Portal April 1st

BadBoi

Redshirt
Feb 3, 2026
2
2
0
I think if we can find some younger studs in the portal I'd be all in on that. Just not interested in the beaten down 5th year senior with multiple shoulder surgeries. There needs to be a clear focus on bringing in high school talent and getting more depth in the room.
 
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Ptguard5

Freshman
Nov 26, 2025
56
72
18
To be fair, there are plenty of topics that people on here know better than me. I simply go full out against the rabid Anti-Brands squad, most PSU fans on here that are really only here to belittle Iowa and play at being superior, simply due to being a fan of a better team and those too soft to ignore or at least not get overly bothered by READING things that go against their agenda, i.e "soft people".....

My arguments are solely with the argument made by a person and NOT with the person their self. I try very hard not to get personal and directly insult. In fact, I am pretty sure most of us would get along very well hanging out and watching wrestling. I completely understand that fan is a derivative of fanatic and most on here let their passion override rational thought. I focus on those on 1 end of an extreme and that admittedly creates the most fireworks because they are already so fired up to be at that extreme to begin with.

If you actually read, I have said over and over again that I COMPLETELY understand wanting better than 4th. That has never been the issue. My argument has been with the "If you aren't 1st you are last crowd" and those that don't realize how good of a run Brands has actually had. There is a middle ground that I am happy to come to. The issue I am making sure to point out is that most, if not all, of those that I rub the wrong way aren't willing to even ackowledge that middle ground let alone come to it willingly....
Possibly one of your best posts.
 
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Sdwrestler_20

Junior
Dec 21, 2021
56
220
33
2026 returning AAs

WeightWrestler (School)2026 FinishEstimated Eligibility Left
125Luke Lilledahl
(Penn State)
1st2 Years
Marc-Anthony McGowan
(Princeton)
2nd2 Years
Nico Provo
(Stanford)
3rd1 Year
Vincent Robinson
(NC State)
4th2 Years
Troy Spratley
(Oklahoma State)
5th1 Year
Jore Volk
(Minnesota)
7th1 Year
133Jax Forrest
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Ben Davino
(Ohio State)
2nd3 Years
Aaron Seidel
(Virginia Tech)
3rd3 Years
Marcus Blaze
(Penn State)
4th3 Years
Tyler Knox
(Stanford)
6th2 Years
Jacob Van Dee
(Nebraska)
7th1 Year
141Sergio Vega
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Luke Stanich
(Lehigh)
3rd1 Year
149Aden Valencia
(Stanford)
1st3 Years
Shayne Van Ness
(Penn State)
2nd1 Year
Lachlan McNeil
(Michigan)
3rd1 Year
Chance Lamer
(Nebraska)
4th1 Year
Collin Gaj
(Virginia Tech)
5th3 Years
Ryder Block
(Iowa)
6th2 Years
Cross Wasilewski
(Penn)
7th2 Years
Casey Swiderski
(Oklahoma State)
8th1 Year
157Landon Robideau
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Antrell Taylor
(Nebraska)
2nd1 Year
PJ Duke
(Penn State)
3rd3 Years
Brandon Cannon
(Ohio State)
4th2 Years
Kannon Webster
(Illinois)
5th2 Years
Ty Watters
(West Virginia)
6th1 Year
Cameron Catrabone
(Michigan)
7th3 Years
Meyer Shapiro
(Cornell)
8th1 Year
165Mitchell Mesenbrink
(Penn State)
1st1 Year
Nicco Ruiz
(Arizona State)
4th2 Years
Joey Blaze
(Purdue)
6th1 Year
Bryce Hepner
(North Carolina)
7th1 Year
174Christopher Minto
(Nebraska)
2nd2 Years
Cam Steed
(Missouri)
5th2 Years
Danny Wask
(Navy)
6th1 Year
Beau Mantanona
(Michigan)
7th1 Year
MJ Gaitan
(Iowa State)
8th1 Year
184Max McEnelly
(Minnesota)
1st2 Years
Rocco Welsh
(Penn State)
2nd2 Years
Aeoden Sinclair
(Missouri)
3rd3 Years
Caleb Campos
(American)
4th1 Year
Brock Mantanona
(Michigan)
5th3 Years
Angelo Ferrari
(Iowa)
6th3 Years
Zack Ryder
(Oklahoma State)
8th3 Years
197Josh Barr
(Penn State)
1st2 Years
Cody Merrill
(Oklahoma State)
2nd3 Years
Stephen Little
(Little Rock)
3rd1 Year
Joey Novak
(Wyoming)
4th2 Years
Camden McDanel
(Nebraska)
5th2 Years
Angelo Posada
(Stanford)
6th3 Years
Gabe Arnold
(Iowa)
7th2 Years
285Ben Kueter
(Iowa)
5th2 Years
AJ Ferrari
(Nebraska)
6th1 Year
Christian Carroll
(Wyoming)
8th3 Years
I believe that McNeil and Lamer are both done at 149.
 

Hogghawk

Sophomore
Jun 5, 2025
51
157
33
2020-2021 is the year no one burned a year of eligibility by participating. Doesn't count for anyone.

This year and last year count as seasons for sure, so that's 2/4.

Next year is 3/4.

He's trying to get 2021-2022 back...well he wrestled on 9 participation dates with the last being 1/23, fairly late in the season. I have a hard time believing the NCAA will grant him that given how much/when he participated both on the mat and in injuring himself (LOL) that year. But these days...never know.

In short...AI was right.
He committed in November of 2020 to Nebraska. That high school year was nothing I agree. He redshirted 22-23. Wrestled 23-24,24-25,25-26. He should have 1 left. I don’t see how he gets 2 any way you spin it.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
695
2,277
93
He committed in November of 2020 to Nebraska. That high school year was nothing I agree. He redshirted 22-23. Wrestled 23-24,24-25,25-26. He should have 1 left. I don’t see how he gets 2 any way you spin it.

If the NCAA grants him a RS for 2021-2022 because of limited participation. That's how. I don't think they should, and I have my doubts they will, but that is the answer.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
858
1,892
93
2026 returning AAs
WeightWrestler (School)2026 FinishEstimated Eligibility Left
125Luke Lilledahl
(Penn State)
1st2 Years
Marc-Anthony McGowan
(Princeton)
2nd2 Years
Nico Provo
(Stanford)
3rd1 Year
Vincent Robinson
(NC State)
4th2 Years
Troy Spratley
(Oklahoma State)
5th1 Year
Jore Volk
(Minnesota)
7th1 Year
133Jax Forrest
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Ben Davino
(Ohio State)
2nd3 Years
Aaron Seidel
(Virginia Tech)
3rd3 Years
Marcus Blaze
(Penn State)
4th3 Years
Tyler Knox
(Stanford)
6th2 Years
Jacob Van Dee
(Nebraska)
7th1 Year
141Sergio Vega
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Luke Stanich
(Lehigh)
3rd1 Year
149Aden Valencia
(Stanford)
1st3 Years
Shayne Van Ness
(Penn State)
2nd1 Year
Collin Gaj
(Virginia Tech)
5th3 Years
Ryder Block
(Iowa)
6th2 Years
Cross Wasilewski
(Penn)
7th2 Years
Casey Swiderski
(Oklahoma State)
8th1 Year
157Landon Robideau
(Oklahoma State)
1st3 Years
Antrell Taylor
(Nebraska)
2nd1 Year
PJ Duke
(Penn State)
3rd3 Years
Brandon Cannon
(Ohio State)
4th2 Years
Kannon Webster
(Illinois)
5th2 Years
Ty Watters
(West Virginia)
6th1 Year
Cameron Catrabone
(Michigan)
7th3 Years
Meyer Shapiro
(Cornell)
8th1 Year
165Mitchell Mesenbrink
(Penn State)
1st1 Year
Nicco Ruiz
(Arizona State)
4th2 Years
Joey Blaze
(Purdue)
6th1 Year
Bryce Hepner
(North Carolina)
7th1 Year
174Christopher Minto
(Nebraska)
2nd2 Years
Cam Steed
(Missouri)
5th2 Years
Danny Wask
(Navy)
6th1 Year
Beau Mantanona
(Michigan)
7th1 Year
MJ Gaitan
(Iowa State)
8th1 Year
184Max McEnelly
(Minnesota)
1st2 Years
Rocco Welsh
(Penn State)
2nd2 Years
Aeoden Sinclair
(Missouri)
3rd3 Years
Caleb Campos
(American)
4th1 Year
Brock Mantanona
(Michigan)
5th3 Years
Angelo Ferrari
(Iowa)
6th3 Years
Zack Ryder
(Oklahoma State)
8th3 Years
197Josh Barr
(Penn State)
1st2 Years
Cody Merrill
(Oklahoma State)
2nd3 Years
Stephen Little
(Little Rock)
3rd1 Year
Joey Novak
(Wyoming)
4th2 Years
Camden McDanel
(Nebraska)
5th2 Years
Angelo Posada
(Stanford)
6th3 Years
Gabe Arnold
(Iowa)
7th2 Years
285Ben Kueter
(Iowa)
5th2 Years
AJ Ferrari
(Nebraska)
6th1 Year
Christian Carroll
(Wyoming)
8th3 Years

Thanks for doing this. And had me thinking of the blue chips coming in like Bo and Ross. Nothing like what came in last year but for sure Bo is a title threat. Not as confident with Ross wrestling big grown men but Okie st. does produce heavies.
 

chipackhawk

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2018
422
1,003
93
I'd like to proclaim to the world that I like @Corby2. We go round and round on occasion, but I have zero issues with him and thinks he brings value to the board.
Season 4 Michael GIF by The Office
 

cwobrien11

Heisman
Apr 22, 2009
19,871
34,022
77
So I've gone back through every D1 portal transfer from 2021 on (a little over 1200 FWIW). I started going down the rabbit hole of winning percentage/bonus rate before and after but 1) that's a lot of data to track down and 2) at the end of the day what really matters is team points at the NCAA's IMO so I narrowed the focus down to guys that had both transferred from 2021 on and were on the podium. It dropped that number down from about 1200 down to 61. I'll go back and look at ranked kids that didn't make the podium (there were some, but not as many as you would think) but I haven't done so yet.

The results were extremely interesting. Of that 61, 33 had been on the podium before transferring. Only 20 of that 33 were on the podium the next year. A total of 17 transfers that were unranked out of high school made All American at some point BUT of the 8 unranked guys that were AA before transferring, only 4 saw the podium again (2 at 197, 1 at HWT, and 1 at 165). Of the other 9 that weren't on the podium pre-transfer, 3 were at 165 and 2 were at 125.

125, 197, and Heavyweight are extremely volatile classes due to weight and the available talent. 125 pounders tend to grow into 133 pounders as the age. High-end high school heavyweights and 197 pounders tend to play football as well and that is the way they tend to lean in college. Those weight classes are an absolute crap shoot so if you can snag a high-end high school kid (top 25 nationally) at those weight classes, you're already in a pretty good spot. Those guys don't necessarily AA immediately, but just about every single one of them does at some point. If you can find a guy that meets that description in the transfer portal with a couple of years left, regardless of previous AA status, you snag him.

Transfers at 165 can be impactful. 54% of all of the guys on the podium have been transfers over the last 3 tournaments. Obviously, that is skewed by Caliendo and Mesenbrink, but 6 other transfers made the podium, 4 of which were unranked coming out of high school. To the man, those unranked guys were in deep rooms before transferring and almost every one of them bailed with one season of eligibility left so that they could try to make the podium.

If you pull out 165, all of the other weight classes between 133 and 184 there were only 6 transfers that were ranked outside of the top 100 that made All-American. Of those 6, 3 made it before their transfer and didn't do it after. In those weight classes, the talent pool is very deep. A guy can fluke his way onto the podium, but it's incredibly hard to replicate that fluke if the talent isn't there. 17 transfers in that weight range were ranked in the top 50 and all of them made the podium at least once. Only 3 of them failed to make the podium after they transferred (Bailey has a chance). 8 had not medaled before transferring and every one of them medaled at least once.

What I guess I'm saying is that if you want to compete for national titles, you need high end talent. Development and room depth only take you so far. You need hammers. Hit the profile and the points will come.
 

IRON HAWK

Senior
Nov 6, 2025
397
561
93
I believe that McNeil and Lamer are both done at 149.
So IF I read you correctly??? TnT and Crew should be on their way to CALI soon and picking up THREEEE guys in the portal!!!!!

HINT- they should bring along some REAL WOOD!!!
So I've gone back through every D1 portal transfer from 2021 on (a little over 1200 FWIW). I started going down the rabbit hole of winning percentage/bonus rate before and after but 1) that's a lot of data to track down and 2) at the end of the day what really matters is team points at the NCAA's IMO so I narrowed the focus down to guys that had both transferred from 2021 on and were on the podium. It dropped that number down from about 1200 down to 61. I'll go back and look at ranked kids that didn't make the podium (there were some, but not as many as you would think) but I haven't done so yet.

The results were extremely interesting. Of that 61, 33 had been on the podium before transferring. Only 20 of that 33 were on the podium the next year. A total of 17 transfers that were unranked out of high school made All American at some point BUT of the 8 unranked guys that were AA before transferring, only 4 saw the podium again (2 at 197, 1 at HWT, and 1 at 165). Of the other 9 that weren't on the podium pre-transfer, 3 were at 165 and 2 were at 125.

125, 197, and Heavyweight are extremely volatile classes due to weight and the available talent. 125 pounders tend to grow into 133 pounders as the age. High-end high school heavyweights and 197 pounders tend to play football as well and that is the way they tend to lean in college. Those weight classes are an absolute crap shoot so if you can snag a high-end high school kid (top 25 nationally) at those weight classes, you're already in a pretty good spot. Those guys don't necessarily AA immediately, but just about every single one of them does at some point. If you can find a guy that meets that description in the transfer portal with a couple of years left, regardless of previous AA status, you snag him.

Transfers at 165 can be impactful. 54% of all of the guys on the podium have been transfers over the last 3 tournaments. Obviously, that is skewed by Caliendo and Mesenbrink, but 6 other transfers made the podium, 4 of which were unranked coming out of high school. To the man, those unranked guys were in deep rooms before transferring and almost every one of them bailed with one season of eligibility left so that they could try to make the podium.

If you pull out 165, all of the other weight classes between 133 and 184 there were only 6 transfers that were ranked outside of the top 100 that made All-American. Of those 6, 3 made it before their transfer and didn't do it after. In those weight classes, the talent pool is very deep. A guy can fluke his way onto the podium, but it's incredibly hard to replicate that fluke if the talent isn't there. 17 transfers in that weight range were ranked in the top 50 and all of them made the podium at least once. Only 3 of them failed to make the podium after they transferred (Bailey has a chance). 8 had not medaled before transferring and every one of them medaled at least once.

What I guess I'm saying is that if you want to compete for national titles, you need high end talent. Development and room depth only take you so far. You need hammers. Hit the profile and the points will come.
MAN!!!! Felt like I was back in skool reading this!!!! NOT sure what you do for a living??? Guessing it is something with computers and hoping it is making you a lot of CASH!!!!
 

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
824
1,402
93
The mat awareness and being out of position were a big concern to me. He did seem more controlled in his last couple of matches. Also hope he is getting strength work in this summer.
And lots of foot speed drills. Didn’t look like as much of a plodder in high school.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
695
2,277
93
And lots of foot speed drills. Didn’t look like as much of a plodder in high school.

I’m old enough to remember the last “plodder” this board complained about. He transferred…and was an NCAA runner up as a soph, an NCAA champ as a junior, and Covid robbed him of a chance to defend his title.
 

bobchawk

Senior
Iowa Swarm member
Jun 5, 2010
397
578
93
I don’t think he’s looking for 100% agreement. I just don’t think he likes all the negativity and posters talking in absolutes when they don’t know ****, and he actually knows what’s going on. People were attacking him prior to NCAA’s, i don’t blame him for taking a victory lap and sticking up for himself when attacked. Ive been on the board for probably close to 10 years, he’s always been a good poster. Nothing has changed.
Exactly. On all these forums the negativity drives me bonkers. Nothing good comes from it so get behind the guys we got.
 

VakAttack

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
362
1,355
93
I’m old enough to remember the last “plodder” this board complained about. He transferred…and was an NCAA runner up as a soph, an NCAA champ as a junior, and Covid robbed him of a chance to defend his title.
...did you just miss Patrick Kennedy's whole career?
 
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