2020-2021 Roster

[T.Vieau]

A new member of the Badgers roster not listed yet is Kevin Meicher of Middleton. He was on Minnesota's team last at 149-157. Jon Reader mentioned he as looking good in practice.

https://gophersports.com/sports/wrestling/roster/kevin-meicher/18446

When did Meicher make the decision to flip over to Madison, didn't hear anything about that?

[littleguy301]

I like the idea of taking the year off give the uncertainty.  We would have a pretty solid lineup the following year. 

Does anyone who Braxton mostly wrestles with in preparation for senior nationals?  Christensen was good at greco in high school.  Weiler have a greco background?  Hillger or is he too big?  Has the RTC brought in anyone else for him to wrestle?

NO! No off years. Just redshirt some guys to load up and develop the team to further compete with the top teams in the nation.

This maybe the new normal with wrestling in this enviorment.

[Wisconsin Wrestling Fan]

A new member of the Badgers roster not listed yet is Kevin Meicher of Middleton. He was on Minnesota's team last at 149-157. Jon Reader mentioned he as looking good in practice.

https://gophersports.com/sports/wrestling/roster/kevin-meicher/18446

When did Meicher make the decision to flip over to Madison, didn't hear anything about that?

Not sure, Jon Reader mentioned him in the Jump Around Weekly segment.

[bigoil]

As updated October 2, 2020...

125 Eric Barnett       So.         Greenville, Wis. / Hortonville
125 Ethan Rotondo      R-Jr.        Vancouver, Wash. / Union
133 Cole Bavery       Fr.           Edgerton, Wis. / Edgerton
133 Kyle Burwick        R-Fr.          Hettinger, ND / Hettinger
133 Dominic Dentino       R-So.       Brookfield, Wis. / Arrowhead
141 Trey Escobar       R-Fr.           Peoria, Ariz. / Liberty
141 Dan Stilling       So.          Elkhorn, Wis. / Elkhorn
149 Aiden Medora      Fr.          Wauwatosa, Wis. / Brookfield Academy
157 Cody Anderson      Fr.          Waukee, Iowa / Waukee
157 Devin Bahr               R-Jr.           La Crosse, Wis. / West Salem
157 Garrett Model      R-Jr.           Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
157 Drew Scharenbrock   R-So.   Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie
157 Patrick Spray      R-Sr.    Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. / Lincoln High School
157/165? Gavin Model   Fr.           Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
165 Josh Otto         R-FR    Brookfield, WI/Arrowhead
165 Seth Vosters       R-Sr.    Freedom, Wis. / Freedom
174 Tyler Dow               R-So.   Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
174 Jared Krattiger      R-So.   Waterford, Wis. / Waterford
174 Anders Lantz       R-Jr.           Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth
184 Chris Weiler      R-Sr.           Biglerville, Pa. / Wyoming Seminary
197 Peterr Christensen    So.          Norridge, Ill. / Montini Catholic
285 Trent Hillger       R-Jr.    Linden, Mich. / Lake Fenton
285 Andrew Salemme    R-So.   Wauwatosa, Wis. / Marquette

not listed:

Evan Wick
Braxton Amos
Graham Calhoun
Joey Zargo

That's my guess, 149, either Drew/Bahr going down or Stilling up. Big guys could swap.

Newton Smerchek works out with Trent and Braxton in addition to the guys in the room.

[mkm13]

I know there will likely be a lot of redshirts from all teams, but assuming that is the lineup it will be a very tough year. 

I would be curious if Amos can hold his own against Hillger already, despite the size and experience difference.

[wrastle63]

As updated October 2, 2020...

125 Eric Barnett       So.         Greenville, Wis. / Hortonville
125 Ethan Rotondo      R-Jr.        Vancouver, Wash. / Union
133 Cole Bavery       Fr.           Edgerton, Wis. / Edgerton
133 Kyle Burwick        R-Fr.          Hettinger, ND / Hettinger
133 Dominic Dentino       R-So.       Brookfield, Wis. / Arrowhead
141 Trey Escobar       R-Fr.           Peoria, Ariz. / Liberty
141 Dan Stilling       So.          Elkhorn, Wis. / Elkhorn
149 Aiden Medora      Fr.          Wauwatosa, Wis. / Brookfield Academy
157 Cody Anderson      Fr.          Waukee, Iowa / Waukee
157 Devin Bahr               R-Jr.           La Crosse, Wis. / West Salem
157 Garrett Model      R-Jr.           Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
157 Drew Scharenbrock   R-So.   Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie
157 Patrick Spray      R-Sr.    Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. / Lincoln High School
157/165? Gavin Model   Fr.           Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
165 Josh Otto         R-FR    Brookfield, WI/Arrowhead
165 Seth Vosters       R-Sr.    Freedom, Wis. / Freedom
174 Tyler Dow               R-So.   Stoughton, Wis. / Stoughton
174 Jared Krattiger      R-So.   Waterford, Wis. / Waterford
174 Anders Lantz       R-Jr.           Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth
184 Chris Weiler      R-Sr.           Biglerville, Pa. / Wyoming Seminary
197 Peterr Christensen    So.          Norridge, Ill. / Montini Catholic
285 Trent Hillger       R-Jr.    Linden, Mich. / Lake Fenton
285 Andrew Salemme    R-So.   Wauwatosa, Wis. / Marquette

not listed:

Evan Wick
Braxton Amos
Graham Calhoun
Joey Zargo

That's my guess, 149, either Drew/Bahr going down or Stilling up. Big guys could swap.

Newton Smerchek works out with Trent and Braxton in addition to the guys in the room.

I think that will be very close to what the lineup will look like. Hillger I believe qualified for an Olympic Redshirt by taking 4th at the US Open this weekend. Wick took 4th as well. Amos took 3rd at 97kg Greco so I believe he would qualify as well.

[Numbers]

Wick, Hillger, Amos, and Dow (top 8 2019 senior open Greco) have Olympic redshirt options.

[bigoil]

Wick, Hillger, Amos, and Dow (top 8 2019 senior open Greco) have Olympic redshirt options.

Amos doesn't have a olympic redshirt as I don't believe he is in school so he doesn't need to use it.
Amos will be 197 in college, I'm sure he can push Trent but Copass is the future HWT hopefully.

[wrastle63]

Wick, Hillger, Amos, and Dow (top 8 2019 senior open Greco) have Olympic redshirt options.

Amos doesn't have a olympic redshirt as I don't believe he is in school so he doesn't need to use it.
Amos will be 197 in college, I'm sure he can push Trent but Copass is the future HWT hopefully.

Yes but he would qualify for one based on his 3rd place finish.

[imwi]

Wick, Hillger, Amos, and Dow (top 8 2019 senior open Greco) have Olympic redshirt options.

Amos doesn't have a olympic redshirt as I don't believe he is in school so he doesn't need to use it.
Amos will be 197 in college, I'm sure he can push Trent but Copass is the future HWT hopefully.

Yes but he would qualify for one based on his 3rd place finish.

It has been stated that Amos will be starting classes next year, not enrolled currently, I think they call that a grey shirt

[oregoncy]

Now that this season is essentially a "free year" from and eligibility standpoint, will we see some big changes to what's been previously discussed. With a free year, there is really no reason to redshirt anyone. Would we see Braxton enroll second semester? Not take Olympic redshirts for Wick/Hillger?

[imwi]

Now that this season is essentially a "free year" from and eligibility standpoint, will we see some big changes to what's been previously discussed. With a free year, there is really no reason to redshirt anyone. Would we see Braxton enroll second semester? Not take Olympic redshirts for Wick/Hillger?

It's not unlimited scholarship money though.  Just listened to the replay of Flo's show today where they discussed this.  They specifically brought up Braxton as an example, could he transfer somewhere else, get a championship, then transfer back?  The only scholarships that won't go against the 9.9 are seniors.  For Iowa who has 5 seniors this year, they could essentially have 14.9 scholarships next year.  The university still has to pay for those and after what UW did this spring, who knows what they will do. 

[littleguy301]

Now that this season is essentially a "free year" from and eligibility standpoint, will we see some big changes to what's been previously discussed. With a free year, there is really no reason to redshirt anyone. Would we see Braxton enroll second semester? Not take Olympic redshirts for Wick/Hillger?

It's not unlimited scholarship money though.  Just listened to the replay of Flo's show today where they discussed this.  They specifically brought up Braxton as an example, could he transfer somewhere else, get a championship, then transfer back?  The only scholarships that won't go against the 9.9 are seniors.  For Iowa who has 5 seniors this year, they could essentially have 14.9 scholarships next year.  The university still has to pay for those and after what UW did this spring, who knows what they will do.

Maybe on paper you can figure 14.9 scholarships but I seriously doubt many if any colleges will do that with budget cuts they are facing.

[imwi]

Exactly my point! That's why I mentioned what UW did this spring after the NCAA said you can have another year.  If they have Amos wrestle this year because it's a "free" year of eligibility, someone still has to pay for his tuition.

[oregoncy]

Exactly my point! That's why I mentioned what UW did this spring after the NCAA said you can have another year.  If they have Amos wrestle this year because it's a "free" year of eligibility, someone still has to pay for his tuition.

Well I think it's important to clarify that my understanding is teams are still beholden to the 9.9 limit for this year. It's next season that the seniors that would have been out of eligibility can stay on above the 9.9 limit if a schools chooses to fund.

I guess there are a couple of questions...

1. Is there any scholarship money (from the 9.9) available for this year? Wick (Olympic RS) and Amos/Zargo (greyshirt) all were not on roster to start semester. I'm sure pre-pandemic they were planned for a reasonably significant amount of scholarship money. I suppose their money could have been allocated to others on the roster for the year... or could they have not filled as a "budget cut"/cost savings measure?

2. If no scholarship money available, then if any of them wanted to enroll second semester and wrestle it seems they'd have to pay their own way. School isn't cheap (particularly at UW) and is that worth it/affordable for those guys to get an extra crack at NCAAs (albeit in a shortened/modified season)?

3. Based on AD's previous actions, I'd assume going over the 9.9 to accommodate those would be seniors is not going to happen? Who does this even affect? If Wick doesn't go this year and comes back next year for his senior season, I'm assuming he wouldn't get an extra year beyond that. My interpretation is that only this year doesn't count towards eligibility. If you don't wrestle, you don't get to roll that extra year over. So Bono/staff would have already been planning on Wick's scholarship money for next season regardless. That leaves Weiler as the only "Senior" likely getting any scholarship money. So he'd be an interested scenario.

4. Past this "bonus" season and then next season where seniors can count above the 9.9, how do you effectively manage the 9.9 limit with recruiting. All non-seniors this season who get that extra year are not going to be able to count above the 9.9 when they get to the end of their eligibility. So a guy like Hillger who HAD two years left, now has three effectively. His scholarship money could have been earmarked for some 2022 recruits, but now he's going to be around an extra year. How will coaches across the country handle these situations? 2022 recruits get stiffed on scholarship dollars? Coaches have to have some big boy convos with some guys on rosters and cut their scholarship money? etc.

All will be really interesting.