'26 U20 World Championships (8/16 - 23) thread

[Psalm 1 guy]

And that was before the breakup of the U.S.S.R. Now all that talent is spread out among many countries. It could be argued that winning a World title now is more difficult than back then since you might have to go through several world-class wrestlers from post U.S.S.R. countries along with Russia.

 

[LostInTransition]

Everybody is ruling Will Henckel out... He is nearly as decorated as Jayden and he is not undersized at 74?
I am not certain at too many positions in this lineup (especially if 5 for 5 happens) outside of Luke at 125. Barr at 197, Blaze will be somewhere, Mitch will be somewhere,

I feel like SVN and Rocco are good bets to be somewhere in the lineup
and I am sure that a Marisola brother will hold down the heavyweight position

I have no clue how 33, 41, 57, or 74 play out
and that could have ripple effects at 49, and 65

that leaves ONO, SCOOTER, DESMOND, KASAK, PJ, SEALY, JAYDEN, and HENCKEL all as question marks as to how or where they will fit into the lineup.

Think about those names and there is not a clear cut spot for any of them in the lineup. Cael is playing chess not checkers!

Exactly. @WillieTheBrain and Basch were talking this morning that Levi's situation was leaving Jayden James in limbo and I don't get it. As to the gray shirt Jayden needs to do what's best for Jayden. If no Levi there's still Henckel and Cunningham to get into the lineup at 174.

 

[Lil Nicky Scarfo]

Exactly. [USER=2046659]@WillieTheBrain[/USER] and Basch were talking this morning that Levi's situation was leaving Jayden James in limbo and I don't get it. As to the gray shirt Jayden needs to do what's best for Jayden. If no Levi there's still Henckel and Cunningham to get into the lineup at 174.

What do you mean by the bold part? That you don’t think he’s in limbo or he is and you don’t get why he’s getting put in limbo? Honest question. I’d just like a date certain where the roster is what it is so everyone can plan accordingly.

 

[McScoreley]

I am hearing Henckel applied for some kind of medshirt for 2026-2027 and has been approved.

 

[LostInTransition]

I mean I don't see any reason that Jayden should base his decision on anyone else. If his plan is to go now he should go whether or not he has to beat out any or all of Haines, Henckel or Cunningham. The team will be ok no matter which option Jayden chooses.

 

[McScoreley]

To this day, non Penn State (and hell even some Penn State fans) still haven't figured out, kids who commit to Penn State's number 1 priority isn't a clear path to being in the starting lineup every year.

Would they like to? Of course they would, who wouldn't. Do they believe they will? Of course they do. Their goal is when they are in the starting lineup, they believe they will be the one to beat.

Cassar and Max Dean were the original examples. Cassar thought about transferring (mainly because he said he was running low on money at that point but Cael basically upped his scholarship because he believed in his potential) but decided he doesn't want to start for the sake of starting, he wanted to be a national champion and that coincides with winning a spot somewhere. Similarly, Max Dean transferred here as a 2x AA and former finalist on his own when there was no fit in the lineup for him at all (he also obviously had no promise of a scholarship)

Now thanks to revenue sharing/NIL, Cael can promise kids they won't ever worry about tuition bills and/or living expenses while they are here at a minimum.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[El_Jefe]

And that was before the breakup of the U.S.S.R. Now all that talent is spread out among many countries. It could be argued that winning a World title now is more difficult than back then since you might have to go through several world-class wrestlers from post U.S.S.R. countries along with Russia.

Also, there are now a lot more "Italians," "French," "Spaniards," and "Bahrainis" with last names ending in "v."

 

[El_Jefe]

I mean I don't see any reason that Jayden should base his decision on anyone else. If his plan is to go now he should go whether or not he has to beat out any or all of Haines, Henckel or Cunningham. The team will be ok no matter which option Jayden chooses.

That decision has little or nothing to do with the team, and everything to do with what his long-term plan is.

If he wants to be a 5x champ, then he should grayshirt. He's talented enough to win 174 this year, but would be undersized against the field at B10s and NCAAs.

His 6th year after HS will be an Olympic year (2032). If he wants to train full-time freestyle for the year, then he should enroll now. If he wants a full-year folk competition schedule -- which worked out pretty well for Aaron Brooks -- then he should grayshirt.

If he wants to graduate and be done with classes ASAP, or move onto grad school ASAP, then he should enroll now.

 

[Goggles Paisano]

I think JJ is as good a recruit as we have had. I have little doubt he will be a multi time champ. However he is still very young genetically, undersized for 174, and at inexperienced at NCAA level folk. I am 100% in on the gray shirt. Even with solid weight gain he will be wrestling guys walking around in their mid 180s.

If he doesn't skip a year, there is still a very good chance he doesn't even start, despite those anointing him am immediate finalist or better.

I agree he is more talented than Henkle, but that's not a guarantee of a true freshman wrestleoff victory, and against Mitchell or PJ I honestly don't think he has a chance, let alone Levi if that comes to pass.

Although DT just did something Cael never did in making multiple freshman/true freshman national champs in the same year look easy, and yep I think he will do it again this year with Ross, it ain't easy by any stretch.

Just ask Zain, Bo, Jason, Luke, PJ, Mitchell, Nick, RBY, and our list goes on .... Sure we have Cenzo, Aaron and Carter, but on balance a blue chip 'true' freshman national champ is more of an outlier than a reality.

Oh then there is that nasty reality, we don't need him this season ... at all!!! In fact his going exacerbates and already difficult lineup problem. Burning 1 year makes little sense unless he is insistent on doing so, and if that is his desire go for it. My bet is he doesn't start.

I have little doubt JJ will be well postponed to win 4 straight starting in 2027, but this coming season is not one of them.

 

[HikeNatParks]

I have little doubt JJ will be well postponed to win 4 straight starting in 2027, but this coming season is not one of them.

Kiss of death to mention four before winning one, but you went and did it anyway. Take it back now!

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Kiss of death to mention four before winning one, but you went and did it anyway. Take it back now!

How about five in a row : )

 

[NoVaLion]

Exactly. @WillieTheBrain and Basch were talking this morning that Levi's situation was leaving Jayden James in limbo and I don't get it. As to the gray shirt Jayden needs to do what's best for Jayden. If no Levi there's still Henckel and Cunningham to get into the lineup at 174.

And James just wrestled in U20 at 162..8 pounds. Going up to 174 in just a few months just might be a problem.