Wrestling fans who align with schools will feel jubilation and disappointment throughout the weekend as the underdogs find upsets and the favorites tumble. The media attention given to the sport has increased significantly over the past few years. Where I was watching bootlegged Iowa Public Television dual meets on VHS in 2000, the wrestling fan today can watch on their computer, iPad and even phone.
So sign up for some premium services, join the online discussions and have a tremendous weekend filled with watching the world's best athletes compete in the oldest and greatest sport.
Q: Cousins Bo Jordan and Isaac Jordan could meet in the Big Ten finals on Sunday. If they do meet, who are you picking?
-- Mike C.
Wisconsin's Isaac Jordan has a 19-2 record this season Goodness can that little slice of Ohio scrap, or what. How much of their talent is learned and how much just exists in their DNA? The Gracie family may claim jiu-jitsu dominance, but anyone familiar with the sport knows that theirs is now mostly just a marketing scheme (and plenty of willingness to assume maternal naming structure when beneficial).
Increasingly, it seems like the Jordans are becoming a defensible first family of wrestling. Not only did the last generation get it done on the mat, but they have raised children who love to compete and do a damn fine job of winning.
But in the end I think I'll choose Isaac. Not sure why, don't know that there is a defensible reason to choosing either. I just dig on the name!
Q: What's your take on Nike investing more in wrestling with the sponsorship of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Massive move. This mimics what we see in other international sports, where the club is the driving force behind athletics around the world. Those clubs are supported by sponsors (many of them local), which is how they travel and host events.
Nike coming back to the wrestling scene should push more competitiveness among the brands to provide services and cash to clubs. What does Nike see in the sport? I'd imagine they see a chance to tap their loyal fan base within wrestling -- the same business model that has helped Flips Wrestling and other wrestling-centric brands (no pun intended) turn a profit. With a major brand on board with the sport, arguably the most influential, the funding of all clubs may soon experience an upturn.
Overall, I'm happy for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and hopeful for the sport at large.
Q: What do u think about the Tennessee state tourney being wrestled at a venue with a dirt floor, uneven mats, no showers and no warm-up area?
-- @codylcleveland
Foley: The American South is struggling to get their wrestling act together in 2015. First the VHSL shortens an already ridiculous Virginia state wrestling tournament, and next Tennessee apparently held their state tournament in a poorly lit, exceptionally dirty barn.
I looked for the photos that I'd glanced past on Twitter this week, but was unable to find them. Needless to say the tournament was hosted in conditions not on par with how athletes in 2015 should be treated.
Maybe the worst offense is that the tournament was dirty AND there was nowhere for athletes to shower. In the age of pernicious skin diseases and 1-800-LAWYERS, not maintaining a health-conscience facility is a large financial liability to the state high school association.
Another issue is that there was no place for the athletes to warm up before their matches. How this is allowed to happen defies description.
The Tennessee athletic association should be held accountable. Unfortunately if they are anything like that in Virginia that will act, and almost certainly be, above the law.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
New deal for the Hawkeyes
Trailer for the Women's Wrestling World Cup
Big Move of the Week
Q: With Logan Stieber graduating, who do you think will be the biggest star in college wrestling next season?
-- Mike C.
Foley: That will depend on who wins the NCAA championship this season. Right now J'den Cox of Missouri and Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern would be heading into their junior seasons as two-time NCAA champions. Should that happen it would be tough to argue with other wrestlers gaining more attention.
However, no matter how he does in 2015 the nation is ready to embrace Kyle Snyder, much like they did David Taylor. Snyder has received more than six years of hype and in a media age his friendliness off the mat and success on the mat have made him a highly marketable star.
If Isaiah Martinez completes his freshman season undefeated and hoisting the NCAA trophy ... then he very well could become the toast of 2016 in Madison Square Garden.
Q: When will we see the new freestyle and Greco-Roman uniforms?
-- Luca M. from Italy
Foley: I suspect we could see them as early as the end of 2015. There will be plenty of testing both in tournaments and with audiences. There is no particular rush and given the importance of the change nobody wishes to speed up the process for false deadlines.
Q: Any chance the NCAA adds a light heavyweight weight class that would reflect what high school wrestling did by adding a 220-pound weight class? It seems there is no easy transition weight class for top 220-pounders in high school to go to in college. They're either a very small heavyweight or they have to cut 23 pounds to get to 197. Something like a 210 or 225-pound weight class in college would be interesting.
-- Ryan P.
Foley: Absolutely zero chance.
College wrestling would benefit from fewer weight classes, not more. More concentration of talent would help shorten dual meets, bolster competitiveness and provide teams ample opportunity to fill out their lineups. No more forfeits and a better chance (not worse) for Johnny High School to earn a college scholarship.
Think of Olympic wrestling, which has argued for more men's weight classes. Until a country sends a wrestler in all 18 weight classes to the Olympics there is no over-concentration of talent. Yes, we all know about 74 kilos in men's freestyle with Burroughs, Howe, Dake and Taylor, but one weight class in one country doesn't support the argument for adding two more Olympic weight classes worldwide.
College wrestling is in a battle for resources. Better to prune the fat than to lose all the meat.
Q: In your opinion, what are some of the greatest mismatches that we have seen in the NCAA finals in the last 15 years? Criteria would be the skill level differential, not necessarily the score or a pin. For example, I wouldn't consider Bubba Jenkins vs. David Taylor or Dustin Kilgore vs. Clayton Foster mismatches even though both of those matches ended in pins. An example of the type of mismatch I'm thinking of is David Taylor vs. Brandon Hatchett.
-- Gil S.
Foley: Mitch Clark vs. Vertus Jones didn't read on paper like a mismatch, but within a minute it was obvious that Jones had no answer for Clark's top game. That was the first time, though not the last, where I felt a cringe of embarrassment for the opponent.
Readers: What are some of your favorites? Comment below.
Q: Would you have disqualified Thomas Gilman for the slam on Alan Waters? The match was chippy (Waters got his shots in too), but that slam was blatant with intent to injure, even though waters was OK. Maybe at the least they should have lost a team point. There is no need for that behavior.
-- Nick D.
Foley: Gone.
In jiu-jitsu you are tossed without a moment's hesitation. If you pulled that bullshit in the room you'd have your arms ripped off and be kicked out, possibly for good.
Wrestling does a TERRIBLE job of self-policing. Yes, we complain with the best, but when kids act out they need to be put in their place. That it's an institute for learning and coaches aren't able to discipline like they could in a private club is noted, but there should have been a much more significant punishment for that type of action.
I like Gilman and don't mind some chippyness, but all the energy poured into displaying that type of bravado would be better spent learning how to get out of legs.
Q: Did you see Mark Schultz is selling a bunch of stuff on eBay? What are your thoughts?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I don't know why he would want to sell his belongings, but I can imagine that he either wants psychological separation from the events of Foxcatcher (post-movie and post-book). He may also be hard up for cash and wants to cash out on the popularity of the film and his book. If so, I think that can be a sad reminder of how much wrestling can take from some individuals.
Regardless of your personal thoughts on Mark, it would be troubling to see someone with so much talent be left without a safety net deserving of the inspiration he provided millions of wrestlers.
RANT OF THE WEEK
By Nick D.
For those people that don't like freestyle, you need to embrace it. I never wrestled past high school, my brother wrestled in the Big Ten. We went to London for the Olympics in 2012. It was one of the all-time experiences I have ever had, and that was under the old "3 separate matches" rules (Jake Herbert got screwed -- just saying). If you think that Iowa and Minnesota fans are intense, go to an international wrestling match and listen to the Iranians, Azerbaijanis, Russians, etc. They are crazy. It's not even political. Iranians actually cheered for Americans when we wrestled the Russians because it affected the mythical team title and overall medal count. Seriously, everyone should do themselves a favor and either go to the World Championships or the World Cup in 2015. They are both in the States.
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