The latest episode of FloWrestling Radio Live previewed Super 32, examined the upcoming Real American Freestyle card and welcomed NCAA champion Sergio Vega to discuss his breakthrough season and future at Oklahoma State.

With Christian Pyles still away for his 20-year anniversary, Tyler Meisinger and David Bray joined JD Rader to break down some of the biggest storylines heading into the high school and college wrestling seasons. 

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The crew also discussed Penn State's media day, David Taylor's appearance on Daniel Cormier's podcast, the back-and-forth involving Bo Nickal and Gable Steveson, and an injury-related withdrawal from the upcoming World Championships.

Here is a look at the biggest topics from Episode 1,273 of FRL.

Super 32 Preview: A Chance for New Stars to Emerge

With Super 32 approaching, the hosts discussed the tournament's potential to introduce new names to the national high school wrestling conversation.

Bray said this year's field could look different from previous editions, when established stars entered the tournament with much of the attention already on them.

"This is a year where I think the spotlight is a little bit up for grabs on the high school scene," Bray said. "There are a lot of weight classes where these guys can go out and take it and make a name for themselves."

Bray expects the tournament's depth to create opportunities for wrestlers to make significant jumps in the national conversation.

"We're going to come out of Super 32 talking about names that maybe we're not talking about going into it," he said.

One of the most intriguing storylines involves Iowa commit Joe Bachman, who is seeded at 175 lbs but is entered at 190. Bachman wrestled at 165 lbs at Fargo during the summer, making the move particularly notable.

At 190 pounds, Bachman could face Tanner Hodgins, a U17 world medalist, and Ryder Schulte, a top five nationally ranked contender.

Bray said Bachman's performance could help answer questions about his future college weight.

"If he's effective at 190, I think you got to consider this guy — is he going to be a 197-pounder in college?" Bray said.

The hosts also highlighted several potential breakout wrestlers.

Evan Restivo, a freshman at State College High School in Pennsylvania, was one of Bray's top names to watch. Restivo made the U17 world team after finishing as a runner-up at the world team trials and competed at the U17 World Championships as an eighth grader.

"I think Evan Restivo is going to be a household name," Bray said. "This kid is fearless. He's taken on all comers."

Restivo will face a challenging bracket at 113 lbs that includes Cooper Deputy, Turner Ross and Michael Bernabe.

Bray also pointed to Jerin Coles, a Canadian wrestler now competing at Bishop McCort in Pennsylvania. Coles represented Canada at the U17 Pan American Championships and impressed during Elite 8 duals.

Bray believes Super 32 could introduce Coles to a broader audience.

"That's a guy that I think people are going to watch at Super 32 and be like, 'Wait a minute, where did this guy come from?'" Bray said.

Three Weight Classes to Watch at Super 32

The hosts identified 126, 132 and 138 lbs as some of the tournament's most compelling weight classes.

At 126 lbs, defending champion Jorge Rios could meet Hayden Schwab. The bracket also features Justin Farnsworth, whom Bray described as "super gritty" and "very, very tough on the mat."

Schwab brings a different style to the weight, with Bray highlighting his dynamic offense on his feet.

At 132 lbs, Israel Borge is back down at the weight after previously competing up a weight class. Slater Hicks is another name to watch in a bracket that includes several nationally ranked wrestlers.

The 138 lbs field could be just as compelling, with Dean Anderson, Dale Corbin and Dawson Youngblut occupying the top three spots nationally.

Bray said Anderson has been among the country's top wrestlers over the past year but will face a difficult test against Corbin and Youngblut.

The hosts also highlighted a potential matchup between Mac Crosson and Cam Howard. Crossan defeated Howard at the U20 World Team Trials, and the hosts discussed the possibility of the two meeting again at Super 32.

At 175 lbs, Bray singled out a potential match between Justus Heeg and Maximus Dhabolt.

The hosts emphasized that Super 32's early rounds should not be mistaken for an indication that the field lacks quality.

"Everybody in the tournament is good," Bray noted. "There's levels to it."

Sergio Vega Reflects on His NCAA Championship

Oklahoma State sophomore Sergio Vega joined the show to discuss his NCAA championship, his development under coach David Taylor and his move to 149 lbs.

Vega described his NCAA title run as a major breakthrough in his career, recalling how he began to believe he could beat two-time national champion Jesse Mendez during their final.

Vega said a key moment came when he defended one of Mendez's attacks and reached a position where he could threaten with his chest cradle.

"That's when I really knew that he knew that my chest cradle was a threat," Vega said. "And then I kind of kept wrestling the position."

Vega explained that the sequence changed his confidence during the match because he could feel Mendez respecting his defense.

"That was the moment where I really felt like he knew that my defense was really a threat to him," Vega said, "and I felt it immediately."

The hosts also asked Vega about his path to the NCAA final and his breakthrough at Super 32 three years ago.

Vega recalled entering Super 32 after placing fourth at Fargo and landing in a difficult bracket with Bo Bassett, Kyler Larkin and Ben Davino. 

Despite suffering a minor injury at the end of the first day, Vega returned to the mat and defeated Davino before losing to Bassett in the final.

"I think that was probably my biggest breakthrough," Vega said. "I think I hadn't really done very much things before that."

The conversation also touched on Vega's move to 149 lbs. He said he has enjoyed lifting more frequently and is looking forward to competing in a weight class filled with nationally ranked wrestlers.

Vega acknowledged that he wants to improve in specific positions and devote more attention to freestyle this season after taking the previous year off from the style.

"Definitely this year I want to focus on freestyle a little bit more than I did this past season," Vega said.

Bo Bassett vs. Sergio Vega: Could the Match Look Different Now?

Vega's appearance also prompted a discussion about his history with Bassett and how a potential folkstyle matchup might look after both wrestlers' development.

The hosts recalled a high-scoring freestyle match between the two at the 2024 U20 U.S. Open. Bassett won 14-12 in a bout filled with scrambles and action.

Rader said he would expect Bassett to score at least one takedown but would not rule out Vega shutting him down.

"I really think Sergio has leveled up enough to where it's a conversation," Rader said.

The crew reviewed portions of the old match, highlighting Vega's ability to keep wrestling through difficult positions and use his chest cradle to create scoring opportunities.

The hosts also discussed how the difference between freestyle and folkstyle could affect a rematch, particularly in positions where exposure and control are scored differently.

Although Vega and Bassett will compete at different weights this season, the hosts expressed interest in seeing them meet again in the future.

Real American Freestyle Preview: Burroughs, Caliendo and More

The episode also looked ahead to the upcoming Real American Freestyle event, with the hosts discussing several matchups that could draw interest from wrestling fans.

Jordan Burroughs vs. Mikey Caliendo was among the bouts highlighted. The hosts discussed the challenge Caliendo presents and the significance of seeing Burroughs face a younger opponent.

The crew also examined Sebastian Rivera vs. Vito Arujau, discussing Arujau's transition to 65 kg and the opportunity to measure his progress against an experienced opponent.

The hosts reviewed additional matchups on the card, including Ridge Lovett vs. Jordan Oliver and Lucia Yepez vs. Sarah Hildebrandt. 

The headlining matchup between Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis also entered the discussion.

Penn State Media Day Raises Lineup Questions

Penn State's media day provided another major topic, as the hosts examined comments from coach Cael Sanderson and considered how the Nittany Lions' lineup could take shape.

One of the clearest roster battles involves heavyweight, where both Mirasola brothers are expected to compete for the starting position.

The hosts also discussed the uncertainty surrounding several other weights, including 133, 141, 165 and 174 lbs.

Marcus Blaze and Masanosuke Ono were part of a hypothetical lineup scenario discussed during the show, while Nate Desmond's potential role at 141 lbs also came up.

The hosts spent considerable time considering the possibilities at 165 and 174, including whether Penn State could see Mitchell Mesenbrink, PJ Duke or Levi Haines in different lineup configurations.

One potential matchup particularly excited the crew: Mesenbrink against Haines.

"The most crazy scenario would be Mitchell versus Levi at the Black Knight invite," Meisinger said. "That would be absolutely nuts."

The hosts stressed that the scenarios remain hypothetical and that the final lineup picture is not yet clear.

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David Taylor Discusses His Development and Move to Oklahoma State

The crew also discussed Taylor's appearance on Daniel Cormier's podcast, where he reflected on his development as a wrestler and his decision to become Oklahoma State's head coach.

Taylor described how his offense evolved beyond relying heavily on the ankle pick. The discussion centered on his work to become more complete in short offense and defense, allowing him to attack more frequently without putting himself in vulnerable positions.

Taylor also reflected on leaving Penn State, acknowledging that he wished he had handled some conversations with his former coaching staff differently before making the move.

The hosts discussed the personal relationships involved in coaching and how difficult decisions can affect people who have worked together for years.

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Bo Nickal and Gable Steveson Exchange Words

The episode also covered comments Bo Nickal made about Gable Steveson during an appearance on Ariel Helwani's show.

According to Nickal's account, the two exchanged words, with Steveson allegedly threatening to knock him out. Nickal suggested that he would have the advantage in an MMA fight, while acknowledging that Steveson could have the edge in a wrestling match.

The hosts admitted they had not heard the full interview and were unsure what prompted the exchange.

Still, the possibility of the two competing against each other in both wrestling and MMA caught their attention.

"I now want to see a Bo Nickal versus Gable Steveson wrestling match and fight," Rader said. 

The crew discussed the possibility of a Real American Freestyle matchup and an eventual MMA fight, while noting that the size difference between the two athletes could be a factor.

Zhamalov's World Championships Withdrawal Changes the 74 KG Picture

The hosts also discussed news that Zhamalov appears likely to miss the upcoming World Championships because of injury.

The crew acknowledged that Zhamalov had been dealing with an injury but had hoped to see him compete after his return to action.

His potential absence led to a broader discussion about the state of the 74 kg division.

Rader and Meisinger said the weight class currently lacks the clear favorite that has defined some previous editions.

"It doesn't feel like it has a final boss this year," Rader said.

The discussion included several possible contenders, including Russia's Inalbek Sheriev, Japan's Yoshinosuke Aoyagi and other wrestlers in the field. 

The crew discussed Jon Kozak's set of predictions that had Sheriev winning gold, Aoyagi taking silver, and Geannis Garzon and Amir Yazdani earning bronze medals.

FRL Returns Tuesday

With Super 32 on the schedule and the college season approaching, the FRL crew will return Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. ET to continue breaking down the latest developments in wrestling.

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