Iowa State vs Iowa

Fatwoodchuck

Sophomore
Oct 19, 2023
129
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I will be taking Blaze over Davino, Duke over Cannon, and Lilledahl over Any in KYPSW.

I just hope Tom Ryan doesn't try to protect seeds. I know he's all about the duals, but he's already won that championship. Anyways, I won't be surprised one way or the other.
Not an argument but a question, when has Tom protected seeds i really can't recall anytime in the near past? As much talking he did about duals i can't see him hiding anybody but we already know injuries do happen. I just don't see him hiding even from penn state.
 
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Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
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IMO it’s better for Penn State long term for the Brands to stick around as long as possible. I don’t know what their coaching aspirations are, but I’d be concerned if Iowa was able to replace Brands with Burroughs, Lee or Nolf
Iowa bringing in new coaches isn't going to register in State College. Iowa would have to find the next Gable or Sanderson. Somebody within a new generation understanding of training methods that has the same zen qualities as those two. Otherwise Iowa would simply be trying to do what Penn State does better than how Penn State does it. Okie St, Iowa, Ohio State and maybe a few others are racing for second until sometime after Cael, Cody and Casey hang it up.
 
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Nitlion1986

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Apr 13, 2024
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Not an argument but a question, when has Tom protected seeds i really can't recall anytime in the near past? As much talking he did about duals i can't see him hiding anybody but we already know injuries do happen. I just don't see him hiding even from penn state.
I was thinking the same thing. He shows up with his best team believing he is winning.
 

AgSurfer

Senior
Aug 9, 2013
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Iowa bringing in new coaches isn't going to register in State College. Iowa would have to find the next Gable or Sanderson. Somebody within a new generation understanding of training methods that has the same zen qualities as those two. Otherwise Iowa would simply be trying to do what Penn State does better than how Penn State does it. Okie St, Iowa, Ohio State and maybe a few others are racing for second until sometime after Cael, Cody and Casey hang it up.
There is one coach who just might be able to match Cael’s ability to put everything together. Unfortunately for Iowa, he’s also at PSU and not going anywhere.
 

Fatwoodchuck

Sophomore
Oct 19, 2023
129
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I can't believe Blaze and Davino made the cut to 61 lbs. That had to be brutal! Seriously though, I am amazed how consistently Flo labels freestyle weights in pounds. I've noticed it has been going on fairly consistently for several years now. You would think that would be an easy thing to not screw up.
Davina looks 20lbs heavier than blaze.

Really? They can't get time zones correct and you think they'd get lbs to kg, lol.
 

Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
590
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IMO it’s better for Penn State long term for the Brands to stick around as long as possible. I don’t know what their coaching aspirations are, but I’d be concerned if Iowa was able to replace Brands with Burroughs, Lee or Nolf
Burroughs hates folk style. They should hire him for the HWC if they go down that road.

Cael in Pa and surrounded by OH, NY and NJ recruiting grounds is unfair
 

JoeBagobagels

Junior
Jun 24, 2025
224
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You forgot about Ed Ruth if you’re talking about guys who won three times and placed in a fourth. And we also have CStar and AB who both had better records, both in NCAA placement AND overall W/L records.
Exactly , the guys I mentioned had no chance at four after their first year of course. So we had at least six kind of close to four guys then add in Taylor
 

JoeBagobagels

Junior
Jun 24, 2025
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I'll add that wrestling to me seems to be a sport most likely to have literal dynasties. More south than the NBA, NFL, or any other professional sport.
So once a team gets to that level it's going to be hard to un see them so I would guess that culture should focus on upgrading certain parts of the program that you could possibly change.

Do you need to get a little bit more advanced with sports medicine? Nutrition? Rest in recovery?

There are experts who can help you with that. I would concentrate on a little things that you could change for right now, small incremental improvements that will add up to a whole lot over a period of time.

No one was beating Gable back in the day, only thing that worked was time.
 

jack66

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
3,212
2,659
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Hawk fans like to think recruits would flock to Iowa if Spencer took the reins, but I don't think he holds the same lordly status outside their echo chamber.
Not an argument but a question, when has Tom protected seeds i really can't recall anytime in the near past? As much talking he did about duals i can't see him hiding anybody but we already know injuries do happen. I just don't see him hiding even from penn state.

Agree, the National Dual Championship was a big deal for Ryan. He probably has a banner ready to hoist at Corvelli Center, and doesn't want it tarnished.

TanTom will bring his best team to Happy Valley.
 

a_mshaffer

Sophomore
Dec 8, 2014
131
145
43
Hawk fans like to think recruits would flock to Iowa if Spencer took the reins, but I don't think he holds the same lordly status outside their echo chamber.


Agree, the National Dual Championship was a big deal for Ryan. He probably has a banner ready to hoist at Corvelli Center, and doesn't want it tarnished.

TanTom will bring his best team to Happy Valley.
I'm not sure he will bring his 'best' team to PSU. At least, I have my doubts.
 

Random4598375

Sophomore
Jan 10, 2020
66
158
33
Hawk fans like to think recruits would flock to Iowa if Spencer took the reins, but I don't think he holds the same lordly status outside their echo chamber.


Agree, the National Dual Championship was a big deal for Ryan. He probably has a banner ready to hoist at Corvelli Center, and doesn't want it tarnished.

TanTom will bring his best team to Happy Valley.
Yeah, they not only won all five matches from 125-157, they pretty much embarrassed Iowa. There's no way Tom doesn't have the attitude that he can beat PSU the same way (whether it's a pipe dream or not in reality).
 
Feb 6, 2018
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if Ono get the 2 yrs Cael should start him!
I believe that was always the plan.

I am not sure that the appeal to get 2 years is still open. I believe we got a 'no' back and we then appealed that finding. One would think this should not take very long, but the NCAA is not the gold standard of efficiency or logic for pretty much anything.

IMO if he did get 2 years there is no way he will still RS, asking him to stay in state college for 3 years is quite unrealistic. I still think there is a slight risk that even 2 years is too long. Ono is still in the honeymoon phase.
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
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It's always fun to have these well established facts ready to annoy rabid Hawk fans. :devilish:
Yes, but let's be honest here. In HR Villages they scorn logic and speak Hawkese. Explaining things in English using logic gets you banned. Or at least used to. Not sure how they handle that now.
 

boskie81

Redshirt
Dec 3, 2025
1
7
0
Good example. Your post reminds me of the same issues that were being discussed over 50 years ago with regards to international competition. The US was relying more on aggression similar to the so called "Iowa style," but the Russians always seemed to be better. We analyzed their approach to the sport and also got some honest suggestions from guys like Ivan Yarygin. The Russians were far more focused on improving their technique than on the ability to win a match by brute force. We began to modify our approach to training with improved results eventually coming.

The difference today between Penn State and most Iowa wrestlers is pretty obvious. What is really puzzling is why Brands is so resistant to change. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that he hates losing. Is he so fixated on his own approach to wrestling that he thinks the Iowa team just has to apply his methods with more intensity in order to start winning the big matches? I saw Askren's post on X. If he was being serious, I think he would be really disenchanted if he were to be hired as an assistant coach under Brands. I'd bet that his suggestions would be rejected and he would end up leaving out of frustration.
I don't believe that Ben was offering his services as an Assistant. He was basically saying that Brands should be fired.
 

nerfstate

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2021
453
1,607
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IMO if he did get 2 years there is no way he will still RS, asking him to stay in state college for 3 years is quite unrealistic. I still think there is a slight risk that even 2 years is too long. Ono is still in the honeymoon phase.
Perspectives can certainly change (maybe McIntosh is finally homesick), and the Olympics loom, but from what I’ve seen, I think Masa would be thrilled with as many years here as he can get.
 
Jun 3, 2025
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Goggles pounded the Cole Is Too Light drum so much that he punctured it, and has found a new drum to beat.
Goggles at his computer every morning thinking about what to b***h about:
 

Joejitsu

Sophomore
Jun 10, 2025
111
109
43
I believe that was always the plan.

I am not sure that the appeal to get 2 years is still open. I believe we got a 'no' back and we then appealed that finding. One would think this should not take very long, but the NCAA is not the gold standard of efficiency or logic for pretty much anything.

IMO if he did get 2 years there is no way he will still RS, asking him to stay in state college for 3 years is quite unrealistic. I still think there is a slight risk that even 2 years is too long. Ono is still in the honeymoon phase.
Unless Ono sees Spencer Lee as the biggest threat to his world title... then where better to train than the NLWC?
 

Dogwelder

Senior
Aug 1, 2013
301
945
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… Ono is still in the honeymoon phase.
In the modern age of premarital relations, we are going to need a better metaphor than honeymoon! Nowadays, the honeymoon is probably not particularly blissful for couples compared to the many trips they had already taken together. 😀
 
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