Check out Rofkin... (and give Willie a raise
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)Willie's Crystal Ball - 2/26/26
- Thread starter Acacia
- Start date
Just looked. Interesting. Willie says Iowa entered Voinovich instead of Williams at 157 and Arnold at 197.
Willie has us with 10 AAs and 196 pts. I like it!
For PSU. Willie has Luke, Marcus, Shayne, Duke, MM, Levi, Rocco and Barr at 1. Mirasola at 5 and Davis at 8
I’m guessing Iowa had a wrestleoff with VV and Williams. Kind of shocked to see that result. I know Williams hasn’t had a great year. But IMO he has MUCH higher upside than VV
Eight champions would impress even Mike Evans.
Not the Mike Evans I know.
Disclaimer: my lawyers say I am legally required to disclose that I do not know any Mike Evans, never mind the Mike Evans.
Nelson Brands wants odds on that claim.
Arnold’s no surprise unless you thought Ferrari was done. Brands wins the Ray Guy award for this year.
If your Gabe why waste the year. He can make it to NCAAs and win some matches 197 isn't deep
Not criticizing the decision. Meant it more as this year isn’t theirs anyway.
Yeah, if Ferrari is back, then Gabe is clearly their best option at 197, even if that is not the best option for him. He looks small vs 184s, so he's going to really struggle with the more powerful 197s, but he doesn't have a redshirt for this year anyway, so why not? He should at least qualify for nationals, which Sampson would not, so if he can even win one match there, that's something for Iowa.
That he is their best option there is more of an indictment of the program than it is a statement about Gabe himself in any way. He'll be a good bet for an AA spot at 174 (which is his ideal weight) next season.
IMO it's much less the strength/power at 197, it's the height/length. He's not exactly Manute Bol among 174s. He can neutralize some strength/power if he can create telephone booth matches ... but getting there will be an challenge.
He absolutely is their best option at 197, even if Ludington weren't shirting. Indictment of the program? This hopefully meant how they got here with Endene. Because Arnold is a far better 197 option than we had at 125 for several of our national title teams.
Not sure why he is not wrestling 174. We have heard for the last 2 years he was beating everybody in the room, including Kennedy. That was information put out there by all of the self identified HR insiders and other people who just know stuff. Gabe is still there, so I assume he likes the room, the teammates and the staff, so God bless the decision to stay. I always think the kid would have been better served just about any place else.
It seems likely that Arnold will be looking to get his matches to 1-1 in OT and try to figure it out from there. Not a great viewing experience, but probably a smart strategy.
Who says I am short for 197?
I bet only half of this board have any idea on this one. I am getting old.
I bet only half of this board have any idea on this one. I am getting old.
It was also an indictment of the PSU program that 125 was a black hole for so long, but having 5 champions at other weights far outweighed that one little black mark against Cael in the big picture.
There was a time when we couldn’t field a competitive 285 lber too
I want to see Gabe wrestle a match at 285 before his college career is over.
Also, it is kind of a strength/power issue at 197 for him (although length is an issue, too). Gabe is more of a power wrestler than finesse, so if he can't overpower his opponents, that takes away his best avenue to exploit a relative advantage to generate offense is what is a generally offensively limited wrestler to start with. I don't think it really needs to be said that he is going to struggle to score against the better guys at this weight.
As opposed to how he wrestles at 174?
What does it say about me that I did not have to look this up:
Green Acres is the place to be
Farm living is the life for me
Land spreadin' out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan just give me that countryside
New York is where I'd rather stay
I get allergic smelling hay
I just adore a penthouse view
Darling, I love you but give me Park Avenue
It's going to be interesting to see what happens if Gabe hits Barr somewhere along the way. Same goes if he hits Elam.
As everyone already knows, I show nothing but love for our Hawkeye brothers (and @Corby2) who visit this site. Just wanna share some things you might be interested in seeing since there will be no Hawkeye wrestlers in the finals and will be out of the race for a podium. No reason to thank me.... I love you all.
march 21st 2026 sports schedule
+9
On March 21, 2026, the primary sports action features the second round of the
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and women's first/second rounds. Other key events include the NCAA Men's Wrestling Championship, UFC Fight Night in London, Milan-San Remo cycling, and NBA action (76ers vs. Jazz).
On Location +4
March 21, 2026 Sports Highlights:
2026 Sports S
march 21st 2026 sports schedule
+9
On March 21, 2026, the primary sports action features the second round of the
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and women's first/second rounds. Other key events include the NCAA Men's Wrestling Championship, UFC Fight Night in London, Milan-San Remo cycling, and NBA action (76ers vs. Jazz).
On Location +4March 21, 2026 Sports Highlights:
- Basketball:
- NCAA Men's Tournament: Second Round (sites include Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis).
- NCAA Women's Tournament: First/Second Rounds (sites include Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa).
- NBA: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz; Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans.
- Combat Sports:
- UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy (London, UK).
- NCAA Wrestling: Division I Men's Championship (Cleveland, OH).
- Other Sports:
- Cycling: Milan-San Remo (Italy).
- Skiing: FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals (Lillehammer, Norway).
- Hockey: NCAA Women's Frozen Four (Semifinals).
- Archery: Asia Cup Stage 1 (Bangkok, Thailand).
On Location +10
2026 Sports S
We used to like to substitute "Penns Valley " for "Green Acres" when singing this.
Kinda a fight song in Centre
If a an entire new staff is brought in next year, Gabe Arnold is one of three I would like to see retained. I know people give him a hard time as do I because I wish he would open up and get to offense. Kid is all heart and effort. I would retain him along with Miguel Estrada and Leo Deluca.
The rest.....out.
Hey now. While there will be no Hawks in the finals, Cyclones are gonna have three so I will tune in. Heck, I'm going to be there. My 16th NCAA tournament (still counting 2020).
Agree, but raise your hand if you think a potential Barr-Arnold match would go to OT tied 1-1
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Funny you say that. I was at a meeting last night and there was a photo of Floyd the barber hanging up and I asked about it and the guy who put it up had been waiting for someone to say something about it. Everybody just thought it was just an old member.
0:00 - Intro
01:00 - Ranking Series Updates
20:00 - Bobby Douglas Passes Away
22:50 - Willie Getting It From Oklahoma State Fans
28:00 - Iowa & Some Postseason Seeding Nuggets
35:30 - Crystal Ball Updates
40:00 - 125lbs & 133lbs
54:00 - 141lbs & 149lbs
01:03:30 - 157lbs & 165lbs
01:12:20 - 174lbs & 184lbs
01:16:15 - 197lbs and Heavyweight
01:20:10 - Team Picture
01:31:00 - Allocations Are Out
01:32:30 - RAF This Weekend!
Kinda like the year McCutcheon was our 197. Dude found a way to win matches he wasn’t supposed to—and it often started with a lot of heavy collar ties for 5+ minutes. If he gets a good draw Gabe could make the podium.