|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Rex Holman added to this discussion on March 23, 2026
|
Without having objective measures in place it's difficult to grade a performance.
If everything went right, OSU would have 1 champ, 10 AA and finished second at the NCAAs. OSU had 5 AA and no champs and finished fifth. Those are two very different things.
A lot of things went wrong. Never does everything go right at the NCAA tournament for your team.
However, Cannon, Paddy and Kharchla All American Status goes a long way in my opinion.
It's fair to say it was a good finish but still disappointing based upon expectations.
I think an outstanding tournament would have been Jesse winning again and 7 AA.
OSU has to get better at gaming the NCAAs. You're responsible for your guys and getting them to the NCAAs in top form. I don't know that anyone peaked at NCAAs other than Davino and Paddy.
If your guys aren't the best at the weight, that's fine but they need to wrestle at or above their seeds at NCAAs.
Fishback wrestling Gabe Arnold, Rocco Welsh and Max McEnelly is fine but each match is an exercise in problem solving with an extended view of adapting for the next time wrestling against them. However, if the same structure is engaged without context to the former match wrestled, it's wrong.
Some guys have an 8 cylinder hemi and some have inline 4. Both can produce outstanding performance. However, one readily takes more punishment than the other and withstands more wear and tear. That has to be taken into account when you have a 5 month season in a year round sport that requires high level intensity.
To think that a 2 week break of lighter practice at the end of the season is going to address the issues of overuse and significant injuries is nonsensical and fantasy.
Everything you do during a season matters. It's either the right structure engaged with the right mind set and wrestling training unique to each individual or it's not.
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Matt Schein added to this discussion on March 24, 2026
|
what does ohio state do to remedy this? getting guys rest is obvious, but does that come at the sacrifice of a few duels? should there be more focus on "depth" guys to pick up the slack? if that's the case 184 and 285 should be high priorities.
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Jared Ball added to this discussion on March 27, 2026
|
Iowa wrestled the most brutal schedule of any team in the country. Nebraska and Oklahoma State were at national duals, and I think maybe even Vegas. Someone will have to correct me on that. Ohio State competed at a high level all season. I agree that guys like Fishback and Feldman physically fell apart. I guess you could add Cannon to that as well. In retrospect you could see a very slow erosion of performance beginning in January. Most guys on the team wrestled a full schedule of well over 30 matches. In today’s NCAA that’s a heavier load than most. Iowa lost guys to injury, Okie state had some injuries, and Penn State navigated the loss of Nagao and started the year without Barr. I’m not sure how you navigate bad luck and injuries. I’d like to think that the staff is very intentional in their periodization plans, but I also think some aspects of coming up short come down to in match strategy, and confidence. Bouzakis and Geogg consistently shrink in big match situations. Stiles plays with fire way too frequently and is likely wrestling at the wrong weight. Paddy was very vocal about the negative impact that weight cutting has had on his career. There are just so many factors to consider. Trend wise, Ohio state historically has performed better at the end of the season. This year might be an exception and they still finished fifth with five all Americans. I would throw this stat out as well. Who you compete against matters. Willie Saylor shared that Ohio Stated fifth place score would have been enough to earn second place just three or four years ago. Two programs are sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Brady Hiatt added to this discussion on March 28, 2026
|
|
Quote from Jared Ball's post:
|
|
"Iowa wrestled the most brutal schedule of any team in the country. Nebraska and Oklahoma State were at national duals, and I think maybe even Vegas. Someone will have to correct me on that. Ohio State competed at a high level all season. I agree that guys like Fishback and Feldman physically fell apart. I guess you could add Cannon to that as well. In retrospect you could see a very slow erosion of performance beginning in January. Most guys on the team wrestled a full schedule of well over 30 matches. In today’s NCAA that’s a heavier load than most. Iowa lost guys to injury, Okie state had some injuries, and Penn State navigated the loss of Nagao and started the year without Barr. I’m not sure how you navigate bad luck and injuries."
|
I agree with Jared -- tOSU wasn't the only team that wrestled an incredibly tough schedule. 3 of the 4 teams that finished above them wrestled equally as tough or tougher schedules -- and the two weeks after conferences and into nationals seemed to do them very well. Injuries (like Cannon's and Feldman's) during matches are unavoidable. Can't bubble wrap guys.
I think the ones that have to be "managed" more are the ones pulling weight. That is very draining on the mind & body.
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Brady Hiatt added to this discussion on March 28, 2026
|
|
Quote from Rex Holman's post:
|
|
"I don't know that anyone peaked at NCAAs other than Davino and Paddy. "
|
I think Cannon can be added to that list considering the injury he incurred vs MN and that he only lost to P.J. Duke at NCAA's.
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Topic: Metrics to determine end of season success
Pat Costilow added to this discussion on March 28, 2026
|
Cannon and Kharchla both wrestled great tournaments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
