Sammie Henson celebrates after J'den Cox wins the NCAA title (Photo/Larry Slater)The World Team Trials are this weekend and though there is plenty of focus on who will emerge from men's freestyle at 74 kilos there are plenty of plotlines that while not as sexy, will matter just as much to the American effort in Tashkent.
First, is that the only weight classes be competed at the World Team Trials are the six Olympic weights, the other six weights (two per category) will be competed at a later date, ostensibly with wrestlers who failed to make the Olympic weight categories either bumping up or down to compete at the World weight classes.
Is this fair?
No, but USA Wrestling is recognized by the USOC for gold-medal performances at the Olympics and by instituting this system now they can create more attention on the Olympic weight categories. Also, it's their estimation that by allowing guys to drop down and bump up form Olympic weights they will increase the competitiveness of the non-Olympic weights, which in turn helps to create a stronger program.
I understand the philosophy, but think we are creating too much drama within the organization. Still, it's the system the women have used since 2004 so that data must support the claim that this is better for the United States.
Outside of the qualification system it'll be important to keep an eye on 57 kilos where the American side has not performed well over the past few Worlds and Olympics. The wrestlers are talented, but as 74 kilos grows with talent our outlook at 57 kilos isn't as deep. Will new wrestlers emerge in Madison? I'm hopeful.
Keep an eye on our women. They are among the best in the world and are awesome to watch. You think men compete hard? Ha! Anyone who has attended more than a few international tournaments knows that the toughest, angriest, grittiest, and never-say-die competitors tend to compete in the women's division. Their flexibility and weight distribution might mean there are fewer throws, but when the action is close to the mat and creativity is needed to escape or score, it's the women who often create the most fascinating moves.
Also, keep an eye out for Matt Lindland's new Greco-Roman wrestlers at the Greco-Roman World Team Trials, which take place June 13 in Daytona Beach, Florida. It's way too early to assess any aspect of his job, but it will be important to make a mental note of where the team is today and where it will be come September. If Lindland wants to make an impact he will need to recruit more guys from the room and start competing more evenly with the European nations.
To your questions ...
Q: Can you verify the proven performer additional qualification procedures for 74 kilos? Specifically trying to figure out, even if David Taylor were to beat Jordan Burroughs, do they both go to an overseas tournament and highest placer goes to Worlds? Or is it just DT wins he goes to Worlds? And why is this rule so inconsistent every year?
-- Frank C.
Foley: The rules have changed, but I don't recall there being an overhaul in recent years. You are right. Taylor would have to beat Burroughs in two of three matches and then travel to an overseas tournament where he would then have to place (medal) above Burroughs.
Q: What's the deal with Sammie Henson?
In his 17 years of coaching he has never spent more than three seasons at a school. Counting West Virginia, he has also coached at eight teams over that period of time.
-- Mark K.
Foley: When I talked to other coaches and insiders about "why" Sammie Henson had yet to find a head coaching job the first response would always be a failure to stay put for too long, and the assumption that athletic directors would shy away from his lack of commitment.
I have always liked Sammie and never perceived the movement as a lack of loyalty to a program, but a rational and natural move up the coaching ranks. There are dozens, possibly hundreds, of coaches who have stayed put at an ascendant program only to look back after eight years and be firmly entrenched as a No. 2 with no chance of getting a premier head coaching position. Loyalty pays off, but not always.
Henson also has a specific reason to not trust AD's and those in power. He was at Clemson when they dropped their program. He was their last wrestler to win an NCAA title and as he left, the program crumbled. For a 22-year-old kid that type of event leaves a logical and lasting impact. Don't trust the man, trust yourself.
West Virginia is going to be a very good wrestling program in a few years. They may even be a pretty good wrestling program next year. Henson knows how to coach. He's had the experience of coaching on both coasts and in the Olympics -- nothing will shock him. Expect big things.
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Q: Derek DelPorto (Eastern Michigan) and Rob Eiter (Penn) recently announced their resignations as Division I head wrestling coaches to pursue professional opportunities. This is not that uncommon. Lenny Bernstein (Virginia), Chuck Barbee (Army) and others have done the same in the past 10 years. You spent time as a Division I assistant wrestling coach, so I'm sure you have some insight on the duties of a college head wrestling coach. What makes it such a demanding job?
-- Mark C.
Foley: Simply put ... The paperwork and demands of the NCAA and athletic departments. If coaching was only about winning wrestling matches, then more coaches (albeit different coaches) would be in their jobs for much longer. Unfortunately the NCAA, in a need to keep control over every breathe of their students and coaches has made coaches their primary foot soldiers.
The typical Division I head wrestling coach spends very little time on the mat with his athletes, and even those who do practice and show technique unquestionably would tell you that they don't do it enough. Instead of teaching life lessons and outside singles, the main job of a head wrestling coach is to fill out recruiting paperwork, attend compliance meetings and keep up alumni relations.
Maybe that's why some of these guys went elsewhere? They saw that their skill set could earn them more money on the open market while also allowing more time for family. Coaching isn't a 9-5 task. You have to be committed from the moment you wake up to the moment you close your eyes. Anything less shows up on the mat. The life span of a head wrestling coach is shrinking, and like most negative things in sports, that has a lot to do with the tightening grip of the NCAA.
Q: The post weigh-in stare down/faceoff is absolutely ridiculous in the sport of MMA, right? All it does is give an opportunity to act like an idiot and create fake drama. We know that they aren't supposed to like one another; they're scheduled to fight. Would the sport be any worse off if they did away with the whole thing? I think the King Mo-Rampage scene from last weekend, as well as any time a Diaz fights, shines a bad light on fighters in general. What's your take?
-- Curt H.
Foley: Dumb.
I think that wrestling should publicize their weigh-ins, but the mass buy-in to the bullshit theatrics of MMA staredown and almost guaranteed shoving match lost its appeal in the 90's when Mike Tyson would use the same tactic to promote fights.
The guys causing these fights at weigh-ins are guys too insecure about their talents to let the action happen in the cage. They tend to be self-promoters with limited capabilities, as is the case with Mo and Rampage, guys sliding down the backend of their combat careers.
Should public weigh-ins happen with wrestling, it would be important to limit this type of action, mostly because striking isn't part of our sport, but mostly because it's tacky and chillingly lame.
Q: Which Division I head wrestling coach will lead his program to a top-10 finish first, Zeke Jones (Arizona State) or Sammie Henson (West Virginia)? Why?
-- Mark C.
Foley: Zeke Jones has more assets in place, but with Sammie Henson there is a large unknown about how his ethos affects a team at-large. We know that Sammie has been instrumental in the success of programs, but what is the outcome when the mat results all hinge on his theories and life philosophies?
Neither program will be in the top 10 in the next three years, and likely not the next five. At the six-year mark I think they are both on the edge of cracking the top 10, but if I had to choose I would say Zeke gets there a touch before Sammie if only because he will have massive institutional buy-in and the type of alumni support necessary to get high-level coaches in town.
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