2026-27 Roster/Lineup Discussion (Portal opens 4/1)

[Ryan0315]

Wrestlestat has Chapman moving up to 184. Any other news you're hearing? I have no basis in saying this but are they thinking of moving Shane down to 174 and having Chapman start at 184? Just spitballing here for the sake of discussion.

 

[Bobbynieds]

Wasnt SCW a fairly tall 184?
If he could make that comfortably, it is good news.

 

[Ryan0315]

Wasnt SCW a fairly tall 184?
If he could make that comfortably, it is good news.

Yeah he's pretty tall but definitely not a huge 84. Again just spitballing for the sake of conversation as I haven't heard anything.

 

[Kiddagger311]

Wasnt SCW a fairly tall 184?
If he could make that comfortably, it is good news.

I mean this is good news depending on how good Chapman is at 184 compared to how Ford/Chapman is at 174…. And if SCW even wants/can make 174..

If Chapman can beat SCW for the 184 spot then yea… but that’s a big if no?

 

[Kiddagger311]

Hearing about some shakeups in upper weights, between 74-84

Can you go into more details ?

 

[Anon1751330127]

Can you go into more details ?

Yes. SCW is going 174. Unless someone convinces him otherwise. Which I think then makes Chapman front runner for 184 spot. Don’t see Ford getting to 84.

 

[Anon1751330127]

Wrestlestat has Chapman moving up to 184. Any other news you're hearing? I have no basis in saying this but are they thinking of moving Shane down to 174 and having Chapman start at 184? Just spitballing here for the sake of discussion.

On the money!

 

[Kiddagger311]

Yes. SCW is going 174. Unless someone convinces him otherwise. Which I think then makes Chapman front runner for 184 spot. Don’t see Ford getting to 84.

I’m not as confident in Chapman being a NQ at 184 as I am of Ford being a NQ at 174 this year… however, what do you think of SCW’s chances of being an AA is greater at 174 then at 184?

 

[SCNJ]

Reminder that Chapman nearly upset Ludington at 190 in high school. Strength won’t be an issue for him at 184, just gotta get his technique down.

 

[Kiddagger311]

Reminder that Chapman nearly upset Ludington at 190 in high school. Strength won’t be an issue for him at 184, just gotta get his technique down.

Always thought Chapman had a lot of raw potential especially after that match… but can he go 184 and start knocking off NQ+ lvl guys… Ludington hasn’t looked too great at Iowa..

 

[SCNJ]

Always thought Chapman had a lot of raw potential especially after that match… but can he go 184 and start knocking off NQ+ lvl guys… Ludington hasn’t looked too great at Iowa..

Ludington was up a weight and got slotted into a spot he wasn’t ready for. He’ll be fine.

 

[Corby2]

Ludington was up a weight and got slotted into a spot he wasn’t ready for. He’ll be fine.

His cert #s never said 184. He was always a 197

 

[Ryan0315]

Yes. SCW is going 174. Unless someone convinces him otherwise. Which I think then makes Chapman front runner for 184 spot. Don’t see Ford getting to 84.

Interesting. It's a shame I think Ford is pretty good and he's aggressive but he'll now be blocked out of the lineup. Wrestlestat has SCW as the #8 184 and Chapman as #16. Curious to see where they'd rank SCW at 174 as Ford is #23.

 

[Rutfan79]

Interesting. It's a shame I think Ford is pretty good and he's aggressive but he'll now be blocked out of the lineup. Wrestlestat has SCW as the #8 184 and Chapman as #16. Curious to see where they'd rank SCW at 174 as Ford is #23.

If SCW does indeed make the drop down to 174’s I personally don’t think he can beat Ford. Fords a better athlete and more explosive than SCW.

 

[Leonard23]

If SCW does indeed make the drop down to 174’s I personally don’t think he can beat Ford. Fords a better athlete and more explosive than SCW.

If he can't beat Ford, why would he drop to 174?

 

[PessimisticallyHopefulPragmatist]

If SCW does indeed make the drop down to 174’s I personally don’t think he can beat Ford. Fords a better athlete and more explosive than SCW.

I was wondering about that myself.

 

[Rutfan79]

If he can't beat Ford, why would he drop to 174?

I don’t think he does, but other people above were insinuating he was.

 

[SCNJ]

His cert #s never said 184. He was always a 197

Was he originally planning on redshirting and building up to 197? Either way I don’t think he was ready for the role he got put into and I think he’ll be fine long term.

 

[SCNJ]

If he can't beat Ford, why would he drop to 174?

I think he’s stronger than Ford, who I think would be better suited dropping to 165 and challenging Barbosa

 

[Corby2]

Was he originally planning on redshirting and building up to 197? Either way I don’t think he was ready for the role he got put into and I think he’ll be fine long term.

He did RS .Gabe was 197

 

[Anon1751330127]

I don’t think he does, but other people above were insinuating he was.

I can tell you with 100% certainty he plans to and has “paid his dues” wrestling up. He walks around 186 most of the year. he does not have any concern about winning the spot.

I like Ford and Iron sharpens Iron so I hope it’s a battle.

 

[Kiddagger311]

I can tell you with 100% certainty he plans to and has “paid his dues” wrestling up. He walks around 186 most of the year. he does not have any concern about winning the spot.

I like Ford and Iron sharpens Iron so I hope it’s a battle.

If SCW wants to wrestle at 174 then whoever the best man is wins the spot. I’m high on Ford but I’m surprised by the amount of people that think he will beat SCW rn..

 

[LETSGORU91]

As long as he can safely make '74, I think SCW will be better suited for that weight vs the competition. I was hoping to see an improvement over his first season out of RS and for whatever reason(s) that didn't happen.

 

[Ryan0315]

As long as he can safely make '74, I think SCW will be better suited for that weight vs the competition. I was hoping to see an improvement over his first season out of RS and for whatever reason(s) that didn't happen.

Agreed he's pretty tall but has a slender build and probably gave up some strength compared to most of the elite 184's. I'm sure he'll do well at 174. Comparatively, Chapman is definitely stronger/more explosive I think he could do well for us.

 

[Kiddagger311]

As long as he can safely make '74, I think SCW will be better suited for that weight vs the competition. I was hoping to see an improvement over his first season out of RS and for whatever reason(s) that didn't happen.

I agree, I think 184 is more top heavy and 174 is less too heavy and has a bigger range of guys that can AA. Think SCW has a better shot to AA at 174 if he can make it safely(and wins the spot). He was also already pretty tall at 184 so he will have a pretty big length edge at 174.

As for the improvement out of RS I been noticing more and more wrestlers having their best seasons earlier in their careers rather then later.. think there’s some mental edge in itself being young and hungry over being burnt out/beat up.

 

[Kiddagger311]

Agreed he's pretty tall but has a slender build and probably gave up some strength compared to most of the elite 184's. I'm sure he'll do well at 174. Comparatively, Chapman is definitely stronger/more explosive I think he could do well for us.

If SCW wins 174… and it sounds crazy but then I think Ford should just bulk up to 184 and wrestle Chapman for the spot. I’m still amazed how Arnold, natural 174er, bumped up 2 weights to 197 and AA’s giving up so much height n size.

 

[Corby2]

Portal is open August 3-10 for all sports and for all athletes who were 2022 HS grads and played 4 straight years. So Mendez and Levi could enter the portal if they wanted

 

[SCNJ]

SCW was a 16 seed in 2025 and 11 seed in 2026. He ultimately lost in the same round in both years but had a tougher draw this year. I thought he was clearly a better wrestler this past season.

 

[Corby2]

SCW was a 16 seed in 2025 and 11 seed in 2026. He ultimately lost in the same round in both years but had a tougher draw this year. I thought he was clearly a better wrestler this past season.

Ford 174 SCW 184 to me is better then SCW 174 Chapman 184.

 

[Kiddagger311]

Ford 174 SCW 184 to me is better then SCW 174 Chapman 184.

Team Dual-wise, I agree. Assuming SCW can wrestle both weight efficiently, which weight do you think SCW has a better shot to AA??

The top 4 at 184 feels pretty locked in so it’s really fighting for the lower AA spots. 174 doesn’t seem like as many big fav except for who goes at PSU(maybe Haines?). 174 feels like maybe more depth beyond the top guys but also maybe more beatable guys to AA?

 

[Corby2]

Team Dual-wise, I agree. Assuming SCW can wrestle both weight efficiently, which weight do you think SCW has a better shot to AA??

The top 4 at 184 feels pretty locked in so it’s really fighting for the lower AA spots. 174 doesn’t seem like as many big fav except for who goes at PSU(maybe Haines?). 174 feels like maybe more depth beyond the top guys but also maybe more beatable guys to AA?

Cutting 10 more lbs come March I'm not sure he will be as good as he would be at 184. 174 is still gonna have some good guys with Minto, Ruiz , Steed , Mantonona , Norman , Wask , Larkin, Arnold, Gaitan , Garvin , Burton and SCW . That's 12 guys for 7 spots . I feel like 184 isn't as deep after the top 4 it's Mantonona, Neitenbach, Campos, SCW , Fishback , Berge , Soldano and Moore . Thats 8 guys for 4 spots .

 

[SCNJ]

Ford 174 SCW 184 to me is better then SCW 174 Chapman 184.

I agree, but from SCWs perspective he’s probably better individually at 174 than 184

 

[LETSGORU91]

SCW was a 16 seed in 2025 and 11 seed in 2026. He ultimately lost in the same round in both years but had a tougher draw this year. I thought he was clearly a better wrestler this past season.

For me, I cant rely on NCAA seedings as the measure of success. 2025 was a pleasant surprise. 2026 what I saw was a regression as he wasnt as aggressive or effective and he lacked the composure he had in 2025 on the mat. Just my opinion.

 

[SCWx]

Ford 174 SCW 184 to me is better then SCW 174 Chapman 184.

For me, I cant rely on NCAA seedings as the measure of success. 2025 was a pleasant surprise. 2026 what I saw was a regression as he wasnt as aggressive or effective and he lacked the composure he had in 2025 on the mat. Just my opinion.

Ok, he is 60-28 as a walk on in two years with two left, round of 16 twice, takes composure to beat Fishback twice! Shane is a competitor, not a hothead,, hates to lose! He keeps progressing and will do what it takes to win!

 

[SCWx]

If SCW does indeed make the drop down to 174’s I personally don’t think he can beat Ford. Fords a better athlete and more explosive than SCW.

 

[LETSGORU91]

Ok, he is 60-28 as a walk on in two years with two left, round of 16 twice, takes composure to beat Fishback twice! Shane is a competitor, not a hothead,, hates to lose! He keeps progressing and will do what it takes to win!

Understood and I always want the best for RU wrestlers. Just throwing out my observations '25 vs '26. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Corby2]

Ok, he is 60-28 as a walk on in two years with two left, round of 16 twice, takes composure to beat Fishback twice! Shane is a competitor, not a hothead,, hates to lose! He keeps progressing and will do what it takes to win!

From a distance I like him at 184 but if him and the staff feel his best weight for success is 174 they definitely know more than I do . I like SCW so I will be cheering him on regardless

 

[SCWx]

Ok, he is 60-28 as a walk on in two years with two left, round of 16 twice, takes composure to beat Fishback twice! Shane is a competitor, not a hothead,, hates to lose! He keeps progressing and will do what it takes to win!

Yes redshirt, won the black knight tournament! I respect everyone,s opinions, I know what’s going on obviously, he will do what’s best for the team! Always has! He can wrestle any weight he wants , he loves his teammates and coaches, and vice versa!

 

[Bobbynieds]

Lets start wrestling now!!! The dead period is brutal on boards.

 

[Anon1751330127]

I’m sick of worrying about dual lineups and results. I want the best guys at the best weights for success in March. If 174 is the weight they think gives him the best shot than that’s where I want him. Same goes for any other weight on the team. If it weakens one weight so be it. The goal is AA’s in March not beating Lehigh in November. Yeah it’s nice but March is the goal!