NEWS: 2027 pledge Sonny Amato announces decommitment

MSU158

All-Conference
Nov 20, 2014
1,400
3,768
113
And therein lies the issue, the fact that there is a "system". Penn St, OKST and the other major players let wrestlers be the best themselves they can be, adapting their coaching to various styles. Iowa is the opposite as wrestlers adapt to the coaches' way of doing things.
Just curious, you know this how? How much time do you spend in each room? There is zero chance any DI coach isn’t noticing skill sets and coaching each kid based off that. That isn’t to say that some aren’t better than others at that part.

Also, on the flip side to that, there isn’t a single DI coach that still doesn’t emphasize a few certain things over others, regardless of that skill set and that ABSOLUTELY includes PSU and OkState. Most of their job is knowing what works and what doesn’t at that level…
 

bnicolls

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2005
284
2,052
93
Just curious, you know this how? How much time do you spend in each room? There is zero chance any DI coach isn’t noticing skill sets and coaching each kid based off that. That isn’t to say that some aren’t better than others at that part.

Also, on the flip side to that, there isn’t a single DI coach that still doesn’t emphasize a few certain things over others, regardless of that skill set and that ABSOLUTELY includes PSU and OkState. Most of their job is knowing what works and what doesn’t at that level…
Kids commit very early now with verbals, way before they sign anything. They then visit and wrestle in the room for lengthy periods of time under these verbals. So there is a "getting to know" process over what can be several years.

Most high level recruits are expected to be at the school training and fitting in during the summer or even winter break.

On both sides, if there are issues, then the verbal is undone or perhaps encouraged to be undone.

Iowa has a strong class arriving next year, the bulk of whom have been training in IC for long period and who will continue doing so.

Good luck to Amato wherever he lands
 

Corby2

Heisman
Jul 14, 2025
4,630
10,106
113
And therein lies the issue, the fact that there is a "system". Penn St, OKST and the other major players let wrestlers be the best themselves they can be, adapting their coaching to various styles. Iowa is the opposite as wrestlers adapt to the coaches' way of doing things.

How many practices have you attended at Iowa? How many ex wrestlers have you spoke with? Once again you make up BS 🤷

Can you tell me how Iowa has no $ . Curious how much they've. This is the 3rd time now you've made comments then failed to respond. Man up buttercup . Just be a PBP guy because you've no clue about the rest of it
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,831
32,227
113
You think this place actually has mods 😂
Temptation Island Mark GIF by USA Network
 

Comment123

Sophomore
Feb 26, 2019
68
177
33
Kids commit very early now with verbals, way before they sign anything. They then visit and wrestle in the room for lengthy periods of time under these verbals. So there is a "getting to know" process over what can be several years.

Most high level recruits are expected to be at the school training and fitting in during the summer or even winter break.

On both sides, if there are issues, then the verbal is undone or perhaps encouraged to be undone.

Iowa has a strong class arriving next year, the bulk of whom have been training in IC for long period and who will continue doing so.

Good luck to Amato wherever he lands
Sounds like Mineo's tweet was accurate then.
 

Tiltman

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2012
216
1,087
93
Question: are all kids that commit expected to make numerous trips to train throughout the summer? If so who pays for those trips? Im not using Amato specifically but if the trip expenses fall on the kid and family that **** can get expensive and possibly not feasible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ktrain1969

vhsalum

All-Conference
Nov 14, 2002
1,662
3,944
113
Question: are all kids that commit expected to make numerous trips to train throughout the summer? If so who pays for those trips? Im not using Amato specifically but if the trip expenses fall on the kid and family that **** can get expensive and possibly not feasible.
Welcome to D1 wrestling sir.

It's a white collar sport and has been since about 2010 or so.

The last no. 1 recruit who didn't compete year round? Bo Jordan, Class of 2013
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crablegs1

CP84

Senior
Mar 27, 2022
199
546
93
Kids commit very early now with verbals, way before they sign anything. They then visit and wrestle in the room for lengthy periods of time under these verbals. So there is a "getting to know" process over what can be several years.

Most high level recruits are expected to be at the school training and fitting in during the summer or even winter break.

On both sides, if there are issues, then the verbal is undone or perhaps encouraged to be undone.

Iowa has a strong class arriving next year, the bulk of whom have been training in IC for long period and who will continue doing so.

Good luck to Amato wherever he lands
You are like Gomer Pyle
 
Jan 10, 2023
249
413
63
Manning has been doing well recently, I believe he's in his 60's........
Fair point. I just think of Harold Nichols ISU, John Smith OSU, Joe Seay OSU, J Rob Minn. I know age didn't get all of them, but our/my old guy approach doesn't resonate with the elite younger guys or at least hasn't as Iowa's talent pool drains.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BDinIC
Jan 21, 2012
1,160
955
113
Fair point. I just think of Harold Nichols ISU, John Smith OSU, Joe Seay OSU, J Rob Minn. I know age didn't get all of them, but our/my old guy approach doesn't resonate with the elite younger guys or at least hasn't as Iowa's talent pool drains.
I get the feeling that TnT have high moral standards and they aren't willing to be unethical. Many kids may not like that and many parents may not like it, because they are in it for themselves above all else. Who would have thought having a strong moral fiber would tick off so many people.
 

BrianLafevre

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
250
906
93
I get the feeling that TnT have high moral standards and they aren't willing to be unethical. Many kids may not like that and many parents may not like it, because they are in it for themselves above all else. Who would have thought having a strong moral fiber would tick off so many people.
Their moral standards must be on a sliding scale considering their willingness to fight, recruitment of AJ, etc.

Their stubbornness is their defining trait. It is what made them champion wrestlers and it is what is now holding the program back.
 

bnicolls

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2005
284
2,052
93
The same guy who tried to get AJF into Iowa for years doesn't like this guy's character.

Amazing.

It is far past time to move on.
Saying Tom tried to get AJ jr into Iowa for years is wildly inaccurate. There was one time, it did not work. That's it. One cannot control what another sez, does, etc to imply something else was going on
 

Aardvark86

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,221
3,272
113
There is also this little thing called the portal.
Iowa shall harvest richly from the 5 for 5!!

Okie State and PSU recruits have to be pissed wrestling JV
This sorta piqued my curiosity. Can the portal help a team? Absolutely.

But interestingly, 80% of last year's champions did not transfer. One transferred after a redshirt freshman year.
 

Stick Kitty

All-Conference
Jul 7, 2025
492
1,279
93
Saying Tom tried to get AJ jr into Iowa for years is wildly inaccurate. There was one time, it did not work. That's it. One cannot control what another sez, does, etc to imply something else was going on
Bob, I was under the impression and I thought this was widely known that Beth was the one who ultimately made the call on blocking AJ (much like UNC AD did too) and if she didn't Tom would have put him in the lineup?

Is that not accurate?
 

Gobblin

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2011
164
1,190
92
The only time Amato came to train he stole merchandise from the facility and another wrestlers belongings, got caught, and continued to try to lie about it. I think the bait was pretty much cut there as he was deemed a bad fit…. They gave him other opportunities to prove himself that he didn’t seem interested in. This was a surprise to no one, including the Amato family, which makes them playing the victim laughable.
 

IndianaHawk98

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
472
1,127
93
The only time Amato came to train he stole merchandise from the facility and another wrestlers belongings, got caught, and continued to try to lie about it. I think the bait was pretty much cut there as he was deemed a bad fit…. They gave him other opportunities to prove himself that he didn’t seem interested in. This was a surprise to no one, including the Amato family, which makes them playing the victim laughable.
Thank you for the inside information, brings clarity. Appreciate your contributions.

Sad with the decision, but I respect it and hope this clears some room for the Florida boys we’ve been talking about.
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,831
32,227
113
Question: are all kids that commit expected to make numerous trips to train throughout the summer? If so who pays for those trips? Im not using Amato specifically but if the trip expenses fall on the kid and family that **** can get expensive and possibly not feasible.
Are you questioning Tom's judgment in these situations???
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,831
32,227
113
I get the feeling that TnT have high moral standards and they aren't willing to be unethical. Many kids may not like that and many parents may not like it, because they are in it for themselves above all else. Who would have thought having a strong moral fiber would tick off so many people.
The people present AJ and Anthony Ferrari as evidence...
 
Hawkeye Report

Latest

  1. 01 Hawkeye Report PHOTO GALLERY: Iowa Football Kid's Day Scrimmage
  2. 02 Hawkeye Report Goals aplenty, Hawkeyes roll past Loyola-Chicago
  3. 03 Hawkeye Report Video: Iowa Kids Day Offensive Highlights
  4. 04 Hawkeye Report Video: Iowa Kids Day Defensive Highlights
  5. 05 Hawkeye Report Stat Pack: Iowa Football Kid's Day Scrimmage