April 1 Portal targets

GableBeer

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Okay…. Now that we filled our 133 hole, next is looking to fill our 157 AND/OR 165 hole. So hopefully 2-3 more transfers to come?

Who are some portal athlete that you guys would like to have?

Hope to land at least 1 of these!

157 - Daniel Zepeda (just a little nervous with incoming recruits) (4 years left)
157 - Myer Shapiro (1 year and 1 redshirt)
165 - Carter Schubert (2 years left)
I wouldn't be nervous if we land Zepeda, we have him for 4 years to find his replacement plus Kenny's won't get that big and Jo has probably outgrown 149 at this point.
 

vhsalum

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Nov 14, 2002
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Not entirely sure the brothers are on best of terms, after all, one was at NCST and the other committed to Michigan. Similar to the Merrills, which is weird that 2 sets of blue-chip brothers from Gilroy wrestle at different colleges
Not the same situation at all. The brothers are good.

But as for the Merrill situation - notice that NONE of his family were on the floor for his finals match. That was pretty sad to realize.
 

IndianaHawk98

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Jul 2, 2025
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I wouldn't be nervous if we land Zepeda, we have him for 4 years to find his replacement plus Kenny's won't get that big and Jo has probably outgrown 149 at this point.
I think the only 1 who may sit/contend behind Zepeda, if he’s 157 for 4 years, would be Amato. I think Borge will be 149.
 

vhsalum

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RTC. If guys like Sealey and Connor Mirasola stay at PSU despite no path to starting, it's because they value international freestyle over college wrestling and feel like that is the best place to be for their freestyle ambitions.

What kind of mental gymnastics does Cael have to pull off to make them think their international career is going to be relevant if they are a backup in college?


Yep. all of the above. Carl has 30 schollies, rev share AND they can pay kids through NLWC.

Super surprised Connor Pierce didn't hop in the portal. He could definitely AA at 149
 
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maxpain

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It's probably not that a hard sell considering they are both freestyle world age group medalists (Sealey U17 gold). Freestyle is different than folkstyle.

Far be it from me to tell them how to be good but they aren’t going to ride the pine behind guys they can’t beat then somehow overtake them in freestyle. It’s never happened to my knowledge. Competing and wrestling actual matches is super important for development.

Plus, if PSU was the only place to get good at wrestling then why is the returning world team made up of only 2 guys who wrestled at PSU out of 10 weights. And one of them was a HS kid when he made the team so it’s difficult to attribute that to the PSU room.

The point is there is ample evidence to support the fact it’s a ridiculous notion that sitting on the bench at PSU is the best thing for their wrestling.
 

TheREALSpooner

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Dec 16, 2022
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Yep. all of the above. Carl has 30 schollies, rev share AND they can pay kids through NLWC.

Super surprised Connor Pierce didn't hop in the portal. He could definitely AA at 149

Per Cael last year. Has this changed?

“I don’t think very many programs are going to have 30 scholarships. I mean, we’re definitely not going to have 30 scholarships, not even close.”
 

maxpain

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Can you share where this was released?
I have seen it referenced in an article where it says they received 20 more scholarships but it really might just be a case of lack of understanding from the writer. They have the ability to add 20 more scholarships but I don’t know whether they did for sure.

FY 2025 NCAA financial report came out in Feb and they had 10.81 for 2024-2025 but that was pre-settlement. I don’t think we will see it officially until the FY 2026 one comes out in 2027.

Interesting that they received $3,768,707 in donations (plus another $147k in endowment). Sports camp revenues were $579,205.

Wrestling received almost $1.5 mil in NIL rev share.

https://storage.googleapis.com/gops.../IW8b4ZXbrdkZIDoc9OFKuwsOMrNWoYNqwPs8w3Gl.pdf
 

TheREALSpooner

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I have seen it referenced in an article where it says they received 20 more scholarships but it really might just be a case of lack of understanding from the writer. They have the ability to add 20 more scholarships but I don’t know whether they did for sure.

FY 2025 NCAA financial report came out in Feb and they had 10.81 for 2024-2025 but that was pre-settlement. I don’t think we will see it officially until the FY 2026 one comes out in 2027.

Interesting that they received $3,768,707 in donations (plus another $147k in endowment). Sports camp revenues were $579,205.

Wrestling received almost $1.5 mil in NIL rev share.

https://storage.googleapis.com/gops.../IW8b4ZXbrdkZIDoc9OFKuwsOMrNWoYNqwPs8w3Gl.pdf

Thanks for this. I suspect you’re right here, that there is confusion. Doesn’t seem like within just a few months they would go from “not even close” to 30 and also there not be widespread reporting of it. But stranger things have happened.

No argument of the overall point that they have more resources than anyone else, of course.
 

el dub

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Nov 2, 2005
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You do know who his father-in-law is, right?
Cat What GIF by Garfield
 

so cal hawkfan

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Jun 5, 2012
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Not entirely sure the brothers are on best of terms, after all, one was at NCST and the other committed to Michigan. Similar to the Merrills, which is weird that 2 sets of blue-chip brothers from Gilroy wrestle at different colleges.
FWIW the Merrill brothers didn’t wrestle at the same high school. One was at Gilroy (Cody now at Okie St) the younger(Coby now an Iowa St commit) wrestled at JW North HS in Riverside. I believe he went to Gilroy his freshman and sophomore years, but went to North for his Jr and Sr seasons (state champ both seasons). North doesn’t have much of a wrestling program and never has (Coby was the only state qualifier from that school) Also, the schools are over 350 miles from each other. I don’t know what the family dynamic is. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that they are half brothers.
 
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IndianaHawk98

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Soooo… Willie was doing a fast rapid prediction for the portal, he did say that he did not have some insider information on some of his predictions, but he was predicting that if Schubert goes 165 next year, he can see him at Iowa.

Really needing a 165, so hopefully we land him.

Also, will be interesting where Zepeda lands. Don’t know where he fits with Ryder being most suitable for 149.

Also, we are out on Shapiro. His current list is NcSt, UNC, and Nebraska.

So the major targets for us are Schubert and Zepeda? Anyone else? Any rumblings for who we are targeting in the portal?

(I initially put this post in the wrong thread)
 

GableBeer

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2023
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Soooo… Willie was doing a fast rapid prediction for the portal, he did say that he did not have some insider information on some of his predictions, but he was predicting that if Schubert goes 165 next year, he can see him at Iowa.

Really needing a 165, so hopefully we land him.

Also, will be interesting where Zepeda lands. Don’t know where he fits with Ryder being most suitable for 149.

Also, we are out on Shapiro. His current list is NcSt, UNC, and Nebraska.

So the major targets for us are Schubert and Zepeda? Anyone else? Any rumblings for who we are targeting in the portal?

(I initially put this post in the wrong thread)
Him and Basch both predicted Zepeda to Iowa.
 

IndianaHawk98

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Him and Basch both predicted Zepeda to Iowa.
Yeah, I’ll be curious on where he fits in the lineup. I know 157 is the most logical; but I am just curious if this is his optimal weight and if he can perform to his ceiling in this weight.

Not complaining though, bring them all!
 

Squatch96

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Jul 3, 2025
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Him and Basch both predicted Zepeda to Iowa.
Only thing that would worry me about that is his brother being there seems like thats a really hard thing to say no to Mirasolas at pen state for example but they brought up alot of good points
 
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VakAttack

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
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Schubert has told teams he's wanting to go 165. He should be wrapping up his Ohio St visit and then making a decision.
If Iowa can land Zepeda and Schubert, that's a nice bit of business for the offseason with Crookham. Still not sold Zepeda picks Iowa City, but the fact he hasn't picked Michigan plus WIllie and Basch (more Willie) predicting Zepeda makes me feel better. All guys with multiple years of eligibility also.