Where is Mikey??

[grasshawk40]

Is Cali no longer with HWC??

 

[dtripp26]

Well this is disappointing to hear.

 

[IndianaHawk98]

So where’d he go? @Corby2

This is a massive loss and very frustrating if he truly is gone.

 

[Corby2]

So where’d he go? @Corby2

This is a massive loss and very frustrating if he truly is gone.

Imagine he will let everyone know his next move.

 

[IndianaHawk98]

Imagine he will let everyone know his next move.

Man, that sucks. Can’t believe we lost him, we need a strong RTC in order to compete at a high level.

Wish him the best, but man that’s a major loss for our middle weights. Thankfully we have PK but still, Caliendo would elevate our middle weights.

I can see him train with Kish again… but, I’m interested to hear about his next move.

Best of luck.

 

[Coastal2]

Realistically, he's probably 8th or 9th on the freestyle ladder at 74 with no chance of making any teams.

That leaves his options as retiring to move on with his life or searching out a spot that can coach him to get better.

 

[Stick Kitty]

He is moving on with life. Motivated by the cereal thread....he accepted a management position with General Mills.

 

[chipackhawk]

Man, that sucks. Can’t believe we lost him, we need a strong RTC in order to compete at a high level.

Wish him the best, but man that’s a major loss for our middle weights. Thankfully we have PK but still, Caliendo would elevate our middle weights.

I can see him train with Kish again… but, I’m interested to hear about his next move.

Best of luck.

Realistically, he's probably 8th or 9th on the freestyle ladder at 74 with no chance of making any teams.

That leaves his options as retiring to move on with his life or searching out a spot that can coach him to get better.

While moving on in life is a viable and logical option, if everyone let's say below the top 4 left the sport simply because making a team would be an outside shot, it would leave a pretty sparse field.

 

[vhsalum]

I'm super surprised he didn't at least give the cycle a shot.

le sigh.

#TIT

 

[Coastal2]

While moving on in life is a viable and logical option, if everyone let's say below the top 4 left the sport simply because making a team would be an outside shot, it would leave a pretty sparse field.

Lots of wrestlers move on with life outside of wrestling but train part time and compete occasionally. Even if he "retired" from wrestling, I wouldn't be surprised to see him compete on Iowa heavy RAF cards.

He lost to Jacques and James in '26 and Ed Scott and Barraclough in '25. That's not on the same tier as Green, Carr, Mesenbrink, Duke, James and possibly Miller and Nolf if he gives the Olympics a shot. His only hope to give '28 a shot is a change of scenery.

 

[Mr. PeanutButter]

He had Izzy "5 packs a day" Martinez in his Instagram story. Maybe he went back home

 

[HawkAlum2002]

He's wrestling Burroughs in nine days so he's still got at least one match left. Granted that could be a bucket list sort of match if you were ready to move on.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Man, that sucks. Can’t believe we lost him, we need a strong RTC in order to compete at a high level.

Wish him the best, but man that’s a major loss for our middle weights. Thankfully we have PK but still, Caliendo would elevate our middle weights.

I can see him train with Kish again… but, I’m interested to hear about his next move.

Best of luck.

What does “having a strong RTC” have to do with Caliendo’s departure? He’s pretty low on the ladder.

Loved him as a Hawkeye, though. Wishing him all the best.

 

[vhsalum]

What does “having a strong RTC” have to do with Caliendo’s departure? He’s pretty low on the ladder.

Loved him as a Hawkeye, though. Wishing him all the best.

Jesus Christ Spooner…

We have to start somewhere. And keeping our best hawks, including 2x runnerups, for at least half a cycle, should be pretty high on that start.

 

[Sunshinedynomite 1]

Still being taken down by Messenbrink

bad taste sorry.
I thought he was working a real job and not doing Freestyle

 

[WhiteDog125]

Maybe he was smart enough to realize it was time to get away from this mess

 

[A Fistful of Hawkeyes]

What does “having a strong RTC” have to do with Caliendo’s departure? He’s pretty low on the ladder.

Loved him as a Hawkeye, though. Wishing him all the best.

I've been gone for 6+ months, I come back and this is the 1st comment I see.

 

[ChicagoHawk2020]

Could’ve hired JB in the offseason to actually start building towards something but we’ll have to wait until April to find an actual modern day coach.

 

[MissouriHawkeye]

Could’ve hired JB in the offseason to actually start building towards something but we’ll have to wait until April to find an actual modern day coach.

If April? Any prediction market on this matter? Would be interesting.

 

[IndianaHawk98]

Just heard Baschamnia today and Willie confirmed that Caliendo is gone and looking for a new RTC.

Really hoping that no bridge was broken.

Wish the best for Caliendo, a great Hawkeye to root for.

 

[dtripp26]

Just hear Baschamnia today and Willie confirmed that Caliendo is gone and looking for a new RTC.

Really hoping that no bridge was broken.

Well we all know better...our 2 best long-term wrestlers since Lee have both left IC within 6 months of their last match.

TnT...

 

[Mattski]

 

[MR.Lewis]

Well we all know better...our 2 best long-term wrestlers since Lee have both left IC within 6 months of their last match.

TnT...

Maybe the qualifer of "long-term" applies here, but are we forgetting Stephen Buchanan. Nonetheless, I understand your point.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

Jesus Christ Spooner…

We have to start somewhere. And keeping our best hawks, including 2x runnerups, for at least half a cycle, should be pretty high on that start.

Start? Pfft...given the number of guys at his level they have had in the HWC, we've been in "start" mode for years, if not decades.

Hanging on to our favorites because they were good guys from an underachieving college program is part of the problem.

 

[UndercoverHawk]

I’m not gonna claim to know everything that’s going on here, but the “looking for a new RTC” is news to me. It’s my understanding that he’s essentially retiring from competitive wrestling (trying for senior level results, will likely still do RAF type events) and is going back home to Chicago to work at Izzy’s club.

 

[Stick Kitty]

Start? Pfft...given the number of guys at his level they have had in the HWC, we've been in "start" mode for years, if not decades.

Hanging on to our favorites because they were good guys from an underachieving college program is part of the problem.

Likewise I would encourage any kid who seems like a real longshot to make the world team to take a job in the sport if that door opens, even if its earlier than you wanted. I hate ISU but I totally understand and respect Ayala for jumping on that. If Mikey has a good chance to make some decent money, slow down & coach and live in Chicago. Enjoy your life kid! You were hell on wheels and fun to watch! Thank You!

 

[Tiltman]

Start? Pfft...given the number of guys at his level they have had in the HWC, we've been in "start" mode for years, if not decades.

Hanging on to our favorites because they were good guys from an underachieving college program is part of the problem.

Agree with this 100%. I think it stings a little more when we lose guys like him and Kemerer because we’re not even bringing guys in from outside the program that can actually compete to make the team. We’re not even bringing guys in from outside the program even close to the level of Caliendo or Kemerer.