Next Year’s Lineup '26
- Thread starter SlickWillie18
- Start date
I think I’ve heard this one before… by God, that’s David Taylor’s music!
...could wrestling with Captain America, KD and Demanding Ross be of interest to any heavy?...
125 Sparky
133 Raney
141 Jax
149 Vega
157 Lrob/Swiderski
165 Lrob/Swiderski/Facundo
174 Locket
184 Portal? Ryder medical redshirt
197 Cody
Hwt Ross
I think a bunch of guys are moving up in weight
133 Raney
141 Jax
149 Vega
157 Lrob/Swiderski
165 Lrob/Swiderski/Facundo
174 Locket
184 Portal? Ryder medical redshirt
197 Cody
Hwt Ross
I think a bunch of guys are moving up in weight
Would Jax be at 141 or 149?
Vega is perfect at 141 but what is his cut?
I don’t think Swiderski could go 157. When he wrestled Block today his was much smaller than him. Casey would be undersized at 157.
Lockett also seems undersized at 174. Ryder just got 8th with a messed up shoulder and already redshirted, doubt he would be up for that. I do think Facundo belongs at 165.
Spark plug
141 makes sense for Jax considered 65kg is the
Olympic weight for 2028.
Ramirez v Raney at 133
Vega cutting was a challenge (DT said so last night) but he did a good job of it. I think he bumps up to 149 though. It makes sense for both of them.
Swid odd man out if Vega bumps up sadly.
Robideau may be career 157 IMO.
Lockett will have another shot at 165
Facundo another shot at 174
Ryder having surgery next week on that shoulder and medical shirt likely in play.
Panda panda panda
Ross as true freshman.
Odd man out - Jamison, Hughes, Swid, Routledge. All starter level but where do you put them with the 3 returning national champs now.
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Long way to go and obviously no lineup is concrete in April.
I hear we’re looking at a guy the David will pluck from junior high after the Christmas dance to enroll and shock the world!
I would like to keep Swid for his leadership and toughness. He could wrestle at 149 or 157 if needed.
He definitely grew on me, just don’t know how he would feel if he was bumped from the lineup. I wouldn’t blame him if he transferred somewhere mid season like a few others did this year. Good problem to have
It's offseason Chase, time for wild speculation and expectations to run rampant with delusion, but without judgement.
Let’s not start this talk though? The man was 1 second from the semis and banged, I mean banged with the finalist. He out-wrestled him, just fell bad for him. He was that close!
I don’t like the idea of pushing him out of the lineup on speculation. That’s all.
Speculate all day! There are tons of shirts to be put on. There are injuries that happen. Lots of variables.
So, I think it’s poor form to discuss anybody’s removal from the lineup right now. And yes, I got choked up a few times this weekend, so maybe I’m different/wrong.
I don’t like the idea of pushing him out of the lineup on speculation. That’s all.
Speculate all day! There are tons of shirts to be put on. There are injuries that happen. Lots of variables.
So, I think it’s poor form to discuss anybody’s removal from the lineup right now. And yes, I got choked up a few times this weekend, so maybe I’m different/wrong.
I was all aboard the Swid train man. Even more so after hearing Vega talk about him after his win. I have his week right up there with the finalists in terms of how proud I was. I have nothing bad to say about him. I just think Vega at 149 next year makes a lot of sense as well as Jax at 141.
You know I am always respectful on here, but Chase this thread literally exists to talk about next years lineup and thats all I was doing. I know you love pumping sunshine 24/7 and I love that you do, but we gotta be able to chat about this stuff without it coming across as negative.
I gotcha.
I probably have too much respect for these guys to hear any negative. Its a bad character flaw I guess for a admin?
Was talking about this at our watch party last night, not necessarily a prediction, but what we'd like to see...
125 - Troy
133 - Jax
141 - Vega
149 - Casey
157 - LR
165 - Routledge
174 - Dee
184 - Ryder
197 - Merrill
285 - Ross
Dee is just not beating MM next year... I know "anything can happen" but yeah, no. Kody can absolutely AA, he is a DAWG, remember he lost to Ruiz in the final seconds of their match and just because he COMPLETELY gassed after just cutting to 157, and I think Dee can win it at 174 next year if he get's it together. That's a 10AA line up, with 4 possible favorites to win it all, and real chances for 2 or 3 more.
125 - Troy
133 - Jax
141 - Vega
149 - Casey
157 - LR
165 - Routledge
174 - Dee
184 - Ryder
197 - Merrill
285 - Ross
Dee is just not beating MM next year... I know "anything can happen" but yeah, no. Kody can absolutely AA, he is a DAWG, remember he lost to Ruiz in the final seconds of their match and just because he COMPLETELY gassed after just cutting to 157, and I think Dee can win it at 174 next year if he get's it together. That's a 10AA line up, with 4 possible favorites to win it all, and real chances for 2 or 3 more.
The way Sergio talks about Casey I suspect he would not like to push him out of the lineup.
Swiderski is not going to 57 that is Robideau's weight unless he grows out of it. You do not move National Champs unless they want to move. That includes all 3 of our Champs. Could they move, yes but only if they want to. So, I agree with you that Swiderski should be 49 unless someone beats him out. Also, when I listen to Sergio a message he is giving is Swiderski pushes him very hard and I don't get the impression Sergio beats him. I listened to Sergio and he expresses such appreciation of working with Casey I don't see him moving up a weight class and pushing Casey out of the lineup. Of course Sergio going up 8 pounds and he would wrestle better but I don't see it happening.
Don’t think LR is long enough or has the reach to be at 165
I heard Landon's interview and he did point out how much respect he has for Sergio cutting weight hard and doing it responsibly so he may go to 49 but I would think he would redshirt and take an extra year to put on that weight. As mentioned above Jax could go to 41, I don't believe he would go to 49. Jayden Rainey or Ramirez could take 33. Lots of good options especially with 25 thru 57.
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I think @skylinepoke meant he could be a backup at 149 or 157 on a relief basis or if someone is injured. Not that he would take it from LR.
LR mentioned the weight cut for Vega. DT mentioned the challenge of the weight cut for Vega also last night. And in the pre-NCAA lead up Still Boys videos DT mentions the cut in that to Vega (in a positive manner). So clearly the weight cut, while it was handled well and done right, was a lot on Vega. That combined with Jax olympic weight being 65kg is why I see them both sliding up. I hadn't thought of Vega redshirting to build into the weight properly so thats an interesting thought.
I love Swiderski and Dee and Facundo and Ryder. They all seem like great guys and are no doubt tough as hell. I also loved Tagen Jamison and Teague Travis and thought they were great guys and tough as hell. But I've said it all along, if you go out and score less than 10 points at NCAAs, you need to feel very paranoid about your place in our lineup going forward.
I understand that injuries happen. I understand that some guys take longer to reach their full potential. I understand that some guys get unlucky draws in their bracket. But this is a hyper-competitive environment. Guys who don't capitalize on the chance they are given may not get a second chance.
I understand that injuries happen. I understand that some guys take longer to reach their full potential. I understand that some guys get unlucky draws in their bracket. But this is a hyper-competitive environment. Guys who don't capitalize on the chance they are given may not get a second chance.
Everyone, of course, brings up Jax for that 65 spot at the Olympics. Sergio may have something to say about that. Good problem to have within the RTC.
Jax at 61 and Sergio at 65 in non-Olympic years will be fun for a bit.
Jax at 61 and Sergio at 65 in non-Olympic years will be fun for a bit.
I like Swid a ton. People were counting him out earlier this year but I had a feeling he would do well. He was seconds from being in the finals. He’s great
Dee needs to mature. Ton of talent but my guess is he has never had to fight for a spot.
I think we will target high end transfers at 65 and 84. Possibly at heavy if they don’t want to go with Ross straight away but something about him tells me he will go next year.
Dee and Ryder will RS would be my guess. Forest and Vega both bump up a weight.
Dee and Ryder will RS would be my guess. Forest and Vega both bump up a weight.
Yeah, Landon is pretty short. He obviously didn't have the same length as Taylor last night. We know that he struggled the first time around with Larkin. I think he can be really successful long-term at 57. All of that goes away if he moves up.
I think if it’s a foregone conclusion he’s moving to 141 next year, he’ll definitely go 65kg for freestyle this year. If not, he’s more apt to make the senior world team at 61 in my opinion (*my opinion means very little)
I'm with Chase on this. Let's bask in our glory and worry or strategize about next year at a later date.
Has a returning NC ever redshirted for reasons other than the Olympics or Probation (Pat Smith)?
Caleb Henson was redshirting for VA Tech this year in anticipation of Basset & Miller coming in. I think guys’ll do it if they believe it’s in their (and the team’s) best interest.
Maybe let’s bask in our glory in the 2026 National Championship thread and strategize about next years roster in the Next Year’s lineup thread?
@023 recruiting class was rated 1st and has been a bust. Our 25 recruiting class has been an unbelievable success that nobody could have predicted in the beginning of the season how these freshmen would do. Our 2026 class will not achieve at this level, but do we have a kid or 2 come in that could be a National Champ in the next 2 years. Our 2025 class was rated 2 although with Jax coming in early would have been rated 1. 2026 class has 4 number1 in their weight class wrestlers coming in with 132 Raney, 144 Raney, 190 White, and HWT Ross. Any National Champs in the next 2 years from this group. I would pick Ross as having the best chance based on his ability and his weight class clearing out. My 2nd choice would be Jordyn Raney at 141 or 149 with a better chance at 141. We of course also have Rocklin Zinkin coming in at 125.Maybe let’s bask in our glory in the 2026 National Championship thread and strategize about next years roster in the Next Year’s lineup thread?
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Landon isnt going up. Probably ever. It would open a spot for more guys but he's a natty champ and he'll go/stay where he wants. Same with Jax and Vega. Cant see Dee going 74, on some teams he'd be a 57. Coaches will have to juggle the best they can with new guys coming in. Saw Michael White at the after party and grabbed his shoulder. Was legit like grabbing granite, I'm not even joking. Robideau is like that. Its crazy.
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Here is my plan. You can bash it and tell me I'm an idiot but I already know that. This is "Operation Three-Peat 2028-30." It requires one year of sacrifice where we may finish 7th or 9th or worse. I do not think Penn State is beatable next year. After next year I think it's game on. So I am redshirting strategically and priming for a three-year Death Row lineup. Below is my 2027 Line-up:
125: Spratley
133: Ramirez
141: Hughes or a Rainey Brother
149: Swiderski
157: Routledge
165: Facundo
174: Guerrero or Transfer
184: White (for experience if he can make that weight)/ Transfer
197: Merrill
HWT: Amos
This would give us three years of having all of our studs in the lineup for the team race plus the Raineys and Ross for four years plus a redshirt year of development for them. I know NIL and transfer portal. I also think they all want to wrestle for David Taylor and this program and environment.
I know this will never happen but is there anyway to realistically stack-up to make a run after this year? Or forget about it and just have faith that we will recruit these level guys again? Which we can sit here and say and that sounds nice but we just produced the first two undefeated national champions since 1947 and another true freshman national champion which has never been done before. This is a very special class. The odds of it happening again are low. Like I said before I am obsessed with #35. I would take a last place finish next year to win a team title(s) in the next three,
125: Spratley
133: Ramirez
141: Hughes or a Rainey Brother
149: Swiderski
157: Routledge
165: Facundo
174: Guerrero or Transfer
184: White (for experience if he can make that weight)/ Transfer
197: Merrill
HWT: Amos
This would give us three years of having all of our studs in the lineup for the team race plus the Raineys and Ross for four years plus a redshirt year of development for them. I know NIL and transfer portal. I also think they all want to wrestle for David Taylor and this program and environment.
I know this will never happen but is there anyway to realistically stack-up to make a run after this year? Or forget about it and just have faith that we will recruit these level guys again? Which we can sit here and say and that sounds nice but we just produced the first two undefeated national champions since 1947 and another true freshman national champion which has never been done before. This is a very special class. The odds of it happening again are low. Like I said before I am obsessed with #35. I would take a last place finish next year to win a team title(s) in the next three,