Thoughts in advance of the '26 OSU match

HikeNatParks

Senior
May 12, 2023
172
817
93
Bad Boy Braeden (blond surfer dude hair only fuels the legend), Dez Dawg, and the three luckiest young wrestling fans in America. ;)
Back on the rails, I naively expect all Buckeye starters but Cannon. Even with losses, Bouzakis stays at #2 and Davino falls only to #3. Ah, but with wins, Nic takes #1 and Ben has a valid claim (better wins) to join him by unseating Byrd.
 
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Lil Nicky Scarfo

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
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No doubt Ryan is in a tough spot. tOSU was always a long shot to win even when healthy but I’d think Ryan would want everyone out there to protect his pride, he knows this is the best format to keep it close with Penn state but also has his teams health to consider for post season even though I’d argue friday night is the most important night of the year for him.
Ryan goes to a Prosperity Gospel megachurch. I don’t think hypocrisy bothers him in the least
 

PUR158

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2025
390
1,344
93
Ryan goes to a Prosperity Gospel megachurch. I don’t think hypocrisy bothers him in the least
Hbo Gemstoneshbo GIF by The Righteous Gemstones
 

Jordy99

Redshirt
Nov 5, 2001
10
6
3
Ryan pitched a hissy fit because the match was in Rec Hall. He felt tOSU was worthy of the BJC. He naturally made it all about disrespecting tOSU, ignoring the fact that the Big 10 scheduled Penn State wrestling and basketball to home dates on the same day. Also, Carver-Hawkeye is much bigger than Rec Hall, with a capacity at close to 15,000. The venue is large. The wrestling is minimal.
They wrestled at the Covelli Center which is a smaller venue than Rec Hall.
 

pawrstlersinpa

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2013
1,427
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that is cool! more poetry please
The Road We Chose

They took the wide road, loud and proud,
Scarlet voices, brash and crowd.
We took the harder path instead—
Dodgeball, dawns, and iron sleds.

One room hot, one whistle sharp,
Every rep a thunderclap.
While others talked of banners past,
Cael built a future meant to last.

Now Friday night, the mat rolls out,
Bryce Jordan Center—roar of doubt.
Hands down low, eyes locked tight—
Penn State owns the final fight.

Chain wrestling, wave on wave,
Every scramble, every save.
Where they hope, we know the end:
Seven hard minutes. Break. Then bend.

This is not luck.
This is not chance.
This is science mixed with stance.
This is blue and white belief—
Pressure, pace, and cruel relief.

So take the road that’s worn and wide,
We’ll take the one where champions ride.
And when the final whistle’s heard,
One truth remains, without a word:

Penn State chose the harder way.
Penn State dominates this Friday.
 

Aardvark86

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,255
2,197
113
OK, the "Alleghenies" reference hooked me; I don't think I've missed any important historical references. With my deepest and sincerest apologies to the wonderfully talented Smith sisters of Rising Appalachia, and their haunting a capella harmonics:



(Reading while listening along recommended)

One morning, one morning
'Fore Valentine’s Day
I overheard a man so tan
To his charges say,
“Young Buckeye men the time is here,
To come along with me
To tame the Nittany Lions
In the Alleghenies.”

"I’ll buy you all robes then -
Deep scarlet and gray -
You’ll look like royal champions
Prepared to make them pay.
So pack your bags, make ready,
To come along with me
To tame the Nittany Lions
In the Alleghenies."

So the Buckeyes trained hard then
As the Tan One had said.
They ran and they lifted -
Both free weights and dead.
They felt that they were ready -
Positive infinity -
To tame the Nittany Lions
In the Alleghenies.

But then came words of caution —
Moore and Martin from within:
“Be wary of the lion
In the Bryce Jordan den,
Where they have not been beaten
Since 'round 2015,
Lest you count lights on ceilings
In the Alleghenies."

The Tan One had none of it
For 'tis better, he said,
To tame the mighty lion
Outside its Rec Hall den.
"We'll win within the Jordan.
We'll handle it My Way.
We'll tame the Nittany Lion
And not be its prey."

The night came fast upon them
His charges showed well
The lighter battled hard but then
The mids and uppers fell.
As maneless Cael shook hands in line
He stated graciously,
"'Tis good that you'll return soon
To the Alleghenies."

One morning one morning
After Valentine's Day.
I looked west 'cross the mountains
But there came no sound.
I sought out words of comfort.
But where could they now be?
For he was off a tanning
In the Caribbean Sea.
 
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Rock-man

Freshman
Nov 27, 2021
36
73
18

Exciting match from 125 when our "new" guy threw Tomasello into the scorer's table and Snyder could bonus our 285. Hall beats Bo Jordan, Bo Nickal bonuses Martin with a turn in the last seconds, and Cassar upsets #1 Moore. Place felt like it was 100 degrees in there...it was awesome...but I don't think there will be that much drama this Friday night!
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,407
4,482
113

Looking back, that was an extremely formidable team that OSU put on the mat that day:
Tomasello
Pletcher
McKenna
KeShawn Hayes
Micah Jordan
TeShawn Campbell
Bo Jordan
Myles Martin
Kollin Moore
Kyle Snyder

Pre-the last couple of years, that team is winning a NC like 75-80% of the time. We beat that team starting the dual off with Carson Kuhn & Corey Keener, and missing Jason Nolf. Wow, that is something to think on.
 

RBOld

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2022
340
1,454
93
Here is OSU's perfect night..........in my humble opinion
125 0-6 Nick gets an unexpected pin
133 0-9 Davino gets the win in a wild one
141 0-15 Mendez with the pin
149 4-15 SVN takes control early and pours it on
157 4-18 Cannon with the very hard fought win
165 9-18 need points, ask Mitch
174 13-18 Levi, same
184 16-18 Rocco wins trying for a major but falls short
197 20-18 Barr does his thing
HWT 20-21 Feldman does just enough to win.....barely.

Luke is wrestling great and I don't see him getting pinned. If Luke wins, the path to an OSU win is very, very small.
133 is a tossup.
Mendez is great but is more likely a TF. I am sure there will be some ND vs BD talk later this week.........Davis goes.
SVN looks great......if he can keep from giving up the first TD
Cannon winning, even if healthy, isn't a stretch. If PJ wins, it would be a very very mild upset.
165 on is Penn State dominance.......the question is by how much
HWT - Cole can beat Feldman. I don't think I would have said that in the beginning of the year, but it is clear he is right there with the best guys in the BT. He would have two more wins had he taken neutral like any coach but Cael would encourage him to do.
I like that Cael makes him work on getting out from bottom. It will serve him well when it matters.
 

PSUbluTX

All-Conference
Feb 7, 2018
336
1,419
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Most fun I’ve ever had at any sporting event. And those robes looked ridiculous.

Yeah, but I bet the robes were great for lounging around the house over Christmas break all cozy and warm.
 

F7Mello

Junior
Aug 5, 2025
168
304
63
The one thing that I noticed about the video, Snyder was the only one who put his hand on his chest during the national anthem. Nit picky I know, but that what I noticed.
It’s fine if that’s how you feel. But the military stands at attention. Which is the way I was taught to respect. The pledge of allegiance from grade school and the national anthem are different things. Just a public service announcement, as many people seem to have forgotten
 

Bob_Anderson

Sophomore
Oct 6, 2021
95
176
33
Without going back and watching past Bouzakis matches does anyone recall him wrestling from his knee as much as he did last night? Did I just not notice it? Boy does that irritate me! I also noticed Ayala has cut back on dropping to the knee as much as he had.
RE Ayala: he goes to the knee when he's winning...hasn't been winning as much, hence he's going to the knee less often.
 
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Dogwelder

All-Conference
Aug 1, 2013
805
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… But the military stands at attention. Which is the way I was taught to respect. The pledge of allegiance from grade school and the national anthem are different things …
Right on! As for me, the only way to show respek is: 😀

IMG_1546.jpeg
 
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McScoreley

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2021
355
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Looking back, that was an extremely formidable team that OSU put on the mat that day:
Tomasello
Pletcher
McKenna
KeShawn Hayes
Micah Jordan
TeShawn Campbell
Bo Jordan
Myles Martin
Kollin Moore
Kyle Snyder

Pre-the last couple of years, that team is winning a NC like 75-80% of the time. We beat that team starting the dual off with Carson Kuhn & Corey Keener, and missing Jason Nolf. Wow, that is something to think on.
Going into Carver 2020, a lot of people were predicting blowouts. PSU was favored maybe 2 matches (141 and 174, Cenzo was 0-2 against Marinelli who had never lost at Carver, RBY was 0-2 against ADS, Spencer would almost certainly pick up a tech/pin)

Instead it came down to heavyweight after an upset that is still considered one of Iowa's greatest moments in Carver ever.

Let's just say Cael does have a plan for duals or something.