Colston DiBlasi granted release and Weston asked for release

[SimpsonCyclone]

Great summary and it makes a lot of sense after reading this.

Hey we all want Cyclone wrestling to improve and like it or not this is part of the change that needs to occur.

I am puzzled by the Storr deal as it sure appears the staff ran him off. If he is as good as he's supposed to be why wouldn't you work with a kid like that unless you are trying to send a message to the rest of the team?

Storr wanted to transfer and told the staff he would be leaving after the season. The staff has a kid in Parker who is the epitome of what this staff wants in their wrestlers that was having a very difficult time making weight and it was effecting his wrestling in competition and would be better wrestling at 141 (where Storr was at)..Instead of letting Storr (who wasn't fully buying in) wrestle the rest of the year they told him to pack up his ****. Parker then wrestled up to a more natural weight and beat a kid Storr lost to and then beat the 2 time defending national champ. There are a couple things I haven't agreed with with the staff but the Storr situation isn't one of them.

 

[buf87]

Great summary and it makes a lot of sense after reading this.

Hey we all want Cyclone wrestling to improve and like it or not this is part of the change that needs to occur.

I am puzzled by the Storr deal as it sure appears the staff ran him off. If he is as good as he's supposed to be why wouldn't you work with a kid like that unless you are trying to send a message to the rest of the team?

I think the change of culture that the coaches are trying to change and you have one of your most talented wrestler in constant contact with a former coach about how he is being coached.

This is a tough staff and they demand effort from everybody on the team, not just the elite.

 

[Bobber]

I think the change of culture that the coaches are trying to change and you have one of your most talented wrestler in constant contact with a former coach about how he is being coached.

This is a tough staff and they demand effort from everybody on the team, not just the elite.

Good point. Can't argue with that.

 

[Bobber]

Storr wanted to transfer and told the staff he would be leaving after the season. The staff has a kid in Parker who is the epitome of what this staff wants in their wrestlers that was having a very difficult time making weight and it was effecting his wrestling in competition and would be better wrestling at 141 (where Storr was at)..Instead of letting Storr (who wasn't fully buying in) wrestle the rest of the year they told him to pack up his ****. Parker then wrestled up to a more natural weight and beat a kid Storr lost to and then beat the 2 time defending national champ. There are a couple things I haven't agreed with with the staff but the Storr situation isn't one of them.

Thanks for the insight. I didn't realize he had already told them he wanted to transfer. It all makes more sense now.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

Thank you for explaining how this works. Now I realize how much I didn't know -- not even enough to ask about.
I'm truly an outsider when it comes to college wrestling, but I like watching the matches and cheering for our guys. Just like others have said regarding basketball and wrestling -- these are young people who also choose to spend a great deal of time doing something else at a high level. Regardless of their "performance" on the mat, I respect them for their choices and recognize there's no way I could have done what they're doing as a college student.

I don't have "insider" information but I will try to explain the timing thing...

During the wrestling season, there are two types of competition: opens and duals.
...
I would think that this type of thing happens often in all programs, but perhaps more so this year for ISU due to the new coaching staff. Kids who were recruited by the previous staff may have wanted to give it a shot with Dresser and company, found out they don't like it, and now are making their exit. I doubt this is a sign that things are falling apart, just people getting to know each other better and determining that it's not for them.

 

[OOTClone]

This transfer makes good sense and good luck to him the rest of his career. I would view this as a change to go somewhere to be able to compete rather than a "culture change" transfer like the others have been.

People can use these transfers as a negative towards the staff and program, or they can just be realistic. Fans wanted a culture change. The culture wasn't working. The program had hit an all-time low and a staff was brought it to change that. Now, when athletes leave, people want to question what the staff is doing. They are doing exactly what they were brought in for. Guys on the team got used to a non-intense atmosphere, an atmosphere of getting away with stuff, a team with distractions that were allowed to stick around. Finally moving away from that. Its good to see.

 

[CyGold]

I agree with a lot of this. Straw is obviously the guy at 157, and Carr is on his way.

About 165 though, I have to think that is part of the “disagreement.” 165 has been a disaster this year. My apologies for the strong wording, but I just don’t know how else to say it. Of the 3 guys they have run out there in duals, only Jennings has shown anything really, and we don’t even know if his one big upset was a fluke or not, because we seem to be going right back to St John.

I am sure DiBlasi wasn’t blind to the non-success at the weight, yet he wasn’t even given an opportunity.

Technically he was given an opportunity and wrestled 165 (vs Wyoming & Rider and yes, he had tough opponents). He also had a mixed bag of results at 157 and Straw has been a bright spot at that weight.

With that said, I'm sad to see him go. I've personally spoken to Colston numerous times at social events and he's a nice, respectful, well spoken and smart young man with a bright future. He has always represented ISU very well and has been a joy to watch. I'm not sure where he will end up but I wish him the best and to me he will always be a Cyclone. I can think of a lot of prior Cyclones that found a home elsewhere that I can say the same thing about. Best wishes to your future Colston. I hope you find happiness and success wherever you end up.

 

[50244]

I'm sorry to hear this news and echo all the positive comments about Colston. Great kid and I got to know him during the Midlands tournaments where he was super engaging with my son. He will do well wherever he ends up and I wish him the best.

 

[Judoka]

This transfer makes good sense and good luck to him the rest of his career. I would view this as a change to go somewhere to be able to compete rather than a "culture change" transfer like the others have been.

People can use these transfers as a negative towards the staff and program, or they can just be realistic. Fans wanted a culture change. The culture wasn't working. The program had hit an all-time low and a staff was brought it to change that. Now, when athletes leave, people want to question what the staff is doing. They are doing exactly what they were brought in for. Guys on the team got used to a non-intense atmosphere, an atmosphere of getting away with stuff, a team with distractions that were allowed to stick around. Finally moving away from that. Its good to see.

Was Colston a distraction? Because again the implication is the only reason for guys to leave is because they are lazy or don't want to be held to standards.

Maybe he just thought he'd be a better fit with a different staff. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall that he'd never get a lineup spot and decided to go somewhere where he would. That doesn't automatically mean he's avoiding hard work or is lazy or something. He stuck it out for a season and decided to go somewhere else. Maybe there's more to the story, but by all accounts he gave it a try and did the right things.

 

[OOTClone]

Was Colston a distraction? Because again the implication is the only reason for guys to leave is because they are lazy or don't want to be held to standards.

Maybe he just thought he'd be a better fit with a different staff. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall that he'd never get a lineup spot and decided to go somewhere where he would. That doesn't automatically mean he's avoiding hard work or is lazy or something. He stuck it out for a season and decided to go somewhere else. Maybe there's more to the story, but by all accounts he gave it a try and did the right things.

I don't view this as anything but him wanting to go somewhere else and be able to compete. Happens all the time. The only transfer that surprised me was Storr, but then looking back at everything, it was bound to happen and better now than later.

 

[buf87]

We were loaded with 149/157 pounders. Degen, Leisure, Straw, DiBlasi, Dewitt, Baptista, Lundgren. Probably missing someone.

Then add in Carr, St John, Breitenbach, Jennings at 157/165.

 

[BCClone]

I don't fault kids who want to leave if they believe a different place improves their chances to start. Bluntly, no kid goes out for any sport to just attend practice and hang with the team. From college down through junior high, possibly even down to youth level. He performed for us and was an upstanding representative for our university, I sincerely wish him the best wherever he goes. I also understand his brother wanting to follow, absolutely no hard feelings towards him.

I also don't fault kids to transfer when a coaching change happens. You spend a couple years getting to know a staff and then due to no fault of yours, it's a different crew leading you. Thanks to those who decided to give this staff a try. I will hold it against a wrestler if they leave next year due to the staff (not just for starting opportunity). They have had a year to see if they can mesh now, so either buy in or get walking papers now. That's my two cents.

 

[Judoka]

We were loaded with 149/157 pounders. Degen, Leisure, Straw, DiBlasi, Dewitt, Baptista, Lundgren. Probably missing someone.

Then add in Carr, St John, Breitenbach, Jennings at 157/165.

It wouldn't surprise me if Breitenbach also left after the season was over unless he feels really good about having the 165 spot next year. He's a redshirt junior so is probably graduating Could either just walk away from the sport or grad transfer.

 

[buf87]

It wouldn't surprise me if Breitenbach also left after the season was over unless he feels really good about having the 165 spot next year. He's a redshirt junior so is probably graduating Could either just walk away from the sport or grad transfer.

He is a great kid.

 

[Judoka]

I don't fault kids who want to leave if they believe a different place improves their chances to start. Bluntly, no kid goes out for any sport to just attend practice and hang with the team. From college down through junior high, possibly even down to youth level. He performed for us and was an upstanding representative for our university, I sincerely wish him the best wherever he goes. I also understand his brother wanting to follow, absolutely no hard feelings towards him.

I also don't fault kids to transfer when a coaching change happens. You spend a couple years getting to know a staff and then due to no fault of yours, it's a different crew leading you. Thanks to those who decided to give this staff a try. I will hold it against a wrestler if they leave next year due to the staff (not just for starting opportunity). They have had a year to see if they can mesh now, so either buy in or get walking papers now. That's my two cents.

Well said and that's basically what I was pushing back on. Yeah there are guys that just didn't want to be held accountable and yeah there were guys that didn't want a more intense environment. But some guys also just don't click with a staff that was different than the one they signed on to wrestle for and would rather go elsewhere. Or guys that realize they've been recruited over and want to go somewhere where they'll see the mat. No reason not to just wish those guys the best and move on without talking about "culture change" or not wanting to work hard.

 

[buf87]

I think there might have been a couple starters that may not be with the team if the old staff stayed around. It goes both ways. This staff has different personalities than the old staff. Expectations are different and coaching is different.

We know things didn't end well last year, so ....

 

[csteve]

Come on. "Don't want to work hard". Diblasi wrestled up a weight half the season for us this year just to see the lineup but wasn't going to see a starting spot again in the next two years and the open season is already done. He gave the staff a full season. Not every guy has to be insulted on the way out.

My post, though looks like it came across that way, was not intended to insult Colston personally for leaving. I, too, have talked with him at events and left feeling he was a good kid. I could say the same with Storr, as well as most kids I've spoken with in the program.

My intention was to reiterate what the staff has addressed. They want kids that work hard in the room, live the lifestyle, and have bought in to the process.

What happened to working hard and earning your spot? If we are going to be a championship team, we need the competition in the room. Championship caliber teams often have wrestlers that are backups until they are seniors and then make the podium their final year after finally winning the starting spot. These are the types of kids I respect! If everyone leaves that isn't a starter, we will never be good.

Regarding Colston, maybe he did work hard and did live the lifestyle expected of him. I don't really know. What I really meant by my post...was he (or anyone that transfers to go somewhere he can be the starter) putting in max effort to perfect their style to win a spot in the lineup? Was he in tune with the process it takes to become a champion? The process may be more than a season for some. It could take hard work for several years to make an impact. We need the kids that work hard and seize the opportunities when presented! Ones that know they will have to be at their best every day to win a spot. This is what I meant by working hard, putting in your time, and be a part of something special.

I understand this process isn't for everyone. Some have goals of being a national champion, some an AA, and others are simply satisfied with being a starter. I feel that anyone that transfers for fears of not making the starting lineup (not sure if this is Colston's reason) are better off in another program anyway. Good luck to him.

 

[Judoka]

My post, though looks like it came across that way, was not intended to insult Colston personally for leaving. I, too, have talked with him at events and left feeling he was a good kid. I could say the same with Storr, as well as most kids I've spoken with in the program.

My intention was to reiterate what the staff has addressed. They want kids that work hard in the room, live the lifestyle, and have bought in to the process.

What happened to working hard and earning your spot? If we are going to be a championship team, we need the competition in the room. Championship caliber teams often have wrestlers that are backups until they are seniors and then make the podium their final year after finally winning the starting spot. These are the types of kids I respect! If everyone leaves that isn't a starter, we will never be good.

Regarding Colston, maybe he did work hard and did live the lifestyle expected of him. I don't really know. What I really meant by my post...was he (or anyone that transfers to go somewhere he can be the starter) putting in max effort to perfect their style to win a spot in the lineup? Was he in tune with the process it takes to become a champion? The process may be more than a season for some. It could take hard work for several years to make an impact. We need the kids that work hard and seize the opportunities when presented! Ones that know they will have to be at their best every day to win a spot. This is what I meant by working hard, putting in your time, and be a part of something special.

I understand this process isn't for everyone. Some have goals of being a national champion, some an AA, and others are simply satisfied with being a starter. I feel that anyone that transfers for fears of not making the starting lineup (not sure if this is Colston's reason) are better off in another program anyway. Good luck to him.

Kyle Kempt transfered because of a coaching change and change in offensive philosophy. Do you look down on him?

Alex Mackall left Rutgers because they got a transfer who was better than him that locked down the 125 spot for them. Do you look down on him?

 

[VirginSturgeon]

Kyle Kempt transfered because of a coaching change and change in offensive philosophy. Do you look down on him?

Alex Mackall left Rutgers because they got a transfer who was better than him that locked down the 125 spot for them. Do you look down on him?

I don't think anyone intended for their message to be looking down on the kids that changed schools. I do understand their message of a culture change, fans have been clamoring for that for the last couple years. The results are vastly improved and I believe the coaching staff is trying to weed out the few that do not have the mentality to handle their coaching philosophy. Like other posters have stated this staff is not for everyone but they will have Iowa State wrestling battling for top 5 finishes in the next 3 to 5 years.

 

[buf87]

Dresser and staff have been giving everybody full releases that the school allows. No Big 12 and not sure on the Iowa schools.