It seems that the consensus is that Oklahoma State is the new rival…

[LostInTransition]

Even though he is only a sophomore, I have been keeping track of Sanchez this season. He blitzed his way through both of the qualifying tournaments for the state championship. This season he moved up to 120 pounds after winning a title at 106 his freshman year. He has definitely added on a lot of muscle in the last year, and is noticeably broader in his arms and shoulders. He is still undefeated in his California H.S. career. At this year's tournament he has senior Rocklin Zinkin in his bracket. Zinkin has made the Finals every season and has won it the last two seasons. He is committed to Oklahoma State and is ranked nationally at #2 behind Landon Sidun. If Sanchez wins the title this year he will further cement his credentials moving forward. Also, if Sanchez wins it again this year he will be half way toward the record of being California's only 4-time undefeated state champ. For those who don't know, California is a single classification state and has over 1000 high schools with a boys wrestling program.

3 pins and a 9-0 major in the finals over Cal Poly Commit Samano over the weekend at the Southern Section Masters. He's the 3 seed at CIFs behind Zinkin (1) and Aslikyan (2). Aslikyan is a Michigan commit and all three are State Champs.

click below for CIF Brackets

California Interscholastic Federation

 

[District 4]

Two years out would be
Zinkin vs LL
Raney vs Blaze
Jax vs Desmond
Vega/Raney vs Shepherd?
Roubudeau vs Kasak/Duke
Lockett vs Duke/James
Facundo vs Henckel
Ryder/White vs Rocco
Merrill vs Barr
Ross vs Mirasola

This is two years out. Three years out could be interesting for the team race. A lot can change though with the portal.

People are falling asleep on Perry. I really like him in this room

 

[PSUbluTX]

Agree.

I seem to recall similar statements about tOSU back around 2022 (?) with names like these on a roster that looked pretty formidable at the time:

Nic Bouzakis
Jesse Mendez
Nick Feldman
Seth Shumate
Luke Geog
Gavin Brown
Brendan McCrone
Sammy Sasso
Dylan D'Emilio
Paddy Gallagher
Carson Kharchla
Kaleb Romero

OKST’s recruiting looks great. It will be f*n to see how things develop. Maybe this will end up being like a new Sam’s Club going up across the street from Costco and they will eat into each other’s profits big time. Or, maybe the new construction will come with all the hype of a big warehouse store and end up being just another CVS. Too soon to know.

 

[LB99]

Did anyone ever do an Okie State future lineup breakout like what was done for Penn State? I'd like to see them side by side. Cael has an uncanny ability to stagger the talent he brings in. It's true that the Cowboys have been recruiting really well, but Penn State's recruiting has been exceptional too.

Agree. People forget that Cael is still recruiting a high level and only losing Haines from the starting lineup this year. Cael’s vision is always one to two years ahead. I’ll trust the process with Cael every day until proven otherwise.

 

[nerfstate]

jax holding a cup of iowa tears is telling. Lol.

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

 

[LB99]

he's off to a good start. 1 year = 2 natty champs

Yes. Two seasoned vets with success from other programs.

 

[Sunshine88!]

Gilman and RBY left Oklahoma State for a reason. Definitely something going on there with DT and staff.

 

[PSUer89]

I voted Iowa was our biggest rival in the poll a few weeks back. But as I watched the match Sunday, I found myself rooting for mostly Iowa kids. I’ve always like Ayala and Caliendo, but then I was also pulling for almost all their guys but Peterson. It helped that Ferrari wasn’t wrestling. I’m not sure if this means OSU is our bigger rival in my view, or our bigger threat.

 

[funkisfun10]

I saw okie state come out in their silly cowboy hats, and thought that was odd. I had heard DT say something to the effect that Stillwater was the epicenter of USA or college wrestling. I thought that was odd. Then I was rooting against iowa halfway through the 1st match.

 

[Lyons212]

I saw okie state come out in their silly cowboy hats, and thought that was odd. I had heard DT say something to the effect that Stillwater was the epicenter of USA or college wrestling. I thought that was odd. Then I was rooting against iowa halfway through the 1st match.

It could have been worse, they could have come out in robes.

 

[El_Jefe]

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

Related?

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

The separation is greater when looking at World/Olympics medals. Which is what the recruits really want.

It's too early to tell how Taylor will fare in that regard. We know how Cael does, best Senior Freestyle club in the world.

Great point. I am still perplexed why TnT seemingly have put so little effort into building up HWC. You would think they must have as much understanding as you, El_Jefe, when it comes to these things. They have Daniel Dennis as the head coach and apparently include RTC members Spencer Lee, Stephen Buchanan, Jacob Warner, DeSanto, Eierman, Marinelli and Kaleb Young. Once Spencer stops competing it is going to be even worse for them.

 

[backdrft76-1]

Related?

Confirmed by multiple in attendance. Happened after the Ryder win, Tom was livid, flipped the birds to the crowd and stormed off to the locker room for 10 minutes. Classic Brands.

 

[HOA242n!]

I'm taking a wait and see approach. Watching Lockett, Robideau, Facundo and Ryder (or Vega for that matter) on Sunday against Iowa doesn't convince me that the Cowboys' ascension is guaranteed.

Facundo and Ryder are going to be fighting to AA the rest of their career. That was the first time I'd watched Lockett live, and man (despite his prep and freestyle accomplishments) was he underwhelming. IMO he's Oklahoma State's next Daton Fix. Going to be a tough order to deal with the 157-197 murderer's row PSU has for the foreseeable future.

 

[rainierelbert]

Better that Cael take them seriously than fans, but I also agree with Cael. They will be truly challenging us if they continue on their current path. And I think Taylor definitely knows he needs to build behind this current crop of young talent - because Cael definitely is.

Iowa and the Brands worked their tails off to climb the mountain in 2020-21, but it was a blip because they got complacent again - thinking there’d be some long-term “Spencer Lee” effect

When all that was produced during that timeline was one NCAA Team Title and Spencer Lee was on the only one to win a championship, to me it marked the beginning of the end for Brands. If he couldn't get some of those studs to Saturday night, much less win individual titles, the writing was on the wall. Since then:

- Fell face first in the 2021-2022 season culminating in a disaster up in Detroit
- Spencer Lee pinned by Matt Ramos. Still hurts to this day.
- Real Woods' senior year let down. Makes me sick thinking about it but another casualty of the lack of development in the room.
- Gambling scandal.
- Three straight years with no individual NCAA Champion.
- 5th place at the NCAA's in 2024. 4 AAs (three of which were portal wrestlers)
- Worst home loss in CHA ever. And Penn State wasn't at their absolute best that night which twists the knife even further.
- Worst loss to Okie State since 1961.
- Streak against ISU snapped.
- First loss to Minnesota since 2014.
- Mo Endene situation.
- Inexplicable and confusing reliance on transfers.
- Losing out on top recruit after top recruit. See next.
- Bo Bassett and Melvin Miller. Side note: I was shocked when Bo originally committed to Iowa. I thought he must know something which most of us fans do not.

Just a list and as I typed it out, I was thinking a meaningful change in the program was needed after the fifth point I mentioned. The program is in a crater and a shell of what it once was. Iowa is just a name now. As a wrestling official out in Washington state, there are some high school kids who show more effort than some of the Iowa wrestlers now. And if they want any sort of reputation, respect or their dignity, a massive overhaul is needed from the wrestlers to coaching to RTC to culture to philosophy.

Another side note: I was in CHA when PSU came to town in 2006(?). Joel Edwards lost a match to an Iowa guy and he threw his headgear when he came off the mat. Well, the headgear slid across the floor and went under the bleachers where my friend and I were sitting front row. We were in 5th grade I think. It was Eric Bradley and James Yonoshonis who asked if a headgear went under the bleachers and if we could help find it. Fortunately, we were able to find it. Always has been a fond memory helping these two guys find a teammate's headgear.

 

[Goggles Paisano]

Related?

For a little guy, Brands has a really big head!

 

[El_Jefe]

Great point. I am still perplexed why TnT seemingly have put so little effort into building up HWC. You would think they must have as much understanding as you, El_Jefe, when it comes to these things. They have Daniel Dennis as the head coach and apparently include RTC members Spencer Lee, Stephen Buchanan, Jacob Warner, DeSanto, Eierman, Marinelli and Kaleb Young. Once Spencer stops competing it is going to be even worse for them.

That's actually a decent RTC roster. It's not enough and it took way too long to get there. But it's not bad.

The bigger problem is that they're all Hawk alums. Brands and Slumlord Bob pay big bucks to import varsity wrestlers, but import no RTC resident athletes. NLWC would still be very good but not nearly what it is without bringing in Snyder, Dake, Gilman, Rodriguez, Francisco, Gomez, Bekzod, Varner, etc.

And then Iowa isn't retaining all of their best wrestlers after graduation -- notably Kemerer, Woods, and Cassioppi.

Taylor within a year imported Zahid, RBY, and McKenna. Brands has different priorities.

 

[El_Jefe]

Confirmed by multiple in attendance. Happened after the Ryder win, Tom was livid, flipped the birds to the crowd and stormed off to the locker room for 10 minutes. Classic Brands.

Was that Tom or Terry? Definitely sounds more like Terry, even moreso if he challenged some fans in the stands to a fight.

 

[johnstownsteel]

Okay - you are on Sanchez duty. After @johnstownsteel failed us with Jax, we’re looking for a new closer.

In my defense, I'm paid to hate. Jax was just a side project I took on..

 

[BriantheLion]

Duckworth is still a reliable mouthpiece for all Oklahoma sources, sniff test be damned.

If we've learned nothing else from the past 15 years, Cael is focused internally. He's aware of OKST but that's noise. His sole concern is mazimizing PSU.

Right… he has them in mind…

… but they’ll never get in his head!

 

[Lil Nicky Scarfo]

In my defense, I'm paid to hate. Jax was just a side project I took on..

I’ll talk to Cael about spreading you too thin during his next annual review

 

[Sportfan2017]

What.....no split? Amateur

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Was that Tom or Terry? Definitely sounds more like Terry, even moreso if he challenged some fans in the stands to a fight.

Here is a little clip involving Terry : )

 

[Honcho]

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

 

[Dren007]

Cael Will always have a slight edge just due to proximity alone. He is dead center of the best recruiting grounds in the country hands down. Yes, some kids will want a change of scenery but many would rather stay relatively close to home.

How many future stars are watching or at the PSU matches and just get hooked. Never been to Oklahoma but I'm sure it has great stuff to see/do but the kids already know what PSU has and will definitely have more exposure to them than Okie state.

 

[Corby2]

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

I can see Iowa having the clip with Bubba pinning DT all loaded up for next year. Maybe a Sadulaev and Yazdani clip as well

 

[Corby2]

Was that Tom or Terry? Definitely sounds more like Terry, even moreso if he challenged some fans in the stands to a fight.

76 has no clue he's just regurgitating what he read elsewhere.

 

[Nitlion1986]

That's actually a decent RTC roster. It's not enough and it took way too long to get there. But it's not bad.

The bigger problem is that they're all Hawk alums. Brands and Slumlord Bob pay big bucks to import varsity wrestlers, but import no RTC resident athletes. NLWC would still be very good but not nearly what it is without bringing in Snyder, Dake, Gilman, Rodriguez, Francisco, Gomez, Bekzod, Varner, etc.

And then Iowa isn't retaining all of their best wrestlers after graduation -- notably Kemerer, Woods, and Cassioppi.

Taylor within a year imported Zahid, RBY, and McKenna. Brands has different priorities.

To make it worse, they lost Cassioppi because they were kissing Ferrari's asssend.

 

[Nitlion1986]

I can see Iowa having the clip with Bubba pinning DT all loaded up for next year. Maybe a Sadulaev and Yazdani clip as well

Hopefully if they play those clips they do so in the background of being competitive with a legitimate shot at winning. I don’t think they are any more competitive next year. I could be mistaken with my next statement, but I doubt it. The next time Iowa is competitive with OkieSt, Iowa will have a different coaching staff.

 

[JA1339]

Two years out would be
Zinkin vs LL
Raney vs Blaze
Jax vs Desmond
Vega/Raney vs Shepherd?
Roubudeau vs Kasak/Duke
Lockett vs Duke/James
Facundo vs Henckel
Ryder/White vs Rocco
Merrill vs Barr
Ross vs Mirasola

This is two years out. Three years out could be interesting for the team race. A lot can change though with the portal.

As long as OSU is starting 2 guys who transferred because they couldn’t crack our lineup, I like our chances in a dual. We start with 2 wins, we only need to win 3 or 4 of the remaining 8.

 

[Corby2]

Hopefully if they play those clips they do so in the background of being competitive with a legitimate shot at winning. I don’t think they are any more competitive next year. I could be mistaken with my next statement, but I doubt it. The next time Iowa is competitive with OkieSt, Iowa will have a different coaching staff.

They beat them this year

 

[Nitlion1986]

They beat them this year

Yep, and by the end of the year one had taken a giant step forward and the other seemed to not have. One will continue to progress while the other will continue to not.

 

[McScoreley]

I can see Iowa having the clip with Bubba pinning DT all loaded up for next year. Maybe a Sadulaev and Yazdani clip as well

Better beat them if you want to pull that ....

Yep, and by the end of the year one had taken a giant step forward and the other seemed to not have. One will continue to progress while the other will continue to not.

I know injuries and Iowa's season really fell apart without Endene. Other than Barr, I'm not sure Endene loses to anyone on Iowa's schedule and instead they're giving away 5-6 there every time now. Then add in the fact Kueter is a shell of himself and it's not hard to see how Iowa has fallen apart at this point.

 

[Headlock]

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

Then there’s this, which, if done by fans, would be lol, but officially? Ew.

Crass, very crass.

 

[Corby2]

Yep, and by the end of the year one had taken a giant step forward and the other seemed to not have. One will continue to progress while the other will continue to not.

Injuries and additions made things different. Wrestle that dual with the same line ups as the beginning of the year and the score isn't like yesterday.

 

[jstross]

Two years out would be
Zinkin vs LL
Raney vs Blaze
Jax vs Desmond
Vega/Raney vs Shepherd?
Roubudeau vs Kasak/Duke
Lockett vs Duke/James
Facundo vs Henckel
Ryder/White vs Rocco
Merrill vs Barr
Ross vs Mirasola

This is two years out. Three years out could be interesting for the team race. A lot can change though with the portal.

No Ono?

 

[Random4598375]

No Ono?

This lineup assumes Ono only gets one year, I guess.

 

[El_Jefe]

I know injuries and Iowa's season really fell apart without Endene. Other than Barr, I'm not sure Endene loses to anyone on Iowa's schedule and instead they're giving away 5-6 there every time now. Then add in the fact Kueter is a shell of himself and it's not hard to see how Iowa has fallen apart at this point.

Endene lost to Elam.

 

[LB99]

Injuries and additions made things different. Wrestle that dual with the same line ups as the beginning of the year and the score isn't like yesterday.

But this is Iowa’s reputation under the Brands bros. Every year they look beat up by the end. Some guys regress, some guys are too beat up to compete, and some guys are a shell of themselves. Rinse, wash, repeat. Year after year. I hope they stay in Iowa forever. They are the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[JoeBagobagels]

They beat them this year

Last year if I'm not mistaken or earlier in the season.