On Episode #143 of the Athletor Podcast, South Dakota State assistant coach Cam Simaz sits down with Mike Malinconico for a candid look at the evolving world of college wrestling—on and off the mat. They kick off with recovery tech and why SDSU invested in tools like a hyperbaric chamber, how athletes actually use it, and why the benefits come from consistency, not one-off sessions . From there, Cam unpacks the bigger picture: the growing tension between amateurism and professionalism, what NIL, transfers, and potential contracts could mean for non-revenue sports, and how programs like SDSU are responding with smart facilities, community buy-in, and efficiency across time and budget .

Simaz also dives into recruiting and culture—why character and multi-sport backgrounds matter, how “performance” is really about daily standards across training, academics, and life, and the small, consistent actions that keep a fan base engaged in a small market. He closes with a practical fix for the spectator experience: time-limited video challenges to keep matches moving and audiences locked in . It’s a sharp, real-time snapshot of where college wrestling is headed—and what it will take to thrive there.