2026 U.S. Open Events: Senior, U20, U17, U15 - 04/21/2026 - 04/26/2026
- Thread starter Acacia
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Absolutely. I’m a huge Henckel fan and think he can make the finals next year. That said, Asher really surprised me last year. He just keeps getting better and if that upward trajectory continues he is going to be scary. The things he is good at are difference makers especially his top game. If he can make 174 and maintain his strength I think it’s a real battle between him and Henckel with the winner being a real threat at a fairly wide open 174.
I guess it's possible he thinks he could more easily finish top 3 at 97kg than 92kg.
Have you looked at the field to see their relative strength?
What do you base "more likely" on?
Somehow I doubt it's that. Cael preaches it's not about winning, so why would likelihood of winning be his motivation? Maybe he is interested in getting a feel at the Olympic weight. I could believe that.
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He knows how he goes with Barr.
Seems like he’d rather try the field at 97. Makes sense to me.
In Freestyle, when have you seen how he goes with Barr at 92kg?
But somehow he doesn't know how he goes with Snyder at 97kg?
And you believe he does know he definitely fairs better with Snyder?
Makes very little sense to me to claim your speculation is more likely.
Obviously, he is wrestling 97kg for a reason so that's the field he's up against.
Maybe the PSU team just thought it would be cool to have wrestlers at all the weights. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with his unlikelihood of winning 92kg.
You're kidding right?
First, feel free to spare me the "Cael preaches it's not about winning" BS. If you don't think Cael and Co care deeply about winning, I've got some bridges for sale. Hit me up.
It's not some stretch to know that Mirasola knows exactly where he stands with regard to Barr in both folk and FS. So with regards to making Final X, the though process "might" be that he's going to try to beat the field at 97. Makes a ton of sense to me. If it doesn't to you, just say so.
There is a large gap that exists between caring about results and preaching that winning and losing aren't what will define success for you on and off the mat. Preaching growth and improvement as the primary goal versus focusing solely on the win-loss record. Besides, all any of us have to go off of is what we're told by the coaches and wrestlers who have been coached by them and going off of that, they definitely do not focus on the win-loss side of things nearly as much as they do on the growth-improvement side. As far as why Mirasola is at 97kg, It could be that it allows less cutting and more focus on training, it could be that he felt a better chance at 97kg , or it could be any number of other reasons...I have no clue. Neither do you. Pointless to speculate.
I'm not sure why the "not focused on winning as much" narrative ruffles so many feathers.
Nah. doesn't ruffle my feathers at all. It's the only way to truly coach at the highest levels, honestly. So I respect it deeply.
My point is fans who literally think and point out that a coach doesn't care about "winning" - and think that means Cael doesn't care about it at all. That man is the most deeply competitive person I think we've ever seen in the sport. The stories of him in high school tell you exactly how much he cares about winning.
Just saying that it doesn't add much to the argument. and yeah. this is a message board and none of us know the discussions between Cael and Mirasola going 97kg. But he isn't going 97 because doesn't care about winning!
Nor is SVN.
I can see where Davis' style wouldn't translate to Free. As for Shayne, I don't recall him being very active in freestyle.
This
. You don't go undefeated as a NCAA wrestler and coach a team to 13 championships out the last 16 without being deeply competitive. Cael and staff have been absolutely brilliant getting their wrestlers in the right mindset to achieve those results and not grinding them into dust along the way.Unlike another Big Ten program that is mentioned frequently on this board.
People misinterpret Cael's intentions in sometimes weird ways.
Just a month ago, Mirasola might feel obligated to take bottom at nationals -- because improving that position was the most important thing he could do at the NCAA Tournament, more than winning there.
I don't get it either.
So you admit you have no personal knowledge of Barr vs Mirasola freestyle at 92kg vs Snyder vs Mirasola at 97kg.
You mischaracterize my statement. I believe "winning is more fun but can't be the driving motivation" is an accurate characterization.
You ignore the 97kg field to presume Barr is more difficult than Snyder. If you believe that's the case you can return hit me up.
I don't believe Connor's weight choice has been made to gain a Final X advantage this year. Preparation for future years of freestyle, after Snyder leaves his shoes in the center of the mat, sure. In other words, get a feel for the Olympic weight class as a step towards a long-term goal.
As is speculating one speculation is more likely than another. That's doubly pointless.
So Mitchell isn't registered for Vegas and has a camp in Ohio during trials. He must be taking the summer off or his plans will need to change
This has nothing to do with anyone’s plans but I do not think registration is closed. Early registration is over. Someone can register morning of and get on the scale if they want. Just costs more.
That sucks. It would be really strange to take a year off from free when many think he will win the spot and be a gold medal contender at worlds. Doesn’t make much sense to me
It's a never ending cycle
Thank you for that nonsensical, obtuse, circular disposition.
This is a world team. There is no "preparation for future years of freestyle" - that's not how PSU became what it is. These are competing to make World Teams, including multiple in a year. Pretty dang unique and cool. And your statement that Mirasola is waiting for Snyder to leave makes no sense, when he's been very clear that he wants to compete until he's 45. (just saying that retirement isn't anywhere close to happening).
I'm not ignoring the field. Just saying that it makes a TON of more sense, considering our World Team process that Mirasola would go 97 at the open considering Snyder isn't in the field, and he definitely knows where he stands with Barr.
If anyone needs it for USA Bracketing, the username None and the password Password can be used.
Mack Mesenbrink is entered at 60kg U17. Anyone have any idea how good he is? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him compete
Probable seeds: (my Guess no facts)
57K 1)Lee 2) Lilledahl
61K 1) Forrest 2) Gross 3) Blaze
65K 1) McKenna 2) Mendez
70K 1) Panteleo 2) Kasak
74K 1) Carr 2) Q.Monday
79K 1) Marsteller 2) Hamiti
86K 1) Dake 2) Keckeisen 3) McEnelly
92K 1) Barr 2) Macchievello
97K 1) Aiello 2) Buchanan
125K 1) Parris 2) Hendrickson
57K 1)Lee 2) Lilledahl
61K 1) Forrest 2) Gross 3) Blaze
65K 1) McKenna 2) Mendez
70K 1) Panteleo 2) Kasak
74K 1) Carr 2) Q.Monday
79K 1) Marsteller 2) Hamiti
86K 1) Dake 2) Keckeisen 3) McEnelly
92K 1) Barr 2) Macchievello
97K 1) Aiello 2) Buchanan
125K 1) Parris 2) Hendrickson
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FWIW, last year, pre-seeds came out on April 22 for the two-day senior tournament, which was April 25-26 last year. So, that'd be today on this year's calendar.
As for brackets, I don't recall when they came out last year. I don't think it was the morning of the tournament after weigh ins, but it might have been.
Yeah, DGK is entered with his new club, Spartan RTC.
Cael Needs to get Kirk training with our NLWC. We could really Help our HWTs. Especially Brown who’s coming in June. Definitely help Cole M as well.
HE WILL BE BETTER THAN HIS BROTHER !!!! 4X NCAA CHAMP !!!! BOOK IT !!!!
If Cael wanted Kerk in the room. He'd be there.
FloWrestling
Men’s Freestyle starts on Friday at the 2026 US Open! Check out the top wrestlers entered at every weight 🔥
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