donjfs3

If he won WTT's and wanted to push it back that's one thing but he's a returning medalist with a legitimate reason. He should get every benefit until somebody (hopefully Bo) knocks him off. The good news is Bo operates under a pretty strict any time any place any weight philosophy so I don't think his descent is affected much and he should be ready to go. Hopefully both are at their best.

I doubt they're holding a formal practice in NJ. I think it's just guys nearby that are good at wrestling getting some training in at JB's academy

Don't think there is any formal connection just the best training opportunity while he's home in NJ.

There's definitely guys who lend themselves better to freestyle than folk and vice versa but to a certain degree wrestling is wrestling, and if you're good at one style you can probably be good at the other. Freestyle has way more opportunity to compete against elite competition at the HS level so it's kind of the default standard evaluation aside from a few tournaments where you'll see national guys competing against each other. Fargo has been known as the big tournament for kids to break out at. My opinion only, other may completely disagree. From a potential standpoint - wrestling is wrestling and the differences are you may be more polished in one style vs. another but the "blocking and tackling" is the same. You still expect freshman to come in and have to improve a lot with mat wrestling fundamentals as they've been way better than everybody they've faced up to this point in folk. Freestyle gives you the best opportunity to evaluate a guy against others who have the same talent level and will be wrestling in college. If you're not a freestyle guy there is much less opportunity for you to get on a coaches radar, it can still happen but in these examples you're usually wrestling a really tough schedule (Konopka is an example of this, Ironman/National preps champ and even he still wrestles freestyle) The reason we're seeing more freestyle participation is the talent in the room is very high. Mekhi was a junior world champ, Latona was a multi-time Fargo champ, Bryce was a junior medalist, we're just now seeing 4+ guys all having success at the same time.

Two very different situations but it can happen

Don't think Eddie's cut is too crazy but yeah not having to worry about weight is definitely a pro to having a true offseason. He's also done a lot of wrestling and his goals have always seemed NCAA related. I haven't seen any pics with Gage in the background on social media or anything and he is currently in the portal so I'd say doubtful. I think bringing in two more young guys around his weight (Scott and Ford) probably puts an end to the Gage Wright era even if those were last minute.

everybody is back in the room full time. He's had some time off but he's still been training in Blacksburg for most of it.

Might just collect six figures at National Duals if that's who we're bringing

Not giving up a leg and moving his feet getting to angles is how he beat Merrill, Posada, Stout. Getting into a scramble fest worked against inferior guys but at his best he was wrestling smart and scrambling when he had to not as his primary offense.

If that's smart it isn't my decision, but I know he's done it on purpose and it has worked out in the past. He's also gotten burned doing it so I'd probably advise him not to do it but I trust our coaches. Gaj does this very well and I'd probably tell Gaj to keep doing it. Lamer is the only person I saw all year who just beat Gaj at his own game and that includes Aden Valencia. Sonny does do a lot better when he's moving his feet and creating angles. That is a pure fact.

Head to head is still really important. Now you have the ability to validate those results throughout the year starting with open tournaments. The real benefit is having three capable guys training in the room knowing that if they don't continue to get better they'll get passed up and won't get a shot at NCAA's. That's a pretty big motivator day in and day out.

he can compete at 165 against a top 10 type of guy. I think he should've won but I'll have to re-watch.

Appreciate the clarification, still think it's a big match

He's beaten him before but it looked like Hopke has passed him by last year. Would show solid development if he could get one back against him. Mullen's size and athleticism is top notch let's hope he can figure out how to use it against top tier competition.

Herrera will likely start for Rutgers this year he's pretty solid

He was awarded the pin though it's a fall in the bracket

I think this clip puts to rest any argument that he's purely a pace guy. Dude's going 100 mph playing chess against some of the best guys in the world right now. His technique is so much better than it was just a year ago.

With the talent we have now we have the ability to elevate the program from perennial top 10 to perennial top 5 competing for trophies every year. I still personally think we'll be behind PSU/OSU but aside from those two we have a real chance at being the clear #3 program in the country year in and year out, and maybe just maybe that's enough to have everything bounce our way one year and win a team championship. I'm assuming most on here donate. I think the next big step is making enough noise that we can turn some more casual fans that donate to VT into die hards and get some of those dollars going to SERTC.

Mendoza very well may AA next year that's a good win. Bouzakis match wasn't great but he won. Robideau is a bad matchup right now especially with him being fresh and Melvin having two close matches beforehand. He needs to work on strength and gas tank, I don't think he wrestled poorly.

Could hurt us on the recruiting trail

Get the talent in the room and figure it out from there

into Blacksburg North

Coach still announcing soon. Wrestler (Lane Foard) is up in the air. Seeing speculation that his expected weight class wasn't lining up with what we expected. Not over just not as much of a sure thing. Not a need but some competition at 184 is always great. A rising tide lifts all ships, if we get Bullock, Serge, and Foard in the room whoever wins that spot will be dangerous.

The Caleb 157 reference is about his true third match against Landon Robideau in freestyle I believe

...who knows

He's a legit talent. He has a bigger NIL ask than expected. We have a stud at his weight class(our guys name rhymes with Byan Rurton) and he'd need to cut or bulk in a hurry to battle for a starting spot so no use in paying when he's a maybe in the lineup.