2025-2026 Recruiting
- Thread starter Mead For My Horses
- Start date
Two comments I have in regards to recruiting and NIL.
1. As far as I can gather is Sukup the largest donor ISU Athletics has? With football on firm footing and the arrow pointing up, is Sukup a general donor that funds can be moved around within the Department to help Wrestling maintain its relevance and/or move into that Top 3 pool?
2. For those more in the know how would you classify the Wrestling Staff's goal and pitch on the recruiting trail? As we have seen this week we clearly arent in the running for the Elite HS kid which is frustrating. Rather is our NICHE to be the program or pursue the recruit that falls into these catgeories...
A. Kid wants to move DOWN from the elite program bc he has been recruited over and or the fit isnt quite there as expected.
B. Move SIDEWAYS (Insert any Big 10 Team)
C. Or MOVE UP (Lower Big 12 / Other Conference) as his early returns have been impressive and wants to join a team contender...
Not knowing the staff's aim, I feel like we check all the boxes for these type of transfers; I would contend our ROI would be greater as it would appear to be a more solidified athlete, we have a great culture and are on the edge of Top 5 every year.
1. As far as I can gather is Sukup the largest donor ISU Athletics has? With football on firm footing and the arrow pointing up, is Sukup a general donor that funds can be moved around within the Department to help Wrestling maintain its relevance and/or move into that Top 3 pool?
2. For those more in the know how would you classify the Wrestling Staff's goal and pitch on the recruiting trail? As we have seen this week we clearly arent in the running for the Elite HS kid which is frustrating. Rather is our NICHE to be the program or pursue the recruit that falls into these catgeories...
A. Kid wants to move DOWN from the elite program bc he has been recruited over and or the fit isnt quite there as expected.
B. Move SIDEWAYS (Insert any Big 10 Team)
C. Or MOVE UP (Lower Big 12 / Other Conference) as his early returns have been impressive and wants to join a team contender...
Not knowing the staff's aim, I feel like we check all the boxes for these type of transfers; I would contend our ROI would be greater as it would appear to be a more solidified athlete, we have a great culture and are on the edge of Top 5 every year.
I would say or guess that the staff's goal is on par with the football staff. Find the under the radar kids that have potential, develop and maintain. That is built on culture. Hopefully grab a headliner every other class or similar. I don't see any way we can grab the absolute sure fire stars with out finding a pot of gold somewhere.
fine ? you pose
unfortunately, the gap between top 5 and top 3 is pretty extensive
had the injury bug not hammered us, I think we are in the running for top 3 in march
A,B,C all can bring their own benefits to the team - wouldn't rule any of them out
elite HS kids I would consider Castillo in the elite convo - 3x super 32 placer / Fargo finalist / U17 team silver medalist
trust the process
unfortunately, the gap between top 5 and top 3 is pretty extensive
had the injury bug not hammered us, I think we are in the running for top 3 in march
A,B,C all can bring their own benefits to the team - wouldn't rule any of them out
elite HS kids I would consider Castillo in the elite convo - 3x super 32 placer / Fargo finalist / U17 team silver medalist
trust the process
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And also cashing in on NIL cash availability.
They can't afford to take their foot off the football gas.
FYI: Hearing 3rd hand we didn't make the Raneys list of finalists.
1) Sukup donation won't move to wrestling
2) A-C All these options should be on the table for any coaching staff IMHO
Definitely need to figure out what is the reasoning for not landing some of these other elites. For the ones that are looking for the highest price that is completely understandable on our end of just not being able to be competitive with that...but for the others that money isn't the #1 priority what changes do we need to look for to help our chances? I do think when we get some senior-level guys competing internationally with hopefully success it'll help on the recruitment trail.
One of these times where you have to adapt or die and I have a feeling once you are left for dead it's going to be very hard to come back from unlike in the past where you didn't have to worry about NIL.
The good news in all of this for us fans is our staff already knows these things. Game plans being worked on.
I like all your other thoughts but as for the bold, not even really that close. The delta between Frost and Ech is worth additional points, while Bastida and Herrera is worth many more, Swid vs. Paniro is negligible. Nothing else is costing us anything measurable. We only have two guys ranked in the top 8, with just one the top half of the podium which is where the big points are earned. The injured guys likely take us unto the top 10, which looks like a struggle right now without them.
I agree that I don’t think we compete for top 3 when healthy, but I do think that Euton could have won a match or two at NCAA’s, whereas we may not even qualify the weight right now.
Might be true but winning a match or two doesn't move the needle. It's 0.5-2.0 points unless there's bonus. It is entirely possible to win 2 matches at the NCAAs and secure 1 team point.
2 points was the difference between us being 3rd or 5th last year.
I admittedly have a hard time following wrestling recruiting besides what I see posted on the board, have we actively been pursuing these twins? Have them in on visits?
For the love if it’s not us and down to 2, please pick Illinois over Iowa…man it’s been a tough week recruiting.
For the love if it’s not us and down to 2, please pick Illinois over Iowa…man it’s been a tough week recruiting.
question. What kind of cash are we talking about if some billionaire fanboy wants to but a national wrestling title for a WVU or Pitt type program. I'm talking buying the top wrestler at every single weight, even if that means raiding 4 or 5 from penn state.
How high would blue bloods like penn state and ohio state go to stop their rosters from being gutted in wrestling?
How high would blue bloods like penn state and ohio state go to stop their rosters from being gutted in wrestling?
