Japan vs USA

[Truzzcat]

was a big discussion on FRL I think its very clear we have better depth and development than Japan they do certainly thrive in a 6 weight format though. I am going to push back with @Jon_Kozak a bit though. Japan does seem to have extremely good depth at 61,65,74 potentially 57 depending on what Higuchi and ono do. 61(Ono,suda) 65(Kiyooka,Nisiuchi (I believe he is not even #2 on the ladder but is a 2x u20 champ lost to ono 3-2) 74 (takanti,Takahashi,Yamaguchi). 

[Ragu]

And their women’s program is among some of the best ran sporting programs in the world

[shiraz321]

Their A team is the favourite against the USA from 57 - 74. Of course they will never have the depth of the countries that actually somewhat care about wrestling. P4P they may have the best program, though. 

[Ragu]

1 hour ago, shiraz321 said:

P4P they may have the best program, though

I'd say Russia still easily takes that cake. They have guys transfer out and win worlds

[Winners Circle]

2 hours ago, shiraz321 said:

Their A team is the favourite against the USA from 57 - 74. Of course they will never have the depth of the countries that actually somewhat care about wrestling. P4P they may have the best program, though. 

Didn't David Carr beat their #1 at that event Flo put on?

[bnwtwg]

8 minutes ago, shiraz321 said:

Their A team is the favourite against the USA from 57 - 74. Of course they will never have the depth of the countries that actually somewhat care about wrestling. P4P they may have the best program, though. 

And favorited on paper at 97 as well considering the most recent result was 5-5 Yoshida over Snyder in February. Emphasis on "on paper." That is 6 weights in favor of their A team.

[bnwtwg]

12 minutes ago, Winners Circle said:

Didn't David Carr beat their #1 at that event Flo put on?

I wouldn't put much as much weight on the result of an offseason exhibition as I would an olympic finals appearance and a world bronze the year prior. Not saying Carr can't repeat the result, just that it doesn't carry as much weight as it would if it were to have happened at a rankings tourney.

 

ETA: Takahashi is competing for Japan this year. Carr beat 2x medalist Daichi Takatani. My comment remains the same.

Edited 1 hour ago by bnwtwg

[Winners Circle]

33 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

I wouldn't put much as much weight on the result of an offseason exhibition as I would an olympic finals appearance and a world bronze the year prior. Not saying Carr can't repeat the result, just that it doesn't carry as much weight as it would if it were to have happened at a rankings tourney.

 

ETA: Takahashi is competing for Japan this year. Carr beat 2x medalist Daichi Takatani. My comment remains the same.

Is Takahashi favored in a match against David Carr? I genuinely don't know.

[Truzzcat]

Just now, Winners Circle said:

Is Takahashi favored in a match against David Carr? I genuinely don't know.

Takahashi beat him at the ranking series but it was close.

[bnwtwg]

2 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

Takahashi beat him at the ranking series but it was close.

36 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

doesn't carry as much weight as it would if it were to have happened at a rankings tourney.

36 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

My comment remains the same.

This is why I clarified with the ETA. I just assumed we were talking about the A team which would be Takatani, not Takahashi.

Edited 1 hour ago by bnwtwg

[shiraz321]

1 hour ago, bnwtwg said:

And favorited on paper at 97 as well considering the most recent result was 5-5 Yoshida over Snyder in February. Emphasis on "on paper." That is 6 weights in favor of their A team.

I think Yoshida beating Snyder was a fluke, but maybe i'm wrong. 

 

As for 74 , Takatani has to be around 30 years old now. He was in the bracket with Pico and Yazdani at junior worlds. I think Takahashi will be the guy for them at 74 going forward and I think he can go very far at 74. He seemed to struggle to wrestle the full 6 minutes at the ranking tournament. If he can fix that he could be the surprise of 2025 worlds. 

[bnwtwg]

8 minutes ago, shiraz321 said:

I think Yoshida beating Snyder was a fluke, but maybe i'm wrong. 

 

As for 74 , Takatani has to be around 30 years old now. He was in the bracket with Pico and Yazdani at junior worlds. I think Takahashi will be the guy for them at 74 going forward and I think he can go very far at 74. He seemed to struggle to wrestle the full 6 minutes at the ranking tournament. If he can fix that he could be the surprise of 2025 worlds. 

Agreed on all accounts. But that is moreso because Takatani didn't seize the opportunity to remain the starter this year after consecutive world medals and father time is 1) undefeated, and 2) very unkind to older wrestlers making a comeback after an extended layoff.