PSU - Iowa '26 Match Thread

Jun 26, 2025
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Bailey has 4 losses, one was an MFF at a tourney.

His 3 contested losses were to Mendez, Vega (in SV), and Echemendia, all ranked top 4 in the country.

Let's not read too much into Bailey's losses.
he also lost to Isaiah Powe at the Solider Salute (who is a NQ level guy)
 

Random4598375

Senior
Jan 10, 2020
270
775
93
Nico was fully engaged and brought the action down to knees. He wrestled from there.

Big difference from someone who drops to a knee away from contact, or with one hand barely in contact.

Not pointing the finger at you here: another poster has repeatedly stated "Nico wrestles from knees" in order to exonerate the Ferraris. I'd love for him to show video of Nico deliberately disengaging from knees.

Until then, the guy who lit up national champ Darian Cruz multiple times in the 2-pt takedown era does not resemble the brothers who wrestle like XL Mason Beckman except with less attacking.
Engaged vs disengaged is definitely a significant detail. Going to a knee while disengaged is stalling. Going to a knee while tied up is wrestling.

Regardless, the rules apply to everyone, not just Ferrari. To the extent that any PSU wrestler is going to a knee while disengaged, they also should not be allowed to do it.
 
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Jun 23, 2025
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Like most here, I don’t know Spencer Lee personally. From a distance he seems like a great kid. He faced what must’ve been immense pressure to carry a storied wrestling program on his shoulders, with the added pressure of being in the shadow of a dynastic juggernaut in State College that many thought he would/should be part of. He did amazingly well given the coaching resources available to him.

I have no opinion on whether he could be a successful college HC someday. But throwing him into that role without 1st getting lower level coaching experience would set him up for failure.

DT had coaching experience and the huge advantage of being tutored by the coaching GOAT. And even with that head start we don’t yet know if he’ll be a successful college coach.
The Lee family is still dealing with the consequences of spiting Penn State. Wins aside, he would have been much happier and healthier in Happy Valley
 
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manatree

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2021
2,742
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I would argue that it was a horrible, shortsighted coaching move that did much more harm than good. Given Kennedy's history with Levi it probably did save a point. So in the end, IA lost 32-3 instead of 33-3, but at what cost? You clearly communicated to your starting 174 wrestler that you don't believe in him, that he had no chance to win. I do believe Levi would have majored him, but would that have damaged Kennedy's confidence more than fully realizing he knows his coach clearly beieves not only that he can't win, but he can't come close to winning? Would Cael have made the same move? It's yet one more example of poor coaching and why I'd be thrilled if IA signed the Brands Bros to a lifetime contract.

Unless Kennedy was injured, putting Arnold out was a sign that the Brothers Brands were conceding the dual and were just trying to keep the score down. They had options to at least make an attempt to close the gap or win. I can understand stand the thinking that Haines just knows Kennedy too well, but to send Arnold out with the clear instruction of keeping the score down was waving a huge white flag.

If the Brands wanted to show any desire to win, go for broke. Send Arnold out against Haines with the instructions that they needed him to win. Bump Kennedy up against Welsh and Ferrari up against Barr. I’m not saying it would have worked, but it would at least show your team that you were trying to win.

Also, attendance was 12,530. Wikipedia has the capacity listed as 14,998.
 
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Jun 3, 2025
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Unless Kennedy was injured, putting Arnold out was a sign that the Brothers Brands were conceding the dual and were just trying to keep the score down. They had options to at least make an attempt to close the gap or win. I can understand stand the thinking that Haines just knows Kennedy too well, but to send Arnold out with the clear instruction of keeping the score down was waving a huge white flag.

If the Brands wanted to show any sign of a desire to win, go for broke. Send Arnold out against Haines with the instructions that they needed him to win. Bump Kennedy up against Welsh and Ferrari up against Barr. I’m not saying it would have worked, but it would at least show your team that you were trying to win.

Also, attendance was 12,530. Wikipedia has the capacity listed as 14,998.


 

RockySmith

Senior
Dec 10, 2020
195
558
93
Unless Kennedy was injured, putting Arnold out was a sign that the Brothers Brands were conceding the dual and were just trying to keep the score down. They had options to at least make an attempt to close the gap or win. I can understand stand the thinking that Haines just knows Kennedy too well, but to send Arnold out with the clear instruction of keeping the score down was waving a huge white flag.

If the Brands wanted to show any sign of a desire to win, go for broke. Send Arnold out against Haines with the instructions that they needed him to win. Bump Kennedy up against Welsh and Ferrari up against Barr. I’m not saying it would have worked, but it would at least show your team that you were trying to win.

Also, attendance was 12,530. Wikipedia has the capacity listed as 14,998.
Looked like a lot less than 12k.
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
694
2,020
93
Not how Gable would have handled it.
TnT are living, breathing coaching exhibits of how Gable would not have handled it. Gable's kids wrestled to dominate every position, they wrestled to score points, they did wrestle to get stall calls but from breaking their opponents will not from simply pushing forward, but attacking moving forward.
TnT were perfect examples of how Gable wanted his guys to compete. What they coach is so far away from what Gable taught the two styles have almost nothing in common.
 

Aardvark86

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
622
1,033
93
This is from a video I took of the last 10 seconds of Rocco’s match. Thought it was really cool to see how much the entire team was into it. There was a lot of ball busting in that match. A couple of times Connor Pierce yelled “watch, he’s going to go to a knee.” I don’t know if that was for Rocco or the ref. I don’t know how to get a video up here. If somebody got the skills, let me know.

KD was in the row in front of me. He was quiet except for during PJs and Rocco’s matches. At one point, PJ got into a scramble and KD yelled “protect yourself”. As if an echo, literally as soon as he said it,
Casey yelled “protect yourself.” Pipeline synergies.
That’s actually a very high quality sports photo - a unique perspective that speaks volumes without actually depicting the action on the playing surface. Chapeau!!
 

El_Jefe

All-American
Oct 11, 2021
2,283
7,857
113
If the Brands wanted to show any desire to win, go for broke. Send Arnold out against Haines with the instructions that they needed him to win. Bump Kennedy up against Welsh and Ferrari up against Barr. I’m not saying it would have worked, but it would at least show your team that you were trying to win.
We're all assuming Brands told Arnold to slow the pace and keep it close.

When did Arnold get the ability to do anything other than that?
 

Hlstone

Senior
Oct 11, 2021
252
512
93
I really enjoyed the dual. I was there very early and visited with a few PSU old timers about an hour and a half before it started. One guy was a lawyer who is involved in Titan Mercury. I can't for the life of me recall his name. It was very odd to see how empty the arena was with so many seats open. The 184 match ended and a mass exodus ensued and it really became a ghost town of sorts. There was a nice couple from Conn. who had twin boys and they were from the same community Will Henckel comes from. They said Will comes and works with these boys on wrestling whenever he can. The boys were decked out head to toe with one in PSU gear and one in Iowa gear. Cute as bugs and probably 7-8 years old. I visited with Shane Sparks for quite awhile and he is such an amazing guy imo. He has nothing but an incredible admiration for the entire PSU program. I wore PSU gear and was treated very well by pretty much everyone. Great night. Sorry for the rambling.

Thanks for writing this. It's posts like these that I enjoy this forum.
 

a_mshaffer

Junior
Dec 8, 2014
195
266
63
Unless Kennedy was injured, putting Arnold out was a sign that the Brothers Brands were conceding the dual and were just trying to keep the score down. They had options to at least make an attempt to close the gap or win. I can understand stand the thinking that Haines just knows Kennedy too well, but to send Arnold out with the clear instruction of keeping the score down was waving a huge white flag.

If the Brands wanted to show any desire to win, go for broke. Send Arnold out against Haines with the instructions that they needed him to win. Bump Kennedy up against Welsh and Ferrari up against Barr. I’m not saying it would have worked, but it would at least show your team that you were trying to win.

Also, attendance was 12,530. Wikipedia has the capacity listed as 14,998.
it looked like they sent several 'pairs' out for the pre-match handshakes/introductions... So Brands wanted to ensure our guys were 'thinking'??
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
1,134
2,073
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Engage, work to score.

Isn't that what the ref repeatedly told Ferrari, yet he didn't get his 1st stall call until halfway through the 3rd period, then he proceeded to wrestle from one knee the rest of the way without a 2nd call.

IMO, they don't need a new rule; the refs just need to call obvious stalling. Lewan rarely tried to score, but at least he engaged opponents... Ferrari does neither.
If a ref is yelling action or work to score, one or both wrestlers are probably stalling. The ref jist needs to make the call.
 
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johnstownsteel

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2025
303
1,665
93
Watching the Messenbrunk match again. At about 20 seconds left in the first, Caliendo fends off takedown and both to their feet. Mitch is literally smiling at him. Anyone else catch that? Now something like that is what makes idiots say Mitch is cocky but I'd bet my life it was nothing like that. I watched it over and over again and I'm sure Mitch was totally enjoying the fight and competion Caliendo was giving him. I thought it was a really cool moment I almost missed.
 

PAgeologist

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
1,134
2,073
113
Watching the Messenbrunk match again. At about 20 seconds left in the first, Caliendo fends off takedown and both to their feet. Mitch is literally smiling at him. Anyone else catch that? Now something like that is what makes idiots say Mitch is cocky but I'd bet my life it was nothing like that. I watched it over and over again and I'm sure Mitch was totally enjoying the fight and competion Caliendo was giving him. I thought it was a really cool moment I almost missed.
He does seem to thrive on competition. Wonder what he would do against Angelo if they were at the same weight.
 

Psalm 1 guy

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2019
657
2,340
93
I've seen it written on here that Brands' decision to send out Arnold vs Levi to wrestle defensively and avoid a bonus at all costs, was a good one because it saved IA a point. Brands said "it was good for Patrick and good for the team".

I would argue that it was a horrible, shortsighted coaching move that did much more harm than good. Given Kennedy's history with Levi it probably did save a point. So in the end, IA lost 32-3 instead of 33-3, but at what cost? You clearly communicated to your starting 174 wrestler that you don't believe in him, that he had no chance to win. I do believe Levi would have majored him, but would that have damaged Kennedy's confidence more than fully realizing he knows his coach clearly beieves not only that he can't win, but he can't come close to winning? Would Cael have made the same move? It's yet one more example of poor coaching and why I'd be thrilled if IA signed the Brands Bros to a lifetime contract.
The TV shot of Kennedy almost looked like he had watery eyes. I would imagine he was really bummed at not wrestling. It probably was extra hard on him being a big home dual against Penn State, especially since this is his last season.
 

Snoopy226

Redshirt
Jun 4, 2001
5
20
3
Interesting that so many on this board are congratulating Brands on his honest and transparent interview. I don't disagree, it looks like he's hurting some and he knows that he's ultimately responsible for his team's failures (and I think that was true leading up to this dual, not just during or afterwards). BUT, he's basically blaming his guys for backing up and not having the mindset to score when it's precisely what he and his staff have filled their heads with for years. It's obvious to EVERYONE, Iowa fans included, that the current "Iowa style" is to stall and keep it close, then to go balls to the wall for 40 seconds at the end of the match to get ONE TAKEDOWN and to try to steal one. Everyone knows it including Tom himself, so to suggest that this is where the fault lies when he's only been encouraging an offensive/scoring mindset for the last week is a bit disingenuous. I said earlier in this thread that I don't hate Brands or even dislike him that much, but I do admit to the fact that I love him being the Iowa coach because I think it's unlikely to the point of impossibility of Iowa ever catching PSU again until/unless Cael retires and PSU makes a horrible coaching decision in replacing him (which is also HIGHLY unlikely given PSU's potential choices).

I also thought his defense of Ferrari's style was a bit off. I mean, OK, what's he going to say? "Yeah, that was embarrassing for Angelo and we've told him time and again to get off the knee and quit stalling. Well, now he's paid for it."? But still, he could have just as easily said, "Well, everyone has their own style and we try not to beat it out of them, but if you're going to be planted on the mat with one knee 2 inches underground, it's hard to score". And while Ferrari's the worst, there are other Iowa guys that do the same damn thing......
Iowa radio guys during pregame said as much… they talked about being aggressive and cutting loose etc. Then said “just go out there and … well, I don’t want to say ‘have fun’…”

They absolutely 100% can’t understand that their hatred and jealously and excuses and denial regarding Cael is holding them back.
 
Jun 3, 2025
277
712
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Watching the Messenbrunk match again. At about 20 seconds left in the first, Caliendo fends off takedown and both to their feet. Mitch is literally smiling at him. Anyone else catch that? Now something like that is what makes idiots say Mitch is cocky but I'd bet my life it was nothing like that. I watched it over and over again and I'm sure Mitch was totally enjoying the fight and competion Caliendo was giving him. I thought it was a really cool moment I almost missed.
He be like:
 
Dec 23, 2021
170
279
63
Watching the Messenbrunk match again. At about 20 seconds left in the first, Caliendo fends off takedown and both to their feet. Mitch is literally smiling at him. Anyone else catch that? Now something like that is what makes idiots say Mitch is cocky but I'd bet my life it was nothing like that. I watched it over and over again and I'm sure Mitch was totally enjoying the fight and competion Caliendo was giving him. I thought it was a really cool moment I almost missed.
I noticed the same thing. Psycho has said repeatedly that he really enjoys wrestling guys that want to scrap.
 

Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
928
2,319
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Iowa radio guys during pregame said as much… they talked about being aggressive and cutting loose etc. Then said “just go out there and … well, I don’t want to say ‘have fun’…”

They absolutely 100% can’t understand that their hatred and jealously and excuses and denial regarding Cael is holding them back.
Likely Ironside. I think he has trouble counting if he has mittens and shoes on
 

Snoopy226

Redshirt
Jun 4, 2001
5
20
3
What do you think is wrong with Keuter? If I’m looking at it from Iowa’s perspective that is the most head scratching match to me. I don’t think he tried to score once aside from the obligatory flailing around the last 10-15 seconds of the match. It was like he didn’t try to or want to win. The guy is a very good athlete. He had a big length/reach advantage. It sounds like he has been really counter reliant for his offense this year but… I guess I just thought he would be better at this point.
He, like all of the Iowa wrestlers, is terrified to lose. Simply terrified to make that 1 big mistake.

It’s like they show Warner’s NCAA finals match vs Dean on repeat in the Iowa room and say “don’t take a bad shot under any circumstance”. So they don’t. And don’t take good or medium shots either.
 

Nitlion1986

All-Conference
Apr 13, 2024
694
2,020
93
The TV shot of Kennedy almost looked like he had watery eyes. I would imagine he was really bummed at not wrestling. It probably was extra hard on him being a big home dual against Penn State, especially since this is his last season.
I thought the same thing, but hey it was best for him. Tearing the guts out of one of your most fierce competitors is always a good thing.
 

AgSurfer

All-Conference
Aug 9, 2013
391
1,126
92
We're all assuming Brands told Arnold to slow the pace and keep it close.

When did Arnold get the ability to do anything other than that?
You’re right, we don’t know what instructions Brands gave to Arnold. It might be that he had seen Levi beat Kennedy pretty badly twice and just felt that Arnold had a better chance in that particular matchup. He made it clear that Kennedy is the guy going forward.

Or he might have felt that he owed one to Arnold after sitting him in last year’s dual. 🤔
 
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District 4

Senior
Feb 16, 2018
289
596
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I thought the same thing, but hey it was best for him. Tearing the guts out of one of your most fierce competitors is always a good thing.
I 100% believe Kennedy thinks he can beat Levi otherwise why even be a wrestler. He wanted to go. The **** that kid had to put up for 4 years should have been enough to have him wrestle win or lose. Brands is a moron kennedy still loses but not to give him a chance says the coaches have no belief in him or his heart
 

Lahoff24

Redshirt
Nov 7, 2025
10
17
3
It’s gonna kill JD (I hate Penn State) Rader to credit the Nittany Lions on their beat down of the Hawkeyes on FRL tomorrow. ISU is his team but he is such a homer on all things Iowa. He’ll probably give a backhanded compliment of some sort and follow with that snarky chuckle of his. Did I mention I’m not a fan of JD?
 
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