While it's too early to make definitive conclusions about the format the initial response from athletes and fans has been positive.
The two-day format has been common in the USA since 1998 when three wrestlers died during weight-cutting. A special commission was formed to investigate the issues and it was decided that same-day weigh-ins (along with weight management programs) would prevent young athletes from making drastic cuts. The results seem to be a healthier group of youth and collegiate wrestlers.
The international wrestling community has embraced the idea because it both keeps wrestlers from cutting too much weight (a concern of President Lalovic) and helps the sport promote weight class finals on social media and in the press. That will be a big deal for wrestling fans in 2018, but it should also mean significant viewership increased during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Wrestling has some of the most marketable stars, but the press has often found the deadline for story creation too tight.
The Cadet Wrestling World Championships will be the next test event, and should that succeed then all tournaments will run on the two-day format starting January 1, 2018.
To your questions …
Daniel CormierQ: Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones on Saturday night. Do you have a prediction? I'll be betting DC at 2-1 not only because I dislike Bones and like DC, but because I really think he gets payback and silences his critics.
-- Mike C.
Foley: I love everything about Daniel Cormier. A few years ago I was sent to his house to write a cover story about his then-upstart MMA career. We hung out for a few days and what struck me most wasn't his incredible athletic talents, but his commitment to family, friends and the sport of wrestling.
This guy was a pee-wee wrestling coach until Muhammed Lawal gave him a call and asked him to start fighting! That by itself is a heartwarming origination story, but DC is STILL teaching youth wrestling. He still cares about Team USA and is an active member of the community. Nobody is perfect, but in a sport filled with sleaze this is the role model for the next generation.
As for your bet, I think getting 2-1 on your emotional favorite is not a bad line. He'll be frustrated by Jones' length, but I think the wrestling will be a major factor in the match and it will benefit Cormier.
Good luck to both you and DC!
Q: Do you know how sites are selected for the World Championships? Is it similar to the Olympics where cities make bids and the IOC chooses based on these? Does UWW have their own selection methods?
-- Chris P.
Foley: United World Wrestling accepts bids from member nations, reviews their proposals and votes in committee on who they will select. That selection is then contingent on the host committee meeting a range of organizational goals, which are administered and overseen by members of the bureau.
As the UWW sport presentation has become stabilized with common logos, themes and colors the bid cities are forced to distinguish themselves with services for the wrestlers. The aim now is to provide a professional standard that optimizes the convenience and performance of the athletes.
The remainder of the 2018 calendar will be decided at the 2017 World Championships in Paris.
Q: What excites you most about the upcoming Junior World Championships?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I tend to work all the World Championships, but with our media and video team in place and humming along I decided instead to prepare for Worlds at home. My wife misses me.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Q: If you were a college wrestling coach today, what is the most important thing you would look for in a recruit? I realize every school is different and has different requirements and recruits different types of kids, so just generally speaking.
-- Mike C.
Foley: Generally … character, athleticism and grit. A program with a clear vision requires athletes who are willing to make the right choices, but also the athleticism to apply the techniques and principals of their program in competition. The final part, grit, is tougher to distinguish, but you want kids who enjoy long odds and have the confidence to fight through periods of frustration and who make gains.
Oh, and kids with a clean social media feed. Don't need that distraction.
Q: Why does USA Wrestling's Junior & Cadet Nationals event in Fargo have to be so damn big? So many competitors, matches and mats make it hard to follow. Seems pointless to have it so big. Do other countries have Cadet and Junior national tournaments this big?
-- MC
Foley: I think Fargo is the single largest annual gathering of wrestlers in one location over the course of one week. There are wrestling tournaments around the world (traditional and Olympic) which have larger weight class tournaments, but none I've heard of include 10,000 matches over eight days.
The size of the tournament has some real positives. The travel costs for state chapters is reduced by ensuring that they can fill buses, chaperone, coach and pay for meals in one fell swoop. Splitting among Cadet and Junior -- and Greco-Roman, women's wrestling and freestyle -- would be a logistical nightmare. I also think that there would be a significant cost increase to USA Wrestling who makes good revenue off the event, largely by keeping their costs in check.
Yes, too much to follow, but as long as they want to keep providing an annual tournament it seems to be the best option.
Q: Are the social media/message board rumblings that Gable Steveson was competitive with Kyle Snyder and Nick Gwiazdowski at the OTC true?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I wasn't there, but one can imagine Gable provided excellent training and will make a big impact at the Junior World Championships in Finland! Everything I hear about him says he'll be a great addition to Team USA.
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