Why do all of the tOSU wrestlers seem to have a much more developed upper body?

[Ranger Dan]

Specifically, Nathan Tomasello, Micah Jordan, Bo Jordan, and Miles Martin all have huge pecs, lats, and shoulders relative to the guys they wrestled today in the Big Ten championship finals. Does tOSU have a philosophy where they would often have a given guy wrestle at one weight higher than other programs?

Some of the great Penn State wrestlers today (Nolf, Hall, Bo), and in recent memory (Taylor, Ruth) always seemed generally lankey, compared to some their opponents. The exception would be McIntosh, who was relatively short and stout. Maybe the idea is quickness, endurance, technique over braun...

Obviously, both of tOSU and Penn State have both had a lot of success recently. I just wonder whether each of these programs have a different philosophy relative to size/muscle mass.

 

[mn78psu83]

On the surface, it appears that PSU guys wrestle at closer to their "walking around weight." Of course, I don't know that for sure. As far as an in season lifting philosophy, there are others who could better address that. Lifting heavily during the season can be problematic with respect to muscle mass and cutting. Again, others can better address specifics.

 

[horraybeer]

Tan tom likes to recruit kids who only bench. Lol.

 

[21Guns]

Tan tom likes to recruit kids who only bench. Lol.

No jokes please. They are bigger and stronger than us.

 

[JohnBasedow]

That has been a trend for awhile. "Something" in the water.

 

[21Guns]

That has been a trend for awhile. "Something" in the water.

No, just an injured kid who would have been an All American, and 5 kids from Ohio State who are bigger and stronger than any of the kids they wrestle, especially our kids.

 

[Golic55]

No jokes please. They are bigger and stronger than us.

Wrong, as usual.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Because the HGH and roids our guys take (per HR) make us smaller

 

[mn78psu83]

Because the HGH and roids our guys take (per HR) make us smaller

Damn! That makes sense. Thanks CT.

 

[21Guns]

Wrong, as usual.

LMAO. You offered no reason, just claim "wrong", hahahaha. Comedy gold.

 

[Ranger Dan]

That has been a trend for awhile. "Something" in the water.

No, I'm not suggesting that there is anything funny going on... if Cael wanted Penn State's wrestlers to have more of "beach body", then I'd bet that they would have muscles on top of muscles.

 

[Osprey Lion]

No jokes please. They are bigger and stronger than us.

Bigger not stronger. If Suriano is fit, we win. If Guilibon doesn't fold, we win. It had to be a perfect storm for
FOSU to win. I like PSU at the nationals even if Suriano can't go and Gulibon doesn't show up. I think
the latter is more likely than the former.

 

[Cowbell Man]

Once again.

Snyder is 5'11" and 213 lbs.

In a class where everyone is 50lbs bigger.

This discussion is so old. It is not a factor. At all. Zero.

 

[NYWRESTLER94]

Once again.

Snyder is 5'11" and 213 lbs.

In a class where everyone is 30lbs bigger.

This discussion is so old. It is not a factor. At all. Zero.

It's more like 220 if he were walking at 213 we probably would've seen him at 197

 

[nitlion6]

I take it this is the what Penn State and Cael does wrong thread?
Good. Hopefully we can keep it confined to a single thread. When we are done who is presenting our findings to Cael.
We wI'll title it, "We have a Plan!"

 

[Cowbell Man]

It's more like 220 if he were walking at 213 we probably would've seen him at 197

Omg people. You just made my point. He certainly is not spending time losing weight any more than McCutcheon is, who IS smaller and winning. Snyder did weigh 213 at some during this season. Everyone else is like 250 plus.

Please. Everyone just stop with the "smaller" thing when we don't win every time we want to.

 

[El-Jefe]

Once again.

Snyder is 5'11" and 213 lbs.

In a class where everyone is 50lbs bigger.

This discussion is so old. It is not a factor. At all. Zero.

Nobody ever said peep about Ohio State's S&C program when Courts and Triggas and DiJulius and Tessari and Magrum and Demas and Paddock and Mark Martin and Campolattano and (I'm probably forgetting a few) couldn't be dynamited out of bottom.

 

[mattu12]

Once again.

Snyder is 5'11" and 213 lbs.

In a class where everyone is 50lbs bigger.

This discussion is so old. It is not a factor. At all. Zero.

I don't think you can use a 19 year old (or so) World Sr. Champion freak like Kyle Snyder to make an argument that weight/size doesn't matter. If it didn't why have weight classes and weigh ins at all?

Cael obviously believes in live-able weight cuts. Expect discipline and commitment, but don't abuse. The OSUs (Oklahoma and Ohio) obviously are all in for getting the weight/size advantage. Sometimes it works to their advantage at the expense of their wrestlers' quality of life. If they win because of that, so be it. I'm with Cael.

 

[James P. Whitters III]

I noticed the huge power advantage Micah had on Zain, and oh boy does Jake Ryan seem powerful compared to Nolf. Good thing Nick didn't have to wrestle that 125 again- he is jacked. They have a couple powerful guys but are out quicked by smaller guys with the exception of Snyder. I would take Nolf's build all day over those upper body buff guys.

 

[liex26]

Looking stronger, and being stronger are two different things. Sometimes, not always, that definition comes at the cost of conditioning.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

Specifically, Nathan Tomasello, Micah Jordan, Bo Jordan, and Miles Martin all have huge pecs, lats, and shoulders relative to the guys they wrestled today in the Big Ten championship finals. Does tOSU have a philosophy where they would often have a given guy wrestle at one weight higher than other programs?

Some of the great Penn State wrestlers today (Nolf, Hall, Bo), and in recent memory (Taylor, Ruth) always seemed generally lankey, compared to some their opponents. The exception would be McIntosh, who was relatively short and stout. Maybe the idea is quickness, endurance, technique over braun...

Obviously, both of tOSU and Penn State have both had a lot of success recently. I just wonder whether each of these programs have a different philosophy relative to size/muscle mass.

Micah Jordan's chiseled physique did nothing to prevent him from being assaulted and bludgeoned by Zain Retherford this afternoon. Jordan was just abused in that match.

 

[BOSCO2]

Bring back HIT.

 

[matter7172]

It's totally true. Their boobs kept popping out of their singlets.

 

[nitlion6]

Considering Zain himself looks as big as a gorilla I don't think 149 is a good example

 

[Ranger Dan]

I take it this is the what Penn State and Cael does wrong thread?
Good. Hopefully we can keep it confined to a single thread. When we are done who is presenting our findings to Cael.
We wI'll title it, "We have a Plan!"

No, I'm just asking whether the upper body size of the 4 tOSU wrestlers that I mentioned was a coincidence, or a philosophical goal of their program.

 

[pletch5]

I don't think you can use a 19 year old (or so) World Sr. Champion freak like Kyle Snyder to make an argument that weight/size doesn't matter. If it didn't why have weight classes and weigh ins at all?

Cael obviously believes in live-able weight cuts. Expect discipline and commitment, but don't abuse. The OSUs (Oklahoma and Ohio) obviously are all in for getting the weight/size advantage. Sometimes it works to their advantage at the expense of their wrestlers' quality of life. If they win because of that, so be it. I'm with Cael.

And you know what guys at OSU are cutting a lot of weight. 33 and 41 are under weight walking around

 

[James P. Whitters III]

Cael never looked big and buff. We always used to comment how much stronger this guy and that guy looked, and then sit back and watch him throw them around like rag dolls. The Minnesota guys always looked huge upper body. Roger Kish was so big compared to Varner, but it didn't help him. It varies with guys. Altons were jacked, Matt Brown was jacked. DT ended up looking jacked his last couple of years and Ruth looked like he was carved from stone but not huge as much as cut. Speed and technique matter about the same as power. Styles dictate which body type works best for which guy. The PSU formula (whatever it is) has been better than the tosu formula most of this past decade. Nick Lee has the body type I would prefer when recruiting(like Nolf).

 

[Ranger Dan]

Speed and technique matter about the same as power. Styles dictate which body type works best for which guy.

Thanks, this is exactly the thing I was attempting to discuss. Taylor and Ruth were both chiseled and cut, but not very big muscularly in my opinion.

 

[El-Jefe]

No, I'm just asking whether the upper body size of the 4 tOSU wrestlers that I mentioned was a coincidence, or a philosophical goal of their program.

From what I've seen, Ohio State's strength training program tends to emphasize the basic barbell exercises -- squats, deadlifts, presses, etc. Similar to what you'd expect from a football workout. Tan Tom brags about their deadlifts. If you emphasize a powerlifter routine, you might get a powerlifter body ...

Insiders can say more, but my impression of PSU's routine is that it's more strength + agility, and more individualized. For example, Molinaro was a notorious weight room freak, and Taylor in the Rowlands/Askren podcast interview said he never really lifted to become strong until he decided to go 86 kg. (Though I've seen pics of him deadlifting, so it's not like he never touched a plate in 5 years. Just different focus.)

The F word comes into play too. All those fun games they play -- dodgeball and the like -- all develop agility and competitiveness, in a playful way that also gives them a mental break.

 

[m.knox]

No jokes please. They are bigger and stronger than us.

that's why they won 32-12 in the dual meet at their place................

 

[James P. Whitters III]

It should also be noted that Snyder and BOJO were monsters before going to tosu upper body wise. Nato is a legendary power lifter. Pletcher was very strong looking before he got there and yes he does look like a powerful young wrestler. Martin has done a nice job adding muscle this year imo. tosu is a top program with good coaching and great athletes. It should come as no surprise that they do things well.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Taylor in the Rowlands/Askren podcast interview said he never really lifted

I believe I read on this board that he also couldn't lift for fear of exceeding his weight class.

 

[mn78psu83]

Cael never looked big and buff. We always used to comment how much stronger this guy and that guy looked, and then sit back and watch him throw them around like rag dolls. The Minnesota guys always looked huge upper body. Roger Kish was so big compared to Varner, but it didn't help him. It varies with guys. Altons were jacked, Matt Brown was jacked. DT ended up looking jacked his last couple of years and Ruth looked like he was carved from stone but not huge as much as cut. Speed and technique matter about the same as power. Styles dictate which body type works best for which guy. The PSU formula (whatever it is) has been better than the tosu formula most of this past decade. Nick Lee has the body type I would prefer when recruiting(like Nolf).

I remember watching Cael and Eggum the first time they wrestled each other at 184 in the 1999 NCAA finals - Cael's freshman year. It was at the Bryce Jordan Center. My friend looked at me and said, "Look at that guy." He meant Eggum. He was jacked. The only point Eggum scored in the match was an escape. It was the first of Cael's 4 consecutive OWs at NCCAs.

 

[El-Jefe]

I remember watching Cael and Eggum the first time they wrestled each other at 184 in the 1999 NCAA finals - Cael's freshman year. It was at the Bryce Jordan Center. My friend looked at me and said, "Look at that guy." He meant Eggum. He was jacked. The only point Eggum scored in the match was an escape. It was the first of Cael's 4 consecutive OWs at NCCAs.

You've been friends with Jammen that long?

 

[mn78psu83]

You've been friends with Jammen that long?

I bet Jammen was bummin.' I remember the look on JRob's face - we had real good seats - and he was stunned. Cael dominated Eggum. Great stuff. Cael crushed Eggum in the semis the next year.

 

[JimNazium]

I've always thought that the Michigan and Minnesota wrestlers had the best looking physiques. I don't believe that it correlates to them being stronger or better though. The Schlatter brothers at UMinn both put on major mass in college, and neither reached their expectations. That is just one example though. I do believe that this PSU coaching staff is on to something as far as training and development go. I'm embarrassed that some of our fans would question this after this team's performance the last 6 yrs. Not to pick on Ranger Dan, who I think makes a legit observation, but physiques mean very little as far as performance goes. J Jaggers, who coaches at tOSU would be a great example of somebody that wasn't very muscular but was very successful in his collegiate career.

 

[JimNazium]

Micah Jordan's chiseled physique did nothing to prevent him from being assaulted and bludgeoned by Zain Retherford this afternoon. Jordan was just abused in that match.

Yes..Micah is a tough competitor. He fought like crazy but Zain really worked him over. I really respected that kid's effort.

 

[Cletus11]

I think Cael doesn't ask for the weight pulls of other programs. Opting for a more 'healthy' wrestler both mentally and physically than a wrestler constantly sucking weight and see sawing all year long. I think that is good for the sport and the wrestler. And his results show it.

 

[RVARZR]

Looks can be deceiving.

Exhibit A:
Check out this article from 2013 and look what a young Nolf looked like. He was already a 2x state champion with one loss.

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/7/19/4539858/cael-lands-jason-nolf

Exhibit B:

Ben Askren didn'jt look like a hulk but he handled guys like a man among boys.

 

[El-Jefe]

Looks can be deceiving.

Exhibit A:
Check out this article from 2013 and look what a young Nolf looked like. He was already a 2x state champion with one loss.

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/7/19/4539858/cael-lands-jason-nolf

Exhibit B:

Ben Askren didn'jt look like a hulk but he handled guys like a man among boys.

That picture of Nolf was from his 98 lb freshman state title. I should know. I wrote that article for BSD. I was looking for a picture with his hand being raised at states, and that was the most recent one I could find at that time.

As far as Askren goes, he was the anti-swimsuit model -- meaning, all I ever saw was the hair, where with them, what hair?.