Sr. Pan Am

[bnwtwg]

3 minutes ago, de4856 said:

Well if Hendrickson wins at Final X, he’s the horse that we are going with. And by winning Final X, it kinds of takes the air out of the argument that he isn’t our best rep. 
Hendrickson does have DT as his coach, who is a proven winner at this level, so perhaps DT can fix some of these issues that are perceived. 

I've been on the Pindrickson train a lot longer than most. I have been very vocal for many years that I believe he is one of the best technicians in the country regardless of weight. He also really, really, really likes giving up points and having seesaw matches against opponents that should not be competitive - look no further than the 34 point barn burner with Hillger.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

16 hours ago, bnwtwg said:

I've been on the Pindrickson train a lot longer than most. I have been very vocal for many years that I believe he is one of the best technicians in the country regardless of weight. He also really, really, really likes giving up points and having seesaw matches against opponents that should not be competitive - look no further than the 34 point barn burner with Hillger.

My friend, who says some silly things, immediately texts me after Hendrickson/Hilger: "That was the best heavyweight match I have ever seen!"

My response was something like: "It is one of the worst heavyweight matches that I have ever seen, and I am very worried about the World Championships!"

[MPhillips]

2 hours ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

and I am very worried about the World Championships!"

"...and I am also worried about my choice of friends...

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

21 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

"...and I am also worried about my choice of friends...

yes indeed.  I'm kinda stuck with him.  He's a "kid" I coaches to a state finals 20+ years ago , who has now moved into coaching and I am somewhat of a mentor to him.  He is highly excitable.

Edited May 12 by Interviewed_at_Weehawken

[Gene Mills Fan]

Respect to Liam Cronin for representing!!!   Why didn't Luke represent???  

[LJB]

i am sure Lilledahl is purely focused on Final X...

there is limited value in Pan Ams outside of Olympic years... there is limited competition outside of a few specific weights between the styles...

if an athlete is a little banged up or the weight cut is tough there is just not much incentive to compete particularly in the leg grabbing with the only real competition that matters a month out...

[nhs67]

7 hours ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

Respect to Liam Cronin for representing!!!   Why didn't Luke represent???  

This...

1 hour ago, LJB said:

i am sure Lilledahl is purely focused on Final X...

there is limited value in Pan Ams outside of Olympic years... there is limited competition outside of a few specific weights between the styles...

if an athlete is a little banged up or the weight cut is tough there is just not much incentive to compete particularly in the leg grabbing with the only real competition that matters a month out...

100%

[LJB]

thinking on this a little bit more...

did men's leg grabbing have anyone other than americans who have ever medaled outside of Pan Ams previosuly?

obviously there were quite a few Greco guys who were legit and the women leg grabbers had several legit international competitors...

 

[Gene Mills Fan]

12 hours ago, LJB said:

i am sure Lilledahl is purely focused on Final X...

there is limited value in Pan Ams outside of Olympic years... there is limited competition outside of a few specific weights between the styles...

if an athlete is a little banged up or the weight cut is tough there is just not much incentive to compete particularly in the leg grabbing with the only real competition that matters a month out...

I get this but was wondering if it is a personal decision to give him his best chance to win at Final X. Also if it was a USA team thing that if he took a loss might affect world seeding I'm on board.  But also doesn't he need his own personal int. ranking points. Anyway I thought as our #1 guy and the only guy with a month off, and a chance at his first senior int gold he might be psyched. I don't get the worrying about injury as he still has to wrestle before worlds. Also props to Liam because he had no time to recoup for WTT's diminishing his chances. 

[bnwtwg]

11 hours ago, LJB said:

thinking on this a little bit more...

did men's leg grabbing have anyone other than americans who have ever medaled outside of Pan Ams previosuly?

obviously there were quite a few Greco guys who were legit and the women leg grabbers had several legit international competitors...

 

Just Zahid. The Cuban at 97 fell just short at the Paris games, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

[LJB]

Cronin is going to jump at the chance to rep USA as he just does not get the opportunity to do it on merit alone...

losing doesn't hurt your "seed" for worlds as seeding is based purely on previous years world points, the 4 rankings series tourneys, and the continentals... 

internationally leg grabbers are not super worried about world seeding because it just does not matter all that much in free... you have your few top guys at each weight and then the rest...

Lilledahl's only focus at this point should be just to beat lee and make the team... absolutely nothing else matters if he does not make that team... if he has an nagging injuries or if the weight cut is getting tougher than he likes there is absolutely no reason to wrestle at pan ams just to beat a bunch of guys who have never nor will ever medal outside of pan ams before...

and Lilledahl already has a senior international gold from the Hungary ranking series last summer where he faced exponentially tougher competition...

 

[LJB]

i think this is a good time for everyone to acknowledge just how much tougher and more competitive international greco is than free...

the two are just not even comparable in terms of top of bottom competition...

i understand there are very few in this country who actually understand this...