Yeah Ivan is the best follow for info on Russian wrestling but he doesn't know quite as much about US wrestling. I'm assuming if we send a squad to Poland for the Ziolkowski it will be the Olympic team. They may opt not to do that though with Russia and Iran sending their first teams. That tournament would be almost as tough as the Olympics.
Wow, brutal for him... JO just needs to be on the side opposite Bekbulatov and he’ll have a real shot. Most of the other heavy hitters are already in
Braxton Amos outscored opponents 46-0 in 5 matches at Junior Greco WTT. His matches lasted 3 minutes and 50 seconds total. Senior Open and JR trials today.
Some of these RO16 matches are insane. Matt Ramos-Richie Figs RO16? What on Earth...Those two are probably both good enough to be world medalists. Matt Ramos is a Cadet World Champion and Richie Figs is the #1 recruit in the 2021 class. EDIT: Richie Figs 14-1 tech fall
2021 UWW Junior Freestyle World Team 57 Richard Figueroa II (California) 61 Jesse Mendez (Region Wrestling Academy) 65 Beau Bartlett (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) 70 Bryce Andonian (Southeast Regional Training Center) 74 Keegan O’Toole (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) 79 Donnell Washington (Indiana RTC) 86 Colton Hawks (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) 92 Rocky Elam (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) 97 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) 125 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force Regional Training Center) Team Russia: Don't know much about these kids outside of Baltuev at 61kg. He's a favorite to win gold without knowing who else is going to be there from the rest of the world. I think Richie Figs will be a gold medalist. Keegan O'Toole has a shot, Braxton Amos has looked amazing. Think we'll have a handful of medalists.
I Survived episode 4 of season 1 features Rulon Gardner telling his story about how he almost died. Solid show, and you can watch for free with Prime.
Not ideal. Jordan Oliver should win his first match, but then he has to go through Bekbulatov in round 2 to qualify 65kg for the Olympics. Bekbulatov is, imo, the toughest guy in the tournament, and when he's on, he might be the best in the world. If JO makes it past Bekbulatov, he gets the Ogannesyan/Seabass winner. 4th match would be to make the olympics and he'd have Magomedmurad Gadzhiev, two time world medalist who knocked James Green out of 2019 worlds. This is a bad draw, you were hoping he'd have to face one or none of Bekbulatov and Gadzhiev. Instead he gets both and the 4th or 5th best guy in the bracket will be going to Tokyo.
Well it just got a lot easier... Bekbulatov is out of the draw entirely. It’s not a freebie but if Oliver can’t get it done now there was never a chance of a medal anyway
Unfortunately Bekbulatov's greatest adversary the last few years has been the scale. Has cost him a world team and now an Olympic team.
Jordan Oliver takes his first and only shot of the match down 3-1 with 30 seconds left, but he makes it count. Survives and advances with a 3-3 criteria win. One match away from qualifying the spot. He has Gadzhiev as expected.
Did you see Tsabolov get worked by Demirtas? Then Demirtas last to a different Russian wrestling elsewhere, Kadimagomedov, so he didn’t qualify either. Salkazanov vs Kadimagomedov for one spot at 74. David Habat(Slovakia) and Mitch Finesilver couple of US college wrestlers one match away from qualifying. 57kg semis is all former medalists too Takahashi vs Andrew Ortega Eiderashvili vs Erdenebet
Yeah was a little surprised by Tsabolov-Demirtas but Demirtas isn't too far removed from being one of the best in the world. Kadi-Demirtas less surprising.
Time for JO, Habat just missed in a 9-7 loss Great to see Takahashi get it done for Japan after Higuchi missed weight at Asians
JO fails to qualify the weight losing 3-2. You just can't spot Gadzhiev 3 points like that. He looked good once he opened up in the 2nd but it was too late. Only 5 American Men wrestling freestyle in Tokyo is extremely disappointing.
I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to fully comprehend wrestling strategy. JO does nothing first period, gives up lead and then has to fight like hell to come back and does more work then the other guy, but it’s not enough to win. Don’t give, what I see as, easy points early and he could win?
That’s how he wrested this tournament and US trials. Essentially just run the clock in the first and score when he needs to, did it against Yianni down 4-0 but could not get it done against a tough vet like Gadzhyev. That’s his style and it is super frustrating when you see how clean his offense can be
How many Russians were entered at this weight that weren’t actually wrestling for Russia? Like 5? Kadimagomedov looked great, he will not be an easy out for the big 3 at 74
Looks like Stanford is reversing course on their decision to drop 11 sports including wrestling. Sucks Borrelli already departed
Yep, all they did was make pretty much everyone lose trust in them and set 11 programs back a decade.
Hildebrandt Stencel and Simon all coming back for CMU next year. Gosh I am excited to watch them again and hopefully see a full schedule