SocraTease

Hard to know, but the rationale might conceivably be advanced that they were in some sense already (technically) in the (quasi) semifinals. It helps Retherford I suppose, but it also allows them each to rehydrate and rest for the match with each other. The desire to have more big matches and drama on USA Network at 6:30 maybe? Who knows?

The coaching staff screwed that challenge up. And didn't they also have a bad challenge in BB's earlier match with Alirez?

Who was impressive and who was not in the first round? Grades for the first session? (Obviously, it is hard to say much for matches one missed or only caught part of) Spencer Lee A - (Nico couldn't finish on him) Mesenbrink A- (his pace might hound Borroughs, who will probably try to get to MM's legs) Nick Lee B + / A- (looked much better than at Pan Ams) Jacques A /A- (didn't see too much of him, however; did he come out of the blue?) The three high school guys at 57KG A - (Yea, I know, they are not a monolith) Borroughs B- (underwhelming; he's going to need to turn it up a notch or two) Marinelli B/B + (pressure and good defense) Gilman B/B+ (did what he had to and hung on) Nolf B + (shut it down in the 2nd/ seemed to tire) Hidlay B / B- (seems more savvy at freestyle than Starocci at this weight at least) McKenna D (He should be showering or fishing) Starocci B- (the Lizard King gave him a run for the first 3 or 4 minutes) Kerk B+/ A- (looking forward to his match with Gwiz) Bartlett B (got robbed; McKenna was decked) Cox C - (did nothing but dance a little) Shapiro - D (giving up too much weight or muscle?) Kennedy Blades B+ (came on strong in the 2nd) Alirez A - (hard to score on) Richards B/B+ (he's going to soon have his hands and legs full) FIx ? Suriano ? Retherford A (rehydrating, relaxing, and crushing watermelons) Dom Bradley A (for running guys off the mat and looking for more tables to break)

McKenna was absolutely decked ... and multiple times. Terrible job of the referee failing or refusing to see it ... probably didn't want to get down to his knees and look

The wrestling community is extremely conservative. That is incontestable. Like the military, it tends to prioritize loyalty over truth, emotional responses over reason, religious belief over scientific evidence, faith over fact, hierarchy over equality, conformity over iconoclasm, and the like. Accept it or not, that may help athletes to cope with trials and tears, or to comfort themselves in loss. And even to give themselves a blind kind of edge at times in competition. That is all compatible with what we know about evolution and psychology. But it makes for bad journalism, poor science, and terrible art, which are each and all about a serious encounter with reality, the raw and primal stuff of existence that thankfully pushes back against illusions and delusions. Or to be at once more mundane and musical: "Just 'cause you feel it [God, Jesus, Allah, Yahweh] , doesn't mean it's there" (Radiohead)

Olympic Trials hub: https://www.themat.com/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-event-hub

How many spots out of 6 do Penn State or Nittany Lion Wrestling Club guys (including recruits and former wrestlers) take? 57 KG - Gilman, Nico, Lliledahl 65 KG - Zain, Lee, Bartlett 74 KG - Dake, Nolf, Cenzo, Haines, Mesenbrink, Facundo 86 KG - DT, Brooks, Starocci, Dean, Mirasola 97 KG - Snyder 125 KG - Kerk

There are World championships in the fall of this year for non-Olympic weights. Some of these guys should consider trying to make the US team and bring home a medal. That is going to be Vito's approach at 61KG. The US has a bunch of good wrestlers in the 79KG weight area. Hall should go there. He's too small for 86KG, and Borroughs will be done at that point, too so it wouldn't present an RTC issue at Penn since they both train there. If Brooks loses at OTT, he would fit well at 92KG. At 70 KG, Mesenbrink, Shapiro, and others (e.g. Pantaleo) would have a shot at Senior medals. Downey should leave a freshly washed singlet on the match if leaving shoes isn't his style:

David Carr @Carrchamp Last week I suffered an injury to my ankle. Because of this, unfortunately I am unable to wrestle at the trails. I was looking forward to it obviously but that’s life sometimes. Injury’s are an unfortunate part of the sport. I praise the lord for the support system behind. 5:09 PM · Apr 15, 2024 · 39.8K Views

Flo's breakdown (commentary) on the brackets and pre-seeds on Youtube:

Just posted two brackets as images. Had to post the other ones as pdfs but you can download them easily

At 74 KG, Nolf has to go through Cenzo, O'Toole and Borroughs. At 57 KG, it could be a Lee vs. Gilman final. At 65 KG, a possible Zain vs. Alirez or Nick Lee final At 125 KG, Gwiz vs. Kerk should be interesting

Starocci clearly couldn't make 74KG and realized it. Figured he might as well eat and wrestle up. No way was he seeing 163 pounds.

https://www.themat.com/news/2024/april/15/greco-roman-pre-seeds-released-for-u-s-olympic-team-trials-wrestling Presumably the freestyle seeds will be soon forthcoming.

There is a video from Vito with the announcement if you can access the link: https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/12432779-world-champion-vito-arujau-will-not-wrestle-at-the-2024-olympic-trials

184 was a very weak weight Unlike 157 or 165.. It had no National Champions like the three in 174. Keckheisen does NOT have the past credentials of Brooks or Starocci. The second best guy had four losses. Brooks dominated Keck. last year and K. pales in comparison still. Jimmy C. likes to play devil's advocate ... against himself. It is Brooks Hodge whether you like him or not. He's earned it. Undefeated. Dominant. Took out another top undefeated guy. Four timer. Next topic.

Very few like or appreciate Iowa style wrestling anymore. It's unattractive in the 2000s. It's based on some fiction of a tough macho, self-sacrificing man. Marlboro Man. It's low scoring. It's not fan friendly. It is rooted in the Brands' experience at very low weights and doesn't work well in an era scrambling and funk. It doesn't appeal to recruits. It is not enjoyable to watch. The Brands don't get this and they think being stubborn is being resolute and strong. These spark plugs and fire hydrant coaches aren't going to change. And they will only fall behind further while the peanut-crunching crowd gets louder .... in its impatience and disapproval. But the midwest also doesn't like change either and doesn't know what to do. It's more earth than water or fire. It loves authoritarians not innovators.