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Optimal_Bad_8965 t1_jcs4a0r wrote

PA wrestling is on a completely different level

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Bosurd t1_jcsux3t wrote

What is it about PA that makes them so much better? Are there any other states that come close?

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tribalspoon t1_jcsy2dz wrote

I would say Iowa is still the historically most dominant collegiate wrestling state. But Penn State has absolutely dominated the most recent decade.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they started winning championships after hiring Cael Sanderson (who wrestled at Iowa State.)

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Optimal_Bad_8965 t1_jct8pnb wrote

I'm not just talking college though. Every year there is a wrestling event that has pennsylvania all-stars vs the rest of the US

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travelingchef96 t1_jctcect wrote

Expansive youth programs, quality coaching at all levels. Steel sharpens steel mentality that builds on those other two points.

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CBus660R t1_jctmaca wrote

I grew up in Cleveland. All my friends who were serious about wrestling all went to PA for off-season camps.

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Krogsly t1_jcu8o9x wrote

Proximity matters. Of course, Clevelanders would go to Pennsylvania rather than Iowa, but Ohio is no slouch either. An OH/MI alliance could amass some solid talent in comparison.

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shaggz235 t1_jcuk5i3 wrote

Why not Jeff Jordan’s state champ camp?

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CBus660R t1_jcuq0q4 wrote

Was that a thing back in the 80's? I graduated high school in 1993.

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shaggz235 t1_jcwlrrd wrote

No I went in early 2000s. It was a camp put on by Jeff Jordan who was the coach at St Paris Graham high school. They were so dominant back then, not sure about now though.

Edit: never mind they still are. They’ve won the state tourney every year since 2001.

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DanDampspear t1_jcv3cx6 wrote

People also forget Penn State is coached by Cael, an Iowa state legend who left his Almamater because of the recruiting pool in the east coast compared to Iowa

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samspopguy t1_jcv9egg wrote

Recruiting shouldn’t matter in this situation penn state has kids from all of the place. And Sanderson would still be able to recruit nationally regardles

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DanDampspear t1_jcvlsut wrote

It does matter if you’re second fiddle in your own state both prestige wise and for instate recruits. I was of the age to have high school teammates that were highly recruited by both Iowa and Iowa State programs during his tenure and it absolutely mattered to them as well.

If you lose 9/10 in-state 3 or 4-peat HS champions to your instate rival, you’re going to look for a new recruiting base if Tom Brands is beating you out. Two of the teammates I had went on to win 3 national titles (combined) for Brands rather than Sanderson.

I also don’t think you’re appreciating 1) how Important the Iowa v Iowa state wrestling rivalry is 2) how important geographic proximity is to recruiting 3) How much more population dense the east coast is compared to Iowa. Within 300 miles in Iowa it’s like 20m people vs 70m at PSU.

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BestCatEva t1_jcv2qr0 wrote

Grew up in western PA. Wrestling has been huge for decades there.

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AddisonsContracture t1_jctga3x wrote

In high school though, PA is to wrestling as Texas is to football. If you place top 4 in state, you’re probably going to be too 8 in nationals

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PhDShouse t1_jcv2ltv wrote

Out of curiosity, who would define as the better wrestler: Sanderson or Lee? I know very little about wrestling as a whole, but it seems like Cael had a more impressive college career compared to Lee

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Th595906 t1_jcvk2iu wrote

Sanderson is generally regarded as the greatest NCAA wrestler of all time. Undefeated throughout his entire career. Before him it was Dan Gable. Lee is a great wrestler, but he is the tier right below Cael

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tnc31 t1_jcylgik wrote

Iowa has the second most dominant collegiate program, behind Oklahoma State. But Pennsylvania has about a dozen Division One collegiate wrestling programs.

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Wedoitforthenut t1_jcu2vuy wrote

The state of Oklahoma has over 40 ncaa team championships. Historically Oklahoma is the best state for wrestling.

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TheCannaZombie t1_jcus1gt wrote

For college wrestling yes. But I’d bet most of those kids don’t come from Oklahoma.

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Uncanny_Realization t1_jcterkh wrote

Cael Sanderson. Also, PA in general is an amazing wrestling state. It just breeds great talent.

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Full-Assistance7224 t1_jctiscz wrote

The mid west is an absolute power house in wrestling for example The IHSA wrestling tournament is the single largest attendance of any high school state final. In Illinois alone we had 3 National champions. Big Ten wrestling is unmatched

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TheCannaZombie t1_jctymy7 wrote

I mean Oklahoma state has more all time team (34)and individual(141) championships than Iowa(24)(81). And Iowa beats penn state(11) who is in third. Didn’t see penns individual. Penn state has won all of theirs in the last 12 years. So they are the most dominant school since the 2010s. Before them Iowa state was third with 8 team titles.

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Amojondro t1_jctqn3h wrote

When I went to middle school in PA, there was a middle school wrestling and lax team (I think field hockey as well), vs when I moved to TX I found out none of those teams where in my middle school (TX of course had football tho). I think it’s just PA starts early with it for kids and they’re strong at the coaching levels while doing it. Same reasons why TX is so stacked in HS football: culture of starting early, fantastic funding for it followed by great coaching.

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phl_fc t1_jcu1fi7 wrote

You know how most areas have a kids “kick and chase” soccer program for anyone old enough to walk? PA does that with wrestling. There’s youth wrestling programs for any age, so by the time PA kids get to college they’ve literally been doing it for over a decade.

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boobsarecool t1_jcv2nhf wrote

Yep, PA and NJ both have established youth programs that a majority of states do not. Getting started in wrestling at 8 yrs old instead of High School is a huge step up on top of the very strong wrestling culture in both states

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painfulletdown t1_jcu7515 wrote

winning begets more winning. if you are a premeir high school wrestler, that would be your top destination. sorta like Alabama with college football

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Insamity247 t1_jcuekly wrote

Coaching and recruiting has made them into an absolute juggernaut. Each year they have had multiple National champions, and even when their champions graduate, they have recruited well enough to reload. Their two national champs will be back next year. They will have some holes to fill at 133 and 197, but coaching will get the new guys ready to go. Iowa has struggled with coaching. Our guys aren’t aggressive and going out to score points. We have a good recruiting class this year, but we have a lot of holes to fill. 125 isn’t going to be the same, 133 we need to fill. 149, 197, and heavyweight.

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ryantrw5 t1_jcuhu4g wrote

I think it’s the resources spent. Like Texas football for example. Pennsylvania isn’t a small state population wise either. I can see why Iowa is no longer the place to wrestle.

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RickWolfman t1_jcuuw0v wrote

Minnesota and Iowa are both up there, probably historically more impressive actually.

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mysecondaccountanon t1_jcudar6 wrote

Swear, the wrestling program even at my high school in Pittsburgh they trained like literally 24/7 it felt like. They even had middle school teams that had well attended events and were taken pretty seriously by the schools

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TonyDungyHatesOP t1_jcwfps6 wrote

Other great high school states for talent. But Penn State for college is a different animal. Cael Sanderson in particular is a wonder.

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societyofspectacle t1_jcwjo33 wrote

I wrestled in PA and we always had better turnout than the basketball team. All lights out in the gym with just a single light hanging down over the center of the mat was a nice touch for the matches. I started in early elementary, local camps every summer, and thought the whole country was just as invested in the sport. I gained like 60 lbs my freshman year in college as that was essentially when I stopped training (not a college wrestler).

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DeezNeezuts t1_jcs8fm0 wrote

That was one of the most exciting tournaments in recent memory.

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10woodenchairs t1_jcta9fe wrote

That sasso match was so disappointing as an OSU fan. If he had 5 seconds he could have won that title

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Laramie_Cigarettes t1_jcu0sh2 wrote

Sammy Sasso has never had an answer for Yianni, but then again few have.

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10woodenchairs t1_jculgnw wrote

He was super close to a takedown at the end of the match. I know yanni put himself in that position due to time but I really do think that if he had 10 more seconds he could have gotten it

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tnc31 t1_jcyixvr wrote

Another five seconds and Yanni might have lost to Murin. Or even Van Ness. Certainly not Hodge material.

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terry_bradshaw t1_jcsauq0 wrote

That’s some next level dominance for any sport.

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yawninggourmand79 t1_jcto907 wrote

As a diehard Iowa fan, this year's tournament was tough for obvious reasons. But I think it really solidified that the Brands' style of coaching just isn't going to get it done in the modern era. Penn State consistently has people peaking at the right time rather than Iowa having to limp across the finish line in March from a season of gruelling wrestling. I mean this is probably the worst performance in the finals from PSU in recent memory and they went 2/5 which is insane. I hope with the talent that Iowa is bringing in they can compete with OSU again, but clearly PSU's young guys can get it done in the big stage too.

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scalenesquare t1_jctu9m6 wrote

He won 2 years ago! Let’s not write him off.

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shbf t1_jctyi1k wrote

He won with kids from PA.

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celeron500 t1_jcu7pxi wrote

Brands won or was it the insane amount of talent they had on team that won it?

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Insamity247 t1_jcuft3r wrote

While we won that season, it was a major reload season for penn state. They completely wrecked us in the finals matches. We should have had at least two national champs, but we only got one. They had 4.

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tnc31 t1_jcyl52r wrote

Two of five in the finals, and 5 of 7 in the semifinals. An overall record of 33-7ish. And it seemed like a bit of a let-down.

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Wedoitforthenut t1_jcu3cxe wrote

Nino Bonnaccorsi was the most dominant wrestler in the tournament.

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jimithelizardking t1_jcvyhlp wrote

Parris was also fantastic, guy is an animal

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LANCENUTTER t1_jcw08gz wrote

But yet watching him wrestle Gable was like watching a cat play with a mouse.

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jimithelizardking t1_jcw0i72 wrote

You’re not wrong lol if Parris is an animal then Steveson was a completely different breed

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PhaseBlade01 t1_jcug3rk wrote

Aaron Brooks looked unstoppable this tournament!

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AVLThumper t1_jcv5zea wrote

Do these guys go on to be professional wrestlers?

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mgm97 t1_jcvrkp8 wrote

Bo Nickal was a PSU wrestler, now rising up the ranks in UFC

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abon123456789 OP t1_jcvblye wrote

That’s certainly one path. Olympic wrestling and MMA are other popular routes

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thraggon t1_jcw2l0r wrote

Sadly it's like their only routes, outside of coaching.

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MyDictainabox t1_jcvzah3 wrote

Genuinely concerned about Spencer Lee.

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LARXXX t1_jcvjpoy wrote

Total domination lol

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cecil721 t1_jcvymgp wrote

Wrestling culture in PA is like Football culture in Texas.

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mrsinatra777 t1_jcv4725 wrote

Well they do have that special program for wrestling with students in the showers

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Lout324 t1_jcv2wo6 wrote

The least homoerotic of all sports

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[deleted] t1_jcsknt5 wrote

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