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NLWC Practice on 8/27

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BWFight

Senior
Feb 6, 2014
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As part of the 2026 NLWC Golf event which was held today at the Blue and White courses, participants were invited to attend the NLWC practice the day before. I’ve done this the past several years, and it’s one of my favorite events.

Here are some of my highlights:

1. Dodgeball features world class athletes moving with incredible speed while dipping, diving, dodging, rolling, throwing catching, laughing, and generally having a blast (while sometimes getting blasted). I got tired just watching them, yet their enthusiasm was off the charts for the full session. Kyle Dake is a dodgeball beast as well as a wrestling beast, and a clear leader within the club.

Prior to and during dodgeball, Shane Van Ness spent nearly 20 minutes working from the bottom position with someone I didn’t recognize that was very tough on top. It appeared to be an area of emphasis for Shane.

2. After a few opening remarks by Cael (for those of you who don’t know, he’s the head coach), Nick Lee paired up with PJ Duke and ran the team through a series of drills which they demonstrated first while everyone watched. Nick looks like he’s around 150, and PJ must be a solid 170. In my opinion there’s no way PJ is ever going to wrestle 157 again.

During the drills there were some interesting pairings. Bo Nickel and Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner, Ono and someone I didn’t recognize who appeared 20 pounds heavier than Ono. Ono is very fast, and explosive. He looked good in all positions, but they were just drilling.

3. Later in the practice session, there were two full matches that were timed and with a referee as part of the prep work that the two Kyle’s were doing to get ready for an upcoming international event. Kyle Dake and Bo Nickel went at it hard for a full match, followed by a match between Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner. Both Kyles were very impressive and controlled the matches, and it didn’t appear that Bo or Jake were taking it easy. It was some high level stuff.

4. All of the wrestlers and coaches were very friendly and engaging. They are truly grateful for the support the NLWC receives. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining and helping support this amazing group of young men.

5. The golf event today was also great. Jayden James was circulating around the course to meet people. He posed for a picture with me as did Kyle Snyder. The highlight of the golf outing for me is that Jeff Byers was part of my foursome. He is genuinely a nice and fun guy to be around, and it was truly enjoyable to be able to talk wrestling with someone with the knowledge and passion that Jeff has for the sport.

In short, the two days were a highlight of my wrestling fandom, and one which I hope to enjoy for many years to come.
 
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Split Shot

Freshman
Apr 11, 2020
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BWFight said:
As part of the 2026 NLWC Golf event which was held today at the Blue and White courses, participants were invited to attend the NLWC practice the day before. I’ve done this the past several years, and it’s one of my favorite events.

Here are some of my highlights:

1. Dodgeball features world class athletes moving with incredible speed while dipping, diving, dodging, rolling, throwing catching, laughing, and generally having a blast (while sometimes getting blasted). I got tired just watching them, yet their enthusiasm was off the charts for the full session. Kyle Dake is a dodgeball beast as well as a wrestling beast, and a clear leader within the club.

Prior to and during dodgeball, Shane Van Ness spent nearly 20 minutes working from the bottom position with someone I didn’t recognize that was very tough on top. It appeared to be an area of emphasis for Shane.

2. After a few opening remarks by Cael (for those of you who don’t know, he’s the head coach), Nick Lee paired up with PJ Duke and ran the team through a series of drills which they demonstrated first while everyone watched. Nick looks like he’s around 150, and PJ must be a solid 170. In my opinion there’s no way PJ is ever going to wrestle 157 again.

During the drills there were some interesting pairings. Bo Nickel and Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner, Ono and someone I didn’t recognize who appeared 20 pounds heavier than Ono. Ono is very fast, and explosive. He looked good in all positions, but they were just drilling.

3. Later in the practice session, there were two full matches that were timed and with a referee as part of the prep work that the two Kyle’s were doing to get ready for an upcoming international event. Kyle Dake and Bo Nickel went at it hard for a full match, followed by a match between Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner. Both Kyles were very impressive and controlled the matches, and it didn’t appear that Bo or Jake were taking it easy. It was some high level stuff.

4. All of the wrestlers and coaches were very friendly and engaging. They are truly grateful for the support the NLWC receives. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining and helping support this amazing group of young men.

5. The golf event today was also great. Jayden James was circulating around the course to meet people. He posed for a picture with me as did Kyle Snyder. The highlight of the golf outing for me is that Jeff Byers was part of my foursome. He is genuinely a nice and fun guy to be around, and it was truly enjoyable to be able to talk wrestling with someone with the knowledge and passion that Jeff has for the sport.

In short, the two days were a highlight of my wrestling fandom, and one which I hope to enjoy for many years to come.
Click to expand...
Thank you BWFight for your time and effort. Great write up.
 
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Snoopy226

Sophomore
Jun 4, 2001
40
146
33
Was a very fun event… spoke to Cael a few times as our groups were close. He was his usual “forthcoming” self even when probed for inside info. Cael clearly hasn’t been working much in his golf game. Paired himself w a high school level kid who “plays a lot around the Philly area” even though he lives in State College. Screamed ringer! 😂

Spent some time w PJ Duke who confirmed no one cares about weight classes or having 14 guys for 10 weights. “Just focused on the team” … clearly speaking party line whether true or not! Jake Varner described their schedule (half the team in Poland right now, some NLWC guys going to Moscow, etc etc) and was great to hang with. Jake also likes RAF “guys can wrestle 6-8 events a year and not have to work”. Hopes it continues to grow.

Nothing very interesting but still fun to shake hands with all these guys.
 
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J.E.B

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,300
3,352
113
That staff works year round. Wrestlers are wrestling year round. Two different styles at world elite levels. It’s a shame only 10 can go but… I’d still work out a deal for “backups” to compete at Bucknell or LH or both. Why not try. There’s no boss in the NCAA. In fact, it might be the only way to save smaller programs… partner up!
 
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TwoJoints

TwoJoints

Senior
Feb 2, 2025
201
680
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J.E.B said:
That staff works year round. Wrestlers are wrestling year round. Two different styles at world elite levels. It’s a shame only 10 can go but… I’d still work out a deal for “backups” to compete at Bucknell or LH or both. Why not try. There’s no boss in the NCAA. In fact, it might be the only way to save smaller programs… partner up!
Click to expand...
I’d love to see the “backups” get a chance to compete outside the room against PA’s other D1 programs that are not already on the non-B1G10 portion of the schedule as well as at some of the team and open tournaments in the area. I’m not aware of what the conference or NCAA limitations on participating as a team in such additional events might be but assume there are some.
 
M

McScoreley

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2021
497
2,399
93
Looks can be deceiving but it seems most people think PJ is going 157 again, which IMO would imply Mitch is staying 165. If Mitch is going 174 then I imagine PJ would prefer 165 and he would be the better man between him and Jayden (that or who knows, maybe he is really for the team and/or maybe Jayden is that good already).

That really leaves two options at 174, Levi wins some kind of appeal or Jayden goes a bit undersized this year. Though, Jayden could still be growing fast. He is very young and has a similar frame than his older brother who is a ND RB listed at 215.

Like I said, I heard Henckel is looking to medshirt this year (and submitted and was approved before the deadline), he had a cast on his hand in a recent picture.

EDIT: Also thank you very much for the information!
 
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Snoopy226

Sophomore
Jun 4, 2001
40
146
33
TwoJoints said:
I’d love to see the “backups” get a chance to compete outside the room against PA’s other D1 programs that are not already on the non-B1G10 portion of the schedule as well as at some of the team and open tournaments in the area. I’m not aware of what the conference or NCAA limitations on participating as a team in such additional
Click to expand...

TwoJoints said:
I’d love to see the “backups” get a chance to compete outside the room against PA’s other D1 programs that are not already on the non-B1G10 portion of the schedule as well as at some of the team and open tournaments in the area. I’m not aware of what the conference or NCAA limitations on participating as a team in such additional events might be but assume there are some.
Click to expand...

it will be interesting to see how the rules change with “5 for 5”. One of the main drawbacks to competing in open tourneys was burning the redshirt, but that will no longer apply. “Wrestling unattached” required athletes pay their own way, not wear team gear, and not be coached by team coaches. I imagine those rules will be maintained (if such a thing as wrestling unattached doesn’t go away completely).

For sure PSU couldn’t wrestle a dual with all backups with it being considered a team competition date which are strictly counted by the NCAA (such as it is)
 
B

BWFight

Senior
Feb 6, 2014
183
748
93
McScoreley said:
Looks can be deceiving but it seems most people think PJ is going 157 again, which IMO would imply Mitch is staying 165. If Mitch is going 174 then I imagine PJ would prefer 165 and he would be the better man between him and Jayden (that or who knows, maybe he is really for the team and/or maybe Jayden is that good already).

That really leaves two options at 174, Levi wins some kind of appeal or Jayden goes a bit undersized this year. Though, Jayden could still be growing fast. He is very young and has a similar frame than his older brother who is a ND RB listed at 215.

Like I said, I heard Henckel is looking to medshirt this year (and submitted and was approved before the deadline), he had a cast on his hand in a recent picture.

EDIT: Also thank you very much for the information!
Click to expand...
View attachment 1788040088946.jpeg
Here’s a photo from the golf outing with Jayden. For comparison, I’m 5’11 and weigh 180. The eye test says I have 15 pounds on Jayden.
 

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Sullivan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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Snoopy226 said:
it will be interesting to see how the rules change with “5 for 5”. One of the main drawbacks to competing in open tourneys was burning the redshirt, but that will no longer apply. “Wrestling unattached” required athletes pay their own way, not wear team gear, and not be coached by team coaches. I imagine those rules will be maintained (if such a thing as wrestling unattached doesn’t go away completely).

For sure PSU couldn’t wrestle a dual with all backups with it being considered a team competition date which are strictly counted by the NCAA (such as it is)
Click to expand...

With the new rule changes, might it be possible for the backups to wrestle under the NLWC, and not count as a competition?
 
J.E.B

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,300
3,352
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It applies for everyone. There is a lot of good wrestlers and more than what 760! They are burning time. Fans don’t want to be denied the best 760 wrestling.
 
B

BWFight

Senior
Feb 6, 2014
183
748
93
RockySmith said:
I get the same serious, intense vibe from him as I do with RBY and Carter. True?
Click to expand...
Based on what I saw in practice and meeting him, much less intense than Carter, and much more humble
Cheat code said:
Is Elijah Brown filling out? How did he look at practice?
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When I first saw Elijah Brown, I thought he was Jayden James, and couldn’t believe how big he was. Then I saw Jayden and realized my mistake, but they actually do look very similar in terms of facial composition.

However, Elijah is quite tall and rangy with a great frame. I didn’t see him practicing but if he adds some muscle mass to his frame, he’ll be a good sized heavy that moves well.
 
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LemonPie

Senior
Jan 2, 2016
237
940
93
Welp…. Penn State’s roster was uploaded to Track’s weight management portal. Still too early for certs, but Jayden James is noticeably absent from the roster. Herring and Brown are listed. Very interesting.

Maybe Flo got some good info in ranking Duke at 165 and MM at 174….
 
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NoSoup4U

NoSoup4U

All-Conference
Jan 17, 2002
713
1,044
93
BWFight said:
As part of the 2026 NLWC Golf event which was held today at the Blue and White courses, participants were invited to attend the NLWC practice the day before. I’ve done this the past several years, and it’s one of my favorite events.

Here are some of my highlights:

1. Dodgeball features world class athletes moving with incredible speed while dipping, diving, dodging, rolling, throwing catching, laughing, and generally having a blast (while sometimes getting blasted). I got tired just watching them, yet their enthusiasm was off the charts for the full session. Kyle Dake is a dodgeball beast as well as a wrestling beast, and a clear leader within the club.

Prior to and during dodgeball, Shane Van Ness spent nearly 20 minutes working from the bottom position with someone I didn’t recognize that was very tough on top. It appeared to be an area of emphasis for Shane.

2. After a few opening remarks by Cael (for those of you who don’t know, he’s the head coach), Nick Lee paired up with PJ Duke and ran the team through a series of drills which they demonstrated first while everyone watched. Nick looks like he’s around 150, and PJ must be a solid 170. In my opinion there’s no way PJ is ever going to wrestle 157 again.

During the drills there were some interesting pairings. Bo Nickel and Kyle Dake, Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner, Ono and someone I didn’t recognize who appeared 20 pounds heavier than Ono. Ono is very fast, and explosive. He looked good in all positions, but they were just drilling.

3. Later in the practice session, there were two full matches that were timed and with a referee as part of the prep work that the two Kyle’s were doing to get ready for an upcoming international event. Kyle Dake and Bo Nickel went at it hard for a full match, followed by a match between Kyle Snyder and Jake Varner. Both Kyles were very impressive and controlled the matches, and it didn’t appear that Bo or Jake were taking it easy. It was some high level stuff.

4. All of the wrestlers and coaches were very friendly and engaging. They are truly grateful for the support the NLWC receives. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining and helping support this amazing group of young men.

5. The golf event today was also great. Jayden James was circulating around the course to meet people. He posed for a picture with me as did Kyle Snyder. The highlight of the golf outing for me is that Jeff Byers was part of my foursome. He is genuinely a nice and fun guy to be around, and it was truly enjoyable to be able to talk wrestling with someone with the knowledge and passion that Jeff has for the sport.

In short, the two days were a highlight of my wrestling fandom, and one which I hope to enjoy for many years to come.
Click to expand...
Great write up was part of your foursome ==>you carried us most of the day<==. Was a pleasure meeting you and Jeff cant wait till next year. We can see why Jeff is very good at what he does plus he got us on in 1 on a few holes. Spot on about Jayden, I can see why Cael recruits certain types of athletes
 
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El_Jefe

El_Jefe

Heisman
Oct 11, 2021
3,794
15,545
113
BWFight said:
That was my guesstimate, but hard to say. He just looks really big for 157.
Click to expand...
I saw Jason Nolf on campus on a September weekday of his true freshman year. He looked around 170-175. I posted so, and said I didn't think he could hold 157 for more than 1-2 years as he filled out. Whoops.

Here's the thing: he probably was around that weight. He was known to cut 15 lb or so, except for the infamous Thankgiving where he had to cut 25 lb in a week.
 
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SkiSkiSki

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
3,805
1,203
113
TwoJoints said:
I’d love to see the “backups” get a chance to compete outside the room against PA’s other D1 programs that are not already on the non-B1G10 portion of the schedule as well as at some of the team and open tournaments in the area. I’m not aware of what the conference or NCAA limitations on participating as a team in such additional events might be but assume there are some.
Click to expand...
If the NCAA limit is based on dates and not individual duals then it would be nice to schedule some tri-meets or quad-meets where there would be one quality opponent for the starters to face and one or two lower level somewhat local opponents for the backups to wrestle against.
 
A

AgSurfer

All-Conference
Aug 9, 2013
693
2,226
92
A friend who had something to do with initiating the event on Thursday sent me a short video of the practice session in the room. I’ve been trying to upload it but keep getting an error. If anyone has a way to do it, let me know and I’ll give it a shot.
 
C

ClarkstonMark

All-Conference
May 23, 2002
1,731
2,814
113
AgSurfer said:
A friend who had something to do with initiating the event on Thursday sent me a short video of the practice session in the room. I’ve been trying to upload it but keep getting an error. If anyone has a way to do it, let me know and I’ll give it a shot.
Click to expand...
Easiest way is probably to upload it to youtube and then link it here
 
Foreverinbluejeans57

Foreverinbluejeans57

Senior
Jun 23, 2025
257
678
93
J.E.B said:
That staff works year round. Wrestlers are wrestling year round. Two different styles at world elite levels. It’s a shame only 10 can go but… I’d still work out a deal for “backups” to compete at Bucknell or LH or both. Why not try. There’s no boss in the NCAA. In fact, it might be the only way to save smaller programs… partner up!
Click to expand...
I always felt this idea was far fetched until this year.
 
Last edited:
S

Sunshine88!

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2025
2,453
3,279
113
BWFight said:
Based on what I saw in practice and meeting him, much less intense than Carter, and much more humble

When I first saw Elijah Brown, I thought he was Jayden James, and couldn’t believe how big he was. Then I saw Jayden and realized my mistake, but they actually do look very similar in terms of facial composition.

However, Elijah is quite tall and rangy with a great frame. I didn’t see him practicing but if he adds some muscle mass to his frame, he’ll be a good sized heavy that moves well.
Click to expand...
Agree. Your right Elijah Brown definitely needs to Add a lot of good weight. If he does look out he’s gonna be Outstanding.
 
B

BWFight

Senior
Feb 6, 2014
183
748
93
NoSoup4U said:
Great write up was part of your foursome ==>you carried us most of the day<==. Was a pleasure meeting you and Jeff cant wait till next year. We can see why Jeff is very good at what he does plus he got us on in 1 on a few holes. Spot on about Jayden, I can see why Cael recruits certain types of athletes
Click to expand...
I enjoyed meeting you and Ryan as well. Have him feel free to DM me as he begins his HR career if wants to discuss options. Hope to see you guys again next year. Come to the practice if you can.
 
J.E.B

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,300
3,352
113
Did I hear that the All Star Classic is back in Rec Hall in early November?
 
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