Class of ‘28 lightweight Karenbauer has ties to Iowa. His sister is on gymnastics team. Won Powerade (Sean Kenny was in the weight class), 3rd at Fargo (lost 3-3 to Kenny), and lost 2OT match to World Champ Mills at Virginia Beach duals. Majored little Basset at PA states last year. He’s a hammer.
Recruiting….
- Thread starter Lightweight87
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Are you still trying to pretend you are Iron Bird or just doing a weird imitation cause you can't give it up? Old board Iron Bird would have never suggested a male go play girls softball and if someone else did it would have led to a massive long rant about men in women's sports and Trump etc.
He certainly appears like he doesn't suck, that's for sure.
Nice detective work by you.
Certainly appears to be someone the Hawks need to keep an eye on (they're likely aware, but.........)
Unless it’s a can’t miss kid, we probably should be looking more at bigger kids in this class, especially if we don’t get Dhabolt.He certainly appears like he doesn't suck, that's for sure.
Nice detective work by you.
Certainly appears to be someone the Hawks need to keep an eye on (they're likely aware, but.........)
I'd guess its either Dhabolt or Boe for 27 unless the staff feels Amato can grow into 174. If thats the case I wonder if Grajeda is still an option or maybe we look for our 174 & 184 in the 28' class like Howard, Heeg or Staples. We coild have two straight top 3 classes
Gabe Arnold has two years after this year to fill 174 (assuming he can make 174). CJ Torres is a bigger kid than Amato right now, so it's possible Torres could go 165 for a couple of years then bump up. Amato could go 157 for a couple of years and bump to 165.
It’s really a must to at least keep up with Taylor for now. But if we can do that, we will be on the heals of PSU also, because Taylor is gaining on them fast. This job is just an audition to take Carl’s place some day, to prove he can keep the same level of recruiting going, which is what it’s all about. If Spencer doesn’t want the Iowa head job when Brands retires, then we should look at Nolf. The PSU coaching tree is going to be a big deal to this generation.
Is Torres in the 2025 class? Many of you seem to be convinced he is going to be a multi year starter. Does he really have that kind of talent??
2025 class but on a grey shirt. I like his talent but tough to evaluate w/o seeing more. My point is absent any additions ie transfers / additional recruits, I'd see this as the more likely way it plays out vs Amato being a 174.
Did alittle research, was as high as 20 and low as 69 on Flo big board. Looked pretty slick and athletic in the matches I found, really loves the duck under, doesn’t look like a grinder. Has decent length, looks like could easily be 174, maybe even 184. Let’s hope he’s another Caliendo. Very underrated athletic kid with high ceiling. I think Caliendo was ranked mid 50’s.
Not trying to insult anyone but are those 2 ever going to be Title contenders? My answer is no and we need title contenders at every weight if we are ever going to start finishing where we all want us to finish.
Go away.
Do you honestly think TEN contenders is realistic? PSU is on probably the most historic run in DI history and even they have NEVER had 10. I could say MAYBE 8 or 9 at their best(last year), but even that is a stretch...this year it is more like 6 or 7.
For most of NCAA history 5 very high end guys along with 2 or 3 true AA contenders wins it. For the most part, that has been the recipe for PSU and most likely the norm going forward...
Ten title contenders? Depends how far you want to stretch that and when. A favorite who suffers a season ending injury might be considered one until the injury for example. For PSU you can argue 125,133, Davis? was an all American but I won't call him a contender, some might due to that.
149-197 you can make the case. 285? Maybe as a stretch. IMO the best case never comes to fruition, usually it's somewhere between the high and low expectation wise.
10? Well if you really expand what is a title contender, otherwise 8 this year is somewhat realistic. Like last year, 8 finishing in the top 3 and the others 5 and 6.
Minnesota did it years ago with 10 All Americans. Penn State is already there. Okie State will be there in 2 years. Ohio State looked like they are close. We are Iowa, anything less is conceding we aren't one of the front runners. I expect more in Iowa City.
There is a MONUMENTAL difference between 10 AA contenders and 10 Individual Title contenders. Minnesota most certainly did NOT have 10 when they had 10 AA's. Not even close. PSU has had the best team EVER the last 2 years and they NEVER had 10. Ohio State is looking great, but saying they have more than 5 would be a big stretch. OkState has done NOTHING yet to even BEGIN to say they are 2 years away(from all 10 being title contenders?!?!?!?), let alone EVER...
Simply put, PSU is BY FAR the closest to ever have a team like that and even they haven't really been all that close...
Here is my question to you. Why can't Iowa do it? If Minnesota had 10 AA's why hasn't Iowa done it? Why can't Iowa have the recruits Okie State is getting? We are going to have a monster class in 2 years but I feel we are conceding defeat and I hate it. The Hawk program needs more money for the HWC? Who do we need in charge that would attract the athletes to the HWC that we want if we get the money?
Also, Iowa DOES have the team makeup close to what the Minnesota team you listed finished.
125: Peterson is an AA contender and just beat last year's Finalist(Spratley).
133: Ayala is a 2x Finalist.
141: Bailey has AA'd(4th)
149: Block beat Swiderski(an AA) and Edmond(ranked 6th) and lost a close 3-2 match to another AA(Stiles took 6th).
157: Williams is an AA contender having finished R12 last year.
165: Caliendo is a returning Finalist.
174: Kennedy is an AA(4th).
184: Ferrari just beat several top AA types.
197: Endene has proven he is an AA contender.
285: Kueter is an AA.
Now, there is no realistic way this team challenges the Unicorn that PSU is, but this team absolutely has 10 guys that could very realistically AA...
Let's wait a little bit before anointing DT. It is actually NORMAL for a new huge name HC to have a monster recruiting run at the beginning. Hell, even Tom Ryan did it when he first went to tOSU. On top of that Iowa just had a monster recruiting class and has a LOT of top 10 lb4lbrecruits...
With that said, 10 AA's has only happened TWICE in NCAA history. Iowa hasn't done it because there are so many factors that make it THAT hard to do...
Realistically this is how I see us finishing this year.
125 5th-8th
133 4th
141 Round of 12
149 2-2
157 7th-8th
165 2nd
174 2nd
184 Champ
197 5th
Hwt 3-8 depending on if he is fully healed
Unfortunately we lose 5 of these guys. We have a great 184, a good heavyweight that is rumored to be going back to football after the season and 3 middleweights that don't set the world on fire coming back. Throw in 2 stud freshman and we finish 5th or worse in 2027.
Blocks going to AA.
I don't think you're far off of what I'm thinking. Dean needs to be more consistent until I'd be comfortable even slotting him in to place. He's obviously got the talent, but he seems so hit and miss. I think Block places. I really hope Mo can get on the podium, but I'm not convinced yet.
I think you are selling Block short. Still, that is 8 AA's and 3 Finalists. Do you realize that result would be competitive with many of Gable's teams? As far as next year goes, maybe wait until you see the actual starting lineup before committing harikari...
2026-2027
125: DeLuca
133: Kale Peterson or transfer(don't forget that Iowa has done as well as anyone at this)
141: Bailey
149: Block
157: Williams
165: ? transfer
174: Arnold
184: Ferrari
197: Ludington
285: Kueter/Mocco
133 and 165 are the only real question marks. If Iowa keeps to their track record in the portal, I would assume they land 2 AA types at these weights. The sky isn't falling. They will be just as good at 8 of the 10 weights. They just need to fill 2 huge spots where they lose 2 finalists...
I think it is safe to say by looking at Okie States roster and the studs that will be there next year that they WILL be in the conversation going forward. Add the Raneys, Forrest and Ross and Zinkin and they will be a problem for everyone.
I'm done doubting Mo. I mentioned him a couple years ago as a guy we should look at but didn't think he passed the eye test after seeing him a few times but he has shut my mouth.
We still have a few years of high school to see how Amato develops physically and as a wrestler. When I was researching Torres, I was surprised how low Vega was ranked early on, but **** up to top 10 his senior year. Same with a few other guys, so wouldn’t write him off yet. I agree with you that ideally you want can’t miss guys at every weight, but even PSU doesn’t have that every year. Once in a while those can’t miss guys miss. Torres seems to be a kid you hope can be another Caliendo or Buchanan, but you don’t get them feeling they will be a finalist.
Mind you, I am NOT saying OkState isn't going to be near the top. I am just not sold they are not only going to leapfrog Iowa, but all of a sudden truly challenge PSU. PSU is so far ahead for the next few years its crazy.
Everyone keeps talking about OkState recruiting, yet not actually looking at PSU still. Class of 2025 they recruited the TOP 2 lb4lbs along with Henckel just outside the top 10. All of those DOMINATED in Freestyle already. James is #3 overall in 2026 and Herring is just outside the top 10. Class of 27 they have Sidun #2 overall and Mangano #10. All of this while every starter but Haines still has multiple years left and most of them having 3 or more left.
I have no doubt that OkState will make Iowa work very hard to beat them in the future. But, catching PSU will be more about something making PSU fall back than OkState catching up...
Commits from the Bachmann Bros, Borge, Youngblut (all in his weight range) probably forced his hand away from Iowa. I know he liked Iowa.
I really like Arnold at 174
Especially the version we saw Friday night! Gabe has the talent, just hope that fire we saw Friday night stays lit!
Has the talent, question is if he has the discipline for the weight cut, and mental toughness through entire season. He has great coaches, teammates, and family so he has a lot going for him. Hope we get to see him in some 174 matches second semester.
Do most people think Dhabolt is an okie state lean? What about Boe? Is Iowa recruiting him? Would like to see us land an upperweight (174 184) in this class unless we feel good about some higher ranked guys in 28 outside of Hutcherson who projects 197
We're more sophisticated here. We drink our tea with our pinky out and have intelligent conversations about all things weight gain and politics related.
Agreed 100%. A dedicated GA at 174 is a legit title contender. At 184 I'm afraid he's just too small to be more than a top 10-12 guy. You could see the other night he definitely has some more room to cut if that becomes the plan next year. I really hope it does.