'26 Bill Farrell Memorial International (11/6-7) thread

[El_Jefe]

Event is early this year -- 1 week before the first dual.

Entries posted so far:

Frank Molinaro back in action!

PSU-related guys in CAPS, plus a few other notables:
- 57 kg: GREY BURNETT; Sammy Sanchez, Hayden Schwab, Sheldon Seymour also at the weight
- 61 kg: JOSH RODRIGUEZ; Nic Bouzakis, Austin DeSanto, Michael McGee, Cruiseliner Nick
- 65 kg: BEAU BARTLETT, NATE DESMOND, CLINTON SHEPHERD; Vito Arujau, Brock Hardy
- 70 kg: FRANK MOLINARO; Melvin Miller
- 74 kg: BEARCLAW; Bryce Andonian, Michael Caliendo, Hayden Hidlay, Quincy Monday, Julian Ramirez
- 79 kg: Patrick Kennedy, Carson Kharchla, David McFadden, Kennedy Monday, Izzy Olejnik
- 86 kg: Zac Braunagel, Tanner Hodgins, Mekhi Lewis
- 92 kg: Trent Hidlay
- 97 kg: Jay Aiello, Stephen Buchanan, Jacob Cardenas, Massoma Endene
- 125 kg: Taye Ghadiali, Coby Merrill, Demetrius Thomas, Jordan Wood

 

[Tom McAndrew]

The 2026 Bill Farrell Memorial International will take place on Nov. 6 & 7 in New York, NY.

US athletes that finish in the top 3 of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2027 World Team Trials tournament.

Please use this thread for all pre-tournament, in-tournament, and post-tournament discussion of the event.

Wrestlers with PSU connections that appear to have registered (as of 10/29) are:

57 Kg:
- Grey Burnett

61 Kg:
- Nick Suriano
- Josh Rodriguez

65 Kg:
- Beau Bartlett
- Nathan Desmond
- Clinton Shepherd

70 Kg:
- Frank Molinaro

74 Kg:
- Terrell Barraclough

79 Kg:
- none

86 Kg:
- none

92 Kg:
- none

97 Kg:
- none

125 Kg:
- none

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[nerfstate]

Gorilla Hulk baby!

 

[OzarkLion]

Does this assume some combination of Ono/Blaze for the dual, as Desmond is the only wrestler with any starting potential entered?

 

[HOA242n!]

Does this assume some combination of Ono/Blaze for the dual, as Desmond is the only wrestler with any starting potential entered?

I guess we'll see how Desmond does against some legit competition around 141ish. I am of the opinion that he's much better off at 133 (he's just too small for 141, at least he was last season), but love how he wrestles.

 

[Ernie Ladd]

65 Kg =143.3 lb
Curious: how tall is Nate versus Beau?
I always thought Beau’s length translated better to 133, but it is hard to argue his results.

 

[Nightking]

Everybody seems to forget that Desmond beat Ragusin at Michigan last year. With the extra time to bulk up i think he would be a very good 141 pounder. He started that year at 125.

 

[CarolinaFan1]

Everybody seems to forget that Desmond beat Ragusin at Michigan last year. With the extra time to bulk up i think he would be a very good 141 pounder. He started that year at 125.

I like Nate and hope he does well —- best guy should go whoever that is. Just keep in mind Ragusin was a non-qualifier at NCAA last season — not same guy as earlier in career.

 

[Corby2]

After all these years and you guys don't trust in Caels line up decisions that's insane

 

[98lberEating2Lunches]

After all these years and you guys don't trust in Caels line up decisions that's insane

What decisions? Did you watch the presser

 

[Corby2]

What decisions? Did you watch the presser

Nope .

 

[PSU Mike]

So Frank is more than double Miller’s age?

 

[Corby2]

So Frank is more than double Miller’s age?

Melvin is 19 his birthday is today and Frank is 37 be 38 in December

 

[PSU Mike]

Melvin is 19 his birthday is today and Frank is 37 be 38 in December

I guess I get an A-

 

[Shifty15]

Everybody seems to forget that Desmond beat Ragusin at Michigan last year. With the extra time to bulk up i think he would be a very good 141 pounder. He started that year at 125.

TBH Ragusin was a shell of himself last year. Not dismissing that it was a solid win for Desmond.

 

[nerfstate]

Desmond beating an eventual NCAA champ last year was pretty good.

 

[zzs006]

Desmond beating an eventual NCAA champ last year was pretty good.

Definitely but it was 125 which seems to be the issue. Is he a 141?

 

[HOA242n!]

Definitely but it was 125 which seems to be the issue. Is he a 141?

+1 Just speaking for myself, but the concern with Desmond isn't skill (and certainly not will and grit), but size/strength. Ragusin looked like he was grappling with his (4" shorter and 20lbs. lighter) little brother, and Ragusin wasn't a big 141. At 133, Desmond is a sure thing AA - just a step below those 4 guys who are truly world class, but I'm not seeing it at 141. IMO, he's probably somewhere around Scooter's preseason rankings (#12ish). We had the opportunity to see what he'd look like ~141 (granted, in freestyle) against some tougher competition at the US Open and we'll see what he looks like at 141 in folk (at Bill Farrell).

I understand cutting to 125 is no longer an option for him, but he doesn't look to be bigger than - say - Luke or Bouzakis; how would they fair at 141? There are weight classes for a reason, size matters a ton in any form of grappling.

 

[dicemen99]

I hear all of you. There is no way we can expect Desmond to be big enough for 41.

Kids just don’t grow or put on muscle weight after age 18. There is no way I could have put on 10 pounds of good weight when I was 19. Come to think of it the large majority of Americans in general weigh what they did at HS graduation.

He was a 33 at 19 and now is trying to go 41 at 20. Unprecedented.

 

[HOA242n!]

I hear all of you. There is no way we can expect Desmond to be big enough for 41.

Kids just don’t grow or put on muscle weight after age 18. There is no way I could have put on 10 pounds of good weight when I was 19. Come to think of it the large majority of Americans in general weigh what they did at HS graduation.

He was a 33 at 19 and now is trying to go 41 at 20. Unprecedented.

He got big-brothered by Bartlett and Pierson Manville at the US Open; has he grown since April? I said this last season (that he's not ideal at 141, barring a growth spurt); that growth spurt hadn't happened as of 6-months ago.

 

[Anon210980]

He got big-brothered by Bartlett and Pierson Manville at the US Open; has he grown since April? I said this last season (that he's not ideal at 141, barring a growth spurt); that growth spurt hadn't happened as of 6-months ago.

lol give him a chance just a soph

 

[Corby2]

Believe in Cael

 

[zzs006]

If he goes 141 I think he will be fine. I was just saying his win against Luke at 125 doesn’t mean he is a title threat 141

 

[LemonPie]

Believe in Cael

Maybe Marcus made the decision. Maybe he sees himself as an Olympic 57 instead of 65.

 

[HOA242n!]

Maybe Marcus made the decision. Maybe he sees himself as an Olympic 57 instead of 65.

IMO if anybody is going to physically grow out of a weight, it is Marcus. His brother has had a major growth spurt the last few years and he has a bigger frame - not to mention he's younger than Desmond. The cut for him to 57, right now, would probably be brutal but he'd be competing against guys who have been 65kg for years if he tried to jump up. He, like Haines, is going to have to make a tough decision about the Olympics.

 

[Corby2]

Maybe Marcus made the decision. Maybe he sees himself as an Olympic 57 instead of 65.

Maybe but he's gone 65 recently and not 57. Davino is going 57 so Blaze could I guess

 

[Dogwelder]

I guess I get an A-

Yep. One day late for the A+.

 

[LemonPie]

Maybe but he's gone 65 recently and not 57. Davino is going 57 so Blaze could I guess

While weighing 140. I don’t believe he had the option to go 57. Lilledahl won the US open and Spencer was sitting. 65 was his only choice.