WISKY GRADES

[IRON HAWK]

Started off BAD for me as B1Gten+ was counting down 30 minutes or so to go when I logged in, and match already started!?!?!?!

So 197 Lungington UR vs 28 I missed 1st TD and that must of been the highlight for our side because I might have been better off missing the rest!!! NOT to knock the kid, he is a TRUE freshman, but I am NOT seeing what I was hoping to see so far!!! Needs to be said here, there is a HUGE difference in really good wrestlers, and the NEXT LEVEL ELITE!!! IF you want to kock TnT some???? It is IDENTIFING and GETTING those Wrestlers!!! We looked GASSED and WEAK but there is TIME to get the work in, just NOT confidant it will happen honestly 70

Heavy KRUETER 5 vs 9 he dug out a TUFF win in OT against a ranked kid. Said in another thread and took heat!! If you do not see it, maybe you are blind???? The SIZE is not there and there just is NO excuse for it!!!! 80

125 HERNANDEZ??? UR vs 11 Not sure why he was the guy??? but give kid credit he wrestled TUFF against a ranked kid A for the effort

133 AYALA 4 vs 14 Looks lost honestly not sure what is up 60

141 PETERSON UR vs UR NICE work to get 1st TD late 1st, got another quick TD start 2nd. IOWA down start 3 and got a pretty slick reversal making it 8-3 thats how it ended so he gets the 8-3

149 BLOCK 7 vs 17 He came out TUFF aggressive everything looked good, then the wheels came off!?!?!? Not sure if the team has a BUG or what but something was WAY OFF!!!! Had to break some stuff so NO GRADE!!!

157 WILLIAMS 12 vs 25 UNREAL D to scramble to single to drag in to TD. His scrambling was just enough TWOOOO save him and win the match as it happened in the 2nd and 3rd with the later bringing a challenge that WISKY lost!!! 75

165 CALIENDO 3 vs 26 and THANK the LORD for this kid!!! He put the team on his back as a LEADER should do and got to work 100!!!

174 KENNEDY 3 vs UR again THANK GOD, have to LOVE this kid!!! IOWA STYLE thru and thru TUFF hard nosed constant pressure, wanted another tech here but... 96

184 FERRARI 1 vs UR Took a minute for 1st TD then he seemed to open up some which IRON LIKES!!!! Tried the B1G CASS style BAR which was also somewhat nice to see. Had a cradle and would have liked to see the back roll there but I can see why he might not risk it? Got TECH 100

NOT much else that needs to be said, just are NOT making the strides you might expect or would want to see!!! As was discussed in another thread, NOT see any easy or logical answers to how to move the needle in the HAWKS direction!?!?!?

 

[Stick Kitty]

Sorry about your log in. I appreciate your Fandom

 

[Stick Kitty]

I really wanted Block and Kueter to make statements. I wonder how both are being coached.

 

[IndianaHawk98]

Ludington looks pretty small for a 197. Hope our coaches can help build him into a good-sized 197er.

I don’t remember a time where we put good muscle on one of our wrestlers, outside of Kemerer. Hope we can put on a lot of good mass for Ludington.

 

[IRON HAWK]

I really wanted Block and Kueter to make statements. I wonder how both are being coached.

Yea, I am somewhat lost as to what is going on in practice and training. BLOCK was my "shinning light" so far this year. He was what I could point to and say, " OK the coaches are getting it done with this kid so there is hope!" Now I am guessing he is sick because he just didn't look himself as match went on and that is out of the normal!!!

For B1G Ben, people do not want to hear what I see and believe me, I have spent TONS of years in the GYM!!!! I looked at him as a HS recruit and said he will need to add a LOT of MUSCLE!!! As a kid who now wants to play TWOOO sports and I guess maybe be a PRO Football player? You are then looking at PEDs and that is the fact!!!

Regardless, he should be 275 RIGHT NOW and he actually looks like he is losing weight and size as season is going forward!?!?!? There are a TON of things to talk about especially with this "new" facility!!! What did they actually build that brings STATE of the ART to this effort???? I honestly have not seen ONE thing that I would point to and say, "OK that is something NO ONE ELSE HAS!!!!"

It is somewhat MIND BOGGLIN to think in this day an age that you would not have a TEAM of people, experts in different areas who would plan, developed, and do the build!!!

 

[Anon1750875978]

BK just cashing a check.
Or picking up the tab at Big Grove when he goes out with friends?
He wrestles like he doesn't GAF.

Ayala...HEW?

 

[Cidhawkeye]

Have to disagree on Kennedy, 3:44 of riding time for what? No turns or even close to a turn. It was an un ranked kid. How should you do it? See, Caliendo, Mikey.
ride for 20 work on a turn, cut, repeat, tech

 

[Stick Kitty]

BK just cashing a check.

He wrestles like he doesn't GAF.

I know he does. He's been hurt and badly coached. Kids a stud but a bit broken on how it should look. Ben is stiill the future. Still a tiger even though it doesn't seem like it. I hope he stays here. Because honestly the PSU room is better for his style. That's so pathetic to say

 

[Anon1750875978]

I know he does. He's been hurt and badly coached. Kids a stud but a bit broken on how it should look. Ben is stiill the future. Still a tiger even though it doesn't seem like it. I hope he stays here. Because honestly the PSU room is better for his style. That's so pathetic to say

In his time at Iowa, what's his best win/wins?

Feldman is about it.
LOL

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Grades-

This team sucks.

 

[Waukhawk]

Keuter is by far the most overrated Hawkeye of all time. The sooner his eligibility runs out the better. He's almost done with his 3rd year of his 5 and he's absolutely regressed. He's a 197 not a heavyweight. Everyone is hurt in this sport but a lot of people give him a pass about his "injuries". Bring on Mocco as it's time for a change. And his $500K plus that Bob pays him will be better served paying multiple weights than him always being a "small" American.

 

[Anon1750896976]

Keuter is by far the most overrated Hawkeye of all time. The sooner his eligibility runs out the better. He's almost done with his 3rd year of his 5 and he's absolutely regressed. He's a 197 not a heavyweight. Everyone is hurt in this sport but a lot of people give him a pass about his "injuries". Bring on Mocco as it's time for a change. And his $500K plus that Bob pays him will be better served paying multiple weights than him always being a "small" American.

Poor bob is owed several refunds

 

[WillieTheBrain]

or maybe Amos is pretty good. Ben got the job done.

 

[trfhawk]

I know he does. He's been hurt and badly coached. Kids a stud but a bit broken on how it should look. Ben is stiill the future. Still a tiger even though it doesn't seem like it. I hope he stays here. Because honestly the PSU room is better for his style. That's so pathetic to say

Ben's style is light years from what they wrestle at Penn St.

 

[Random4598375]

Ludington’s first TD was actually the highlight of the match for Iowa until probably the scramble at the end of Williams match, which was fantastic to watch as a wrestling fan. Ludington nailed out right off the whistle, really slick, but then nothing.

 

[tkueter]

Keuter is by far the most overrated Hawkeye of all time. The sooner his eligibility runs out the better. He's almost done with his 3rd year of his 5 and he's absolutely regressed. He's a 197 not a heavyweight. Everyone is hurt in this sport but a lot of people give him a pass about his "injuries". Bring on Mocco as it's time for a change. And his $500K plus that Bob pays him will be better served paying multiple weights than him always being a "small" American.

Ouch! Did Ben piss in your cereal or something? Holy buckets! I know YOU were likely a D-1 athlete dedicating about 5 hours a day to your training and S&C and the other part of the day concentrating on eating to get big in a healthy way. Oh and managing to get good grades. So, thank you for your awesome “thoughts” and perspective. I would be more than happy to chat about it in person at the Penn State dual?
Dang it! I wasn’t reading this **** but this one made the “mom group chat”.
And now I am going to be in “family” jail for responding. Thanks a lot ahole!

 

[Evashevsky58]

A+ for Tom hugging Cassioppi during the handshake line.
Also for the fans response to Cassioppi being introduced!
And for Tom pointing out to refs and scoring table that Rivera should have 1 more point in the match even though his own coaches didn’t catch it.

 

[sdvike]

25: Peterson sat to protect seeding likely, 0-2 against Nikolar. Hernandez is what he is. Game at end.
33: Drake let go on the edge to give up the escape, not sure why which ultimately cost him. Still think Drake will
be a major force at end of year. This was definitely a bad loss.
41: Kale wrestled ok against unranked. Have no faith in getting Natty points at 41 this year.
49: Block was done early, haven't seen that this year. Hope its not what's under that left knee pad.
57: JW is looking better, thought he would win by more and more importantly saw that he thought he should have.
65: Cali can get you feeling right. Really going to miss him.
74: PK working on top game, maybe for next Friday. Looked good, could have had TF if wanted.
84: Looked good and rested.
97: Just too sloppy on feet and bottom game is still suspect. Congrats to Mo.
285: BK took no shots, only reattacks. Just not sure what is going on. Good win but going to need offense.

Announcers: What a joke. Better than some, at least they had statistics for commentary. But some really
outrageous stuff like locked hands on the leg, need to see PK not so easily gassed this year and
massive massive massive upset.
Refs: Looked inexperienced but better than say a Rivera (shouldn't have brought up the name with PSU coming)

 

[Anon1750875978]

Poor bob is owed several refunds

Lemon Law apply?

 

[Anon1750875978]

Ouch! Did Ben piss in your cereal or something? Holy buckets! I know YOU were likely a D-1 athlete dedicating about 5 hours a day to your training and S&C and the other part of the day concentrating on eating to get big in a healthy way. Oh and managing to get good grades. So, thank you for your awesome “thoughts” and perspective. I would be more than happy to chat about it in person at the Penn State dual?
Dang it! I wasn’t reading this **** but this one made the “mom group chat”.
And now I am going to be in “family” jail for responding. Thanks a lot ahole!

No one cares what you think.

We don't fault your response, but you can't be objective here.
Parents never are.

 

[tkueter]

No one cares what you think.

We don't fault your response, but you can't be objective here.
Parents never are.

Well, you responded. So you must care. There was nothing to be objective about, that post was hateful and not constructive. I don’t care whether you fault me or not.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Well, you responded. So you must care. There was nothing to be objective about, that post was hateful and not constructive. I don’t care whether you fault me or not.

I don't fault you at all.

It's obviously difficult for a parent to see their children criticized.

Unfortunately, now that college kids are paid, some like Ben very well, everyone has to accept that the scrutiny is higher.

 

[Iron Doc]

Well, you responded. So you must care. There was nothing to be objective about, that post was hateful and not constructive. I don’t care whether you fault me or not.

For what it's worth (Buffalo Springfield, c.1967), I'm sure Ben will do well in March.

 

[tkueter]

I don't fault you at all.

It's obviously difficult for a parent to see their children criticized.

Unfortunately, now that college kids are paid, some like Ben very well, everyone has to accept that the scrutiny is higher

Compensation does change the public lens, but it doesn’t mean we should forget these are still “people” navigating intense pressure. Critique is one thing—disrespect is another. Being paid doesn’t make someone immune to basic decency.
Ben is feeling really good today! Thanks for all the support!

 

[Jacob1one!]

I don't fault you at all.

It's obviously difficult for a parent to see their children criticized.

Unfortunately, now that college kids are paid, some like Ben very well, everyone has to accept that the scrutiny is higher.

Agree. Can’t imagine how difficult it would be as a parent in the time of social media and forums. Is the program helping you as a family deal with that? Ben is a big part of the program and suspect there has been loyalty and commitments made both ways — but the standards from fans are sky high and I am sure that was known coming in and certainly something that should have been expected. I can think of countless former Hawks that got it way worse and they didn’t get a bag.

 

[STtiger2025]

No one cares what you think.

We don't fault your response, but you can't be objective here.
Parents never are.

I care what she thinks about people bashing her son and often wonder what other parents think. Getting on here and saying he’s the most overrated and can’t wait to see him gone is ridiculous! I have no problem with calling out the coaches but attacking the young men that are trying as hard as they can just gets tiresome.

 

[redghost1974]

This was a terrible out after not sending all the starters to Soldier. I hope this is the low point and the focus is peaking in March.

I agree this was Z level bad team performance. I get scrambling has come a long way in the last 15 years, but be aggressive and make some clean shots. Too many 1st periods without points, disgusting.

 

[District 4]

I really wanted Block and Kueter to make statements. I wonder how both are being coached.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Ben just needs Tumea & sons flown in 5 times a day.

I have all the faith in his future. Kids a stud. But I am concerned he has grown passive and has lost that junk yard dog mentality he had when he was a freshman in HS and took it to the older Johnston kid who thought he could bully a young freshman.

Last night we saw how fast and quick Ben is. But it's like a corvette he doesnt take out of the garage. Its as if he is coached to wrestle like Telford or Tony Nelson when he should be a Kyle Snyder. IMO Tony C also regressed under this staff.

The Kueters love and breathe black and gold that goes beyond Brands. Leave her be on this board.

 

[Corby2]

Amos was 271.4 and Ben 238 he wasn't gonna shoot and get stuck underneath. He was looking for reattacks with an angle and he got one and won.

 

[tkueter]

Amos was 271.4 and Ben 238 he wasn't gonna shoot and get stuck underneath. He was looking for reattacks with an angle and he got one and won.

Amen!

 

[pointtheway]

Ludington got quick first takedown, then spent way too much time riding and then getting reversed and ridden. He may have been better off trying to get multiple takedowns in first period while he was fresh to build a lead. He is undersized at 197 and needs to bulk up. He needs a lot of work on bottom - like most freshmen. 197 is tough for underclassmen but it looks like he has the leg attacks and scrambling ability to be pretty good. 4 time all americans at 197 like Jacob Warner are rare (he was actually a 5 time all american due to Covid). Ludington has some work to do to make the podium in 2027.

Keuter is undersized also and struggles to get to leg attacks against good heavies like Amos. He was out-shot by Amos - that was disappointing. Still had the energy at the end for the scramble to win it, so that was a plus.

Hernandez is overmatched (and maybe undersized) against ranked opponents, but he battled to the end to avoid the major.

I don't recall ever seeing back to back stall calls like that before (stall call for failing to return to mat, then stall call for 5 second drop-down on the leg). Looked like Ayala let up after the 5 second drop-down stall call. In most cases ref blows whistle after the 5 second drop-down stall call, but this ref let them keep wrestling and Ayala eventually gave up the escape. He kind of got screwed by that sequence of events with the ref not stopping the action after the second stall call, but he never should have been in the close match situation against that opponent. He has to work harder earlier in the match to get to the legs.

Peterson wrestled like he wanted the 141 spot as he got on his attacks early and went hard all match, attacking to the final whistle trying to get the major.

Block has had tons of gas in the tank all season at 149, so last night's performance was surprising. Hopefully this aberation was the result of flu bug going thru Iowa wrestling room, as has been rumored.

Williams followed up his Soldier Salute championship with a gutty win. He has shown some really good scrambling skills and had enough gas in the tank to survive the scramble at the end to win it, but still needs to get more gas in his tank.

Caliendo, Kennedy and Ferrari delivered as expected against weak opponents. Nice seeing Ferrari put up some points - he has incredible quickness for an upperweight wrestler.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Amos was 271.4 and Ben 238 he wasn't gonna shoot and get stuck underneath. He was looking for reattacks with an angle and he got one and won.

Totally. My comments about if Cael and Casey coached Ben is I feel like he would have developed an ankle pick by now and seem more free to dictate versus waiting in the current approach. Is that unfair to say?

I feel like he is young Kerk and he will evolve like he did but can this current staff help that?

 

[Anon1750896976]

Amos was 271.4 and Ben 238 he wasn't gonna shoot and get stuck underneath. He was looking for reattacks with an angle and he got one and won.

I thought ben did a great job defending deep shots from wisc kid. Especially with a 30 pound disadvantage. Eye test even looked bigger to me on the television and the whisk kid. Obviously he wasn’t. God, if he could just put 20 pounds on we’d make a world of difference. He doesn’t seem to get bullied around or overpowered too often, even being smaller.

 

[Corby2]

Totally. My comments about if Cael and Casey coached Ben is I feel like he would have developed an ankle pick by now and seem more free to dictate versus waiting in the current approach. Is that unfair to say?

I feel like he is young Kerk and he will evolve like he did but can this current staff help that?

Ben has been hurt a bunch so his offseason development has been hampered because he's rehabbing.

 

[pointtheway]

I thought ben did a great job defending deep shots from wisc kid. Especially with a 30 pound disadvantage. Eye test even looked bigger to me on the television and the whisk kid. Obviously he wasn’t. God, if he could just put 20 pounds on we’d make a world of difference. He doesn’t seem to get bullied around or overpowered too often, even being smaller.

Keuter wrestled a smart match against Amos. He avoided getting stuck under Amos on a bad shot and he avoided dangerous upper body tie-ups against a greco expert. Ben is a 2 time age group world champ, but Amos was also a junior world champ in freestyle and a junior world bronze medalist in greco. Amos is actually a fifth year Junior because he took an Olympic RS and a regular RS, so he has had two years off from NCAA wrestlng to bulk up from 197 to a full sized heavyweight. Amos is ranked 9th but has the talent to be on the podium in March.

 

[sdvike]

Keuter wrestled a smart match against Amos. He avoided getting stuck under Amos on a bad shot and he avoided dangerous upper body tie-ups against a greco expert. Ben is a 2 time age group world champ, but Amos was also a junior world champ in freestyle and a junior world bronze medalist in greco. Amos is actually a fifth year Junior because he took an Olympic RS and a regular RS, so he has had two years off from NCAA wrestlng to bulk up from 197 to a full sized heavyweight. Amos is ranked 9th but has the talent to be on the podium in March.

Agree on this. BK looks to be hesitant to shoot against all opponents lately, hope he can find offense on feet in other ways or heal up and get back to that single leg we've seen.

 

[The-Dude-Abides]

A+ for Tom hugging Cassioppi during the handshake line.
Also for the fans response to Cassioppi being introduced!
And for Tom pointing out to refs and scoring table that Rivera should have 1 more point in the match even though his own coaches didn’t catch it.

Tom would probably be the greatest ref ever. He misses absolutely nothing in real time. His challenge record is plain nuts. Maybe a retirement gig to consider. Imagine Tom wearing stripes when a coach tried to argue with him

 

[TarpHawk1]

I appreciate Ms. K defending her son. I'd prefer that she didn't call people a-holes while complaining about message board disrespect. Can't have it both ways.

She implied that only D1 wrestlers should be able to critique Ben's performance. Here's what 2x NCAA champ Ironside had to say:

"Gotta get into some scrambles."
"Keep your hands and feet moving. Really up your pace."
"Can't just be hanging out."
"Not creating enough action."
"Try to get some angles. He's just wrestling straight on. He has to get a shot fired off, he's gonna get dinged for stalling."
"He can't just stand around, collar tie and not pull the trigger."

All spot on, with as much tact as an Iowa-affiliated radio commentator can muster.

Based on Ben's tongue-wagging at the end of the match, he apparently didn't agree with that assessment of his performance. That is unfortunate for what it says about his mindset and his coaching. He's ranked #5, for God's sake. He should not even be celebrating a victory over #9, particularly in SV, and particularly one in which he didn't take a single shot in regulation. That tells me he thinks he should be ranked #10 and he had to slow the pace down and get to SV to beat that guy. He has the talent and speed and scrambling ability to major that guy. He would've majored this guy had he done what Ironside was pleading with him to do. He has so much talent, and for whatever reason, he's not fully leveraging it. And he's not the only one on the team, which points to a broader coaching failure.

Message boards are harsh. If I met Ms. K in person, I'd say hello and wish her well and wish Ben well. I appreciate his talent and want him to succeed, and most of all I want the program to succeed. But...we're here to discuss wrestling, and what makes the board valuable is having fans speak their mind without concern for whose parent is reading the comments. That also makes it a cesspool, of course. But that's the tradeoff.

 

[maxpain]

I appreciate Ms. K defending her son. I'd prefer that she didn't call people a-holes while complaining about message board disrespect. Can't have it both ways.

She implied that only D1 wrestlers should be able to critique Ben's performance. Here's what 2x NCAA champ Ironside had to say:

"Gotta get into some scrambles."
"Keep your hands and feet moving. Really up your pace."
"Can't just be hanging out."
"Not creating enough action."
"Try to get some angles. He's just wrestling straight on. He has to get a shot fired off, he's gonna get dinged for stalling."
"He can't just stand around, collar tie and not pull the trigger."

All spot on, with as much tact as an Iowa-affiliated radio commentator can muster.

Based on Ben's tongue-wagging at the end of the match, he apparently didn't agree with that assessment of his performance. That is unfortunate for what it says about his mindset and his coaching. He's ranked #5, for God's sake. He should not even be celebrating a victory over #9, particularly in SV, and particularly one in which he didn't take a single shot in regulation. That tells me he thinks he should be ranked #10 and he had to slow the pace down and get to SV to beat that guy. He has the talent and speed and scrambling ability to major that guy. He would've majored this guy had he done what Ironside was pleading with him to do. He has so much talent, and for whatever reason, he's not fully leveraging it. And he's not the only one on the team, which points to a broader coaching failure.

Message boards are harsh. If I met Ms. K in person, I'd say hello and wish her well and wish Ben well. I appreciate his talent and want him to succeed, and most of all I want the program to succeed. But...we're here to discuss wrestling, and what makes the board valuable is having fans speak their mind without concern for whose parent is reading the comments. That also makes it a cesspool, of course. But that's the tradeoff.

If people talked about my kid like they do hers I would be unhinged. Lol. I don’t blame her one bit.