BASCHAMANIA

Latest Episodes:

2025 World Team Is Just About Set: Final X Winners, Surprises & Storylines | 312 Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain Live, we recap an electric Final X 2025 event with no shortage of drama, dominance, and surprises. From David Carr taking out Mesenbrink to Levi Haines showing out, we break down the biggest wins and upsets. PJ Duke stuns Yianni, Zahid dominates Dake, and Spencer Lee punches another World Team ticket. We also talk about Kyle Snyder’s 11th straight team, Wyatt Hendrickson’s thriller, and the impact of true third matches and delayed wrestle-offs.

Plus, a look at women’s freestyle & Helen Maroulis making her 15th straight team, Real American Freestyle’s growth, and Poulin’s transfer to Iowa State.

07:30 - Delayed Wrestle-offs
14:30 - True Third Matches
17:49 - 74kg: David Carr beats Mitchell Mesenbrink
21:20 - 79kg: Levi Haines is a Hoss
24:45 - 125kg: Wyatt Hendrickson Puts on a Thriller
28:45 - 92kg: Hidlay vs Barr was a Battle
33:20 - 97kg: Kyle Snyder Makes 11th Straight Team
38:45 - 65kg: Real Woods 1-0 in Making World Teams
43:00 - 70kg: PJ Duke Stuns Yianni
54:20 - 57kg: Spencer Lee Back on a Team
56:15 - 86kg: Zahid Dominated Dake
01:00:30 - Women’s Freestyle Recap
01:07:30 - Steveo Poulin to Iowa State, NCAA Housekeeping
01:10:20 - Can Real American Freestyle Succeed?

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Support the show & leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and shop some apparel on BASCHAMANIA.com! For all partnership and sponsorship inquiries, email info@baschamania.com. BASCHAMANIA is a Basch Solutions Production. Learn more about Basch Solutions at BaschSolutions.com.

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Catching Up With Olympian Roman Bravo-Young on Life in Stillwater | 311 Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

RBY is back on the show today!

0:45 - The Move to Stillwater
2:45 - Training with Daton Fix
05:00 - Transitioning to Freestyle
09:25 - Getting a Big Win
11:30 - Competing for Mexico
14:00 - Audrey Jimenez & Sergio Vega
17:00 - NIL / Brand, Current Thoughts
19:30 - Getting Better in the Room
23:00 - MMA Plans?
25:30 - Final X Picks

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Final X Preview, Ferrari to Nebraska + More | 310 Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

It's Final X week! We talk:

Bo Nickal
Ben Askren
AJ Ferrari to Nebraska
National Duals Seeds Implications
McHenry, Vasquez Transferring
Beau Bartlett/Penn State Drama?
Men's Final X Preview
Women's Final X Preview
Army, Kent State Coaching Announcements Incoming

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Luke Stanich Talks World Team Trials Win, Lehigh Progress, and NJ Roots | 309 Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Lehigh standout Luke Stanich joins the show fresh off winning a best-of-three series to make his first U20 World Team. We talk about his rise from the New Jersey high school scene, overcoming an early deficit in the Trials finals, and how he’s quickly adjusting to freestyle with minimal experience. Luke reflects on his freshman season at Lehigh, his decision to bump up to 141, and the value of his redshirt year. We also dive into the culture in the Lehigh room, his path through NJ states, and the keys to his successful transition to college wrestling — plus a few rapid-fire questions and transfer portal thoughts to close it out.

1:10 - Winning Best of 3 Series
3:30 - Minimal Freestyle Experience
7:00 - Down 0-4 Against Zepeda
9:10 - Growth Points
10:30 - Freshman Season Takeaways
12:00 - Going up to 141
14:30 - Redshirt Season
15:20 - Lehigh Vibes for Next Season
17:30 - Growing up in Jersey
19:30 - Breaking Through at NJ States
24:30 - Successful Transition to College
28:45 - Rapid Fire Q&A
34:20 - Transfer Portal

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FOLLOW LUKE: https://www.instagram.com/luke__stanich/

Vito Arujau Wrestle-off Delay, Oklahoma in Portal, RAF Updates | 308 Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain Live, we break down the delay in Vito Arujau’s Final X wrestle-off, what it means for the series, and why it matters. We also talk about Oklahoma quietly continuing to stockpile talent with the addition of Hipolito, and the Army head coaching search narrowing to its final three. Plus, an update on AJ Ferrari, a look ahead to June 15th recruiting calls, and Willie’s Real American Freestyle trip and takeaways.

01:30 - Vito Arujau Gets a Wrestle-off Delay for Final X
15:30 - Oklahoma Picks Up Hipolito, Quietly Continuing to Load Up
24:30 - Tyler Wells Buffaloes Willie
29:40 - Army Head Coach Position Down To Final 3
32:30 - Update on AJ Ferrari
41:15 - June 15th First Calls
50:35 - Willie's Real American Freestyle Trip & Updates

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Duke, Blaze, Mirasola Twins & More — U20 World Team Reactions | 307 Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain Live on BASCHAMANIA, we react to the news that AJ Ferrari was denied admission at UNC and speculate on Troy Nickerson’s possible return to Army West Point. We then dive deep into the U20 World Team Trials, covering weight-by-weight highlights — including Anthony Knox’s 3 match rebound, Blaze back on the team, Duke’s dominance at 70kg, and Jayden James giving Dee Lockett & the 74kg field a serious push at 74kg. We also talk Henckel’s breakthrough, Mirasola brothers’ dominance, and McEnelly’s gritty win at 86kg. Plus: a U23 Nationals recap and Willie’s next move with Real American Freestyle.

6:15: AJ Ferrari Got Denied at UNC
18:10: Troy Nickerson to Army West Point?
24:05: U20s - 57kg, Knox Turned it Around Late
33:30 - 61kg - Blaze back on a World Team
35:15 - 65kg - Was It a Takedown?
46:15 - 70kg - Duke Back on the Team
49:05 - 74kg - Jayden James is a Dawg, but Lockett Too Much
57:10 - 79kg - Henckel Breaks Through
01:01:10 - 86kg - McEnelly Battles Back to Make Team
01:05:40 - 92kg - Mirasola Back on World Team
01:07:30 - 97kg - Rademacher Continues to Win
01:09:30 - 125kg - Cole Mirasola Again Checks The Box
01:16:30 - U23 Nationals - Who Is on the Team, Finals Rundown
01:31:30 - Willie Takes a Job With Real American Freestyle

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Gilman’s Suspension, Snyder at Final X & U20 Team Trials Take Shape | 306 May 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain Live, we cover everything from who’s still in the transfer portal to the recent 18-month USADA suspension of Thomas Gilman, and signs pointing to Kyle Snyder’s return at Final X. We dive into updates on the Real American Freestyle movement, Lehigh adding women’s wrestling, and the increasingly competitive Junior World Team Trials. We also explore the impact of the same-day best-of-three format—and wrap by asking: Where is Iowa this freestyle season?

10:50 - Who is Left in the Transfer Portal?
13:45 - Thomas Gilman Suspended for 18 months
25:45 - Sounds like Kyle Snyder is Competing at Final X
33:00 - Real American Freestyle Update
39:10 - Lehigh Adds Women’s Wrestling
47:45 - Junior World Team Trials Continue to Heat Up
01:00:10 - The Advantage of Best of 3 Same Day in Junior World Team Trials
01:18:05 - Where is Iowa this Freestyle Season?

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Levi Haines on Final X, NCAA Battles, and the Culture at Penn State | 305 May 22, 2025

Show notes

In his first appearance on Baschamania, Penn State’s Levi Haines joins the show fresh off a World Team Trials win to talk about his dominant performance, what it means to be heading to Final X, and how it felt getting revenge on Dean Hamiti. We break down Levi’s incredible first three years at Penn State — including three Big Ten titles, a 73–4 record, and finishes of 2nd, 1st, and 3rd at the NCAA Championships. Levi opens up about leadership, faith, gratitude, and the elite culture inside the Penn State and NLWC room, plus his thoughts on social media, NIL, and who’s the better outdoorsman — him or Josh Barr.

TIMESTEAMPS

01:00 - Winning the World Team Trials
05:00 - Beating Hamiti in the Finals
07:00 - Opposing David Taylor
11:15 - Placing 1st, 2nd & 3rd at NCAA’s
16:45 - Learning The Most From Loss
18:00 - Moving Up Two Weight Classes
19:00 - Winning 3 Big Ten Titles
21:00 - Winning Team Titles vs Individual Titles
24:00 - The Depth at Penn State
28:40 - The Penn State Coaches & Leadership
31:00 - Having No Off Switch
35:00 - Importance of Family
39:15 - Stepping Up into Leadership
42:00 - Penn State Culture & Gratitude
47:00 - Growing in His Faith
49:00 - Plans for Social Media
53:30 - Perspective Heading into Final X
54:30 - Rapid Fire Fan Questions

Junior World Team Trials Preview! + Snyder, Ranking Series + Girls Rankings | 304 May 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain Live, we dive into the latest buzz around the Junior World Team Trials, previewing loaded brackets at 61kg, 65kg, and 70kg, and potential finals matchups across the board. We talk about the latest on Kyle Snyder, why USA isn’t attending the Ranking Series, and why Oklahoma State fans are once again triggering Willie.

03:00 - Girls High School Rankings Are Here
08:15 - Kyle Snyder Looking Likely
18:00 - Oklahoma State Fans are Pissing Willie Off Again
25:30 - USA Not Going to Ranking Series
30:00 - WIllie Getting Sick in Uzbekistan
32:00 - Junior World Team Trials Preview
41:40 - 61kg: Loaded for College Fans
45:30 - 65kg: Bassett/StanichRematch?
51:25 - 70kg: Duke Trying to Double Up
56:40 - 74kg: Dee Lockett Sitting in the Finals
58:35 - 79kg - Will William Henckel Break Through
01:01:30 - 86kg - Max McEnelly vs Sinclair Likely Battle Again
01:03:35 - 92kg & 97kg - US Open Final Rematches Likely
01:07:15 - 125kg is Gonna be a Show

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World Team Trials Recap: Final X is Set, NLWC/PSU Shows Out, New Class of 2026 Big Board Top 10! | 303 May 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Basch & The Brain, we break down all the major storylines from the 2025 World Team Trials. We start with the good, the bad, and the ugly from the event before diving into each key weight class — including Real Woods showing out at 65kg, Yianni vs PJ locked in at 70kg, Carter vs Dake delivering at 86kg, and Josh Barr making serious noise at 92kg. We also discuss PSU/NLWC sending 7 athletes to Final X, Skylar Grote vs Amit Elor, and whether Mason Parris & Gable Steveson’s absences left 125kg feeling flat.

Plus, we close with a teaser on the Class of 2026 Big Board and our Top 10 recruiting prospects.