I came away with a lot of impressions, but I thought the following five were the most salient and telling of the team's direction and reason for success.
1. Thomas Gilman proved he's a legit USA 57-kilogram wrestler for Tokyo 2020.
While the weight class at the 2017 World Championships lacked some of the depth from previous years, little can detract from the composure and gamesmanship Gilman showed while on the mat. Though he will have plenty of domestic challenges, his knack for finding a way to win in Paris required the type of focus and preparation his opponents seemed to lack. Gilman has some technical deficiencies (finishing single legs), but chugging into the challenging international calendar I think he has capability to keep turning heads.
2. Logan Stieber (61 kilograms) and Zain Retherford (65 kilograms) will be just fine.
Stieber and Retherford didn't make the podium, they tended to wrestle well. A better draw for Stieber and a little more clock management by Zain and the duo could have made medal runs at the World Championships. Stieber has proven he has the ability to win overseas, should he have made it past Adam Batirov, Zain was likely to crush opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Jordan Burroughs celebrates after winning a world title at 74 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)3. Jordan Burroughs never left.
Just like it was difficult to comprehend the stress Burroughs felt heading into Rio, or the disappointment he endured afterward, it's equally difficult to understand the feeling of accomplishment he enjoyed in coming back to win a fifth world title. Burroughs is not that young, and he's not as quick or mobile as in year's past, but it was evident throughout Paris 2017 that Burroughs could arguably be named the most mentally tough wrestler in the history of USA Wrestling.
I know that I was inspired, but I can also tell you that my 23-year-old British videographer was ecstatic to see every match in which Burroughs wrestled. Without knowing much about the sport, he migrated to Burroughs' mental toughness and, frankly, badassery, from the first match through the last. The day after the tournament he was looking online to find and buy an All I See is Gold shirt. What separates Burroughs isn't just inherent star power that comes with winning five titles, it's the horsepower he employs in each match and that incredible one-of-a-kind will to win he seems to tap into year after year.
4. Helen Maroulis is the gnarliest woman on the planet.
I have to think watching her dominate (and foot sweep) her way to the world title gave the men's freestyle team a boost in their competition.
All hail the queen.
5. USA Wrestling is a vibrant, cohesive organization.
From the president to the executive director to media staff and beyond, every member of the USA Wrestling staff has bought into the idea that they can win at this level. I'm fortunate enough to see a lot of international federations and national teams operate and I can think of none that is as inclusive, willing to accept new ideas and implement game-winning formulas as much as USA Wrestling. The potential of the team at the development level is only made stronger when considering the overall financial and emotional health of the organization. USA Wrestling is absolutely a leading national federation.
To your questions …
Q: Which current Junior is most likely to make the Senior men's team next year: Spencer Lee, Daton Fix, Mark Hall, Zahid Valencia, or Gable Steveson?
-- Irv O.
Foley: Zahid or Gable since the two new weight classes are in the upper weights (79 kilograms and 92 kilograms) and either give them a direct opportunity to compete, or could draw some competition away.
While I think that Thomas Gilman is the man for a few years, I think that Daton Fix could be a game changer. After seeing his domination at the Junior World Championships it's tough to remember that he's only entering college.
Q: How the hell can wrestling build a solid fan base if there is no consistent way to watch It? I have a Flo Pro account, which is stupid expensive and I couldn't watch Worlds on that. Watch all the matches for 10 bucks on Track … No thanks. Available on NBCSN from 3-5:30, oh wait, not available for you. All the matches on YouTube, not available in your country. Seems like I need to buy a different subscription for every major wrestling event.
I just have to read play-by-play updates, but I hate reading.
-- Will H.
Foley: I would have given you a video response, but alas I don't have those resources.
Look, if you can't spend $10 for 20-plus days of World Championships coverage (180-plus hours), or make your way to a TV with NBCSN or the Olympic Channel, then there isn't much that anyone can do for you. I'd also tell you that United World Wrestling put out a nightly video recap for free and that more than 250 accredited media were on site to share their perspective on the events. Also, add in the 18-plus highlight videos made the SAME DAY by United World Wrestling and the interviews conducted by Track, Flo and USA Wrestling, and there is no excuse for not spending the $10 to watch your favorite sport live.
Q: What did you make of David Taylor's tweet about J'den Cox? I read it as sour grapes. I don't think it reflects well on Taylor. I have always kind of liked Taylor, but after his behavior at the Trials and this tweet, it feels like he has some growing up to do.
-- Mike C.
Foley: I can only imagine Taylor's frustration at seeing Cox's semifinal match. He believes that he was wronged at the Trials, and perceived a lack of urgency in Cox after he was fireman carried in the semifinals. While I don't know if his response was perfect, I can definitely see his motivation and understand his frustration.
I don't think it's maturity thing, I think this is the result of having two of the world's best 86-kilogram wrestlers competing within the same nation. If I could recommend anything it would be to allow DT a little leniency. He was professionally frustrated and absolutely not a bad person, or immature.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Snyderlaev and Team USA
Q: What is the reasoning for the weight classes being different between freestyle and Greco-Roman? I never understood why they became different in 2013. Although there aren't that many senior level wrestlers competing in both styles, there are many Junior and U23 wrestlers doing both styles, and it would make more sense to align the weight classes. The new freestyle weights are good. The only improvement I would suggest is changing 74 and 79 to be 75 and 80, and changing 97 to be at least 98. That way the gaps get progressively larger. Lastly, why will there be no 2-kilogram weight allowance on the second day of competition starting in 2019? Why not have just 1 kilogram on Day 2?
-- Jeff S.
Foley: I don't have the full rationale of the Technical Commission's choice to alter the Greco-Roman weights, but I don't see any reason that they needed to be the same. There are very few wrestlers competing in both styles and the weight options are pretty close to each other.
The Junior, U23 and Senior weights are now all the same, too.
The weight classes look to add more opportunities to the big men. The scientific, technical, referee and other expert committees all weighed in on the categories and found these to be amenable to the most number of countries. This particular plan is a mixture of ideas presented by Japan, Iran and Russia with the support of the United States.
The idea is to eliminate all wiggle room for cutting weight at the Olympic Games. The athletes competing on the second day will also have several hours to rehydrate and recover before the night's finals.
Q: Crazy that Russia didn't win a single gold medal at the Worlds in any style. When was the last time that happened? What do you think contributed to that? I have my theories, but wanted to know what you thought.
-- Mike C.
Foley: 1951 ... maybe? As I don't think they competed.
My guess is that they are coming off an Olympic year a little banged up and Team USA is in top form. The gap had been closing for some time at the Junior level and the USA is seeing the results now at the Senior level.
Q: With the new weight classes, do you think we will see Abdulrashid Sadulaev move down to 92 kilograms?
-- Mike C.
Foley: No. Sadulaev is competing for Olympic titles and it makes no sense for him to buffer 10 pounds for three years as others get acclimated to the weight class. He will be just fine at 97 kilograms next year.
Q: In a recent mailbag you made a comment about Kevin Jackson being the best hire-to-task as developmental coach. I hope you are right. I hope he has found his niche. I'm fearful that you are wrong, because as supreme an athlete and competitor as he was, and as outstanding a man he is, his track record as a program leader is spotty at best. His tenure as national team coach had our lowest output of world & Olympic medals in 40-plus years. He ran Iowa State from legit title threat to laughing stock. I understand there may be more factors contributing to those bad experiences than simply KJ's presence. Maybe he simply has bad timing. I don't know. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm fearful we're seeing the high-water mark in developmental performance in these next couple years.
-- Sam G.
Foley: KJ is the man and is absolutely going to thrive in this role. I understand your viewpoint, but his enthusiasm, knowledge of the sport and compatibility with members of the organization and young wrestlers will equate into an enormous amount of developmental improvement.
I'm a big believer in his impact on the lives of his wrestlers and think USA Wrestling is blessed to have him in that room.
NCAA ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK
By Bob D.
Many pundits on other sites are dismissing Ohio State's chances to challenge Penn State next year with or without Nick Suriano (still in limbo as of 8/24/17). I see it as very close with Nathan Tomasello at 125, Luke Pletcher at 133, transfer Joey McKenna and Ke-Shawn Hayes at 141/149 (both listed at 141/149), Micah Jordan at 157, transfer Te'Shawn Campbell at 165, then Bo Jordan, Myles Martin, Kollin Moore and Kyle Snyder at 174-285.
Remember, PSU came out of the Big Ten with only two champs before they crushed the field at NCAAs. But even if they win five titles, get a couple of 5s from Cutch and Nevills, and 8 or so from Cortez at 141, that might not be enough to win it. Ohio State could get three titles at 125, 197 and 285, a couple of 2s at 174 and 184, mid-level AAs from McKenna (who's actually a title threat at 141) and Micah Jordan, a low-level AA from Hayes, mid to low level AA for Pletcher, and maybe even a podium spot from Campbell.
PSU's bonus advantage (returning bonus points) is 8 with McKenna and Campbell on Ohio State's roster, which is not insurmountable. I crunched the numbers and it looks pretty close from my perspective. I see PSU as a slight favorite with Suraino and Ohio State as a slight favorite with Suriano elsewhere. And to muddy the waters, Bo Jordan had two close matches with Mark Hall, each winning one, while wrestling on one foot, Martin is 2-4 vs. Nickal but has beaten him two of the last three (2016 NCAAs and 2017 Big Tens), and Vincenzo Joseph has to navigate Imar and Logan Massa to win again.
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