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Mikey Caliendo - 4x AA 2x Finalist

M

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,938
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Another sad one to write.

His toughness, grit, and relentless work ethic on the mat inspired fans week in and week out, and he represented the Black and Gold with nothing but pride and heart.

Whether grinding out a hard fought win or battling through adversity against Mesenbrink, he gave everything he had, and that’s exactly what being a Hawkeye is all about.
 
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psu83

psu83

Junior
May 29, 2001
147
206
43
Libertylover said:
Too bad every transfer we get doesn’t work out as good for us and the wrestler as he did. Sad he couldn’t get into a weight class away from dick messenbrink
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Sad Blue Cat GIF

Forgive Me Ugh GIF by Persona
 
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mvattivo

mvattivo

All-Conference
Jun 23, 2005
346
1,606
93
maxpain said:
He shook his hand before and after the match. Who cares…
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I agree that isn't big a deal, but, I thought someone might know some backstory. Like Bo said, he could have just been in a daze of disappointment, or extremely frustrated. Mitchell is no saint when he is on the mat. He has had words and issues with guys plenty of times. He seems to be a different person off the mat, which many are in a combat sport like this one.

This doesn't take anything away from Caliendo for me. He wrestled the right way, handled himself well and likely would be a two-time champ if Mesenbrink didn't exist.
 
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maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,938
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mvattivo said:
I agree that isn't big a deal, but, I thought someone might know some backstory. Like Bo said, he could have just been in a daze of disappointment, or extremely frustrated. Mitchell is no saint when he is on the mat. He has had words and issues with guys plenty of times. He seems to be a different person off the mat, which many are in a combat sport like this one.

This doesn't take anything away from Caliendo for me. He wrestled the right way, handled himself well and likely would be a two-time champ if Mesenbrink didn't exist.
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Tom Brands mentioned in his media interview right after NCAAs that Caliendo was hurting and in a bad place. He actually commented on it a couple times within the same interview. I think that’s the backstory more than anything.

Maybe he doesn’t like Mitchell or maybe he does, I am not sure it would have mattered in that moment.
 
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Mattski

Mattski

All-Conference
Apr 21, 2022
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Nittany1997 said:
Why did he do that???
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Bc he sees Mitchell is doing this to bring attention to himself in front of the cameras. These guys are all running into each other behind the curtains before and after matches. If he wants to congratulate them all he's had plenty of chances. I saw what he was doing as arrogant and honestly belittling.
I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***...
 
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Tommy Gavan

Redshirt
Jul 8, 2025
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Mattski said:
Bc he sees Mitchell is doing this to bring attention to himself in front of the cameras. These guys are all running into each other behind the curtains before and after matches. If he wants to congratulate them all he's had plenty of chances. I saw what he was doing as arrogant and honestly belittling.
I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***...
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Exactly. Comes across disingenuous. Here's your chance to shake the hand of the champ while I take a victory lap parading in front of you. Caliendo is a class act, shook his hand before and after the match. Nothing more needed, especially 15 minutes after the match ends.
 
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B

blcoach80

All-Conference
Feb 24, 2018
306
1,592
93
Cali_Nittany1 said:
I'm with you on that. What's done is done. Mikey had a great career. He just happened to be stuck behind an all-timer. Bo nailed it. Mikey just got beat up by the same guy for a 9th time. That's rough.
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MC was not happy with his finals performance. Not how he wanted to go out. I don't think he had any interest in congratulating MM on beating him again. I can't blame him. Had to be super frustrating.
 
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Trakker

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
761
2,080
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It was all for show on mitchs part. These guys show up like five-ten minutes before they get their award, sit next to each other in placement order watching the current match, then go up on the podium mitch had plenty of time to congratulate the other guys prior to getting ob the podium
 
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Nittany1997

Nittany1997

Sophomore
Dec 18, 2014
256
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Mattski said:
Bc he sees Mitchell is doing this to bring attention to himself in front of the cameras. These guys are all running into each other behind the curtains before and after matches. If he wants to congratulate them all he's had plenty of chances. I saw what he was doing as arrogant and honestly belittling.
I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***, I kicked your ***...
Click to expand...
I thought he was just being a good sport, but I often see the best in people.
 
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L

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
875
1,515
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Tommy Gavan said:
Exactly. Comes across disingenuous. Here's your chance to shake the hand of the champ while I take a victory lap parading in front of you. Caliendo is a class act, shook his hand before and after the match. Nothing more needed, especially 15 minutes after the match ends.
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He didn’t for this condescending crap because he knows by now MM is a passive aggressive dick. He got in the face of the North Carolina guy who almost broke his neck during the match because the guy had a style that slowed him down enough to break his bonus streak. Should have congratulated the kid for being tough as nails. There’s something about him just very unlikable.
 
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Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
875
1,515
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A Fistful of Hawkeyes said:
As others have said, but MM had plenty of time to do it back stage right before walking onto the podium, instead he waited for the lights, eyes, and cameras to be on him.

People need to read the room and understand the situation.
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I thought Tom said he didn’t even want to go on the podium, so wasn’t going to play along with MM’s dog and pony show
 
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JoeBagobagels

Senior
Jun 24, 2025
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mvattivo said:
I agree that isn't big a deal, but, I thought someone might know some backstory. Like Bo said, he could have just been in a daze of disappointment, or extremely frustrated. Mitchell is no saint when he is on the mat. He has had words and issues with guys plenty of times. He seems to be a different person off the mat, which many are in a combat sport like this one.

This doesn't take anything away from Caliendo for me. He wrestled the right way, handled himself well and likely would be a two-time champ if Mesenbrink didn't exist.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's a big deal either way, but it's best to play politics a little bit just for the optics. Really it doesn't matter to me either way.
 
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JoeBagobagels

Senior
Jun 24, 2025
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Libertylover said:
He didn’t for this condescending crap because he knows by now MM is a passive aggressive dick. He got in the face of the North Carolina guy who almost broke his neck during the match because the guy had a style that slowed him down enough to break his bonus streak. Should have congratulated the kid for being tough as nails. There’s something about him just very unlikable.
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It's probably from him being one of the most dominant wrestlers in recent memory and his style . Askren mentioned having to put him in his place from time to time due to his "exuberance". I can see why he would annoy people.
 
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