Hikinghokie
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Member since:
August 30, 2018
Last post:
05/02/2022 08:49 AM ET
Posting History (2,567)
Wrestling Board
3 d ago
I definitely think Jax has a bigger frame
And might eventually be bigger. But I think Bo has a strength edge that would be hard to close in less than a year.
It'll be really interesting to see what we do with weights next year. I think we get the most talent in the lineup by having everyone suck their weight down. Seidel at 133, Bo 141, Gaj 149, Miller 157, Noah 165. Could Garcia or Campbell drop down to 125? Some of those cuts are probably not realistic though, and you probably get them performing better by bumping a few guys, and pushing a guy or 2 out of the lineup.
Wrestling Board
3 d ago
I don't necessarily think we're rated unfairly
But we definitely have more opportunities to add points than lose them imo.
Wrestling Board
4 d ago
I like Bo over Stanich and Jax
A year ago I think you pick Jax after he made the world team, but I think Bo has caught up and is about to do the same. I think familiarity plays a role and that Bo is one of the few guys that can scramble with Jax, and his size and pace give him an edge.
Wrestling Board
4 d ago
I'm not picking Vega to be an undefeated 4 timer
But I expect he'll be more dominant this year than last. He made a huge jump already compared to how he wrestled in high school, and now he gets a whole year training with Jax and the Raney bros and Landon. I like Henson to win and think media is wrongly worried that's he's lost a step, while in reality I think he's jumped levels a bit. I think Aden and Vega are just going to get better and better though, and could change that prediction depending on what they show.
Wrestling Board
5 d ago
If he can achieve his goals here, so many kids are going to want to be the
next Bo here at VT. Hell, I'm 34 and kinda want to be the next Bo! The immediate and long term futures of the program are so exciting.
Wrestling Board
2 w ago
I don't really think either is a great criteria
It's hard to complain about one versus the other. Don't give up a bunch of points late if you want to win. Not worried about Carini- he's already really good, and only going to get better.
Wrestling Board
2 w ago
Wurster and Dube looked great too
Dube took out PSU commit Clinton Shepherd. Landing these two would be big time.
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
I have the same thought watching him
But seriously think that's just how he looks. You don't win as much as he does if you're uninterested.
I don't think he has the same gas tank as Bo, and don't think he can replicate that style. I do think he's faster and more explosive than Bo, and can be just as good wrestling his own style.
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
Yeah, this is stupid imo
It's a 7 man bracket. That should be doable in a day. And there are ways to shorten the day if that's a complaint.
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
Okay, I get you now
Like, the 1 seed losing in the quarters gets the path of the 8 seed, versus the 4 seed would get the path of the 5.
Vinny was a much tougher match than you would expect for Eddie a after meeting the quarters. Stuff like that is pretty common with all the upsets at nationals, but it was definitely a bad draw on the backside
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
Not really
Brackets get harder on both sides as you advance, but you would expect the loser of the quarters to be favored to AA. Eddie would essentially have the path of a 7 seed on the backside after losing in the quarters.
There are too many upsets to really project that sort of thing, but getting VRob was definitely a bad draw for him.
Wrestling Board
3 w ago
I think he just meant on the backside
Frontside draw was fantastic. The returning champ in the blood round is rough though.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Sidun is the name that jumps out most to me
But I would absolutely be interested in a big guy. I think Konapka can be the guy, but I would love some competition there. I like some of the 197s coming in too, but don't think any of them are surefire. I'm completely sold on Carini, but see him as a 184.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Any recruits come back into play with 5 for 5?
Landon Sidun to Penn State no longer makes much sense. Instead of lining up perfectly with a redshirt behind Luke, he'll now use two years of eligibility on the bench. Anyone else fit this mold?
Purely conjecture btw. Nobody needs to run away with this as an actual rumor!
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I understood
Maybe my response was confusing. If Mendez or other graduated seniors get to opt into 5 for 5 and come back due to lawsuits, then Caleb redshirting last year will cost him a 5th year of competing. As it currently stands, those graduates don't get an extra year and Caleb isn't missing out on anything due to the redshirt.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I suppose everything is subject to lawsuits
As it is, Caleb isn't missing out.
It's going to make a mess of scholarships if guys that have graduated get to come back.
** Edited by Hikinghokie at 6/24/2026, 10:39:58 PM
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Shouldn't affect him at all
Anyone that's already in college should have the option to opt in to either eligibility rules, and I think his medical has already been approved. It's incoming athletes that will automatically be on 5 for 5.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
The only extra years for guys that have started their eligibility would be
Seidel and Gaj. Anyone else already on the team should opt into the old eligibility rules.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Blaze is so much better at freestyle than folk
Jax is so much more fun to watch and I was rooting for him, but it's fun to have all these 133 freshmen knocking each other off.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Kyle Dake looking extra young
Crazy to bump two weights, and then make a world team over the returning champ, at age 35.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Yep. Some nice benefits
And I was hoping to see it. But not a huge deal imo. Forfeits for true 3rd are pretty common. I don't know what's up with Caleb, but don't he would be sitting out of he was actually in the finals. Hope whatever it is isn't major
** Edited by Hikinghokie at 6/19/2026, 9:13:40 AM
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
It's the cringy name USA Wrestling gave the finals to make the world team
It used to just be a best of 3 to conclude the world team trials tournament, but they gave it it's own event. Caleb was wrestling for true third, not to be the actual rep for worlds.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I'm not against Real
He's allowed to delay by the rules, and should absolutely be granted it this year. If Bo was injured, I would certainly want the delay as well. But you obviously wouldn't delay WTT or the World Championship for an injury. If Final X was still a part of the WTT tournament instead of a separate event on a different day, I think perception might be a bit different on one guy not being able to show up due to injury.
So, yeah. Mixed feelings. Excited to see the match whenever it does happen. I doubt Bo is complaining as much as some fans.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I also have mixed feelings
It wouldn't quite feel right for Bo to make the team to a forfeit, but I could get over that one pretty easy. It would feel really unfair though to have this delay, and then say Bo gets injured and isn't ready to compete, and then the spot goes to Real.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
A bit of a bummer, but I'm sure the request will be granted
And I'm sure Bo will be ready whenever it gets rescheduled for. He has an easy weight cut, and is always in shape.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I think we're already seeing an impact
With the 2027 commits, and young talent training here. I think Bo committing and the success our last freshmen class is having is really changing the perception of our program.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
I think we have a team that outperforms that this year
Seidel, Bo and Henson are all top 4 minimum, and I would bet we get 1 or 2 champs and 2 or 3 finalists out of those 3, with a ton of bonus points too.
I am very confident that Burton, Noah, Gaj, and Eddie are AA caliber. I am not confident that Gaj will AA, just based on how insanely deep 157 is, and we obviously saw that **** happens with Eddie, but I think this groups gives 2 or 3 more AAs, with potentially some high finishes. I still think Eddie can beat any 125 in the country.
184 and up is once again a question mark, but we have a lot of options at 184, and Sasso and Mullen have shown some opposite. I'm hopeful to get an AA out of this group, and expect we'll score points at every weight.
That's 5-7 AAs compared to 7 for Iowa, but a ton of points from our top 3 gives us a leg up imo.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
We really do
I don't think anyone is sleeping on Noah anymore after u23s. Now there's no way all 10 actually do it, but individually they all have a chance.
Wrestling Board
1 mo ago
Our social media team kills it
Great video. Really gets you hyped up for this team. Loved Frayer joking with Aaron. "Or you could just tech him fast."
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
A nice high c would compliment his game well
But I really want to see him work on setting up his leg attacks. He has a very nice double leg, but shoots it from space with no real set up. You can do that if you time it right, but he's consistently getting stuck under guys because they all see it coming.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
That they managed to give Haught's job to Walz
And still keep Haught on staff- just fantastic. Haught really showing his lack of ego and how much he loves this program.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Didn't Sal actually take the spot?
Devin dropped back down after that tournament.
Slightly TIC btw. I obviously think Devin is the better wrestler and that familiarity played a role here.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
We've got a lot of competition for the 184 spot
Sergio, Bullock, Foard, maybe TJ. Whoever comes out on top should be good.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Overall a positive tournament
But that was disappointing. He was hitting big moves all tournament, but still isn't setting up his leg attacks. I hope we see a jump with Ty in the room
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Yeah, I thought Noah earned that one
Still an encouraging result. I think Noah still needs to get a bit bigger for 165.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Mullen actually just beat Hopke at the US Open
Would love to see him show some consistency and do it again, but he hasn't been passed by.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
All tough matches left now
Though the kid he just pinned was a national qualifier than pinned Chance Lamer at Big 10s.
Wrestling Board
2 mo ago
Way too early in a huge bracket for any real takeaways
But he looks good. He doesn't look big, but he looks like he can get big enough for the weight