A very Casual Iowa fan here and just came in peace to get some feedback. What is Iowas problem and why can’t they compete with PSU? Is it style, coaching, both? What is holding them back? Also why can’t anyone else seem to even come close to PSU? Is Sanderson just that good of a coach that until he retires no one will really compete with them? Just looking for outside views cause our fanbase just says fire Brands.
Most of it is recruiting. Get the best kids and it becomes easier to win. Also the style of wrestling Cael preaches is more appealing than the Brands style. Others probably have different opinions, but I would those are the top reasons.
Now from what I gather Caels brand is more attacking and Brands is more defense and wait for the right shot? Is that correct
First time in program history we had 2 B12 champions. So that's pretty cool. If we had Watters, likely 3 I think
Once Roster Caps come into play it will be really interesting to see how it affects wrestling. I would think talent won’t be stashed as much at some schools.
They don't wrestle to score. Every single one of them wrestles like Ryan Morningstar. Get a small lead and then try and hang on by stalling. The only exception recently is Spencer but we used him horribly.
As mentioned the talent difference is real, PSU is absurd. But just aesthetically, you have like 2.5 guys that will wrestle to put up points and actively win. Ayala, Caliendo, and sometimes Kennedy. The rest, especially the upper weights, are just generally good wrestlers who are hard to score on but they do next to nothing. Buchannan was really telling yesterday after he went down to Cardenas and all of a sudden had to try and have attacking impetus, it wasn't there.
Yeah, I’m avoiding acknowledging that a lot of sports get fucked. I know at VT that topic won’t come up till after 25-26 year. So I’ll remain hopeful this doesn’t totally blow up athletics.
4. Don't think anyone else has a shot at a wild card 197 Ian Bush took 4th 141 Jordan Titus took 6th Strickenberger and Hall the only 2 that have a chance at AA. Hall should be a high AA
1 week out. Looks like PSU will run away with it and it will be right for the remainder of the podium. Can’t wait to get to Philly. Anyone else going this year? https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/files/2025 D1 Wrestling brackets.pdf
Doing a 12 man 10 round snake draft tonight. Any deep sleepers? I got pick two, taking Gable or Mesenbrink
Pretty pumped UNI qualified 10. More than both Iowa and ISU. Awesome for Doug. He's a great coach/guy.
Fair, pretty good depth at a lot of weights. Just tough to beat a returning national champ and catch the other one so soon. He's been his best recently though so it'll be fun to watch
Any chance Cael is bored at PSU? We can make an official trade of Julian Fleming/Jim Knowles for Cael Sanderson.
No chance they go to Iowa. That family BLEEDS UNI now. He actually lives about 3 blocks from me. His youngest 2 daughters are twins and both in my boy's grade and one in his actual class. They are both on the spectrum and have a huge support system built here and don't see them changing, but you never know I guess.