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Who do you project at 125 and 157 next year?

Teske and Berge. I wonder if there will be any transfer prospects. The back half of the lineup is absolutely loaded
 
Teske and Berge. I wonder if there will be any transfer prospects. The back half of the lineup is absolutely loaded

By "loaded" at the back half, are you referring to:

165 -- Joseph
174 -- Hall
184 -- Brooks
197 -- Beard or Conel if he transfers
285 -- Seth Nevills

If so, then it looks a little less loaded than this year's 4 finalists. They will certainly need some hammers in the front half.
 
By "loaded" at the back half, are you referring to:

165 -- Joseph
174 -- Hall
184 -- Brooks
197 -- Beard or Conel if he transfers
285 -- Seth Nevills

If so, then it looks a little less loaded than this year's 4 finalists. They will certainly need some hammers in the front half.

Cassar should get a sixth year, shak should also and hopefully can get healthy and improve between the ears. If he doesn't, Brooks will be a good replacement.
 
By "loaded" at the back half, are you referring to:

165 -- Joseph
174 -- Hall
184 -- Brooks
197 -- Beard or Conel if he transfers
285 -- Seth Nevills

If so, then it looks a little less loaded than this year's 4 finalists. They will certainly need some hammers in the front half.

I nominate Bruce "The Hammer" to fill out the lineup.
 
By "loaded" at the back half, are you referring to:

165 -- Joseph
174 -- Hall
184 -- Brooks
197 -- Beard or Conel if he transfers
285 -- Seth Nevills

If so, then it looks a little less loaded than this year's 4 finalists. They will certainly need some hammers in the front half.

I think most people believe Cassar gets a 6th year and Rasheed probably does as well.

165-Joseph
174-Hall
184-Rasheed or Brooks
197-Beard or Conel
Hwt-Cassar

That IS absolutely loaded. Joseph hopefully 3 timer going for a 4th. Hall hopefully a 2 timer/ 3 time finalist going for a 3rd title. Rasheed if healthy looking like a finalist and Brooks looks like a possible freshman champ. Conel already a high AS looking to go out on top or Beard who also looks like a possible freshman champ. Cassar hopefully looking for his 2nd title. That lineup looks like PSU will run away with another NCAA championship to me regardless of what the front half looks like
 
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I have to believe Berge moves to 157 and Verk takes over 149.

I'm excited for Verk being the full time starter, he's taken some questionable losses this year but he gave Micah all he wanted and then some @ Columbus.

I recall someone mentioned he lost both of his first consolation matches at the Scuffle (after losing to Brady and Gfeller in close ones) and Keystone classic, something he'll definitely need to work on. His loss to Malik Amine I heard he was not expecting to wrestle that day and made an insane cut the day of which resulted in him gassing.
 
By "loaded" at the back half, are you referring to:

165 -- Joseph
174 -- Hall
184 -- Brooks
197 -- Beard or Conel if he transfers
285 -- Seth Nevills

If so, then it looks a little less loaded than this year's 4 finalists. They will certainly need some hammers in the front half.

I’m including the depth as well- Manville, Starooci. Cassar and maybe even Rasheed are still part of the equation. That’s basically a two-deep of current and imo, future AA’s. Of course it’s a little less loaded than this year’s, which is historically great. But I doubt there’ll be a better/deeper 165-285 room in the country.

You aren’t wrong though on the front half. More answers are needed there
 
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I guess it’s just me but I don’t see “it” with Berge, not sure but I am just not confident with him being a High AA, I don’t think he even beats Pagdilao or Early the way he wrestled after the scuffle
While Berge could beat Verk for the 149 spot it is not a good weight for him. He is pretty impressive at full strength. That just means you get to be surprised. :)
 
2 out of state guys(Rasheed and Cassar) sticking around for a 6th year. Most likely each on a partial scholly. Out of state tuition. Doubtful. If Cassar is going to pursue MMA/pro wrestling, given his documented shoulder issues, it makes sense to move on. It’s been a great run for them, but I don’t see a sixth year as likely or logical.
 
2 out of state guys(Rasheed and Cassar) sticking around for a 6th year. Most likely each on a partial scholly. Out of state tuition. Doubtful. If Cassar is going to pursue MMA/pro wrestling, given his documented shoulder issues, it makes sense to move on. It’s been a great run for them, but I don’t see a sixth year as likely or logical.
The word is though, they've already applied for their 6th years. Why apply if you've got no intention of using it?
 
Joseph-Hall-Brooks-Beard-Nevills unless Hall takes his RS. Then Cenzo moves up and takes 174. Manville or Joe Lee take 165.
 
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I guess it’s just me but I don’t see “it” with Berge, not sure but I am just not confident with him being a High AA, I don’t think he even beats Pagdilao or Early the way he wrestled after the scuffle
Agree with you on Berge assessment. I just don't see the offensive skills and if anything he looked undersize against some of the 149 guys. Kolodizik looked much bigger than him. I'm still of the thought Sasso is going to be better than either Verk or Berge.
In top tier colligate wrestling you have to be able to create offense from both your feet and on the mat. A lot of young guys look to counter moves, and the good opponent doesn't allow that.
 
Agree with you on Berge assessment. I just don't see the offensive skills and if anything he looked undersize against some of the 149 guys. Kolodizik looked much bigger than him. I'm still of the thought Sasso is going to be better than either Verk or Berge.
In top tier colligate wrestling you have to be able to create offense from both your feet and on the mat. A lot of young guys look to counter moves, and the good opponent doesn't allow that.


I agree with your sasso assessment, ever since he got the raw deal catching Pletcher Early in PIAA a few years back he’s been an absolute animal.
 
I guess it’s just me but I don’t see “it” with Berge, not sure but I am just not confident with him being a High AA, I don’t think he even beats Pagdilao or Early the way he wrestled after the scuffle
Berge is a Freshman who was ranked all year in the 10-15 range, was a highly ranked recruit and has been on a world team this year. He beat 2 AA and other ranked kids as a Freshman. Any team would be "grateful" to have him. He's learning and getting better and has had to cut weight all year to reach 149, not his preferred weight. I think Cael knows talent better than we do. He will have a successful career.
 
Isn't Howard coming in next fall too?
Howard is Junior in HS. One more year left at Bergen Catholic, who BTW had four alumini qualify for NCAAs this year. I know ST. Ed’s, Blair and a few others have great programs, but does anyone know the most qualifiers and/or AAs from the same HS in a given year?
 
Loaded from 165 - HWT, 125- 157 not so much. Might have to bring in a blue chip transfer for 125 or 157 . Hidley might want to return back home after completing his 2 year mission to NC state.Also Jack Mueller would look great at 125 lol.
 
Wouldn’t be surprised if they take a “reboot” yr especially if he has Gross (don’t laugh), Rasheed, Conel, and Cassar as his seniors. Let RBY, NLee, JLee, Starocci, Brooks, Beard, and Nevills RS. Can Joseph and Hall take Olympic RS although Hall has a regular RS available. Cael has rebooted the program in 2010 and 2015.
 
Loaded from 165 - HWT, 125- 157 not so much. Might have to bring in a blue chip transfer for 125 or 157 . Hidley might want to return back home after completing his 2 year mission to NC state.Also Jack Mueller would look great at 125 lol.

Hidley's bro also at NCST, so I'd say he's staying put.
 
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Wouldn’t be surprised if they take a “reboot” yr especially if he has Gross (don’t laugh), Rasheed, Conel, and Cassar as his seniors. Let RBY, NLee, JLee, Starocci, Brooks, Beard, and Nevills RS. Can Joseph and Hall take Olympic RS although Hall has a regular RS available. Cael has rebooted the program in 2010 and 2015.
Is there a scenario in there where they could put together a winning lineup that allowed RBY and NLee to redshirt next year? IMO it appeared on occasion, from a physical standpoint only as they obviously have the skill, that they ascended into the starting lineup earlier than anticipated as a result of the way the Suriano/Teasdale departures played out and would benefit in their individual goals of becoming multiple time NC’s from a year in the room and getting stronger.
 
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Next year does not look like a national championship year. The two returning national champions from previous years, Joseph and Hall, will not get through their weight classes unscathed, and only if Cassar returns can we see a sure national champion in that lineup. Might as well take a redshirt year and regroup for another run in 2021.
 
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I get that some of you are down on Berge, but he's even or better on his feet with 95% of the other wrestlers at his weight. Even in his Thorn and Finesilver losses. Yes, bonus-wise, his absolute ceiling is Luke Pletcher, but there's no viable transfer out there who could produce better.

Should Cael have recruited Sasso? Probably. But he didn't. At least he tried with Teemer.
 
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Next year does not look like a national championship year. The two returning national champions from previous years, Joseph and Hall, will not get through their weight classes unscathed, and only if Cassar returns can we see a sure national champion in that lineup. Might as well take a redshirt year and regroup for another run in 2021.
The math says you're all wet.

We return 10.5 more points next year than the next team. The 3rd team is 30 pts back.

That's before adding Teske, Verk, and Conel or Beard to the lineup.

Try to relax and enjoy the title we just won.
 
I believe PSU is still the favorite going into next year, but it isn't by nearly the margin. Iowa and Okie St. should be right below imo. Berge will be top 5 at 157 and Teske will be better than most think. Nick Lee will be top 3 and RBY will be top 5.
 
Berge is a RS Freshman. Repeat a RS Freshman. Have we become so spoiled with success that some of our posters are already writing him off? He competed at what was likely a non optimum weight class for his body and still did pretty well all things considered.

Is it so hard to believe that he can get better in our room and eventually make the podium at nationals? If there is anyone out there laboring under the delusion that we are going to have a roster composed entirely of Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf Caliber wrestlers you will find following this sport and team incredibly frustrating.
 
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