Must Read Wrestling Forum Content

[ionel]

1 minute ago, Boring said:

I don't know if that'll work. Do they lock up and push in swimming? 

That's my point ... Brands can coach Phelps to a 1pt push stall point ... ain't gonna work in swimming.  

[Boring]

7 minutes ago, ionel said:

That's my point ... Brands can coach Phelps to a 1pt push stall point ... ain't gonna work in swimming.  

It might work pretty well, as long as they push their opponent under the water. 

[Mr. PeanutButter]

25 minutes ago, Boring said:

Chance went to the Olympics. 

You sure about that 

[Boring]

1 minute ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

You sure about that 

My bad, World Cup. 

[PortaJohn]

@Wrestleknownothing, saw you were in the news today.  Congrats!

https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/swimming-legend-gary-hall-jr-receives-10-replacement-olympic-medals-after-losing-originals-in-la-wildfires

[Wrestleknownothing]

11 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

@Wrestleknownothing, saw you were in the news today.  Congrats!

https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/swimming-legend-gary-hall-jr-receives-10-replacement-olympic-medals-after-losing-originals-in-la-wildfires

This got me thinking about the ways that Gary Hall Jr. and I are complete opposites.

• Hall Jr.'s father and grandfather were world class swimmers, too. I do not every recall seeing my father in a pool, and my grandfather was a coal miner. While he passed before I was born, I just can't imagine him in a pool either.
• Hall Jr. was a drop dead sprinter. World class at 100m and under. Never saw a 101st meter. I was a distance swimmer's distance swimmer. It took me 500m just to get going.
• Hall Jr. medaled in three Olympics. I once qualified for a lone Olympic Trials. So, I'm real close on this one.
• At 218 lbs. Hall Jr. needed 6'6" to carry that weight. Very inefficient. I get within a biscuit of that while only using 5'10".

 

[PortaJohn]

5 minutes ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

This got me thinking about the ways that Gary Hall Jr. and I are complete opposites.

• Hall Jr.'s father and grandfather were world class swimmers, too. I do not every recall seeing my father in a pool, and my grandfather was a coal miner. While he passed before I was born, I just can't imagine him in a pool either.
• Hall Jr. was a drop dead sprinter. World class at 100m and under. Never saw a 101st meter. I was a distance swimmer's distance swimmer. It took me 500m just to get going.
• Hall Jr. medaled in three Olympics. I once qualified for a lone Olympic Trials. So, I'm real close on this one.
• At 218 lbs. Hall Jr. needed 6'6" to carry that weight. Very inefficient. I get within a biscuit of that while only using 5'10".

 

@ionel got my lyrics for a masterpiece.  stay tuned

[Gene Mills Fan]

8 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

@ionel got my lyrics for a masterpiece.  stay tuned

almost a 'cats not in the cradle vibe'

[PortaJohn]

Just now, Gene Mills Fan said:

almost a 'cats not in the cradle vibe'

Yes!

[ionel]

8 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

Yes!

Maybe @nhs67 will work on the Wkn pic for the album cover.

I know there's a whole album of Wkn material.   

 

Edited Monday at 07:50 PM by ionel

[Fadzaev2]

3 hours ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

It seems like those are examples of guys who faught their body type to get close to the top, but not THE top.

Mark Branch went 1-2-2-1 @ the NCAA's?????  He actually went into the NCAA's his freshman year with a losing record.

Edited Monday at 09:37 PM by Fadzaev2

[Wrestleknownothing]

Just now, Fadzaev2 said:

Mark Branch went 1-2-2-1 @ the NCAA's?????

I knew that when I responded, and debated whether to qualify my statement, or not (3 out of 4). I decided to not qualify, but am torn. The tie breaker for me was I could not find any international achievements for Branch. This is certainly not a hill I would choose to die on, more of a hair split on what constitutes THE top.

As an aside, I love that his bio on the Wyoming website barely even mentions that he wrestled. There is paragraph after paragraph about the athletes he coached and coaching achievements, but only a few sentences about his wrestling.

[BruceyB]

18 minutes ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

I knew that when I responded, and debated whether to qualify my statement, or not (3 out of 4). I decided to not qualify, but am torn. The tie breaker for me was I could not find any international achievements for Branch. This is certainly not a hill I would choose to die on, more of a hair split on what constitutes THE top.

As an aside, I love that his bio on the Wyoming website barely even mentions that he wrestled. There is paragraph after paragraph about the athletes he coached and coaching achievements, but only a few sentences about his wrestling.

To your original question about what would be the ideal wrestling body type, I think it's pretty evident being long and lanky is not ideal. And I would say much less ideal in freestyle than in folk where the long guys usually thrive on top. Likewise, Chance is a true anomaly with his body type. I never believed he would be legitimately competitive at 86kg at 5'7". 

[MPhillips]

4 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

I think it's pretty evident being long and lanky is not ideal.

What makes you believe this?

[BruceyB]

24 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

What makes you believe this?

The fact that we don't see many long and lanky wrestlers at the higher levels of wrestling. I'm not saying you can't be successful with that body type, but if you were going to create a wrestling in a lab, I don't think you're using Nick Simmons as the prototype.

[Konquest]

Jordan Burroughs and Joe Williams come to mind.  Not too tall or too short for their respective weights (Joe was a little taller/skinnier, especially in the legs), but both had wingspans much, much greater than their height.

[cowcards]

9 hours ago, Wrestleknownothing said:

It raises the question, what is the perfect body type for wrestling?

I heard a TED talk a while back that argued part of the progression of records in sports is attributable to specialization by body type. For example, in the early Olympics the shot putters and the sprinters looked very much alike, now there could not be a more stark contrast in sports.

Michael Phelps with his long torso, short legs, big feet, long arms, extreme shoulder, knee, and ankle flexibility is the perfect body type for swimming.

Sadulaev also has a long torso and short legs. Is this the perfect wrestling body type? Would Phelps also have been a world class wrestler?

Looks like you have your next data project. Time to get researching on the heights off all past Olympic/World Champs at each weight. 

[Fadzaev2]

On 5/5/2025 at 7:02 PM, Konquest said:

Jordan Burroughs and Joe Williams come to mind.  Not too tall or too short for their respective weights (Joe was a little taller/skinnier, especially in the legs), but both had wingspans much, much greater than their height.

How about TJ Williams and John Fisher....Yanni has some "range as well.

[Wrestleknownothing]

23 hours ago, cowcards said:

Looks like you have your next data project. Time to get researching on the heights off all past Olympic/World Champs at each weight. 

Oof. I am not sure I have that energy. 

But the real problem is I think it would be more than just height. The ratio of torso to height (or legs to height, either way) probably matters. I imagine the difference between wingspan and height is also indicative to a predisposition to be a better wrestler. And where are you gonna find those stats?

[PortaJohn]

On 5/5/2025 at 6:56 PM, BruceyB said:

The fact that we don't see many long and lanky wrestlers at the higher levels of wrestling. I'm not saying you can't be successful with that body type, but if you were going to create a wrestling in a lab, I don't think you're using Nick Simmons as the prototype.

The two best to ever do it (Medved & Satiev) were tall and had length

[Fadzaev2]

On 5/5/2025 at 5:50 PM, Wrestleknownothing said:

I knew that when I responded, and debated whether to qualify my statement, or not (3 out of 4). I decided to not qualify, but am torn. The tie breaker for me was I could not find any international achievements for Branch. This is certainly not a hill I would choose to die on, more of a hair split on what constitutes THE top.

As an aside, I love that his bio on the Wyoming website barely even mentions that he wrestled. There is paragraph after paragraph about the athletes he coached and coaching achievements, but only a few sentences about his wrestling.

[scourge165]

On 5/5/2025 at 1:03 PM, Wrestleknownothing said:

It seems like those are examples of guys who faught their body type to get close to the top, but not THE top.

Chris Bono, Aaron Brooks, I wouldn't say Starocci was particularly long, Kyle Snyder. 

I think that was a great point, Wrestling is unique because ANYONE of any body type can have success. Cael or Brooks at 197... Tommy Rowlands or Kyle Snyder at HWT...Dean Hamiti or Mark Schultz...Spencer Lee or Stephan Abas and I could keep going, but the point seems obvious. 

 

I would say Marstellar winning a spot on the world team and Pletcher being the overwhelming favorite in '20...make them not winning the outliers, not proof they faught their body style. 

[scourge165]

On 5/5/2025 at 5:23 PM, BruceyB said:

To your original question about what would be the ideal wrestling body type, I think it's pretty evident being long and lanky is not ideal. And I would say much less ideal in freestyle than in folk where the long guys usually thrive on top. Likewise, Chance is a true anomaly with his body type. I never believed he would be legitimately competitive at 86kg at 5'7". 

I would think Cael Sanderson(whom I believe to be taller than the 6') or Tazhudinov...who is 6'3. 

Also, how much different is Chance's build from Brooks? Brooks is the same height, but he's going to 97KG. 

[MPhillips]

7 minutes ago, scourge165 said:

Brooks is the same height,

Not talking sh ite. Brooks is 5'7"?  

Edited yesterday at 02:46 AM by MPhillips

[scourge165]

On 5/4/2025 at 7:58 AM, Wrestleknownothing said:

 

I looked up top 30 best times and there was ONE that was not Ledecky(I believe it omits one of Summer McIntosh's times for whatever reason). 

But then you go to top 50 times...EVER and she's got at least 40 of them.

 

We're been pretty lucky to see some...historically great athletes. Phelps is great, Ladecky's had preternatural endurance. 

Kinda like Simone Biles or...Usain Bolt. There are a few, but not many athletes who are just so incredibly dominant, it's hard to wrap your head around.

I grew up with my Grandparents on a lack and my parents had a pool(my Uncle did excavating, a friend of the family actually did lining, another did concrete)...so I swam a LOT growing up. For fun, to work out, whatever. The thought of swimming a MILE or even a half of mile here like this...is mind blowing. 

And while it SHOULD be obvious it's not just natural talent, I believe she's never once had a beer and has this super strict diet.

I'm not a swimming fan just as I'm not a huge Gymnastics fan, but how can you not respect someone who is as dedicated and as talented as some of these athletes and love watching them compete? 

 

I would LOVE to see each of them in the 2028 Olympics. I don't know if that's feasible as it pertains to Biles(now THAT is a sport you need a pretty specific body type).