What if Zahid had joined Team Mexico?

[peanut]

A number of US-based or -connected wrestlers have already qualified for the Olympics for other countries or territories—including Micic, RBY, Cruz, Rivera, Gomez, Amine, Ramos, Smith, and Dhesi.

Where would Zahid be today if he had decided to rep the green, white, and red? 

Edited March 3 by peanut

[SocraTease]

His brother Anthony wrestled 86KG at the Pan Am qualifier.  Won his first match but lost the next one.  

At the moment, Zahid is still pursuing a US place at the Olympics.  He's a long shot because he has to get past Brooks, Hidlay and/or Deiringer in order to go against DT.  

I think he won a bronze at Worlds at 92KG for the US.

My bet: he would have qualified 86KG for Mexico.  But he is a bit inconsistent at the international level.  Sometimes he looks great and other times he gets sloppy or is broken by an opponent.

[Truzzcat]

Zahid beat Amirala Azarpira at this past world championships and Amirela is a fairly clear #2/3 depending on if you think Sadulaev will be back at 100% for the olympics after beating Snyder so I think he may test his luck at 97kg.

[Spladle08]

Zahid would have a similar career as Amine on the World Stage (without the glory of Euros)
Always a medal threat, never a title threat. 
I almost wish he had gone that route, sucks to see all that talent go to waste.

[Spladle08]

Unlike some of you guys, with the amount of talent we have at some of these weights, I would much rather see our 3rd-4th-5th guys, try to make it to the big dance by transferring countries, instead of taking their talents to the Octagon right away. 
I love seeing Americans do their thing elsewhere when they genuinely had no shot here. 
 

[SocraTease]

Can't Zahid still transfer to Mexico?  I know there is a waiting period, however (a year maybe?), for guys who transfer.

Unless it is the case that once you compete internationally for one country that you can't transfer; not sure.  (I think that is the case with soccer, for example).

Anyone know for sure?

[bnwtwg]

What happens first:

Zahid gets another medal for USA

Zahid transfers to MEX

Spencer Lee gets a medal for USA

Spencer Lee transfer to FRA

[Tripnsweep]

1 hour ago, SocraTease said:

Can't Zahid still transfer to Mexico?  I know there is a waiting period, however (a year maybe?), for guys who transfer.

Unless it is the case that once you compete internationally for one country that you can't transfer; not sure.  (I think that is the case with soccer, for example).

Anyone know for sure?

He would have to pay the transfer fee, which is around $10,000. You're allowed one transfer. Maybe 2 if there are certain circumstances. 

[Le duke]

He’d have to go 97kg, unless he wants to kick his brother out of a spot. Who looked like a stuff sausage, by the way.

Imagine his terrible motor with 24lbs more beef stacked on it. The second period collapses would be amazing.


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[wrestle87]

He’d medal, probably like Miles Amine, but he has the pace and a unique enough style to surprise some people at 86kg.

Yeah his brother gave it a shot at 86kg, but he was clearly on the wendy’s chocolate shake diet trying to get there. I don’t know what it is, but the older valencia never has more than one match a day in him.  

If zahid wanted the mexico spot, it would be his, and he would bring home many medals.

[bnwtwg]

Zahid medaled six months ago giving up 15 pounds. He also was an inhaler/cold spray break from keeping his lead over Brooks (and thus giving AB the weird opportunity to likely switch places at 92). He has won rankings tournaments and made it to Final X multiple times. He made OTT semis in 2021 losing to another gold medal threat in Bo Nickal. 

If anyone has any doubt that Zahid would bring home many medals then they are a fool. His country just happens to have a top 3 P4P hammer and everyone is stuck down the ladder until Taylor retires to raise cows and sell their raw milk at his shop.

[1032004]

On 3/3/2024 at 9:17 AM, Spladle08 said:

Unlike some of you guys, with the amount of talent we have at some of these weights, I would much rather see our 3rd-4th-5th guys, try to make it to the big dance by transferring countries, instead of taking their talents to the Octagon right away. 
I love seeing Americans do their thing elsewhere when they genuinely had no shot here. 
 

I don’t think anyone cares about guys like Myles Amine competing for other countries, because they are clearly behind the US rep.    But when they first transferred people may have said the same about Micic, Rivera and Gomez, all of which never won an NCAA title (well I guess Gomez still can).

Are there any other American brothers competing for different countries?  I know it’s rare to have siblings that are both that good to begin with, but I feel like all the other ones I’ve seen (which I guess is just the Amines and Finesilvers) all compete for the same country…

[nhs67]

If Zahid had joined team Mexico, they could have qualified 97 KG as well.

[bnwtwg]

5 hours ago, nhs67 said:

If Zahid had joined team Mexico, they could have qualified 97 KG as well.

[flyingcement]

5 hours ago, nhs67 said:

If Zahid had joined team Mexico, they could have qualified 97 KG as well.

He should

[Spladle08]

On 3/4/2024 at 9:57 AM, 1032004 said:

I don’t think anyone cares about guys like Myles Amine competing for other countries, because they are clearly behind the US rep.    But when they first transferred people may have said the same about Micic, Rivera and Gomez....

LITERALLY ANYONE. 
ANYONE WHO TRANSFERS.... there's been a ton of people.  Nobody cares as long as it doesn't directly hinder our advancement. We underperformed at 2 weights and the f*cking sky is falling because of Austin Gomez and Darian Cruz. 

Narrative: These guys stole our American training methods and sabotaged the United States by transferring to other countries and competing against us, when they should be our reps, earning Olympic Gold for the USA. (I just listened to Pyles stupid 12 minute Rant)

Reality: A few American wrestlers who had little to no shot of making the American team, figured they'd roll the dice at the Pan-Am qualifier and hope they got a favorable draw and a chance to live their dream of competing in the Olympics games. (Nobody's b*tching about Shannon Hanna).
Unfortunately for 2 of the wrestlers they ran into their Team USA counterparts, who have beaten them convincingly in the past. 
These wrestlers with 0% chance of medalling at the Olympic games, beat the guys we chose to send. WOW what an accomplishment (I applaud them personally but its not universal)........ had they lost. 
Had the 2 guys that defeated our reps lost or qualified on the other side of the bracket. There wouldn't be a peep from anyone.

This whole Hindsight-patriot thing is the weakest form of weakness
 

[1032004]

45 minutes ago, Spladle08 said:

LITERALLY ANYONE. 
ANYONE WHO TRANSFERS.... there's been a ton of people.  Nobody cares as long as it doesn't directly hinder our advancement. We underperformed at 2 weights and the f*cking sky is falling because of Austin Gomez and Darian Cruz. 

Narrative: These guys stole our American training methods and sabotaged the United States by transferring to other countries and competing against us, when they should be our reps, earning Olympic Gold for the USA. (I just listened to Pyles stupid 12 minute Rant)

Reality: A few American wrestlers who had little to no shot of making the American team, figured they'd roll the dice at the Pan-Am qualifier and hope they got a favorable draw and a chance to live their dream of competing in the Olympics games. (Nobody's b*tching about Shannon Hanna).
Unfortunately for 2 of the wrestlers they ran into their Team USA counterparts, who have beaten them convincingly in the past. 
These wrestlers with 0% chance of medalling at the Olympic games, beat the guys we chose to send. WOW what an accomplishment (I applaud them personally but its not universal)........ had they lost. 
Had the 2 guys that defeated our reps lost or qualified on the other side of the bracket. There wouldn't be a peep from anyone.

This whole Hindsight-patriot thing is the weakest form of weakness
 

I wouldn’t say they have 0% chance of medaling, especially Gomez.

Pyles rant was pretty dumb, but he didn’t take a side (which is kinda what made it dumb IMO).

[bnwtwg]

Pyles has no problem accepting international UWW money funding his paycheck so it's not a surprise that he's playing the part of a dipshit

 

[Spladle08]

3 hours ago, 1032004 said:

I wouldn’t say they have 0% chance of medaling, especially Gomez.

While they both genuinely have close to no chance,  I'd say RBY has more of a chance of getting a "good" draw, and getting drawn back in only needing to pull 1 big-time upset. Wait we aren't even talking about RBY  lol Cruz, we are talking about Cruz, yeah sorry he has 0% chance of medaling, lets go back to Gomez (Sorry I don't know how I got off-track)

Rivera last year got that once in a lifetime draw at 65kg and pulled that 1 big-time upset in wild match with Tevanyan where he needed a miracle. Heck he got a good draw the previous year and made it to the semis needing one big win over Yainni, could've been a 2x finalist, got another chance at an upset for bronze because of that sweet draw but that  was at worlds and  I just don't believe it can happen for Austin Gomez

The Olympics is just such a different beast it's so condensed. 
Amouzad
Whoever Japan is sending 
Muz
Rashidov (I guess, but I like Mamedov)
Aliyev
Ochir
Tobier
Tevanyan
Dudaev
India will have a decent rep. 

I can't see him avoiding one of these people early (all of which I favor over him significantly). I cant see him pulling a rabbit and beating one in the semis. And if he loses in the semi's I can't see him beating whatever terrible savage that person beat to face him in the semis. 

I mean he's a longshot +2000 or worse to win 2 matches. Is this Nick Lee win his only significant win on the world stage? I know he beat an Indian guy with no credentials before he lost to Nick Lee last year. 

Yeah I guess 5% chance at a medal if the circumstances were IDEAL 
 

Edited March 5 by Spladle08