Portal April 1st

Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
875
1,514
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I wouldn't get too wrapped on recruit rankings. They're nice guidelines but not all top 5 pfp recruits are the same. If you were watching the tourneys Vega was clearly the real deal....if that wasn't a top 10 recruit then I'm not understanding what a top 10 recruit is. Robideau you could tell was going to be very good. Go back and watch Caliendo matches when he was in HS and I have no idea he wasn't ranked high; he beat Levi Haines, Dean Hamiti, and bullied a younger Aedon Sinclaire.....he was always talented.
Agree about Caliendo. I did the same thing, thinking he wasn’t going to look like much in high school matches, but he didn’t look much different. Don’t know how he slipped through the cracks with ranking services and coaches,
 
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DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
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So all they do is recruit better than us? And DT and Cael suck because 100 percent of their recruits aren’t NCAA champs. Oh, and the refs are the reason we don’t win more matches? Thank God we cleared all that up.

I’ll send you the IRLs when I get home from the gym so we can both blame it on FLO.
Where do I ever say any coach sucks lol I literally say, coaching matters little, its majority talent and work ethics of the wrestlers... a very small percentage is coaching ... and yes, those 2 recruit way better then iowa or anyone else out there... take away their elite recruits and they arent that great... how is that so hard to see lol
 

ChicagoHawk2020

All-Conference
Nov 6, 2017
812
2,310
92
If thats true how come Dean, Truax, Hildebrandt, teasdale, teske.... all regressed under Cael?
Dean won a National title at PSU, Truax went all the way from 4th to 5th, Hildebrandt got hurt I'm pretty sure, Teasdale was a druggie who couldn't make it anywhere, and Teske never started for PSU. Thats my last post on the subject because I hate defending PSU more than just about anything.
 

DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
95
237
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Coaching & recruiting are equally important imo. You can bring in elite recruits but watch them fade as time goes by with poor coaching or see them progress through their career with great coaching...
Anyhow back to portal talk. I think we start hearing legit names soon
If this is true then how is PJ Duke, Van Ness not winning title with the best coaches... brands can win titles with Lee and Buchanan,,,but not Ferrari,,, so was it good coaching or bad coaching??? It all falls back to talent, work ethics, very small part coaching...
last night I asked 2 former iowa wrestlers and they both said similar things... training partners is big, coaching is big when you are younger, by the time they got to college it was sharpening your craft, not mixing alot of new stuff in, everyone at the level knows basically all you're gonna learn as far as moves and technique, so the big things were fundamentals and training partners...
 

Tyhawk

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2020
1,052
2,411
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If this is true then how is PJ Duke, Van Ness not winning title with the best coaches... brands can win titles with Lee and Buchanan,,,but not Ferrari,,, so was it good coaching or bad coaching??? It all falls back to talent, work ethics, very small part coaching...
last night I asked 2 former iowa wrestlers and they both said similar things... training partners is big, coaching is big when you are younger, by the time they got to college it was sharpening your craft, not mixing alot of new stuff in, everyone at the level knows basically all you're gonna learn as far as moves and technique, so the big things were fundamentals and training partners...
You are & have been arguing with yourself for a couple days now man. Simmer down. Everything is okay. Im not saying its everything but it definitely is something. Guess what great coaches also do? They usually get the best recruits. We could both sit here all day giving examples to prove our points but at this point who cares? Iowa needs better coaching & maybe its as simple as a change of assistants. We also need to recruit better & as I said in another post we're off to a good start in the 27 & 28 classes but to bridge us to there we need to hit the portal lottery
 
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DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
95
237
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You are & have been arguing with yourself for a couple days now man. Simmer down. Everything is okay. Im not saying its everything but it definitely is something. Guess what great coaches also do? They usually get the best recruits. We could both sit here all day giving examples to prove our points but at this point who cares? Iowa needs better coaching & maybe its as simple as a change of assistants. We also need to recruit better & as I said in another post we're off to a good start in the 27 & 28 classes but to bridge us to there we need to hit the portal lottery
Does my texting come off as being angry lol ive literally just been over here laughing cause everyone arguing with me is agreeing with me but cant seem to see it... you nailed it on recruiting better... but those top recruits are drawn to Cael and Taylor, very little left after those 2 get what they want
 

TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
481
1,446
93
I agree with this... But there are exceptions to everything...Anthony Cassar was not ranked in class of 2014. I would guess it was all coaching that got him to the top. Crazy how he took out Steveson twice, granted Gable was only a freshman at the time.
yes there are many many exceptions that have developed into champions and there are many coaches that have achieved this, even in the last dozen or so years since wrestling started.
 
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TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
481
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Vega and Mendez is the best example. Trade coaching staffs for an entire year and Mendez beats Vega fairly easy. Trade coaching staffs with MM and MC for the past 3 years and instead of a tech fall in the finals you would have a coin flip match. Recruiting will always matter and always has mattered, but guys get better quickly when coaching is up to the task. Not every guy will thrive in the best environment or at the same time. D Locket had a terrible NCAA tournament, but I bet he ends up having a pretty good career. If coaching doesn't matter in college then it doesn't matter in high school. If it doesn't matter in high school then it doesn't matter in middle school. If it doesn't matter in middle school it doesn't matter in elementary school. The argument that it is all nature and very little nurture simply isn't true. Askren wrestling came along and made Wisky into a place that produces much greater wrestlers than it did prior. 1 year can make a huge difference in a wrestler, and some of these guys are getting 5 or 6 years with a coaching staff at the college level. I realize this is an unwinnable argument as neither view is provable but ask some of these accomplished wrestlers if they would be where they are without the coaches who have helped them improve. There are levels to coaching just as there are levels to wrestling skill. KJ had ISU unwatchable, but Dresser made them at least semi competitive in one year. It was hard not to notice when Brands returned to Iowa that the team suddenly had a lot more fire than they did at the end of Jimmy Z's career. Great coaches get old and become stale which is what I think is happening at both Iowa and ISU currently. It should shock nobody if PSU and OSU finish 1 and 2 in the next several NCAA tournaments if all of the other top players hold the line with coaching staffs. VT is the wild card here as Tony Robie seems in his prime and perhaps even still improving. He is bringing in the horses and we will find out if he can push the two monsters.
I completly disagree with you, but I stopped reading at Askren
 
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Nashville_Hawk

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2015
706
1,851
93
Where do I ever say any coach sucks lol I literally say, coaching matters little, its majority talent and work ethics of the wrestlers... a very small percentage is coaching ... and yes, those 2 recruit way better then iowa or anyone else out there... take away their elite recruits and they arent that great... how is that so hard to see lol
As promised, below is the URL that has the rankings I mentioned. And as I told another, I think it was Grip, I did find an updated version that had Robideau and Vega much higher...and the one I should have referenced. So I own that. https://www.flowrestling.org/rankin...41822-top-100-freshmen-after-their-first-year
 
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kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
651
2,014
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Crazy how Morans around here think there are no other coaches in the entire country that could do anywhere near the job Carl has done with the same (resources) and recruits! Absolutly nobody would be good enough to even come close, oh except for DT.
Idiots who think results matter or 1st or 2nd is better than 4th. The nerve.
 

TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
481
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Idiots who think results matter or 1st or 2nd is better than 4th. The nerve.
You are an idiot if you think its just COACHING. If it was then how did Jax win? Oh I forgot, DT made huge changes to they way he wrestled in the 60 days he was in the their room. SMH, Basset has no chance of winning a title at VT or if he stayed commited to Iowa.. what was he thinking!
Wait...I wonder if Duke would have got that call and won in the finals if he went to Iowa, because you know Carl failed big time coaching him to win!
 

DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
95
237
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Dean won a National title at PSU, Truax went all the way from 4th to 5th, Hildebrandt got hurt I'm pretty sure, Teasdale was a druggie who couldn't make it anywhere, and Teske never started for PSU. Thats my last post on the subject because I hate defending PSU more than just about anything.
Dean went from 2nd place at Cornell to 1st at Penn st, to 7th at Penn st... sounds like regression to me
Hildebrandt wrestled the full season. Truax regressed, frame it how you want, he finished higher for cal poly then Penn stm.. Teske was a big time recruit that flopped at Penn st, so did Teasdale... but you frame it how it fits your argument 🤣
 

Tyhawk

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2020
1,052
2,411
113
Does my texting come off as being angry lol ive literally just been over here laughing cause everyone arguing with me is agreeing with me but cant seem to see it... you nailed it on recruiting better... but those top recruits are drawn to Cael and Taylor, very little left after those 2 get what they want
Yep gotta stay aggressive in the 27 & 28 classes & land some of the top ranked heavier weight guys
 
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kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
651
2,014
93
You are an idiot if you think its just COACHING. If it was then how did Jax win? Oh I forgot, DT made huge changes to they way he wrestled in the 60 days he was in the their room. SMH, Basset has no chance of winning a title at VT or if he stayed commited to Iowa.. what was he thinking!
Wait...I wonder if Duke would have got that call and won in the finals if he went to Iowa, because you know Carl failed big time coaching him to win!
Who said it was just coaching? Do you think every title every wrestler won under Dan Gable would have been won under any other coach? Why pay Brands what Iowa pays him when they could just get a student to do it for work study? Coaching matters. I know you don't want Brands gone and I understand that, but it is actually a poor argument to try and convey that coaching doesn't matter. There is no reason to keep him if coaching doesn't matter unless he will do the job for less money than any other applicant. Maybe Iowa could put it out for public bid? This ludicrous notion that coaching doesn't matter is a new concept embraced by zero AA wrestlers. Ask any wrestler on Iowa's team if coaching matters. Coaching is extremely important. Recruiting is a huge part of coaching. Understanding how to peak the athletes is a huge part of coaching. Teaching guys how to turn from the top and score points is a huge part of coaching. There are many moving parts to running a program and some do it better than others. Do you think Tom Brands is a better coach than Roger Chandler or does he just have better recruits?
 

kingstown

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2025
651
2,014
93
Dean went from 2nd place at Cornell to 1st at Penn st, to 7th at Penn st... sounds like regression to me
Hildebrandt wrestled the full season. Truax regressed, frame it how you want, he finished higher for cal poly then Penn stm.. Teske was a big time recruit that flopped at Penn st, so did Teasdale... but you frame it how it fits your argument 🤣
PSU went from one title in program history to dominating college wrestling. That is what matters. It isn't about a handful of wrestlers getting better or worse but the direction of the program. You can't be happy with the team results the past 15 years. Do you think Iowa will win another team title with Tom Brands as the head coach? If your answer is yes than you are betting on the wrong horse.
 
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Libertylover

All-Conference
Dec 17, 2020
875
1,514
93
Crazy how Morans around here think there are no other coaches in the entire country that could do anywhere near the job Carl has done with the same (resources) and recruits! Absolutly nobody would be good enough to even come close, oh except for DT.
Cael is starting sweat a little about Taylor and okyst because of the recruiting job he did in his 1st 2 classes, not because he’s such a great coach in the room. Piles said when Cael decides a recruit is an absolute must get, like Blaze, he never loses the re recruiting battle. But he had that type of priority on Ross and lost him to Taylor. I’m sure this really got his attention.
 
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TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
481
1,446
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Who said it was just coaching? Do you think every title every wrestler won under Dan Gable would have been won under any other coach? Why pay Brands what Iowa pays him when they could just get a student to do it for work study? Coaching matters. I know you don't want Brands gone and I understand that, but it is actually a poor argument to try and convey that coaching doesn't matter. There is no reason to keep him if coaching doesn't matter unless he will do the job for less money than any other applicant. Maybe Iowa could put it out for public bid? This ludicrous notion that coaching doesn't matter is a new concept embraced by zero AA wrestlers. Ask any wrestler on Iowa's team if coaching matters. Coaching is extremely important. Recruiting is a huge part of coaching. Understanding how to peak the athletes is a huge part of coaching. Teaching guys how to turn from the top and score points is a huge part of coaching. There are many moving parts to running a program and some do it better than others. Do you think Tom Brands is a better coach than Roger Chandler or does he just have better recruits?
I think Duke would be a national champ right now if he chose IOWA
 

MPPosterDeuce

Junior
Apr 9, 2022
58
256
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If thats true how come Dean, Truax, Hildebrandt, teasdale, teske.... all regressed under Cael?
Uhhh Dean won a national championship at PSU lol

Teske and Teasdale started out at PSU, so not sure what they regressed from?

Truax and Hildebrandt are legitimate points. So congrats, you went 2 of 5 on names you got to pick all on your own. Great job.
 

luthius dagan

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
121
571
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Uhhh Dean won a national championship at PSU lol

Teske and Teasdale started out at PSU, so not sure what they regressed from?

Truax and Hildebrandt are legitimate points. So congrats, you went 2 of 5 on names you got to pick all on your own. Great job.
Dean won a national title, then took 7th the following year, placing lower than Warner.
 
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DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
95
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Uhhh Dean won a national championship at PSU lol

Teske and Teasdale started out at PSU, so not sure what they regressed from?

Truax and Hildebrandt are legitimate points. So congrats, you went 2 of 5 on names you got to pick all on your own. Great job.
Uhhh he went from 2nd at Cornell, to 1st at PSU to 7th at PSU... and the point is if coaching was such a big importance then 2 blue chip recruits like Teske and Teasdale shouldn't be flops... congrats on the gotcha attempt tho... swing and a miss
 

DuckUnder

Junior
Jul 12, 2025
95
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PSU went from one title in program history to dominating college wrestling. That is what matters. It isn't about a handful of wrestlers getting better or worse but the direction of the program. You can't be happy with the team results the past 15 years. Do you think Iowa will win another team title with Tom Brands as the head coach? If your answer is yes than you are betting on the wrong horse.
You are really missing the point lol you think im saying Brands is a better coach??? Lol im saying coaching matters little.. the draw the bring for big time talented recruits is the most important part... Taylor and Cael are better cause they draw in whoever they want
 

RapalaRRC

Redshirt
May 8, 2024
8
5
3
You are really missing the point lol you think im saying Brands is a better coach??? Lol im saying coaching matters little.. the draw the bring for big time talented recruits is the most important part... Taylor and Cael are better cause they draw in whoever they want
I see a lot of names being dropped for each argument….where do the Alton brothers fall in this discussion
 
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maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,936
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Not sure about that. It just opened Wednesday and now it’s a holiday weekend. It’s really not gotten going in earnest yet.
There was an almost two week break between NCAAs and the portal opening this year. Maybe I am wrong but I don’t know that many guys would not have their mind made up yet. We shall see I guess.
 

RockySmith

Senior
Dec 10, 2020
326
915
93
I also think there are less entrants. Maybe kids are finally realizing the grass isn’t always greener.
Fat stacks of cash not available, only revenue sharing, making the differences between schools smaller.

not sure if that’s why, but I was wondering if that would have an effect.
 
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Sir Pin Alot

All-Conference
Jun 25, 2025
393
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You are an idiot if you think its just COACHING. If it was then how did Jax win? Oh I forgot, DT made huge changes to they way he wrestled in the 60 days he was in the their room. SMH, Basset has no chance of winning a title at VT or if he stayed commited to Iowa.. what was he thinking!
Wait...I wonder if Duke would have got that call and won in the finals if he went to Iowa, because you know Carl failed big time coaching him to win!
To be honest, Jax is a unicorn. His HS coach would have done just as well at nationals.
 

VakAttack

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
421
1,580
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I also think there are less entrants. Maybe kids are finally realizing the grass isn’t always greener.

It definitely hasn't been the same quality or quantity of transfers the first 3 days.

There was an almost two week break between NCAAs and the portal opening this year. Maybe I am wrong but I don’t know that many guys would not have their mind made up yet. We shall see I guess.
https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13994973-2025-ncaa-d1-wrestling-off-season-transfer-tracker

Looking at Flo's tracker from last year, it looks like the portal opened and the earliest announcement was maybe Swiderski on March 26.

Deep breaths, fellas.
 
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maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,936
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https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13994973-2025-ncaa-d1-wrestling-off-season-transfer-tracker

Looking at Flo's tracker from last year, it looks like the portal opened and the earliest announcement was maybe Swiderski on March 26.

Deep breaths, fellas.
Lol. I’m not impatient about the commits. More so just pointing out there is a noticeable difference in talent levels as of now. I think the dead period after NCAAs is a new wrinkle. Maybe it helps guys take a deep breath themselves and not rush into the portal. Without Stanford, which is unique because of all the graduate transfers, there’s really a drop off in talent as of now.