Iowa set for major early season test at National Duals Invitational

[Fryowa]

Do any of the recent recruiting hall have what it takes or is it way too early to judge them? I know another Spencer Lee isn't probably walking into the program, but is there any hope in the kids TNT have signed?

My opinion which isn’t worth much is that you can’t tell much till they get here. Top ten D1 wrestling is so far ahead of anything theyl find at U18 level.

That and with NIL I don’t believe anyone is going to be here till their first match and it’s year-to-year after that. If they get here and blow the doors off the Big Ten money from other places will come calling.

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

That National Duals tourney was a beast -- four #1 ranked guys got beat.
And it could have been worse -- Nebraska won exactly 1 match vs Ohio St.

This is why I’m not throwing in the towel on the season already. Wrestling nowadays seems like there’s just better wrestlers all over the country. More interest in the sport so it’s talent will be more spread out over schools.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Doesn't Iowa have a pretty decent 2026 recruiting class coming in with some decent kids? Not saying that means a thing, and with the ability to decommit and go elsewhere, until a kid is on campus and shows his ability, I suppose it doesn't matter.

 

[Fryowa]

Doesn't Iowa have a pretty decent 2026 recruiting class coming in with some decent kids? Not saying that means a thing, and with the ability to decommit and go elsewhere, until a kid is on campus and shows his ability, I suppose it doesn't matter.

This is it^^^

People got all excited about the Bassetts and others, and then they leave, then people get mad, yada yada yada...I don't put any credence in recruiting or commitments anymore. None. And that's in any sport.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

I've posted several times over the past 5 years or so that a large part of Iowa's decline in dominance relates to coaching style.

Sanderson figured it out a long time ago - recruit talent, not just intensity, and form a culture where dominance and focus derive from self-motivation, NOT from constant preaching. His wrestlers are as focused as you will ever see, but they also develop kind of a relaxed confidence. No situation on the mat phases them. No panic, just focus and when you spot a weakness, attack it in the blink of an eye.

Fry brings up an important point about the physical breakdown that inevitably occurs with Iowa wrestlers, but, possibly more importantly, there's a mental breakdown that occurs. The constant preaching about hard work, intensity, improving, being accountable, yada, yada, results in a bunch of burned out zombies by the time nationals comes around.

In terms of the current squad, I actually think there's a lot to work with there. Endene has been a pleasant surprise. Peterson can make some noise but needs to be more consistent. I disagree about no title contenders. Ferrari definitely has a chance.

At the end of the day, though, the climate in that room is not going to change anytime soon. There's absolutely no chance that TnT are going to change their ways. None.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Also, I would add that a finally healthy Block is intriguing. He's got some serious upside.

 

[Fryowa]

Ferrari definitely has a chance.

No chance that guy is here next year. If he makes a wave, nebraska, OK St., Ohio State, and Iowa State all have holes to fill among other schools. nebraska and Ohio State also have HUGE holes to fill at 94 which is where I see him ending up. He has no allegiance to Iowa, his brothers and dad are all cut from the same cloth.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Also, I would add that a finally healthy Block is intriguing. He's got some serious upside.

I like the kid. Endene too. My hope is a few of the wrestlers continue to progress and we can remain healthy. I will say the Brands' style of "iron sharpening iron" is definitely old school. I have questioned it's effectiveness.

I suppose it takes a special type of wrestler that can stay healthy but it sure seems by the time the Big 10's roll around we have guys banged up and not wrestling 100%.

 

[Fryowa]

I like the kid. Endene too. My hope is a few of the wrestlers continue to progress and we can remain healthy. I will say the Brands' style of "iron sharpening iron" is definitely old school. I have questioned it's effectiveness.

I suppose it takes a special type of wrestler that can stay healthy but it sure seems by the time the Big 10's roll around we have guys banged up and not wrestling 100%.

I think even more than the training style it's a matter of recruits having way more options than they ever did.

In the 80s and 90s there was one option, period. If you didn't go to Iowa it wasn't like now where if you didn't have Penn State you can still find a home at Iowa, OSU, OkSU, nebraska, Iowa State, UNI, Cornell, ASU, etc. Gable had the best of the best of the best all trying to come there and if you weren't one f Gable's guys all you had was OkST which was still usually 40+ pts behind Iowa at nationals in 2nd place, and maybe ISU or Oklahoma in a few off years.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I think even more than the training style it's a matter of recruits having way more options than they ever did.

In the 80s and 90s there was one option, period. If you didn't go to Iowa it wasn't like now where if you didn't have Penn State you can still find a home at Iowa, OSU, OkSU, nebraska, Iowa State, UNI, Cornell, ASU, etc. Gable had the best of the best of the best all trying to come there and if you weren't one f Gable's guys all you had was OkST which was still usually 40+ pts behind Iowa at nationals in 2nd place, and maybe ISU or Oklahoma in a few off years.

In similar ways, Gable had many many wrestlers that graduated and took coaching positions at other programs and built them up. Besides John Smith, Harold Nichols, and a few others, Iowa was THE program for quite some time and was so dominant.

However, Gable grew the sport and many of his disciples continued to grow it and the gap between Iowa's powerhouse program dwindled. I also think as mentioned above the Gable way did not change.

If you look at every sport training, technology and etc. have evolved. We stuck with the "if it aint broke, don't fix it." Maybe it's stubborn pride or whatever, but clearly, there is much more parity in the sport and Iowa is continuing to slide as a top tier wrestling program.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

No chance that guy is here next year. If he makes a wave, nebraska, OK St., Ohio State, and Iowa State all have holes to fill among other schools. nebraska and Ohio State also have HUGE holes to fill at 94 which is where I see him ending up. He has no allegiance to Iowa, his brothers and dad are all cut from the same cloth.

He strikes me as a little less unhinged than the rest of the family, but, yeah, we're not talking about Ozzie and Harriet here...

I thought he would hit the portal after last season but he stuck it out. I don't know, I could see him leaving but he's been loyal thus far.

Either way, I think he's got a reasonable shot at a title this year.