FINAL X...

[Pinnacle]

Another iconic photograph. A known top notch photographer on PSU got this image of high schooler PJ Duke in mid air after pinning Yianni D at Final X. Well done. 

 

[de4856]

7 hours ago, TylerDurden said:

Greco

No doubt Dake would be great at Greco, but could he be good enough to win or medal at the World’s? My thought is that he would probably come up a little short of making our team, but you never know. 

[MJD]

1 minute ago, de4856 said:

No doubt Dake would be great at Greco, but could he be good enough to win or medal at the World’s? My thought is that he would probably come up a little short of making our team, but you never know. 

I think it's his best shot at his age. His freestyle ship has sailed.

[GrandOlm]

3 hours ago, de4856 said:

No doubt Dake would be great at Greco, but could he be good enough to win or medal at the World’s? My thought is that he would probably come up a little short of making our team, but you never know. 

At the risk of sounding like a one note age determinist, the probability tables for Greco as you age are even worse than freestyle at the light and middle weights. 

It's only super heavyweights who can go into their early 40s (Roshcilin, Lopez), but they're almost practicing a different  sport from the lighter weight classes. 

Light weight greco is an utter grind. So destructive on the body. It's not uncommon for a guy to have one olympic cycle in him before he gets to damaged to be champion level. Middleweights are like a milder version of that. I took a quick glance at the most successful light and middle weights and I think the oldest one was 32 when he medaled gold. Americans tend to be on the older side when they first medal because they have to take a decade to catch up and learn the style. Dake doesn't have that time. 

He'll have an easier go at making the world team. But I don't see him doing well at the world level.  77kg is young mans weight class with Nao Kusaka (who emerged as the nr1  and is 24 years old) plus Akzhol (who might be past his prime already). Russia will have a hungry guy at 77 kg. 

At 87 kg he'll be undersized and have to beat much naturally bigger and younger men like Bisultanov, Losnoczi, Komarov, Takacs. 6 ft+ men who walk around at over 200 lbs. 

[flyingcement]

7 hours ago, Pinnacle said:

Another iconic photograph. A known top notch photographer on PSU got this image of high schooler PJ Duke in mid air after pinning Yianni D at Final X. Well done. 

 

it also captures the agony of defeat from Yianni's angle.  it's a great photo

[MPhillips]

16 hours ago, Pinnacle said:

A known top notch photographer on PSU

Scott Pilutik...

[Pinnacle]

10 hours ago, flyingcement said:

it also captures the agony of defeat from Yianni's angle.  it's a great photo

It reminds of the old entry into Wide World of Sports. "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". 

[lu1979]

On 6/15/2025 at 2:59 PM, GrandOlm said:

Campbell was a career heavyweight though (and even he only managed a bronze). He won gold at  1981 worlds at 90 kg and then the bronze in 1992 at 90 kg as well.  

The general aging progressions for Freestyle are Lightweights start declining in their late 20s, Middleweights in their early 30s, and Heavyweights in their mid 30s. There are exceptions, but that's the general trend. 

Dake is a natural middleweight who aged out of 74 kg (just like Boroughs) and is now trying to force 86 kg to work because he can't stand the cut and has lost a step or two. 

The World Gold CC won in 1981 was at 82KG (180lbs) as was the 1980 Olympic team spot he won.  when he returned 10 years later to compete it was at 90kg (198lbs)

[mspart]

Classic.

mspart

 

[D3 for LU]

On 6/15/2025 at 4:36 PM, D3 for LU said:

I knew of Campbell's achievements before Barcelona, but thanks for the review.

Still, it's admirable accomplishment to nab a world/olympic medal in your later years.

tanxs!

D3

ps... Chris' World gold in '81 was @ 80Kg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_World_Wrestling_Championships

Goshawlfishooks!!!!

You would think that I would pay MORE attention to the reference mentioned in my post, but NOoooo!

(... yep it was 82 Kg for his gold medal.)

D3