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PREVIEW: Iowa sending 14 current/future Hawkeyes to U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials

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Tanner Lafever

All-American
Jan 4, 2024
2,098
8,394
113
Corby2 said:
He will get first dibs regardless. 4th on ladder now gets the opportunity first before the champ
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Just double-checked the criteria and you are correct - good call.

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Is that a new change for this year? In my head it was always top three on the Senior team got first dibs, then the U23 national champ.
 
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Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,773
8,422
113
HawkAlum2002 said:
JW seems to be taking last years wake up call seriously. He's already three years into wasting his potential, it's kind of now or never for him. Get that head on straight for 365 days and see how far your talent can take you.
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Exactly he's locked in right now hopefully he can maintain that thru March on his last ride. His talent is as good as anyone
 
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S

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
1,000
2,239
93
Corby2 said:
Exactly he's locked in right now hopefully he can maintain that thru March on his last ride. His talent is as good as anyone
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Has he made any decisions if he is staying at Iowa or still considering other options?
 
S

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
1,000
2,239
93
blcoach80 said:
I hope he does. He has a ton of upside and not a lot of risk for the Hawks imo. He has top 5 potential and if he flounders or folds like last year, Estrada is no slouch as a plan B. JW is talented and dangerous, which is worth the risk imo.
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Very dangerous if he puts in the work on strength and conditioning. Not sure whose idea it was to get him active in freestyle this off-season (likely his to gain interest), but looks like he is beginning to see his own potential.
 
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A

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,073
2,214
113
MALOS said:
If they pay him after the year and make it result driven, could that help? I’m an optimist
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If your only motivation is money, you've already lost IMO. I do applaud your optimism, it's a good way to go thru life I suppose, I just don't see it in regards to Jordan Williams.

There is a point where optimism and skepticism clash, and that's called REALITY. The reality is Jordan Williams has yet to reach a NCAA podium after 3 schools and 4 years of College Wrestling. On top of that his most recent school chose to bench him and for all intents and purposes forfeit his weight class in terms of much needed Big Ten and NCAA points, as opposed to watching him. Let that sink in.

All of this from a 3 time Fargo Champion and the #12 overall recruit in 2022. He's had John Smith and Tom & Terry Brands as Coaches (and others of course) and still hasn't realized his wink-wink "potential" as an All- American. Let that sink in as well.

Iowa has a 157 lb problem, and Jordan Williams doesn't solve it. He had his shot and blew it. Cut bait and move on.
 
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chipackhawk

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2018
590
1,499
93
AndreTheHawk said:
If your only motivation is money, you've already lost IMO. I do applaud your optimism, it's a good way to go thru life I suppose, I just don't see it in regards to Jordan Williams.

There is a point where optimism and skepticism clash, and that's called REALITY. The reality is Jordan Williams has yet to reach a NCAA podium after 3 schools and 4 years of College Wrestling. On top of that his most recent school chose to bench him and for all intents and purposes forfeit his weight class in terms of much needed Big Ten and NCAA points, as opposed to watching him. Let that sink in.

All of this from a 3 time Fargo Champion and the #12 overall recruit in 2022. He's had John Smith and Tom & Terry Brands as Coaches (and others of course) and still hasn't realized his wink-wink "potential" as an All- American. Let that sink in as well.

Iowa has a 157 lb problem, and Jordan Williams doesn't solve it. He had his shot and blew it. Cut bait and move on.
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Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. Fool me thrice - I'm just a dumb m'fer. I'd love to see him get his act together and do something positive for himself and the team. I'm just tired of being a fan of a/the team that has to take a chance on him.
 
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V

VakAttack

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
496
1,919
93
AndreTheHawk said:
If your only motivation is money, you've already lost IMO. I do applaud your optimism, it's a good way to go thru life I suppose, I just don't see it in regards to Jordan Williams.

There is a point where optimism and skepticism clash, and that's called REALITY. The reality is Jordan Williams has yet to reach a NCAA podium after 3 schools and 4 years of College Wrestling. On top of that his most recent school chose to bench him and for all intents and purposes forfeit his weight class in terms of much needed Big Ten and NCAA points, as opposed to watching him. Let that sink in.

All of this from a 3 time Fargo Champion and the #12 overall recruit in 2022. He's had John Smith and Tom & Terry Brands as Coaches (and others of course) and still hasn't realized his wink-wink "potential" as an All- American. Let that sink in as well.

Iowa has a 157 lb problem, and Jordan Williams doesn't solve it. He had his shot and blew it. Cut bait and move on.
Click to expand...

chipackhawk said:
Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. Fool me thrice - I'm just a dumb m'fer. I'd love to see him get his act together and do something positive for himself and the team. I'm just tired of being a fan of a/the team that has to take a chance on him.
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You guys say things like this as if there's a better option. He is the only option Iowa has right now that has an AA ceiling.
 
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I

ILLHawk135

Junior
Feb 22, 2021
86
333
53
AndreTheHawk said:
If your only motivation is money, you've already lost IMO. I do applaud your optimism, it's a good way to go thru life I suppose, I just don't see it in regards to Jordan Williams.

There is a point where optimism and skepticism clash, and that's called REALITY. The reality is Jordan Williams has yet to reach a NCAA podium after 3 schools and 4 years of College Wrestling. On top of that his most recent school chose to bench him and for all intents and purposes forfeit his weight class in terms of much needed Big Ten and NCAA points, as opposed to watching him. Let that sink in.

All of this from a 3 time Fargo Champion and the #12 overall recruit in 2022. He's had John Smith and Tom & Terry Brands as Coaches (and others of course) and still hasn't realized his wink-wink "potential" as an All- American. Let that sink in as well.

Iowa has a 157 lb problem, and Jordan Williams doesn't solve it. He had his shot and blew it. Cut bait and move on.
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Who’s the better option? There isn’t one on the current roster.
 
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A

AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,073
2,214
113
ILLHawk135 said:
Who’s the better option? There isn’t one on the current roster.
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Carver Cones are a better option from my perspective, and I've never had one. But I hear they're all the rage so........

I don't ever want to see another Jordan Williams or Jacori Teemer type "attempt" to wrestle in an Iowa singlet ever again in my lifetime (box checked on the latter, looking to cash in my Exacta on the former).

If your "want to" isn't there while you're on the mat wrestling for the University of Iowa, my "want to watch you" isn't either. It is that simple.
 
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MSU158

All-Conference
Nov 20, 2014
1,350
3,586
113
vhsalum said:
It's stupid.

I get valuing the Senior placer. But make it a best 2 out of 3 at Fargo. There's almost no incentive to wrestle at U23s besides "experience" :rolleyes:
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Wasn't it a wrestle off at some point? Then they changed it to just give them the chance to steal the spot outright?

I could see giving the #1 guy the spot if he actually wanted it. Winning Senior Trials obviously should earn it without a wrestle off. But, the guys down the ladder lost a match(es) in that tournament. I know it is often much harder, but I don't see why that should LOCK you into a spot over someone that won that qualifier...
 
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V

vhsalum

All-Conference
Nov 14, 2002
1,336
3,116
113
MSU158 said:
Wasn't it a wrestle off at some point? Then they changed it to just give them the chance to steal the spot outright?

I could see giving the #1 guy the spot if he actually wanted it. Winning Senior Trials obviously should earn it without a wrestle off. But, the guys down the ladder lost a match(es) in that tournament. I know it is often much harder, but I don't see why that should LOCK you into a spot over someone that won that qualifier...
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Correct it used to be a wrestleoff. at Fargo. And that's how it should be.

I don't get the point of wrestling a "2 out of 3" finals at the challenge tournament if that doesn't even secure you the spot.
 
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jrod65

jrod65

Senior
Jan 21, 2019
194
940
93
vhsalum said:
It's stupid.

There's almost no incentive to wrestle at U23s besides "experience" :rolleyes:
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The only incentive is that winner gets to go to U23 Pan Ams(and yes, experience). With the new changes, winning U23 Nats means literally nothing for the U23 World team selection process.
 
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Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,773
8,422
113
vhsalum said:
It's stupid.

I get valuing the Senior placer. But make it a best 2 out of 3 at Fargo. There's almost no incentive to wrestle at U23s besides "experience" :rolleyes:
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U23 winners last weekend go to pan ams that's all that got them. Top 4 national team if u23 eligible can take the spot. If no one qualifies age wise then they can pick 🤷. So 65 if Bo makes the Sr team I expect them to take Mendez . At 97 sounds like Barr will probably be the guy over McDanel . All other weights have guys age eligible that are top 4 national team guys
Guys top 4
57 Luke Knox
61 Blaze Jax
65 Bo
70 Robideau
74 James Sealey
79 Levi
86 Sinclair
92 Shumate
125 Merrill
 
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vhsalum

All-Conference
Nov 14, 2002
1,336
3,116
113
Corby2 said:
U23 winners last weekend go to pan ams that's all that got them. Top 4 national team if u23 eligible can take the spot. If no one qualifies age wise then they can pick 🤷. So 65 if Bo makes the Sr team I expect them to take Mendez . At 97 sounds like Barr will probably be the guy over McDanel . All other weights have guys age eligible that are top 4 national team guys
Guys top 4
57 Luke Knox
61 Blaze Jax
65 Bo
70 Robideau
74 James Sealey
79 Levi
86 Sinclair
92 Shumate
125 Merrill
Click to expand...

UnAmerican and unbelievable. Every time I swear USA wrestling is taking a step forward...
 
dtripp26

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,524
31,411
113
Corby2 said:
U23 winners last weekend go to pan ams that's all that got them. Top 4 national team if u23 eligible can take the spot. If no one qualifies age wise then they can pick 🤷. So 65 if Bo makes the Sr team I expect them to take Mendez . At 97 sounds like Barr will probably be the guy over McDanel . All other weights have guys age eligible that are top 4 national team guys
Guys top 4
57 Luke Knox
61 Blaze Jax
65 Bo
70 Robideau
74 James Sealey
79 Levi
86 Sinclair
92 Shumate
125 Merrill
Click to expand...
That Sucks The Office GIF
 
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C

Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,773
8,422
113
dtripp26 said:
That Sucks The Office GIF
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It says national team coaches will make a recommendation to the committee for final approval if no one top 4 on the national team wants the spot.

Sounds like they want Barr over McDanel at 97 and no doubt they will want Mendez if Bassett doesn't go
 
dtripp26

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,524
31,411
113
Corby2 said:
It says national team coaches will make a recommendation to the committee for final approval if no one top 4 on the national team wants the spot.

Sounds like they want Barr over McDanel at 97 and no doubt they will want Mendez if Bassett doesn't go
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Or we could have a tournament where guys show up and earn their spot. Crazy right?

I get letting Senior top 3/4 eligible getting the nod, especially Robidou over Williams, as he beat him twice.

But just selecting guys who didn't even show up, terrible decision.
 
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C

ChicagoHawk2020

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2017
945
2,894
92
Corby2 said:
It says national team coaches will make a recommendation to the committee for final approval if no one top 4 on the national team wants the spot.

Sounds like they want Barr over McDanel at 97 and no doubt they will want Mendez if Bassett doesn't go
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Yeah……no. That’s BS and needs to change.
 
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ChicagoHawk2020

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2017
945
2,894
92
Corby2 said:
U23 winners last weekend go to pan ams that's all that got them. Top 4 national team if u23 eligible can take the spot. If no one qualifies age wise then they can pick 🤷. So 65 if Bo makes the Sr team I expect them to take Mendez . At 97 sounds like Barr will probably be the guy over McDanel . All other weights have guys age eligible that are top 4 national team guys
Guys top 4
57 Luke Knox
61 Blaze Jax
65 Bo
70 Robideau
74 James Sealey
79 Levi
86 Sinclair
92 Shumate
125 Merrill
Click to expand...
PSU are u23 merchants.
 
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