New “Golden Age”

[Eagle26]

I think Jordan Burroughs helped usher in the “Golden Age” for USA wrestling and was followed up by Snyder, Dake and Taylor. It is pretty incredible that we got to watch 4 of the top 6 American wrestlers of all time compete at the same time! And J’Den Cox has an argument to be in the top 10 all time. Unfortunately, this era is starting to come to an end (I know DT and Cox are the only ones officially retired, but the point still stands). However, you can’t help but be impressed with what our young guys just did! Duke, Blaze, and Forrest are doing things I never saw anyone their age do before! Could they and others bring in an even better golden age? You can never predict anyone to have the long lasting success like JB and Snyder, but I think some of these guys have the talent to do it. I’m interested to see if any of these guys can make a run at 7+ senior golds! 

[AnklePicker]

Are we currently the best wrestling country in the world?  I guess it’s yet to be determined until after U23s and seniors but we just might be.  

[AnklePicker]

We have never come close to this level of success at the lower levels since I’ve been following.  We’d have a junior world champ here and there.  5 in one freaking year?!

[scribers]

Let’s see if the new crop even does anything at worlds before proclamation. 

[MPhillips]

9 hours ago, AnklePicker said:

Are we currently the best wrestling country in the world?  I guess it’s yet to be determined until after U23s and seniors but we just might be.  

Aren't senior results the gauge by which we measure?

[AnklePicker]

8 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

Aren't senior results the gauge by which we measure?

I figure an average from U17, U20, U23 and seniors is the best measure. 

[MPhillips]

43 minutes ago, AnklePicker said:

I figure an average from U17, U20, U23 and seniors is the best measure. 

Very good...

[Wrasslin]

11 hours ago, AnklePicker said:

Are we currently the best wrestling country in the world?  I guess it’s yet to be determined until after U23s and seniors but we just might be.  

 

2 hours ago, MPhillips said:

Aren't senior results the gauge by which we measure?

 

2 hours ago, AnklePicker said:

I figure an average from U17, U20, U23 and seniors is the best measure. 

Will all due respect AnklePicker, I think Mphillips is right, and you'd have a hard time convincing the rest of the world that Seniors isn't the litmus test. A couple of things . . .

• Hard to consider us the best wrestling country right now given our poor showing at 2024 Olympics...three total medals and no gold- the first time in 56 years. We finished 3rd (4th if you count Russia), so that doesn't equal best. And no golds in non-Olympic weights either.
• As OP suggested, I believe Jordan Burroughs was a catalyst for this recent "Golden Age." I was at Worlds in Budapest in 2013 for the dark days- when we only had one total world medal, a gold by Burroughs on a bum leg. At that point, he was USA Wrestling, and these kids now at U17/U20/U23 were grade schoolers who idolized him. 
• I'm just as excited about this young crop as you (and everyone) are- I'm very hopeful that they can have the same impact in college and at the Senior level...time will tell, but we've never assembled this much talent at one time. It's exciting! 

Edited 1 hour ago by Wrasslin

[PortaJohn]

1 hour ago, Wrasslin said:

Hard to consider us the best wrestling country right now given our poor showing at 2024 Olympics...three total medals and no gold- the first time in 56 years. We finished 3rd (4th if you count Russia), so that doesn't equal best. And no golds in non-Olympic weights either.

I think it's valid to say that USA wrestling is the healthiest country right now in terms of potential future success.  We're loaded with young talent.  We should be excited and cross our fingers real tight.  We're possibly at the dawn of a golden age.