Top 10 in their weight/graduating classes isn't really what I'm talking about though. I'm talking top of the top. Age level world gold medalists (or close to it--add in your odd late bloomer like Carter).
I agree with you that Michigan and Cornell are likely the top competitors with PSU but it isn't like Cael has missed out on many kids he wanted recently. Off the top of my head I can only think of Mendez to tOSU, Shapiro and Knox to Cornell and maybe like Figs or someone else that is slipping my mind who was a top talent. And even with Shapiro/Knox/Mendez there wasn't an obvious spot for them at PSU. Obviously talent is talent and it would have worked out but I thought that was pretty crazy. I will look at age-level gold/silvers but it is going to be a whole lot of PSU lol
It's hard to say who Cael really wanted without saying "he didn't want them if they went elsewhere" -- but your list is a good start.
Good catch on some of these. Crookham completely slipped my mind, he also had a weird end to his HS career because of injuries. Mullen and Neves I just forgot about. I was going to include McGowan but couldn't remember when he committed vs when Davis did. Bouzakis I also meant to include.
10 schools is a much better list than the 3,174 schools Bassett is still stuck on.
Neves belongs but was probably someone who more recruited PSU than the other way around. That "soft verbal" and saying he would continue looking at other schools ... Cael was probably interested, but not exclusively so.
Micic shows that you don't have to let 8 years in college go to waste.
Crookham was another. Apparently we were very close to landing him, and he decided on Lehigh very late in the process. It happens.
I agree with this as well! Iowa for sure is in trouble. Michigan solid RTC but don’t develop kids like psu. They seem to develop kids like Pantaleo, Amine, Paris. All good coming out of Hs but not top 5 guys! Their focus on Cliff Keen has to be something Jax, Bo and Blaze are looking at. They must have unlimited money cause they keep buying wrestlers. Ohio State as well wins the recruiting trophy every year but Peter out in the big moments
"Peter out" is a phrase that is discouraged at Ohio State, especially during medical exams.
You could be right, JP - I don’t always see things the same way as others. I could be way off base on this take.
I get where you are coming from. He’s always had that frame where looks like he could get a lot bigger, his dad is pretty big but he’s been around the same weight for a few years so hasn’t really hit a big spurt yet. So I see him being 133 maybe 141. Not sure for he sucks a lot of weight could prob make 125 yet not that I’d expect that. As opposed to getting to 157/165. He’s a jr and prob was held back not sure though.
Vito’s dad wrestled 105.5 lbs, Jax’s dad (I believe) wrestled 150 ( the season before it became 157) so I think Jax would have more upside for filling out. But jpsolo pointed out that Jax’s weight hasn’t increased much over the past couple of years so maybe h’s done growing and 141/49 might be where he can top out.
Let's not air our dirty laundry son.
I take this to mean Jax is getting on the PSU bus, but Marcus isn't gonna let him sit next to him (i.e. wrestle the same weight). So Jax goes to the back of the bus, finds a different seat (i.e. down a weight to 133), and still goes to PSU anyway.I think we can cross Jax off our list. Totally get it, wish the kid the best.
I wrestled him in high school at 119!
Famous for losing to a legend. I guesss I’ll take it😂
For every Nolf, you gotta have a Todrank. 🤷♂️
I can top that! When I was in college I was pinned by Dave Schultz (R.I.P.) at an open tournament after he had won his Olympic gold medal.
