billyhoyle

The most important concept to add is neutral exposure points. American wrestlers scamble without caring whether they expose their back-the result is most lose the ability to scramble effectively internationally. There is still tons of scrambling in freestyle, but it’s just a different type of scrambling. We’ve seen folkstyle move towards this by limiting the time a wrestler can have his back exposed before it counting as a TD, but we need to go all the way with this rule. We would see absolutely epic sequences at NCAAs with neutral exposure points counting, and that alone would lead to USA becoming better than Russia. We have an order of magnitude more athletes competing in wrestling than Russia, Iran, and Japan. Wehave significantly more resources at the youth and developmental level dedicated to it. There is zero reason the US should continue to be where it has been. Par terre is important too, but not nearly as much anymore.

Cael wasn’t supposed to win, Cejudo wasn’t, Varner wasn’t supposed to, Steveson wasn’t. Usually USA is good for an unexpected gold. This team had the talent, especially with Russia only sending expats. The athletes did the best they could have-Dake was inspirational and left everything on the mat-one of the grittiest Olympic performances I’ve ever seen given the circumstances for him. But yeah, I don’t think anyone predicted 0/6 gold medals.

The question is why aren’t they? Is it to stay healthy? Obviously they can’t travel to Russia anymore, so are there just fewer good tournaments to go to? Are the resources at these RTCs focused on keeping the RTC athletes present at the university so that they can be training partners and coaches for the NCAA athletes?

And also most have an attacking style.

1. More competition between RTCs. The NLWC has all the best guys, but with so many on one team, are they able to provide enough time to each athlete to scout international competition? I’m hoping Taylor can do this with OSU. Ohio RTC needs a resurgence, and HWC should be more than a 57 kg machine. 2. More international competition early on. I think we need to incentivize our junior athletes to compete internationally to become more familiar with freestyle while they are developing. Junior worlds and U23 is not enough. The best NCAA guys should be entering senior international freestyle tournaments, and the RTCs should fund it. 3. Switch folkstyle to freestyle. NCAA wrestling has been declining in popularity for a decade. Ratings are down, attendance is not what it used to be. With NIL, we are about to lose more programs. Women’s NCAA wrestling is starting up and is freestyle. The men should be doing freestyle as well. And I’m also open to thinking there are answers beyond this. But yeah, the general attitude seems to be this was a great performance as a team, so I doubt anything happens.

Anything can happen at the Olympics. JB “only” won it once. What is surprising to me is that nobody won though, especially with only expat Russians competing. The “acceptable” opinion though is that everything is great and no changes need to be made.

I remember him absolutely dominating Junior worlds and then taking home a world bronze that same year. He has always had one of the most exciting styles that I’ve seen for a HWT, using his length on those low singles. It has been a long time since then, but I’m glad to see him get it done on the biggest stage.

Dake is the man. What a career he has had.

Gable hanging out on the sidelines in buffalo right now.

Yeahh!!!!

Noooooo

Noooo

I hope DF is watching this one.

Let’s go!!!!!!! What a moment!!!!!

Who do we expect to do that?

Can’t you just enjoy the moment? It was unique!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a double retirement before. WWE level dramatics.

“Everything is fine. They all wrestled great!” Careful, suggesting that this team underperformed or anything is wrong with the current training/qualifying system is going to piss some people off who are happy with this statue quo. The first step is acknowledging that there is a problem, and that won’t happen,

56 years-wow. Hugely disappointing Olympics for men’s FS. What changes need to be made?

Except the betting lines literally had him as the favorite…

Both those losses were in criteria, one to “57 kg” Micic, the other in repechage. I think he would have won this tournament.

Yeah, I think he can as well.

You never know! Snyder could do it. Don't give up on these guys!

The difference in weights is definitely the main factor here, but "Russia proper" didn't even send athletes this time. I'm just saying there is a streak to keep alive tomorrow, regardless of the fact that it is more difficult to keep it alive these days.

Uguev would have been the favorite going into the event. If you want to say Higuchi is better, I won't argue with you, but my opinion is that it's Uguev.