Just remember

HillcrestHawk19

Sophomore
Jul 1, 2025
34
117
28
Full disclosure, I am 25 years old, so I missed the glory days of Iowa wrestling, but I was in school during the Lee, Kemmerer, Marinelli, Desanto etc years, and what a fall from even that era. It is actually difficult to watch knowing we’re going to try and keep it as close as possible to just give up a takedown and lose. Really don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
 

52317Hawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
892
1,052
93
12 takedowns the past 2 duals by 4 wrestlers.

15 of 20 matches without a takedown.

And there are people who not only find this acceptable, they think Iowa couldn’t possibly do better.

L
O
L
How about talking top side rides? The lack of takedowns may concern you, but the inability for any Iowa wrestler to but a ride on is more concerning to me than what you mentioned. Take bottom vs Iowa is an automatic point. If they do get a ride, it's merely to hang on, there is no attempt to get a turn.

Pathetic.
 

Sir Pin Alot

Senior
Jun 25, 2025
310
872
93
My memory must be failing me, has Iowa reached 10 pins this season? I think they have had 2 in their last 6 or 7 duals?
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
581
1,818
93
How about talking top side rides? The lack of takedowns may concern you, but the inability for any Iowa wrestler to but a ride on is more concerning to me than what you mentioned. Take bottom vs Iowa is an automatic point. If they do get a ride, it's merely to hang on, there is no attempt to get a turn.

Pathetic.

You’re more concerned about riding than takedowns?

That’s…interesting.
 

NLhawk62

All-Conference
Sep 6, 2008
20,849
1,070
86
How about talking top side rides? The lack of takedowns may concern you, but the inability for any Iowa wrestler to but a ride on is more concerning to me than what you mentioned. Take bottom vs Iowa is an automatic point. If they do get a ride, it's merely to hang on, there is no attempt to get a turn.

Pathetic.
It’s more than pathetic. Not surprising though. Iowa doesn’t have one coach that excelled at top wrestling, and it’s pretty damn apparent at this point that they’re not good at teaching it either.
 

Evashevsky58

Junior
Mar 10, 2008
99
327
52
Our biggest issue right now is evaluating talent. 3 of our transfers this year are a miss. That is huge! A lot of very good wrestlers on all teams, including almighty PSU don’t shoot/get many take downs against the best competition. It seems wrestling as a whole has become more defensive, although some of the young talent coming up may be changing this. Maybe the other big issue for Iowa coaches is instilling confidence, that would explain lack of shooting, being afraid to take a risk, rather than confidence in their own skills/chain wrestling (which we don’t seem to teach). Also we need someone to teach our wrestlers how to scramble.
 
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WhiteDog125

Senior
Dec 13, 2023
245
569
93
12 takedowns the past 2 duals by 4 wrestlers.

15 of 20 matches without a takedown.

And there are people who not only find this acceptable, they think Iowa couldn’t possibly do better.

L
O
L
Brainwashed by the fearless cult leader. And have been for a long time!
 

MVPFAN

Senior
Mar 10, 2003
3,228
668
113
Our biggest issue right now is evaluating talent. 3 of our transfers this year are a miss. That is huge! A lot of very good wrestlers on all teams, including almighty PSU don’t shoot/get many take downs against the best competition. It seems wrestling as a whole has become more defensive, although some of the young talent coming up may be changing this. Maybe the other big issue for Iowa coaches is instilling confidence, that would explain lack of shooting, being afraid to take a risk, rather than confidence in their own skills/chain wrestling (which we don’t seem to teach). Also we need someone to teach our wrestlers how to scramble.
We don't develop talent especially well either.
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
7 falls this season.

Block = 2, Caliendo = 2, Ayala = 1, Williams = 1, Endene = 1.

4 of the 7 came against Bellarmine, Chattanooga, and Utah Valley.
People don’t get this, but this is a huge part of PSU lapping the field the past few years. A large majority show marked improvement on top during their careers. First to be able to ride guys in critical moments and later to be able to score on top. Lots of examples:

Mesenbrink is now extremely dangerous on top, that was not in his repertoire when he transferred there.

Haines is a monster on top even going up two weights.

Van Ness scores all the time from top after coming in as a TD guy.

Starocci became a beast on top even- watched him all through his HS career and he wasn’t close to that.

Lilledahl is becoming very good on top and starting to turn ranked guys. He wasn’t close to doing that last year.

I just watched an interview with Barr whose big thing was his frustration that he wasn’t turning guys enough and that he has to get better there. This from a guy who is the clear #1 at his weight and takes down guys at will.

Duke is not good coming in on top, which is a big reason I thought he was far more vulnerable than the other super frosh coming in Blaze. That will be the a key for him to reach the heights that people think he can. He’s not there yet, not even close.

This is coaching. Yeah, I’m sure that some will cherry pick the guys that don’t get better in that position or point out great guys on top that don’t wrestle for PSU. But this is for real. PSU guys seem to get better at top wrestling while the rest of the country seems to be going the other way. But folk style emphasizes control and top wrestling is a huge component in this.
 

Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,006
6,164
113
People don’t get this, but this is a huge part of PSU lapping the field the past few years. A large majority show marked improvement on top during their careers. First to be able to ride guys in critical moments and later to be able to score on top. Lots of examples:

Mesenbrink is now extremely dangerous on top, that was not in his repertoire when he transferred there.

Haines is a monster on top even going up two weights.

Van Ness scores all the time from top after coming in as a TD guy.

Starocci became a beast on top even- watched him all through his HS career and he wasn’t close to that.

Lilledahl is becoming very good on top and starting to turn ranked guys. He wasn’t close to doing that last year.

I just watched an interview with Barr whose big thing was his frustration that he wasn’t turning guys enough and that he has to get better there. This from a guy who is the clear #1 at his weight and takes down guys at will.

Duke is not good coming in on top, which is a big reason I thought he was far more vulnerable than the other super frosh coming in Blaze. That will be the a key for him to reach the heights that people think he can. He’s not there yet, not even close.

This is coaching. Yeah, I’m sure that some will cherry pick the guys that don’t get better in that position or point out great guys on top that don’t wrestle for PSU. But this is for real. PSU guys seem to get better at top wrestling while the rest of the country seems to be going the other way. But folk style emphasizes control and top wrestling is a huge component in this.
Thanks for posting why Penn St has success on the Iowa boards 👍
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
Thanks for posting why Penn St has success on the Iowa boards 👍
Was just commenting on @TarpHawk1 s post about pins, but you’re welcome. Wasn’t aware that commenting on both the most active college wrestling boards was an exclusive right of yours. And it certainly wasn’t antagonistic ( except probably to some of the extremists) which is more than I can say for some of your comments. Not that there is anything wrong with a little back and forth. If Grip or Ironbird object, let them have at it.
 

TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
423
1,288
93
Was just commenting on @TarpHawk1 s post about pins, but you’re welcome. Wasn’t aware that commenting on both the most active college wrestling boards was an exclusive right of yours. And it certainly wasn’t antagonistic ( except probably to some of the extremists) which is more than I can say for some of your comments. Not that there is anything wrong with a little back and forth. If Grip or Ironbird object, let them have at it.
I personally don't object to any wrestling fans coming to engage in good wrestling conversation. I watch as much wrestling as I can, of course I want Iowa to beat everyone, but I enjoy all of wrestling first.
When Ahole psu trolls come here to make dumbass comments or talk about how great they are since wrestling started 15 years ago, it kind of makes us mad. I truly believe most of them could not name 5 national champs PSU had before Carl
 

52317Hawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
892
1,052
93
People don’t get this, but this is a huge part of PSU lapping the field the past few years. A large majority show marked improvement on top during their careers. First to be able to ride guys in critical moments and later to be able to score on top. Lots of examples:

Mesenbrink is now extremely dangerous on top, that was not in his repertoire when he transferred there.

Haines is a monster on top even going up two weights.

Van Ness scores all the time from top after coming in as a TD guy.

Starocci became a beast on top even- watched him all through his HS career and he wasn’t close to that.

Lilledahl is becoming very good on top and starting to turn ranked guys. He wasn’t close to doing that last year.

I just watched an interview with Barr whose big thing was his frustration that he wasn’t turning guys enough and that he has to get better there. This from a guy who is the clear #1 at his weight and takes down guys at will.

Duke is not good coming in on top, which is a big reason I thought he was far more vulnerable than the other super frosh coming in Blaze. That will be the a key for him to reach the heights that people think he can. He’s not there yet, not even close.

This is coaching. Yeah, I’m sure that some will cherry pick the guys that don’t get better in that position or point out great guys on top that don’t wrestle for PSU. But this is for real. PSU guys seem to get better at top wrestling while the rest of the country seems to be going the other way. But folk style emphasizes control and top wrestling is a huge component in this.
Good post. A hard or tough ride also wears on the opponent thus making takedowns easier. I think back to the days of TnT Steiner, they'd throw legs in, break your back for a while and then destroy you. Both were some of my fav Iowa wrestlers.

I'm not eloquent, but if you can't take someone down and get to a period break at least be able to make them suffer BEFORE they get out.
 

el dub

All-Conference
Nov 2, 2005
535
1,382
93
How about talking top side rides? The lack of takedowns may concern you, but the inability for any Iowa wrestler to but a ride on is more concerning to me than what you mentioned. Take bottom vs Iowa is an automatic point. If they do get a ride, it's merely to hang on, there is no attempt to get a turn.

Pathetic.
Riding isn’t the same as turning. Riding can only get you, at most, one point per match.
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
I personally don't object to any wrestling fans coming to engage in good wrestling conversation. I watch as much wrestling as I can, of course I want Iowa to beat everyone, but I enjoy all of wrestling first.
When Ahole psu trolls come here to make dumbass comments or talk about how great they are since wrestling started 15 years ago, it kind of makes us mad. I truly believe most of them could not name 5 national champs PSU had before Carl
I’m sorry if this is going to start a firestorm with you, but this is just a stupid post. Most PSU fans can rattle off names like Matter, Abe, Hunter, Lynch, Martin, McCoy, etc. unless they are youngsters. We can also rattle off Iowa champs as well- you do realize that Pennsylvania has been a great high school wrestling state for a very long time, don’t you? Most wrestling fans were HS wrestlers, not D1 wrestlers and those were the guys your coaches talked about.

You probably have as many young guys here that don’t really know about Gables teams as we do that don’t know pre-Cael.

It’s just ridiculous. When you’re in HS you love your home guys, but you love the very best guys as well, whether that was Iowa in the 80s and 90s or PSU in the 10s and 20s. And I’d put PA wrestling up against Iowa wrestling over the last 50 years all day long. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is. You don’t have that many good wrestlers, coaches, D1 programs in your state for that long without a lot of people who know wrestling.
 

TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
423
1,288
93
I’m sorry if this is going to start a firestorm with you, but this is just a stupid post. Most PSU fans can rattle off names like Matter, Abe, Hunter, Lynch, Martin, McCoy, etc. unless they are youngsters. We can also rattle off Iowa champs as well- you do realize that Pennsylvania has been a great high school wrestling state for a very long time, don’t you? Most wrestling fans were HS wrestlers, not D1 wrestlers and those were the guys your coaches talked about.

You probably have as many young guys here that don’t really know about Gables teams as we do that don’t know pre-Cael.

It’s just ridiculous. When you’re in HS you love your home guys, but you love the very best guys as well, whether that was Iowa in the 80s and 90s or PSU in the 10s and 20s. And I’d put PA wrestling up against Iowa wrestling over the last 50 years all day long. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is. You don’t have that many good wrestlers, coaches, D1 programs in your state for that long without a lot of people who know wrestling.
Fair enough, means you are not one of them. There are great wrestling fans everywhere I have sat next to many of them from PA being an east coast guy. Quick trivia question without looking, how many National champs has PSU had from Long Island NY. Tuff question even for a long time fan
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
I
Fair enough, means you are not one of them. There are great wrestling fans everywhere I have sat next to many of them from PA being an east coast guy. Quick trivia question without looking, how many National champs has PSU had from Long Island NY. Tuff question even for a long time fan
Real quick I can only think of McCoy. Probably one of the oldtimers as well.
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
Waiting GIF
 
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TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
423
1,288
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I

Real quick I can only think of McCoy. Probably one of the oldtimers as well.
DeStefanis and Lemyre. McKoy was from Longwood I used to wrestle in a holiday tournament at that HS every year, DeStefanis was one of several brothers From Locust Valley just up the road from where I grew up. He was the coach at central Conn one of the schools I was going to wrestle for coming out of HS. Lemyre was way back when, school called Mepham HS they produced several national champions back in that era
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,386
4,304
113
DeStefanis and Lemyre. McKoy was from Longwood I used to wrestle in a holiday tournament at that HS every year, DeStefanis was one of several brothers From Locust Valley just up the road from where I grew up. He was the coach at central Conn one of the schools I was going to wrestle for coming out of HS. Lemyre was way back when, school called Mepham HS they produced several national champions back in that era
Damn, should have gotten DiStefanis, but you put me under time pressure. I wouldn’t have gotten Lemyre unless I looked it up.