Wrestling Penn State Wrestling Notebook: Addressing the Offseason Rumor Mill
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
I think it's pretty clearly Barr. Mirasola will RS this year, then go 197 and Barr will drop to 184.
Not yet. I would expect him to cert weighing in between 157.1 and 165. I guess we'll see.
Last night while having a PSU wrestling conversation and asking questions and generally being told "you know, top secret so I can't really say" I was ask how I thought the lineup would look. I went through my guesses and when i got to 197 I said Barr will wrestle 197 and Mirasola will redshirt. I got a response, "maybe, if Barr wins the spot Mirasola will redshirt."
Interesting answer.
I think Mirasola would beat Barr in a wrestle off.
That said, from what I've seen at Worlds and other matches he's wrestled, he needs some work on the mental side of things, specifically match management. I am not his coach and haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn recently, but I think a season spent in the room and on the east coast Open circuit would be good for his development.
As usual I am probably an outlier, but to hear Barr has (may have) to compete for the slot this year is certainly a surprise, and definitely is not optimal for navigating the log jam for the team.
That said, if he has to win the spot, and does, who's to say he wants to, or needs to go back down next year?
. Oh no, here we go again, but I didn't start it this time.Now to really kick a hornet's nest.
I'll say it. I'm general terms, I think Barr has higher upside than Conner. I think Conner's ceiling is a high AA but not a national champion, and Barr is NC caliber, certainly at 184, and likely at 197 if he were to bulk up for it further, beyond next year.
I don't think anyone on here today sees Conner at risk of starting next year at 197, but I'll raise my hand to say it is certainly 'plausable' if things play out as postulated above. Likewise, I think Cole may have a very short half life as a starter at heavy. Heck maybe Conner could get pressure to move up? I really don't like either of them at heavy weight. I see low AA potential there, and zero chance of a NC, given in all likelihood 230 is probably a max weight. Yeah, yeah, Snyder and Cassar, I know, but I call them as I see them.
Ok. I am sitting down, let me have it.
I agree with others that redshirting to maximize lineups may not be an operative concept for a little while. With the current roster and the top level recruits coming in, it could be that redshirting a year might just be met with a similar logjam with different faces. Two factors cause me not to worry too much, though. One, not every recruit meets expectations - even among the battle-tested ones PSU is getting currently. Two, injuries are an unfortunate reality.
I just wish PSU still hosted the Nittany Lion Open in the preseason. The PSU on PSU crime going on with this roster would be incredible to witness.
Looks like they doing that round robin tourney again this year..should see some PSU on PSU crime there..didn't they have Steen, Howard and Davis in same round robin last year? Messenbrink and Bearclaw, etc..
The reality is that today's high recruit true frosh is often ready to complete for AA or a National Championship right out of the gate. I think a redshirt made a lot of sense 15+ years ago when wrestlers entering college were more likely to need a year in the room before being competitive. Yes, there were a few exceptions like Kolat but most frosh just weren't ready to compete out of the gate.
Optimal navigation of the logjam doesn’t include competing to see who the best wrestler at the weight is?
Yes, even that one I was leaning KOT. He didn't wrestle like he typically does and Haines stayed in great position and capitalized when the opportunities came.Being an auditor at heart, I like opinions based on evidence,
All day, huh?
Just not this one?
Levi Haines & Keegan O'Toole Met In Potential NCAA Finals Preview - FloWrestling
Penn State wrestling NCAA champion Levi Haines and 2x NCAA champion Keegan O'Toole of Missouri met at the 2024 World Team Trials.www.flowrestling.org
If that's how you read it, that's not how it was intended. Levi is obviously on O'Toole's level. I still stand by my statement that Haines doesn't beat KOT this upcoming season.
Win or lose for KOT, the matches are gonna be electric and I can't wait to see them.
I'm not sure the point you're trying to make here? Yes, Haines would have to lose twice to have as many losses as O'Toole has in 3 years?
I think we can all agree that if KOT and Haines are on separate sides of the bracket, Rocco Welsh and Arnold are not sniffing the finals
If redshirts have no meaning, I would agree with you. I didn't know we were there yet, especial as we approach 2 deep in a number weight classes this year and next.
Welsh is no joke, but I am loving where Levi is right now. Depending upon the draw, Arnold may have an earlier exit than (Iowa) thinks.
One of them not making the semis with Hamiti also in the mix.
Gotcha. Yes - I think using the redshirts to give everyone their shot is part of it.
They haven't caught on that the inability (or refusal) to score points is a detriment.
I am not convinced Kennedy is not going to be Iowa's 174 pounder. However, the idea of Arnold having to wrestle Levi several times is something I find pleasing .
Ohio State has Rogotzke and Shumate at 184, both with 3 years left.
If Kharchla does not return, then Welsh is the only 174 on the roster or committed.
I stand by the statement that KOT doesn't ever beat Levi so there put that in your pipe and smoke it know it all
No pressure to Josh Barr ... we have Mesenbrink, Levi, Starocci, Barr and Kerk in a row. He must win a national title or there is no murderers row.
But it's okay, if that fails Kasak/Facundo can fill that role in 157 connecting from Shayne to Starocci.
Or we can have a lot of fun and just win 7 in a row with both Kasak/Facundo and Barr winning.
But why stop there when Bartlett was inches from winning last year also?
Come to think of it though, many thinks Luke will be the man to beat at 125 by next March and Braeden can jump a level after winning Big Tens as a true freshman making a hard cut.
Let's just win all 10 weights.
Give me all the offseason kool Aid
But it's okay, if that fails Kasak/Facundo can fill that role in 157 connecting from Shayne to Starocci.
Or we can have a lot of fun and just win 7 in a row with both Kasak/Facundo and Barr winning.
But why stop there when Bartlett was inches from winning last year also?
Come to think of it though, many thinks Luke will be the man to beat at 125 by next March and Braeden can jump a level after winning Big Tens as a true freshman making a hard cut.
Let's just win all 10 weights.
Give me all the offseason kool Aid
I think we have a good shot at 10AAs next year, and minimum 4 champs.
How we handle 133 will be interesting. Wish we could get Braeden the match vs Crookham without burning his redshirt but that rule is only for true freshman.
I think 133 is an ideal weight for Davis, but a RS would also help with maturity. Do we know anything about Nagao's injury?
Barr's certification was entered today (or yesterday). Weighed in between 184.1 and 197. Not much info to be gleaned from that one except he will either be too light to contend or too heavy to make it back to 184 next year.
Is Starocci/Barr at 184/197 better for the team than Barr/Starocci at 184/197? Assuming those are the two guys. Is Carter at more risk of losing at 197 than 184? Or doesn't it matter?Barr's certification was entered today (or yesterday). Weighed in between 184.1 and 197. Not much info to be gleaned from that one except he will either be too light to contend or too heavy to make it back to 184 next year.
Carter is going wherever he wants and Barr/Mirasola/? is going the other spot. So it doesn't matter which is better.
But Carter is not in danger of losing either weight.
Similar threads
