. Quite simply it produces the highest scoring lineup which you acknowledge yourself.

Why does this send people into a hissy fit? It’s a simple statement based on a simple concept. And I’ve never suggested we should do this nor think at this time we will.

Relax
😂 Frankly I agree. Why are some people acting like a suggestion that a wrestler may change his weight class, is akin to suggesting that he smoke crack? 😂
 
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jstross

Senior
Oct 28, 2005
239
517
93
Obviously Cael and his wrestlers will balance the future with the current. But it’s just a lil’ weird to get upset talking about what the current maximized point would look like and then discuss from there.

But the statement “we have others who will score as many points” is definitely incorrect. That’s why it’s productive to first analyze the maximum line up and then see who you may want to RS and figure out the opportunity cost of doing so.

And as someone else mentioned the Olympic year might throw a wrench into things. Also we should never underestimate OK State.
Having MM get the same amount of points at 174 as he did at 165 is definitely an assumption, not a guarantee. He didn't major Hepner at 165 and there's a high likelihood he'll encounter stronger wrestlers than that at 174. IMO a 165 MM scores more bonus than a 174 MM. I thought the word was Duke had a tough cut? I could see that given some gas tank issues, albeit minor. Seems Duke would benefit from going up like Haines did. They'll sort this out for sure, but IF Henckel is as good as I suspect a think a RS for Duke would be ideal. Of course the wrestlers have to buy in. First world issues for sure.
 

RockyChi

Sophomore
Feb 4, 2026
100
170
43
Having MM get the same amount of points at 174 as he did at 165 is definitely an assumption, not a guarantee. He didn't major Hepner at 165 and there's a high likelihood he'll encounter stronger wrestlers than that at 174. IMO a 165 MM scores more bonus than a 174 MM. I thought the word was Duke had a tough cut? I could see that given some gas tank issues, albeit minor. Seems Duke would benefit from going up like Haines did. They'll sort this out for sure, but IF Henckel is as good as I suspect a think a RS for Duke would be ideal. Of course the wrestlers have to buy in. First world issues for sure.
Yes I think Duke will red shirt. I believe the Hepner match was just oddity. You are right it’s an assumption though. I believe he wins and might have a few less bonus matches. But that’s around 2-3 points.

But if Duke didn’t RS I think he’s getting 20-25 points at 165. Henckel can get a very high podium and could actually make the Final if he gets the right type of path. But ultimately on average I think he scores around 10 points less than Duke.
 

Psalm 1 guy

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2019
1,142
4,380
113
😂 Frankly I agree. Why are some people acting like a suggestion that a wrestler may change his weight class, is akin to suggesting that he smoke crack? 😂
When a fellow officer I worked with used to see some large guy bent over showing a little too much gluteus maximus he'd say, "That guy needs to be arrested for possession of crack." : )

 

jstross

Senior
Oct 28, 2005
239
517
93
Yes I think Duke will red shirt. I believe the Hepner match was just oddity. You are right it’s an assumption though. I believe he wins and might have a few less bonus matches. But that’s around 2-3 points.

But if Duke didn’t RS I think he’s getting 20-25 points at 165. Henckel can get a very high podium and could actually make the Final if he gets the right type of path. But ultimately on average I think he scores around 10 points less than Duke.
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5q

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2001
1,499
2,022
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If jax moves to 141, hes top 2 , if vega moves to 149, wouldnt he also most likely be a finalist ?

Wouldnt their 157 lb’r also be considered a finalist ?

if we are assuming our 5 make it back to finals, u have to say their 4 freshmen do as well
 

HOA242n!

Senior
Aug 18, 2025
220
549
93
If jax moves to 141, hes top 2 , if vega moves to 149, wouldnt he also most likely be a finalist ?

Wouldnt their 157 lb’r also be considered a finalist ?

if we are assuming our 5 make it back to finals, u have to say their 4 freshmen do as well
I'd pencil in Jax and Vega. Robideaux and Merrill?
 

kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
627
1,952
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If jax moves to 141, hes top 2 , if vega moves to 149, wouldnt he also most likely be a finalist ?

Wouldnt their 157 lb’r also be considered a finalist ?

if we are assuming our 5 make it back to finals, u have to say their 4 freshmen do as well
Jax and Vega yes. The other 2 not so much.
 

Misalorales

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2025
1,119
3,451
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If jax moves to 141, hes top 2 , if vega moves to 149, wouldnt he also most likely be a finalist ?

Wouldnt their 157 lb’r also be considered a finalist ?

if we are assuming our 5 make it back to finals, u have to say their 4 freshmen do as well
I, like most here, am very much biased. That said, Cael and PSU have proven that when a guy is a finalist, he doesn't regress to not being a finalist the next year. I'm trying to think of the PSU guys who were finalists and then the next didn't make it back the next year. I'm sure there are a few but I'm also positive the % of PSU finalists that return to the finals is absurdly high. Taylor and Ok State may very well have that same level of consistency going for them but it's too early to give them the benefit of the doubt. That and Robideau even making the finals required some...luck. Merrill with his "style" will always be highly susceptible to being upset. I could see him back in the finals though. Unless a guy like Sinclair goes up to 197 or Rademacher makes a folkstyle jump like he did in freestyle last year.

Welsh would be the least likely repeat finalist but bet against him winning a vast majority of tight matches at your own peril.


* Anyone feel free to name the finalists that didn't return because now I want to know and don't have time to dig into it currently.
 

creamery freak

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2014
357
1,194
93
I, like most here, am very much biased. That said, Cael and PSU have proven that when a guy is a finalist, he doesn't regress to not being a finalist the next year. I'm trying to think of the PSU guys who were finalists and then the next didn't make it back the next year. I'm sure there are a few but I'm also positive the % of PSU finalists that return to the finals is absurdly high. Taylor and Ok State may very well have that same level of consistency going for them but it's too early to give them the benefit of the doubt. That and Robideau even making the finals required some...luck. Merrill with his "style" will always be highly susceptible to being upset. I could see him back in the finals though. Unless a guy like Sinclair goes up to 197 or Rademacher makes a folkstyle jump like he did in freestyle last year.

Welsh would be the least likely repeat finalist but bet against him winning a vast majority of tight matches at your own peril.


* Anyone feel free to name the finalists that didn't return because now I want to know and don't have time to dig into it currently.
Unfortunately Levi in 2025.