Hoping this can get some discussion going. They don’t seem very high on several Cowboys.
InterMat Rankings
InterMat Rankings
Pre Season Rankings
- Thread starter bleedzorng
- Start date
Honestly I thought the rankings were mostly pretty fair. There’s a couple that I don’t get like Figs being outside the top 10 and Jamison being below Paniro Johnson but other than that I thought it was reasonable considering we have some unknowns in the lineup.
We have a lot of talent but much of it is unproven - new weights, redshirts. Our guys will get some upsets, for sure.
My ill informed take...Agree that most "rankings" in the wrestling world are more in the moment than predictive. Since we have so many unknowns, most don't give the benefit of the doubt, so I highly doubt we'll see anything but our rankings sky rocket once we start seeing results.
125: Spratley seems like a safe top 4. I have LIlledahl, Robinson, Spratley and probably Ventresca/Volk as all capable of winning any given day. I don't think it's anywhere near a given that Troy makes finals again, but he is capable of winning it all.
133: Definitely no love by most for Figueroa given his rankings all around 8-12. Hamiti flamed out the year before last and was still in most people's pre-season top 3, so unsure why Richie (who has results), isn't higher. Super competitive weight class. I haven't seen Richie in the room as much as I saw Ryder, Facundo etc this summer. Maybe suggests his level of buy in or maybe suggests absolutely nothing. From everything I've heard others say, the coaches are high on his potential at 133. Anything less than AA would be a disappointment imo.
141: Jamison should have been an AA last year. He could beat anyone outside the tope 2-3 but his weight cut sucked. He looked like a prune in several of his matches and his late round fades speak to it. Does he figure out a cleaner cut and stay at 141? Does Hughes take the spot. He has a great resume pre-college but no results. Is that a 133 thing or did he stagnate? Is there anyway Vega is ready to roll at 141? I doubt it given our other options but lends itself to the low ranking at this weight.
149: On paper, Swiderski is a stud. Beat Mendez in HS I believe. Ranked 2nd p4p. Does he make a Hamiti leap? He's another that anything less than AA is a disappointment.
157: Have to imagine Teague gets first crack. Maybe Jamison but his edge in strength would seemingly be lost here. Robideau is intriguing and I'm guessing he'll get matches much like Ferrari at Iowa. If he does well there or at open events, I could see him taking over later in the year. If not, this is probably a blood round weight.
165: Lockett has always been dead set on starting day one but more recently has softened his tone. Is that foreshadowing or just saying the right thing? Even if he underperforms, he's an AA, if not top 3-4. If he doesn't go, I'd assume that means Facundo slots here.
174: Facundo had the accolades like Swiderski did coming out of HS. Ranked #2 p4p, has beaten Levi I believe and wrestled Kasak close last year. Some have him as a darkhorse finals favorite. Slot his floor as AA with top 4 upside.
184: Ryder had a great redshirt year. Undefeated with some quality wins. High expectations. AA floor, top 4 ceiling.
197: I didn't get into wrestling while Merrill was dominating the HS circuit, so am only basing my opinion on what I've seen of him during the Open and WTT but I'm not super impressed. Seems somewhat undersized and isn't able to dominate with strength like he did in HS. Feels like most have him in the top 6 but I'm thinking he's more of the 8-12 range. Hope I'm wrong. I think Goff will get opportunities to wrestle and give Cody a run for his money.
HW: Doucet last year, I'd say is a blood round guy. He's gotten stronger and leaner and seems to have found a bit of offense, which makes his ceiling much higher. No one in the weight really scares me. Given his defense and the lack of firepower at the weight gives me optimism. See him in the 6-8 range.
We definitely don't have the sure things we had last year and I'm hoping that if most of our incoming freshmen redshirt, they are sent out to wrestle a bunch in opens and a few strategic matches. This year feels like a bit of a step back with potential but either way reloading for what could be some championship run years in '27, '28, '29. Maybe even '26 if guys level up to their full potential. Going to be fun to watch either way!
125: Spratley seems like a safe top 4. I have LIlledahl, Robinson, Spratley and probably Ventresca/Volk as all capable of winning any given day. I don't think it's anywhere near a given that Troy makes finals again, but he is capable of winning it all.
133: Definitely no love by most for Figueroa given his rankings all around 8-12. Hamiti flamed out the year before last and was still in most people's pre-season top 3, so unsure why Richie (who has results), isn't higher. Super competitive weight class. I haven't seen Richie in the room as much as I saw Ryder, Facundo etc this summer. Maybe suggests his level of buy in or maybe suggests absolutely nothing. From everything I've heard others say, the coaches are high on his potential at 133. Anything less than AA would be a disappointment imo.
141: Jamison should have been an AA last year. He could beat anyone outside the tope 2-3 but his weight cut sucked. He looked like a prune in several of his matches and his late round fades speak to it. Does he figure out a cleaner cut and stay at 141? Does Hughes take the spot. He has a great resume pre-college but no results. Is that a 133 thing or did he stagnate? Is there anyway Vega is ready to roll at 141? I doubt it given our other options but lends itself to the low ranking at this weight.
149: On paper, Swiderski is a stud. Beat Mendez in HS I believe. Ranked 2nd p4p. Does he make a Hamiti leap? He's another that anything less than AA is a disappointment.
157: Have to imagine Teague gets first crack. Maybe Jamison but his edge in strength would seemingly be lost here. Robideau is intriguing and I'm guessing he'll get matches much like Ferrari at Iowa. If he does well there or at open events, I could see him taking over later in the year. If not, this is probably a blood round weight.
165: Lockett has always been dead set on starting day one but more recently has softened his tone. Is that foreshadowing or just saying the right thing? Even if he underperforms, he's an AA, if not top 3-4. If he doesn't go, I'd assume that means Facundo slots here.
174: Facundo had the accolades like Swiderski did coming out of HS. Ranked #2 p4p, has beaten Levi I believe and wrestled Kasak close last year. Some have him as a darkhorse finals favorite. Slot his floor as AA with top 4 upside.
184: Ryder had a great redshirt year. Undefeated with some quality wins. High expectations. AA floor, top 4 ceiling.
197: I didn't get into wrestling while Merrill was dominating the HS circuit, so am only basing my opinion on what I've seen of him during the Open and WTT but I'm not super impressed. Seems somewhat undersized and isn't able to dominate with strength like he did in HS. Feels like most have him in the top 6 but I'm thinking he's more of the 8-12 range. Hope I'm wrong. I think Goff will get opportunities to wrestle and give Cody a run for his money.
HW: Doucet last year, I'd say is a blood round guy. He's gotten stronger and leaner and seems to have found a bit of offense, which makes his ceiling much higher. No one in the weight really scares me. Given his defense and the lack of firepower at the weight gives me optimism. See him in the 6-8 range.
We definitely don't have the sure things we had last year and I'm hoping that if most of our incoming freshmen redshirt, they are sent out to wrestle a bunch in opens and a few strategic matches. This year feels like a bit of a step back with potential but either way reloading for what could be some championship run years in '27, '28, '29. Maybe even '26 if guys level up to their full potential. Going to be fun to watch either way!
Last edited:
Great analysis. I might push back on the statement that we don't have as many sure things as we did last year. I see several guys who I view similarly to how I viewed Dean and Wyatt at the beginning of last year. We should be improved across several weights. No fault of DT's but there were a lot of weights last year where the talent just was not there to score many points. I don't think that is the case this year.
Probably a little recency bias creeping into my perspective due to Dean and Wyatt specifically. We should definitely score more points/be better at 133, 141, 149, 165 and
197. Drop off at 174 and HWT. Wyatt and Dean were both preseason top 3/4 and it took just one dual to see they were both going to contend for the championship. If Swiderski is bought in, I think the sky is the limit. Facundo’s knock was always offensive hesitancy, which when I hear that gives me Amine PTSD where I have to sweat out a one take down affair lol. Those are my two dark horses for high finishes. I think either of Travis or Robideau could AA in the 157 field. Outside of 141, everyone else is pretty established. It will be interesting if we have many consistent bonus scorers in this group. It’s the pre-season so we’re all able to convince ourselves we’ll get 10 AA’s but there’s definitely a path. Get 10 qualifiers w ~7AA’s and decent showings from a few freshmen and expectations will be outlandish next year and the years folllwing!Hoping Ryder is up there too. I would put him as fringe AA as current expectation from him.
Solid my man. As far as Tagen Jamison at 141 there is no "cleaner cut". The guy is super committed and disciplined. He won the 49 spot last year and was asked to go to 41 by the staff and he's the kind of guy that did it for them and the team. Over the season the cut took its toll w/ some underlying issues that I wont discuss. Yes, he should have AA'd last year and he'll be the first to tell you that. Remember the Composto match at NCAA's? He was handling him early and wrecked his knee in that match and lost. He's not the kind of young man to say anything (including to his coaches) and the finish he had was admirable considering.
Fast forward to post season. He's still going on that knee and training FS hard and his sites are set on 49 next year. Word is he was beating Mckenna regularly. Plants wrong on his foot and its absolutely surgery time.
He could take a medical but not sure he will. Its probably 41 for him again coming in around January and holding the weight til NCAA's. He's mending and feeling good I hear. He could take a medical but I think its 41 for him again coming back mid season. Really hoping holding the weight for a shorter time will put him over the top and high on the podium, Im thinking he could easily be top 4 if he's feeling good.
There you go getting me all full of hope. Do you think it’s a deal where we get a half year of 141 for Jamison this year and then a full year of 149 to round out his time in Stillwater (he’s got 2 more years without a medshirt, yeah?)? Also who do they send out at 141 in his stead? Mix of Hughes & Vega?
Not sure Vega can make 41 from what Im hearing? Its a possibility I would guess. But imo with him growing he's definitely going to need a RS to get stronger to handle college guys. Where does he fit in the future? I have no clue. Most havent discussed where he fits with the Raneys coming although he could be the guy and one of them sit.
Fair points. I would say that the transfers we have coming in do have less experience but have as much upside as last year’s transfers. I think the question marks are more about the unknown with this year’s team. That being said, this years team could be better, with a high probability.
Totally agree. Less experience and less dominant styles makes their margin for error smaller but all have the potential to be wrestling in the semis in March.
I think Jamison is an AA contender at 141, 149 or 157 but I don't hate the idea of him redshirting and getting fully healthy for a real run next year and letting Hughes get a shot at 141 this year
Carter Young was sent to the seeding committee for Nat Duals.
Also, Hughes looked pretty thin compared to last year. So I guess we shall see where he lands and if he can make the lineup.
I agree with you about 41 and 49. I think he'd give up to much length at 57. I'd look for Cael at 33. Hearing good things, he has the tools to do very well.