2021 Recruiting
- Thread starter WEAREPSU_LI
- Start date
Not saying Seth could beat him, I just would bet the 2 years Seth has been in with NLWC guys have improved his game immensly,and he’d give Kerk all he could handle.
Did you ever consider Kerk may want to come here to be in the same room as 3 heavy oly champs??
Titus is supposed to be at Ironman this year, so we should get to see him versus some pretty good competition.
I saw Titus at Waterway this year. One match only, but he reminded me of Busiello on his feet - giving up his legs and making a living off of funky counters (not necessarily funk defense).
Again, it was just one match and he could have just been screwing around, but that's a tough way to make a living in D1 (if you're name is not Seth Gross).
Granted it is Freestyle but this is recent and might convince you. Kirk is a world class freestyler, and Cassi is no Kirk. The Cassar like blast double at the end is not a confidence builder.
https://www.flowrestling.org/video/...assioppi-u-of-iowa-vs-seth-nevills-unattached
Seth should AA right out of the gate but starting next year and for the several years following I think the top 6 will be:
1). Gable
2). Kirk
3). AJ Ferrari
4). Mason Parris
5). Braxton Amos after he moves up
6). Cassioppi
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Wood and Stencil may bust up that party next year, and Orndorff, Hillger, maybe even Singletary and Elam, for the next two years. This is the most enjoyable era of heavyweight wrestling, overall, in my almost half-a-century of following college wrestling. Not saying any will beat a special talent like Steveson, but top-6 isn't out of the question.
Amos isn't moving up. Wisky also landed prize HWT Copass from Illinois -- after Amos.
Add in Cohlton Schultz, who beat Snacks in HS. Catka and Kaminski are both world team members. IDK if they beat Snacks but they can't be dismissed.
Plus the guys Roar named. Orndorff just beat Hall and Wood in the same weekend.
HWT division looking very strong for the foreseeable future.
I have a feeling the kid is not quite yet done growing yet. He is super powerful and athletic which seems to be the more prototypical these days. He is 220 now, we'll see how fun a 25 lb cut remains 2-3 years from now. I know they have another strong recruit but Braxton is better, and I see him staying down at 197 for 2 years max. Cael recruited him but I don't think it was for 197, the same for Ferrari. Both are undersized 'now' but could fill out to 240ish pretty easily.
You're assuming it will be a 25 lb cut. Some kids wrestle up in HS for the challenge.
Berge this year is still below his HS weight. So is Starocci. Ball too. McCutcheon did for several years, and only moved up when Bo moved into his weight..
Poulin is far more well rounded than Titus at this point and will almost assuredly be a career 125 guy, though there is some concern about him ever being big enough. But his mat wrestling truly sets him apart. Obviously flipping Figs would be the ideal scenario, which would then allow you to go Figueroa, Howard, Bartlett at some point, but I'm not sure how much those guys want to sit and with two more years of RBY and Busiello possibly coming back into the fold I think it'll be a tough sell for Figueroa.
As for 2021 guys elsewhere, I think you have to make a play for Van Ness. He could be the top guy in that class regardless of weight and there's definitely a good chance he ends up a 149, which right now looks like it could be a spot needing filled for PSU. I would consider Carson Manville a non-entity at this point. He was struggling a bit prior to his injury and it was very serious injury that was a gigantic setback, I'm not sure as a program you can dedicate a real chunk of money to him right now.
Facundo is super talented, but I do have slight questions about his versatility from neutral. He struggled a good bit against Kennedy at WNO and struggled to score when needed at Cadet Worlds. Voinovich is a pipe dream, but he's gonna be a hammer. Same with Gallagher who I think is Iowa bound.
Wish PSU were in on Drake Ayala, he's going to be an animal at 125 wherever he chooses. Pinto was a bit of a miss as well, but nowhere in the lineup for him really right now with Starocci and Brooks holding down the fort.
Herrera-Rondon is by far the most intriguing. He is/was such a hammer on top at 106/113 then bumped all the way up to 132. I *think* he'll be fine with time, but I'm curious to see how he adjusts.
As for 2021 guys elsewhere, I think you have to make a play for Van Ness. He could be the top guy in that class regardless of weight and there's definitely a good chance he ends up a 149, which right now looks like it could be a spot needing filled for PSU. I would consider Carson Manville a non-entity at this point. He was struggling a bit prior to his injury and it was very serious injury that was a gigantic setback, I'm not sure as a program you can dedicate a real chunk of money to him right now.
Facundo is super talented, but I do have slight questions about his versatility from neutral. He struggled a good bit against Kennedy at WNO and struggled to score when needed at Cadet Worlds. Voinovich is a pipe dream, but he's gonna be a hammer. Same with Gallagher who I think is Iowa bound.
Wish PSU were in on Drake Ayala, he's going to be an animal at 125 wherever he chooses. Pinto was a bit of a miss as well, but nowhere in the lineup for him really right now with Starocci and Brooks holding down the fort.
Herrera-Rondon is by far the most intriguing. He is/was such a hammer on top at 106/113 then bumped all the way up to 132. I *think* he'll be fine with time, but I'm curious to see how he adjusts.
Do guys like Figueroa worry about where they fit in a lineup?
In any case, that might not be a concern. If RBY never shirts, his SR year will be Figs' true freshman year. Or Howard or Bartlett could shirt that year. Etc.
Busiello (if he comes) IMO is more likely to get squeezed.
Agree completely on Van Ness, and his style is a perfect match for PSU. Gotta wonder if Rutgers has any gravitational pull with his dad being an alum.
We'll find out a lot about Herrera at his new weight next month -- Seneca Valley goes to the Cumberland Valley tourney and Ironman on consecutive weekends.
Normally I'd say no to that first question, but when the guy across from you is Robbie Howard then maybe? I mean Figs is still pretty small. But you're right about it not being an issue if RBY doesn't redshirt, though next year *could* be a redux of the Zain and Nico RS year.
I expect Herrera to figure it out. He's a good kid, and a smart kid. But his length was a much bigger asset at 106 and 113.
We're in complete agreement on SVN. He's just a goer who doesn't care if he gets score on because he knows he can score on anyone. He's such a perfect style fit. I know Rutgers just had 2 champs and his dad went there, but if PSU goes after him hard you gotta think he at least listens, right?
My only concern is that PSU hasn't had a Blair kid since Ed, who wasn't *really* a Blair kid. Do Cael and Antonelli get along?
Obviously no insight about their relationship -- but wondering how many Blair products Cael would've been interested in anyway.
Quick search dug up this list of Blair alums who qualified for 2018 nationals. Of them, I'm fairly certain only McKenna appealed to Cael.
https://www.blair.edu/athletics/win...alumni-compete-in-ncaa-championships-20180305
PS, can't talk about PSU recruiting Blair without the infamous rumored Cael quote about Brooks Black: he "has no shot." Truer and more literal words never spoken.
Nice pickup for Clarion 2021. Kinda surprised, figured he would go to Pitt.
I would be very concerned that Poulin will not be big enough for college 125. Only 113 as a Junior, and to my eye not a very big 113. I love his wrestling style, but there are some big dudes at 125 in college. His parents big?
Pitt just pulled Sullivan, they may not have been pursuing Fischer hard. He's another guy who's just 106 as junior.
I love Willie's access and content, but I can't pull the trigger on paying 9.99 a month. That's more than Disney + for not all that much stuff.
I really enjoyed seeing Cael Valencia decked out in OSU gear last weekend in Tulsa. Hope the interest continues.
I'm just glad to have figured out that Figs = Figueroa. My internet search on Figs only turned up Ray Liotta's character in Cop Land (helluva character but he's not beating Raptor or Snacks).
Actually he said he plans to be a heavyweight, that is up and until he committed to OSU which might mean he will have to go 184. I am sure he is now a 197 but then again 4 years is a long time not to enjoy a slice of pizza now and then. BTW have you seen his dad? The kid comes from large stock.
Joey Cruz will be a career 125lb'r and I'd say he has an extremely high ceiling. Put him at 125, Howard 133, Bartlett 141
And there ya have it, jeez, why couldnt Karl think of that?!?! Woulda saved us all this time.
He said he was going 97 kgs at the Open. He's going to get bigger under the Cowboy Bulk Job.
I think this is a bit misleading. By rule you are automatically ineligible for postseason now if you transfer from sophomore year on. You need to appeal this to participate by proving a specific circumstance (job transfer, financial hardship, etc.)
Burden is on the transfer"ee" to prove circumstance.
This rule was adopted in August of 2018, so this is the first year of practice.
No more "transfer with athletic intent."
Just automatic now. You roll the dice with appeals if you transfer after SO year starts with your postseason.
You are also free to transfer after your FR with no penalty. P
Just got off the phone with Ames2St, he says the 2023, 4, 5 National championship team will be
125. Figueroa
133. Howard
141. Bartlett
149. Van Ness
157. Facundo
165. Lee
174. Starocci
184. Brooks
197. Beard
Hwt. Kirkvliet
125. Figueroa
133. Howard
141. Bartlett
149. Van Ness
157. Facundo
165. Lee
174. Starocci
184. Brooks
197. Beard
Hwt. Kirkvliet
Yes, definitely the one flaw in my plan. Cael is recruiting him for sure but he and Lee are on top of each other and Starocci is above
