I just watched a few Ono YouTube videos. I think if he was wrestling for us this year it would be hard to decide whether Ono or Levi was the second best wrestler on the team. Only MM would be clearly better.
Match Notes for '26 Michigan
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
To be honest, it's not crazy. This is exactly how this schizophrenic Iowa team is. Beat Ok St at National Duals in a thrilling match, then get torched by tOSU in the next one. Lose the most embarrassing match ever held at Carver vs PSU, then dominate a very good Nebraska team. Last week, they looked absolutely awful losing to a really mid Minnesota team. I expect them to light up tOSU this week and whip their fans back into a frenzy so they can get torched in the rematch with DT.
So no one here has people in the room? You guys gotta step your games up
How did Desmond ever beat Luke with all Luke's freestyle success? If he has no change against Ono how did that happen?
2027....
125 Luke
133 Ono
41 Blaze
149 SVN
157 Kasak
165 PJ
174 Mitch
184 Rocco
197 Barr Hvy Cole
If I'm being honest, I think it's more likely duke goes straight to 174 after this year Ala Levi haines OR he redshirts, Jayden James goes 174 and and duke locks down 165 the following 3 years. I am not accounting for Olympic aspirations and whatever weight Duke is eyeing because well...I don't know him and I have no clue what his plan is.
125 #1 Luke tech fall over # 22 Diego Soltelo 5-0 PSU
133 #4 Marcus tech fall over Guage Boteo 10-0PSU
141 #12 Scooter by dec of #25 Dylan Ragusin 13-0PSU
149 #1 SVN by dec over #12 Lachlan McNiel 16-0PSU
157 #4 PJ by maj dec over # 12 Catrabone 20-0PSU
165 #1 Mitch by pin over Justin Gates 26-0PSU
174 #1 Levi by dec over #10 Beau Mantoanona 29-0PSU
184 #1 Rocco by dec over #6 Brock Mantanona 32-0PSU
197 #1 Barr by tech fall over # 20 Hayden Walters 37-0PSU
HVY #12 Cole drops a close dec to #4 Taye Ghadiali 37-3PSU (If Cole can pull this out and show he can now handle the size difference... it can build momentum at the right time for him)
BEST 40-0 PSU
WORST 34-6 PSU
Most Likely 37-3 PSU
AVG 37-3
133 #4 Marcus tech fall over Guage Boteo 10-0PSU
141 #12 Scooter by dec of #25 Dylan Ragusin 13-0PSU
149 #1 SVN by dec over #12 Lachlan McNiel 16-0PSU
157 #4 PJ by maj dec over # 12 Catrabone 20-0PSU
165 #1 Mitch by pin over Justin Gates 26-0PSU
174 #1 Levi by dec over #10 Beau Mantoanona 29-0PSU
184 #1 Rocco by dec over #6 Brock Mantanona 32-0PSU
197 #1 Barr by tech fall over # 20 Hayden Walters 37-0PSU
HVY #12 Cole drops a close dec to #4 Taye Ghadiali 37-3PSU (If Cole can pull this out and show he can now handle the size difference... it can build momentum at the right time for him)
BEST 40-0 PSU
WORST 34-6 PSU
Most Likely 37-3 PSU
AVG 37-3
If Jayden James doesn’t flip more tires, he’ll never have the makings of a varsity athlete
that very well could be the case but the way that Mitch is running through the field at 65 and knowing his mentality.. he may want to move up to 74 next year
Willie said on a Baschamania podcast within the last month or two that he believes Luke will be a career 125. He didn't elaborate on his opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
Upon further review, I'm picking up the vibe you hate tOSU much more than Iowa.
Yes, Gabe can beat Fishback, who has been on a bit if a downturn, as of late.
there are just so many options this coaching staff will have
I could see any of Kasak, Duke, Henckle, Asher, & Connor Marisola in the line up too and maybe someone in our upper weights redshirting....
IDK it is good to have an embarrassment of riches
and Cael and co are truly
and with Landon Sidun coming in.... we can say the 125 curse would be offically over!
For all the horror stories, and direct references that he will never again see 125, I get it, but he did beat #1 Luke down there just a mere few months ago.
I personally think extreme weight cutting is one of the biggest, and least effective, negative elements in wrestling. In short I didn't like it or believe in the results much at all.
That said, given the choice of Desmond at 125, however unlikely and unattainable, or in the portal.....
Cael as always has a plan, and Desmond has already shown he has the chops, but without a redshirt for Blaze, he will have to beat either Marcus or Ono just to see the mat next year, or maybe thereafter.
The problem is Blaze isn't a very big 133 lber.
I think it will depend what weight he wants to go for freestyle.
dont disagree..... those could all be factors but as he continues to bonus his way through the field.... hard to imagine him back next year at the same weight....
BWI's Penn State wrestling notebook heading into the Michigan match is also now live:
www.on3.com
Top Penn State-Michigan wrestling bouts to watch, a note on Braeden Davis, and more on the Lions
Penn State wrestling is hitting the road to take on Michigan as Big Ten action continues for Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions.
2018 was my grandson's 1st trip to Nationals, he was 5. Waiting to get in Rocket Arena in Cleveland we were surrounded by tO$U fans talking ****. My last words to them was, I guess this tournament is your to lose. So when Bo pins MyMar and we are all screaming, my grandson simply says, Bo Nickal saved the day. My grandson is an undefeated Penn State observer at Nationals, he's going back to Cleveland.
Here's my deal with Iowa, I'm worried that JTS is going to lose his "hating on Iowa" job. Who is going to pay him now? People will be doing Go Fund Me's for Iowa.
Unlike most teams, PSU is full of guys with legitimate World and Olympic aspirations and world and Olympic championships are a higher goal than an NCAA title. So when people discuss folk lineups and weights, the freestyle weights have to always considered. Luke wants to stay 57kg for 2028 so he will stay 125, Blaze wants to be a solid 65kg guy by then so will work into the weight and go 141 and Mitchell will look at 74kg so no real reason to move up in folk.
Ono is the best in the world in freestyle because he is an exceptional athlete. Anyone that thinks after a year in our room, he doesn't supplement his national champ neutral game with AA level or above mat wrestling is smoking something.
Should we expect him to be a Zain like punisher on top? Probably not, but wrestling in all three positions for the most elite of elite guys probably ain't rocket science either.
I think too many are parlaying Desmond's shocker against Luke into something much grander. That performance was an eye opener for sure and has us all excited, but I would bet my house that Ono today, can escape Desmond from bottom relatively routinely, and from top a catch and release strategy is just plain fine. How often is Ono going to need to ride anyone out, or turn them for that matter? For all we know he's already working the bow and arrow into his repitroir. Until this season Mitch was doing pretty damned awesome with mostly catch and release alone.
There is a good chance noone south of Jesse Mendez could ride Ono out, but that's just my guess.
Back to Nate. It's hard to gauge how much the win vs Luke is tied to familiarity. My money is on Luke winning the majority, probably 7 of 10 or better if they met again. I would put Nate's chances against Ono even lower.
Should we expect him to be a Zain like punisher on top? Probably not, but wrestling in all three positions for the most elite of elite guys probably ain't rocket science either.
I think too many are parlaying Desmond's shocker against Luke into something much grander. That performance was an eye opener for sure and has us all excited, but I would bet my house that Ono today, can escape Desmond from bottom relatively routinely, and from top a catch and release strategy is just plain fine. How often is Ono going to need to ride anyone out, or turn them for that matter? For all we know he's already working the bow and arrow into his repitroir. Until this season Mitch was doing pretty damned awesome with mostly catch and release alone.
There is a good chance noone south of Jesse Mendez could ride Ono out, but that's just my guess.
Back to Nate. It's hard to gauge how much the win vs Luke is tied to familiarity. My money is on Luke winning the majority, probably 7 of 10 or better if they met again. I would put Nate's chances against Ono even lower.
I like Desmond but his win vs Luke is no more than a good day in the practice room. Corby and folks citing it is ridiculous. If Luke would have won a close match - say not be as aggressive and get burned (like it happened) - what would we be saying? Desmond did a great job filling in and I certainly look forw to his career!
What about folks saying Ono will win NCAAs and he hasn't wrestled a folkstyle match yet . Is that ridiculous?
To think we lose Levi and next year's team might be just as strong as this season's potentially record breaking team is just crazy.
I don't think so. I've seen enough of Ono's wrestling to see his world class talent.
He will flat wear out his opponents.
I think this is spot on. But also see a senario where PJ redshirts and either Henkle or James goes 174
I am just looking forward to Cael developing Ono's folk-style talent. If Ono does win NCAAs year one, I am sure everyone will be saying that's what it was.
Was wondering how long until Corby reactivated Troll Mode.
Going for Corby3 by spamming that thought in multiple unrelated threads. That's a no no around these parts, if I'm not mistaken @Corby2.
I will be saying the staff developed him into a great folkstyle wrestler. Not sure what everyone else will be sayingI am just looking forward to Cael developing Ono's folk-style talent. If Ono does win NCAAs year one, I am sure everyone will be saying that's what it was.
Here’s my take. Making a big deal of a very good teammate winning a match is ridiculous as that happens in the room as well. You know how sometimes these wrestle offs go. I hated them as you will see a potential champ barely winning 2-1 again against a very good wrestler that could start at other programs. So yes, I don’t worry too much about wrestle off results nor actual matches that count (which really didn’t count). Also saying a wrestler will win is not ridiculous based on the talent that they have although everyone knows nothing is guaranteed. However, I do agree with you that it won’t be a cakewalk and no surprise if Ono wins a match in OT or even wins a 2-1 match at some point. Which means he could lose a match. Folkstyle rules along with running and fake shots and head slaps can disrupt a great freestyle wrestler. Looking forward to seeing him on the mat.
If I'm banned for that you guys have become soft as Charmin. Others can have fun but not me got it. Go eat a 3rd lunch
Exactly. Nothing is a guarantee and folkstyle is a grind it's nothing like freestyle. Time will tell. I'm actually sticking up for Desmond and getting pushback this is actually hilarious. Guys Desmond wrestles for Penn st