With all of the attention given to the Oklahoma State coaching position, it’s almost easy to forget that tomorrow represents the start of a huge four days in the Olympic qualification process. The 2023 World Championships served as the first event where wrestlers could lock up a quota for their country in the 2024 Olympic Games. Earlier this year, qualifying events were held at each continental championship. Now, this week’s World OG Qualifier tournament represents the last opportunity for wrestlers to earn a place in the Olympic Games. 
High-quality wrestlers from all over the world have not yet qualified and are looking to do so in Istanbul, Turkey. To qualify, a wrestler will either need to make the finals or win the wrestle-off between the two third-place finishers. 
The premise is simple, however the task is not. Each weight class had potential threats to our American Olympic hopefuls. 
Today, we’re focusing on those weight classes in which the United States has not yet qualified. Those are 57 and 65 kg in men’s freestyle and 60, 67, and 77 kg in men’s Greco-Roman. All six women’s weights have been qualified. 
The Americans that will compete at those weights are: 
57 kg MFS: Spencer Lee, 65 kg MFS: Zain Retherford
60 kg MGR: Dalton Roberts, 67 kg MGR: Ellis Coleman, 77 kg MGR: Kamal Bey
While everyone in the bracket represents a potential roadblock, we’ve singled out some of the key opponents that each of the American wrestlers will have to contend with and some of their most notable past credentials. 
Thursday will feature Greco-Roman through the semifinals. Repechage and the bronze medal wrestle-off’s will take place Friday. 
Women’s freestyle starts Friday and will be conducted in a similar fashion to Greco. 
Men’s freestyle starts Saturday and concludes on Sunday. 
 
Men’s Freestyle
57 kg
Key Contenders:
Suleyman Atli (Turkey) - 2x World medalist (2,3), 2x European Champion, 6x European medalist (1,1,2,2,2,3)
Roberti Dingashvili (Georgia) - 2024 European Bronze medalist, 2019 European U23 Bronze medalist
Vladimir Egorov (North Macedonia) - 2022 European Champion, 2x European medalist (1,3), 2021 World 8th Place
Rakhat Kalzhan (Kazakhstan) - 2x Asian Medalist (2,3), 2022 World 14th Place
Sunggwon Kim (South Korea) - 3x Asian 5th Place, 2017 World 9th Place
Horst Lehr (Germany) - 2021 World Bronze medalist, 2x European Bronze medalist
Levan Metreveli (Spain) - 2x European 5th Place
Ilman Mukhtarov (France) - 2024 European 5th Place, 2019 U23 World 5th Place
Simone Piroddu (Italy) - 2022 European U20 Champion, 2018 Cadet World Bronze medalist
Alireza Sarlak (Iran) - 2021 World Silver medalist, 2021 Asian Silver medalist, 2019 U23 World Bronze medalist
Aman Sehrawat (India) - 2023 Asian Champion, 2022 U23 World Champion, 2021 Cadet World Champion
Georgi Vangelov (Bulgaria) - 3x European Bronze medalist, 2020(1) Olympic 5th Place, 2022 World 5th Place
Zanabazar Zandanbud (Mongolia) - 2022 World Bronze medalist, 2017 Asian Silver medalist
Andrii Yatsenko (Ukraine) - 2017 World Bronze Medalist, 2019 European U23 Champion
 
65 kg
Key Contenders:
Besir Alili (North Macedonia) - 2022 European 5th place
Khamzat Arsamerzouev (France) - 2023 European U23 Champion, 2022 U20 World Bronze medalist
Erik Arushanian (Ukraine) - 2020 European Bronze Medalist, 2022 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2021 European U23 Champion
Adlan Askarov (Kazakhstan) - 2021 Asian Silver Medalist, 3x Age Group World Medalist (U23/2; JR/3; CD/3)
Krzysztof Bienkowski (Poland) - 2021 European Silver medalist
Kizhan Clarke (Germany) - 2024 European Bronze medalist
Stefan Coman (Romania) - 2023 European 5th place
Islam Dudaev (Albania) - 2x European medalist (1,3), 2x U23 World Bronze medalist
Umidjon Jalolov (Uzbekistan) - 2022 U20 World Champion, 2019 Cadet World Champion
Sujeet Kalkal (India) - 2022 U20 World Bronze medalist, 2022 Asian U23 Champion, 2022 Asian U20 Champion
Kwang Jin Kim (North Korea) - 2023 Asian Games Bronze medalist
Abdulmazhid Kudiev (Tajikistan) - 2023 Asian U23 Champion, 2021 European U20 Silver medalist
Ayub Musaev (Belgium) - 2x European U20 medalist (2,3)
Mikyay Naim (Bulgaria) - 2023 European Silver medalist, 2021 World 9th place, 2017 U23 World Silver medalist
Maxim Sacultan (Moldova) - 2023 World 5th place, 2021 European Bronze Medalist
Niurgun Skriabin (AIN - Belarus) - 2020 European Silver medalist, 2018 World 9th Place
Ahmet Duman/Abdullah Toprak (Turkey) - 2023 U23 World Bronze Medalist, 2023 U20 World Bronze Medalist (Toprak)
Tulga Tumur Ochir (Mongolia) - 2021 World Bronze medalist, 2x Asian Silver medalist

 
Greco-Roman
60 kg
Key Contenders:
Pridon Abuladze (Georgia) - 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, 2x European Junior Champion
Razvan Arnaut (Romania) - 2x European Bronze medalist
Aslamjon Azizov (Tajikistan) - 2022 Asian U23 Silver medalist, 2021 Asian 5th place
Munkh Erdene Batkhuyag (Mongolia) - 2023 U23 World Bronze medalist
Sumit Dalal (India) - 2023 U23 World Bronze medalist, 2x U20 World medalist (2,3)
Gevorg Gharibyan (Armenia) - 2x World 5th place, 2020 European Champion, 2x European medalist (1,3)
Aleksandrs Jurkjans (Latvia) - 2021 European Bronze medalist
Sadyk Lalaev (AIN - Russia) - 2024 European Bronze medalist, 2019 European U23 Bronze medalist
Hleb Makaranka (AIN - Belarus) - 2023 U23 World Silver medalist
Murad Mammadov (Azerbaijan) - 2x World Medalist (2,3), 2024 European Champion, 3x European medalist (1,2,3)
Edmond Nazaryan (Bulgaria) - 2022 World Silver medalist, 2x European Champion
Justas Petravisius (Lithuania) - 2024 European 5th place
Georgij Tibilov (Serbia) - 2023 World Bronze medalist, 2023 European Bronze medalist

 
67 kg
Key Contenders:
Abdullo Aliev (Uzbekistan) - 2024 Asian Bronze medalist, 2023 Asian U20 Champion
Abu Amaev (Bulgaria) - 2x European Bronze medalist, 2019 Junior World Champion
Ashu Bazard (India) - 2020 Asian Bronze medalist
Mateusz Bernatek (Poland) - 2017 World Silver medalist, 2021 European Silver medalist
Mohamed El Sayed (Egypt) - 2020(1) Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2x U23 World Champion 
Dominik Etlinger (Croatia) - 2019 European Bronze medalist, 2015 World 8th place
Selcuk Can/Murat Firat (Turkey) - 2024 European Champion, 3x European medalist (1,3,3) (Firat)
Julian Horta Acevedo (Colombia) - 2020(1) Olympian, 2022 U23 World 5th place
Artur Jeremejev (Estonia) - 2023 U23 World 5th Place
Haavard Joergensen (Norway) - 2023 European Bronze medalist
Etienne Kinsinger (Germany) - 2020(1) Olympic 11th place, 2x European 5th place, 2018 World 8th place
Din Koshkar (Kazakhstan) - 2022 U20 World Bronze medalist
Ji Leng (China) - 2024 Asian Bronze medalist
Aliaksandr Liavonchyk (AIN - Belarus) - 2019 U23 World Silver medalist, 2018 European Junior Champion
Mihai Mihut (Romania) - 3x European 5th place, 2018 U23 World Bronze medalist
Niklas Oehlen (Sweden) - 2x European U23 Medalist (2,3)
Valentin Petic (Moldova) - 2019 Junior World Bronze Medalist, 2019 U23 World Bronze medalist, 2016 Cadet World Champion 
Hansu Ryu (South Korea) - 2x World Champion, 3x World Medalist (1,1,2), 4x Asian Champion
Krisztian Vancza (Hungary) - 2022 European Silver medalist, 2021 U23 European Champion, 2018 Junior World Bronze medalist
Aslan Visaitov (AIN - Russia) - 2014 Junior World Bronze medalist
Ramaz Zoidze (Georgia) - 2021 World Bronze medalist, 2020(1) Olympic 5th place, 2018 U23 World Silver medalist, 3x European U23 champion, 2x Junior World Champion

 
77 kg
Key Contenders:
Tsimur Berdyieu (AIN - Belarus) - 2x World 5th place, 2017 European U23 Bronze medalist
Ihor Bychkov (Ukraine) - 2019 Junior World Bronze medalist
Kamil Czarnecki (Poland) - 2023 European Bronze medalist
Vikas Dalal (India) - 2023 Asian U23 Bronze medalist
Ibrahim Ghanem (France) - 2023 World Champion, 2023 European Silver medalist, 2022, World 5th place
Alexandrin Gutu (Moldova) - 2023 U23 World Champion, 2x U23 World Medalist (1,2), 2024 European 5th place
Idris Ibaev (Germany) - 2021 U23 World Champion, 2021 European U23 Bronze medalist
Antonio Kamenjasevic (Croatia) - 2021 European Bronze medalist, 2x European U23 Silver medalist
Zoltan Levai (Hungary) - 2022 World Silver medalist, 2017 European U23 champion
Iuri Lomadze (Georgia) - 2x European medalist (2,3), 2x World 9th place
Aik Mnatsakanian (Bulgaria) - 2x World Bronze medalist, 2x European Bronze medalist
Viktor Nemes (Serbia) - 2017 World Champion, 2x World medalist (1,3), 4x European medalist (2x3, 3)
Adlet Tiuliubaev (AIN - Russia) - 2024 European Bronze Medalist

The 2024 college coaching carousel is in full swing and was sort of turned on its head last night as the Oklahoma State job was filled by David Taylor. There are already plenty of rumors regarding Taylor’s potential coaching staff. Should those come to fruition, they could create even more movement on the coaching front. Taylor’s arrival should also put a handful of qualified ex-Oklahoma State coaches on the market, as well. 
Though Oklahoma State has been filled, there are still two active head coaching openings. Hofstra joined the fray after Dennis Papadatos stepped down to pursue an administrative position with the school. Also in New York, Columbia has not been filled. 
Pay attention to InterMat as there should be an announcement either late this week or early next week regarding both of Princeton's openings. I'd expect news regarding Pittsburgh's, as well. 
The first set of coaches have already accepted new positions during this hiring cycle. Even though the Esposito/Hall moves were announced during the regular season, they are still relatively recent and will spend their first season on a new bench in 2024-25. 
The second group is current openings that InterMat has been made aware of. If you don’t see one listed that needs to be please let me know earl@matscouts.com . 
As with the transfer portal feature, this is a fluid situation that will be monitored and updated regularly throughout the spring and summer. There will be no timetable for updates - just as more movement occurs.
The links below are to the recent interviews with these new coaches.
Offseason Coaching Movement
Binghamton: Louie DePrez - Assistant Coach (Binghamton athlete)
Buffalo: Donnie Vinson (Cornell Associate Head Coach)
Campbell: TJ Dudley - Assistant Coach (Brown Assistant Coach)
Central Michigan: Ben Bennett (Central Michigan Associate Head Coach)
NC State: Zack Esposito - Associate Head Coach (USOPTC) 
Oklahoma State: David Taylor - Head Coach (USA Athlete)
Penn: Matt Valenti - Associate Head Coach (Penn athletic administration)
Princeton: Cody Brewer - Head Assistant Coach (Virginia Tech Assistant Coach)
Utah Valley: Adam Hall - Head Coach (NC State Associate Head Coach)
Utah Valley: Andrew Hochstrasser - Unannounced Role (Utah Club Coach)
Virginia Tech: Zach Tanelli - Associate Head Coach (Columbia Head Coach)
 
Current Openings
Army West Point: Assistant Coach
Binghamton: Assistant Coach
Brown: Assistant Coach
Buffalo: Assistant Coach(es?)
Campbell: Assistant Coach
Central MIchigan: Assistant Coach
Columbia: Head Coach
Cornell: Assistant Coach
Edinboro: Assistant Coach
Hofstra: Head Coach
Pittsburgh: Assistant Coach
Princeton: Assistant Coach (x2)
Stanford: Assistant Coach
Utah Valley: Assistant Coach(es?)

Recruiting is the lifeblood of a collegiate wrestling team. To make a significant impact at the NCAA Tournament you need to have the horses. As college wrestling has evolved, we find out who the real thoroughbreds are earlier and earlier. Looking at the 2024 NCAA finals, 14 of the 20 finalists were ranked in the top ten overall in their respective recruiting classes. Only one wrestler was from outside of the top-50 (Mitchell Mesenbrink) and he would have been much higher had the class rankings dropped a month later. 
Detractors of Penn State’s dynasty have often said, “They just get the best recruits,” as if it were a jab at the staff’s ability to coach and develop. I look at it as them being great at an area that accounts for a large portion of the coaching duties. 
Now bringing this topic to current events - David Taylor was officially announced as Oklahoma State’s next head coach on Monday night. Some skeptics of the hire were unsure how it would work having a head coach at a power program in his first collegiate coaching gig. I’m confident he’ll hire an experienced staff that can help fill in the gaps as he learns on the job; however, one area in which I think he’ll excel immediately is recruiting. 
We’ll discuss a couple of ways that Taylor can improve an already strong Oklahoma State program by recruiting. Yes, these days, recruiting isn’t necessarily limited to kids coming out of high school. 
Wrestlers in the Portal
Although the portal is closed for the season (aside from anyone looking to leave during a coaching chance), there are plenty of big names already entered. One of which has already visited Oklahoma State pre-Taylor hire - two-time All-American heavyweight, Wyatt Hendrickson. Sometimes you have to look at fits and personalities with transfers, but in this instance, the Air Force star is probably one that will fit in anywhere. He was interested in Oklahoma State before, I don’t see that going down and I can’t see Taylor being opposed to the best bonus-point scorer in the country. 
The only returning national champion in the portal is Andrew Alirez. Oklahoma State is rumored to be one of the schools that interest him. With Tagen Jamison (141) and Jordan Williams (149), returning, there isn’t a great need in Alirez’s weight range; however, he’s an undefeated national champion, so you probably figure out a way to make it work. This move could be dependent on a coach in Alirez’s range. 
Not on the same level as the two previously mentioned All-Americans is Penn State’s Terrell Barraclough. Barraclough entered the portal as a graduate student and has excelled when needed for the Penn State staff - anywhere between 157 and 174 lbs. With only one year remaining and never having a shot at the postseason before, Barraclough will probably pick his destination very carefully. With the addition of Caleb Fish and Dean Hamiti, there isn’t much of a need in this area; however, we thought it would be appropriate to mention Barraclough. 
Collegiate Wrestlers Not in the Portal
Nobody likes poaching and trying to entice otherwise happy and satisfied wrestlers to enter the portal. Well, maybe a few people do, but by and large fans and coaches would prefer this element go away from the sport. We’re not trying to influence wrestlers seeking a transfer and I’m sure Taylor is conducting business on the up-and-up. That being said, the reality is that either some signees or existing Penn State wrestlers may want to follow Taylor to Stillwater. 
Two of Penn State’s current stars, Levi Haines and Tyler Kasak, did not wrestle at the high school level as seniors. Instead, they trained with Taylor’s M2 Training Center in order to have a smoother transition to college wrestling. Another Class of 2024 signee, Zack Ryder, moved from New York to do the same. He recently won U20 nationals in freestyle and is a two-time U17 World bronze medalist. 
Since wrestlers from the Class of 2024 haven’t hit collegiate campus’ just yet and the portal is closed, it’s more likely in the short team that you’ll get a commitment from someone who has signed an NLI and is requesting to back out of it to potentially pursue Oklahoma State. 
Future Recruiting Classes
We are just over a month away from the first day (June 15th) that collegiate coaches are permitted to have contact with recruits in the Class of 2026. That should work out perfectly for Taylor as he has some time to lock up a staff, and work on securing commitments from wrestlers in the Class of 2024 and 2025 that have already committed to wrestle at Oklahoma State. Then he can move forward and work on the Class of 2026. 
The Class of 2026 has some huge names and three of the top-four wrestlers in that class are from Pennsylvania. Two of them are high school teammates, Jax Forrest and Bo Bassett of Bishop McCort. The two have already proven their mettle in freestyle at the Senior Level and could be game-changers in college. Forrest already has an interest in Oklahoma State - though that could have been driven by a relationship with Coleman Scott and Bassett is open. Both have had some sort of a relationship with Taylor through M2. The fourth member of this class is Adam Waters, an upperweight who trains with Chance Marsteller. Landing some combination of the three, along with existing talent, would make for an imposing Cowboy lineup in the future. 
Those are just the blue-chipper’s with Pennsylvania backgrounds. With the combination of Taylor’s name recognition and Oklahoma State’s status as a wrestling blue blood, Taylor should be able to draw recruits from all over the country. 
We glossed over the 2024 and 2025 classes to talk about 2026, but there is plenty in the cupboard with both classes and Taylor’s staff will need to work hard to ensure those wrestlers head to Stillwater, as planned. 
The 2024 Class is rather small but has some big names. First and foremost is #2 overall Cody Merrill, who appears to be the Cowboys heavyweight of the future. Merrill is a two-time Junior National freestyle champion and was in the 2023 Fargo finals alongside fellow Class of 2024 recruit JJ McComas. 
The 2025 Class also has the #2 overall recruit committed to the Cowboys in Ladarion Lockett. Just a few weeks ago, we saw Lockett dominating Cornell freshman sensation Meyer Shapiro at the Olympic Trials. Lockett leads a group that includes three other top-100 recruits who have committed to OSU. 
As far as the Class of 2025 goes, most of the top, top wrestlers have been spoken for and are committed to other institutions. Taylor’s arrival may change one or two of those wrestlers' thought processes. The only huge name from the Class of 2025 that is available is #3 Marcus Blaze. Blaze’s most recent top-six list did not include Oklahoma State - does Taylor’s presence change anything?
Some of the recruits who have already committed to Oklahoma State are local kids in McComas and Lockett. We’ll have to see if any previous staff members are retained in any shape or form and if that has an impact on the kids like those two who have already spent significant time around the program.