Former Central Michigan coach Tom Borrelli had his share of wrestlers enter the transfer portal. An increasingly relevant part of high-stakes college athletics can hit mid-major programs the hardest. 

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) can lure top-tier athletes to big-name programs. What is gained financially often drains the bank account of a different currency: relationships. 

“I can’t say it doesn’t hurt personally,” Borrelli said. “You just don’t like to lose people you spent that much time with and in some ways, they’re saying you took me as far as you can take me, I need to go somewhere else. That’s a little painful.

“We never had an athlete leave our program that did better somewhere else when I was there. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but that’s just the facts.”

Borrelli, who retired after the 2024 season as the winningest coach in program history, says he never talked with a wrestler about NIL and never paid a penny in compensation through a collective. A local doctor provided a vehicle to a wrestler as an advertisement, but that was outside of anything Borrelli actively pursued. 

Central Michigan had to win through scholarships and development. 

Panther Pride

Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen is the greatest wrestler in program history — at least during the modern era. The Panthers produced a handful of iconic wrestlers during the 1940s and 50s, but Keckeisen is the undisputed best since UNI entered the college division (now called Division II) in 1963. 

Keckeisen finished 3-3-2-1 at the past four NCAA Championships with a COVID season remaining. 

Many wondered if Keckeisen would stay at Northern Iowa for his final year or explore NIL opportunities at a larger school. His stock was sky-high after an undefeated season and the 184-pound NCAA title. 

There was never a doubt in Keckeisen’s mind, though: he bleeds purple and gold. 

“I stayed because of the people and I’m getting better here,” Keckeisen said. “I love my team and our culture. I have everything I need here. Why would I leave? I have great people to push me. I have guys who make me better and we’re on the right track as a team. Plus, I’m kind of a small school guy. 

“No one has really contacted me. Maybe they just know I’m a Panther. I’m sure the thought crossed my mind. That’s a lot of money, but the relationships we build are priceless. How much is it worth to have coaches that know you so well? How much is a good relationship worth money-wise? 

“Part of me wants to prove you can do it at a small school. I’ve never been a money guy. Could I have gone somewhere else? Yeah, but I have that connection. It’s a priceless connection. I don’t think leaving ever crossed my mind.”

A New Era?

Borrelli says that NIL and the transfer portal will change college athletics as we know it, and if he’s reading it right, wrestling won’t look the same within the next five years — maybe sooner. He predicts a split between Power Five programs and the non-Power Five schools, similar to football with an FBS and FCS division. 

“I don’t see how (programs like Central Michigan) can ever afford (to compete) so they’ll have to have a split,” Borrelli said. “I’m hoping that mid-major programs stay the way they used to be with a set number of scholarships. (The new division won’t) have NIL money and the transfer portal will make more sense, like you have to sit for a year. I hope we go back to the way we’ve done it all along.”

That would leave top-tier, well-funded schools to continue their arms race and battle amongst themselves. If Borrelli’s two-division prediction becomes a reality, every wrestler will have a decision: go for the money or go for the scholarship.

Northern Iowa is an interesting case since it is not a Power Five program. It would enter a new division with like-funded schools under Borrelli’s predicted model. Keckeisen will never have to make that difficult decision, but a split means he couldn’t win an NCAA title at the highest level. 

The best of the best will find their way to the 28 Power Five wrestling programs where scholarships are unlimited. Fundraising and collectives mean wealthy schools have deep pockets to afford the best athletes.

“I don’t like the direction of college athletics,” Borrelli said. “It was probably a good time for me to get out of it since I’m a little bit of a traditionalist. 

“I don’t know if (our current model) is good for student-athletes as a whole. It’s good for a few of them financially but I don’t know for the sport, as a whole, and for college athletics as a whole, if we’re teaching the things we need to be teaching by the direction it's going.”