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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Jared Ball added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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We have four years of data on Bouzakis at two different weights. Always dangerous, great regular season wins, inexplicable losses at the NCAA Tournament. I would love to see him go out an All American, but the reality is that given his pedigree and what he was projected to do, he has not lived up to the billing. This was a guy that kept Mendes off the world team. Some guys just develop mental blocks at key times, and to expect different results is statistically unlikely. He seems to tense up and have a lot of mental lapses during competition when it matters at the NCAA tourney. Give Mills two months in the room and he will be the starter at 125.
Not getting Norman isn’t great. Your strongest opponents get deeper and stronger. I’m unclear on what the options at 174 are, especially if Birden isn’t moving up. Looks like somone not highly touted is likely to start. Unless you pick up someone cheap in the portal, but pickings are slime, and likely not impactful.
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Jim Kessen added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Quote from Jared Ball's post:
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"We have four years of data on Bouzakis at two different weights. Always dangerous, great regular season wins, inexplicable losses at the NCAA Tournament. I would love to see him go out an All American, but the reality is that given his pedigree and what he was projected to do, he has not lived up to the billing. This was a guy that kept Mendes off the world team. Some guys just develop mental blocks at key times, and to expect different results is statistically unlikely. He seems to tense up and have a lot of mental lapses during competition when it matters at the NCAA tourney. Give Mills two months in the room and he will be the starter at 125.
Not getting Norman isn’t great. Your strongest opponents get deeper and stronger. I’m unclear on what the options at 174 are, especially if Birden isn’t moving up. Looks like somone not highly touted is likely to start. Unless you pick up someone cheap in the portal, but pickings are slime, and likely not impactful."
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Bucks will have to go all in on 2025 AA Jaxon Smith who claims to want to wrestle 174 for his last year.
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Sean Koran added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Quote from Jared Ball's post:
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"We have four years of data on Bouzakis at two different weights. Always dangerous, great regular season wins, inexplicable losses at the NCAA Tournament. I would love to see him go out an All American, but the reality is that given his pedigree and what he was projected to do, he has not lived up to the billing. This was a guy that kept Mendes off the world team. Some guys just develop mental blocks at key times, and to expect different results is statistically unlikely. He seems to tense up and have a lot of mental lapses during competition when it matters at the NCAA tourney. Give Mills two months in the room and he will be the starter at 125.
Not getting Norman isn’t great. Your strongest opponents get deeper and stronger. I’m unclear on what the options at 174 are, especially if Birden isn’t moving up. Looks like somone not highly touted is likely to start. Unless you pick up someone cheap in the portal, but pickings are slime, and likely not impactful."
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In defense of Bouzakis (and not saying moving up to 141 isn't what's best for both him and the team, especially if he found the cut to be unsustainable by the end of the year), his NCAA's - while certainly disappointing - have not been littered with inexplicable losses.
2024 - W over lesser opponent; 1pt L to 4-time NCAA runner up Daton Fix; W over lesser opponent; 3pt L to returning 5th place finisher Aaron Nagao
2025 - W over 2x AA Kai Orine; W over lesser opponent; L to 2x NCAA runner up Drake Ayala; L to now 2x NCAA AA Tyler Knox
2026 - W over lesser opponent; L to NCAA 6th place finisher Moran; W over lesser opponent; L to NCAA 8th place finisher Klinsky after falling apart the last 40 seconds
This year was by far the most "inexplicable" on paper, as he beat Moran twice during the season and was up big on Klinksy before falling apart at the end. But also "splicable" in that it seems clear that the cut had become too much.
Here's hoping he can go out an AA in his final attempt like Colt Sponseller.
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Colt Sponseller....Jeff Ratliff....Keaton Anderson...Blake Kaplan...Paddy Gallagher....
All guys who finally made AA during their final season.
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Bruce Andrews added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Ben Golden added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Logan Stieber was also an All-American his senior year. How soon we forget.
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Casey Talbott added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Quote from Ben Golden's post:
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"Logan Stieber was also an All-American his senior year. How soon we forget."
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^^^Not sure "finally" applies in his instance. ;)
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on May 15, 2026
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Quote from Bruce Andrews's post:
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"Kenny Courts also."
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He AA'd as a junior but not as a senior. I was thinking specifically of guys that got it done during their last chance. Otherwise we'd add Gavin Hoffman to the list. Or Kirk Nail just to name a few that come to mind
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Discussion Topic: Bucks Recruiting
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on May 18, 2026
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Quote from Ben Golden's post:
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"Logan Stieber was also an All-American his senior year. How soon we forget."
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Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
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