I think it is important to remember that wrestling isn't the only (or sometimes the main) reason some of these guys go to Cornell, knowing that they likely won't be starters. Loew knew beforehand that Dean and Darmstadt would be standing in his way for a couple of years (of course he didn't know that Dean would ORS and give him the opportunity to start this year). Yes, he'd be starting on most of the other EIWA teams, but which schools would he have gotten into that would have given him an equivalent education/degree to one from Cornell? Same for Santoro, Lajoie, Seth Janney (2X National Prep champion), etc. These guys get to wrestle in a great room with national-caliber teammates, see some action, and come out the other end with an Ivy degree. That's why you don't see Cornell wrestlers dropping out or transferring (with exceptions, of course).jdalu75 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:50 am Loew's one of the guys I was thinking about. He has three years of eligibility remaining, just like Jonathon Fagen. Loew is 6' 3" according to Cornell's roster, so he's not moving down to 174 (occupied by Foca, Reiniche, Berreyesa, with Gage McClenahan probably headed for FLRTC). Dean has two years remaining. Darmstadt has two years remaining. Cardenas (IM #12) has four years remaining. Ethan Hatcher (IM #44, a 220-pounder projected at 197 in college) is probably headed for FLRTC.
Cornell's depth isn't great at the upper weights, so Loew will probably be the first guy up at 184 and the second guy up at 197 in the event of illness or injury.
This calculation may change for guys like Cardenas at 197, who likely expected to be a starter for three years, but Darmstadt's injury means he might get only two years. Maybe he thinks he can beat Darmstadt, or maybe he's okay with being behind for two years. Maybe he thinks he can be a 4x AA somewhere else. Hatcher doesn't have a place this year either at 197 or at 285 (Fernandes), or likely for most of his career. But he knows that.
As for depth not being great at the upper weights, I'd think that Darmstadt/Cardenas at 197 and Fernandes/Furman at 285 is pretty good.