A question from a AAA wrestling fan about the ‘22 class . . .

[Lionlaw]

I have no expertise when it comes to HS wrestling and I never post here. Other than being a huge PSU wrestling fan - I have nothing to add to the great content here. With those admissions, O$U seems to have signed a Bama like class for ‘22. The top three overall wrestlers? How does the PSU class rank and compare to O$U? Is this an anomaly? The Nutz had space and we did not?

Thanks in advance - if I violated any unwritten board rules - apologies.

 

[SonnyAbeFan]

You violated the most sacred unwritten board rule by apologizing in advance!

Actually, congrats on your first post.

I’m sure others can answer it more comprehensively, but you’re correct in your assessments. Cael is locked and loaded with champions at most (all?) weights, and other “top” guys have to choose elsewhere. I believe I just read the the Bucks have had a Top 1 or 2 recruiting class 4 of the last 10 years. They are definitely the Recruiting National Champions.

They appear to have a great team on paper. But they don’t wrestle on paper, and they don’t have the Triple Cs!

 

[Tom McAndrew]

The Nutz had space and we did not?

that's basically it.

How does the PSU class rank and compare to O$U?

I think class rankings are behind paywalls, so I wouldn't post them even if I had that info. But PSU's class is very small, which never helps in rankings. PSU's class at this time is 2 wrestlers. Levi Haines is phenomenal; he's the star of PSU's 2022 class. There hasn't been a lot of press about him, as he elected to forego his senior season of HS, moved to State College, and practiced over the past year with the NLWC.

Thanks in advance - if I violated any unwritten board rules - apologies.

all is good -- no rules, written or unwritten, were violated by your post.

 

[AK1967]

If an Elite wrestler don’t want to be Coached by Cael and his staff their is something wrong with the kid and family mentally. If other programs are honest they would say the same. PSU is simply on another level and results prove that fact. MO,

 

[J.E.B]

That’s what they (O$U) do.... every three or four years and it has yielded 1 championship when PSU punted.

 

[Lionlaw]

that's basically it.



I think class rankings are behind paywalls, so I wouldn't post them even if I had that info. But PSU's class is very small, which never helps in rankings. PSU's class at this time is 2 wrestlers. Levi Haines is phenomenal; he's the star of PSU's 2022 class. There hasn't been a lot of press about him, as he elected to forego his senior season of HS, moved to State College, and practiced over the past year with the NLWC.



all is good -- no rules, written or unwritten, were violated by your post.

Thank you, Tom. I saw a fee article ranking OSU at one and commenting on the first time to ever secure the top three commits. I would not discuss premium content from another site.

 

[SRATH]

Thank you, Tom. I saw a fee article ranking OSU at one and commenting on the first time to ever secure the top three commits. I would not discuss premium content from another site.

We are fine with recruiting. The nutz had the $, good for them. OSU had a talented staff, but they don't hold a candle to Cael and Company. OSU scored 44 points at nationals and their highest finisher was 5th. Brooks and Lee scored 46.

Recruiting is like any endeavor, starting strong is important but finishing is what matters. The tail end of our lineup started elsewhere........Cornell and OSU. When Max is in tears talking about how grateful and blessed his is to be a Lion, we are going 5 for 5 in the finals, we had 3 Olympians earn medals in our post graduate program, we shouldn't be worried about recruiting.

Rankings don't matter with Cael and Company in charge.

 

[Lionlaw]

We are fine with recruiting. The nutz had the $, good for them. OSU had a talented staff, but they don't hold a candle to Cael and Company. OSU scored 44 points at nationals and their highest finisher was 5th. Brooks and Lee scored 46.

Recruiting is like any endeavor, starting strong is important but finishing is what matters. The tail end of our lineup started elsewhere........Cornell and OSU. When Max is in tears talking about how grateful and blessed his is to be a Lion, we are going 5 for 5 in the finals, we had 3 Olympians earn medals in our post graduate program, we shouldn't be worried about recruiting.

Rankings don't matter with Cael and Company in charge.

Perhaps my original post was not clear. I follow recruiting all year for football. It is difficult to find similar information for wrestling. When I read the article about OSU, I wanted to learn more about their class, PSU’s class, etc. I thought this would be the place to ask. My questions about recruiting was not a commentary on Cael and Company.

 

[SRATH]

Perhaps my original post was not clear. I follow recruiting all year for football. It is difficult to find similar information for wrestling. When I read the article about OSU, I wanted to learn more about their class, PSU’s class, etc. I thought this would be the place to ask. My questions about recruiting was not a commentary on Cael and Company.

Got it. Most of this stuff is behind some sort of paywall, which is fine. I am certain Tom could tell you the different pay sites which follow wrestling, then if you wanted to follow closely, you could have at it. I already waste/invest enough time on football recruiting....following wrestling here is good enough. I also retain my membership on the old rivals site which I would be using for football too. I never wrestled, I just enjoy watching. What has been going on at PSU with Cael is something very special and I feel fortunate to just be able to witness it. The excellence in all phases of the program translates beyond wrestling.

 

[El_Jefe]

If an Elite wrestler don’t want to be Coached by Cael and his staff their is something wrong with the kid and family mentally. If other programs are honest they would say the same. PSU is simply on another level and results prove that fact. MO,

Can't let this slide. Lots of legitimate reasons for wrestlers to choose a different school.

That doesn't make them mentally defective, and such a suggestion should be beneath us.

Be better.

 

[El_Jefe]

Perhaps my original post was not clear. I follow recruiting all year for football. It is difficult to find similar information for wrestling. When I read the article about OSU, I wanted to learn more about their class, PSU’s class, etc. I thought this would be the place to ask. My questions about recruiting was not a commentary on Cael and Company.

The best source for wrestling recruiting, by far, is Willie Saylor's Mat Scouts page on Rokfin. It's premium, but all of Rokfin is $10/mo -- sign up under NLWC and the club gets the bulk of your membership, and Willie gets some for the clicks.

Next best is the Commitments page on Intermat, which is free, sortable, shows all commits, but doesn't include rankings.

Next best is Willie on the tweeter, though that's inherently less organized.

To your original question: Ohio State has an all-time class. On paper. And they're doing well in 2023. They also have a ton of needs. Their 2021 + 2022 + 2023 classes might not be enough to catch us as-is -- and PSU has a young team.

PSU has 1 likely starter from 2022: Levi Haines. Levi this year as a HS senior beat Ohio State's Paddy Gallagher, the #1 overall 2021 recruit.

(Cael has had 3 other classes with only 1 major recruit. Zain, Cenzo, and Carter all turned out OK.)

PSU has 2 top-10 commits in 2023, and is a finalist for several others. We're a finalist for the #1 guy in 2024, and landed a top 10 guy in 2025.

 

[Lionlaw]

The best source for wrestling recruiting, by far, is Willie Saylor's Mat Scouts page on Rokfin. It's premium, but all of Rokfin is $10/mo -- sign up under NLWC and the club gets the bulk of your membership, and Willie gets some for the clicks.

Next best is the Commitments page on Intermat, which is free, sortable, shows all commits, but doesn't include rankings.

Next best is Willie on the tweeter, though that's inherently less organized.

To your original question: Ohio State has an all-time class. On paper. And they're doing well in 2023. They also have a ton of needs. Their 2021 + 2022 + 2023 classes might not be enough to catch us as-is -- and PSU has a young team.

PSU has 1 likely starter from 2022: Levi Haines. Levi this year as a HS senior beat Ohio State's Paddy Gallagher, the #1 overall 2021 recruit.

(Cael has had 3 other classes with only 1 major recruit. Zain, Cenzo, and Carter all turned out OK.)

PSU has 2 top-10 commits in 2023, and is a finalist for several others. We're a finalist for the #1 guy in 2024, and Landes a top 10 guy in 2025.

Thank you! Appreciate the response!

 

[EddyS]

9.9 scholarship limit and young roster means we have limited spots. Teams like OSU, Iowa, and Michigan had much more experience in their lineups, so can offer more scholarship money this year.
imo, it’s quality over quantity every time.

 

[WV lion]

9.9 scholarship limit and young roster means we have limited spots. Teams like OSU, Iowa, and Michigan had much more experience in their lineups, so can offer more scholarship money this year.
imo, it’s quality over quantity every time.

Pretty sure with the NIL money being floated around the 9.9 is irrelevant. Doubt iowa is paying woods one cent of scholarship money. And wherever beards lands is won't cost the school any scholarship money. Pretty sure psu 4 returning champs could easily get their school Bill's covered.