It doesn't help that a lot of the best kids from Wisconsin are AWA kids, and Askren doesn't have the best relationship with Bono
Beat me to it. Askren and Bono hate each other. Ben was the wisconsin RTC coach after Bono got hired and that lasted no time at all. Egos and differences in philosophies largely behind it. To be fair Askren also had a salty relationship with Barry Davis before Bono.
So even though he’d say he doesn’t do it, all the top wisconsin prospects (and they virtually all wrestle at AWA) are pushed away from UW and have been for years. It sucks because AWA has upped the talent level in this state so freaking much. O’Toole, Mocco, Messenbrink, Keckeisen, Whiting, Sinclar, Mirasola(s), etc. You could build a hell of a squad around Wisconsin kids, granted they are all middle and upper weights!
Not much UW can do to change it unless they hire a coach that Ben actually gets along with lol