Over the past two weeks FloWrestling has taken issue with the business practices of the NWCA and their main database partner, Trackwrestling. Members of the staff have discussed the issue on radio programs, in articles and through Twitter. Though ostensibly tracking results would seem to be a national topic, the effects of the system are hardly felt similarly by a variety of disconnected subgroups, and the issue is too complicated for 99 percent of even wrestling wonks to fully grasp.
(As a note, the 40K foot view of the argument is that results should be open to fans the NWCA's preexisting partnership with Track inhibits the growth of the sport by limiting the exposure of fans to results.)
Putting aside the details of each side's position, the entire episode has shown the limitations in motivating the wrestling community for non-emergency purposes. The response to Flo's cage rattling has been somewhat muted and at least in my experience somewhat slanting negatively.
The reason for such a non-committal response might be an inherent bias in the Flo position, as noted by readers -- more results could mean a potential for more money. Maybe that's true and maybe it's not, but as one person with a lot of insight told me, "If Flo was in Track's position, they would feel the opposite of what they are saying."
Overall the wrestling community has seemed to shrug about the overall topic, but has been consistent in expressing unhappiness with the manner in which Flo has attacked the NWCA. The words have varied, but the approach on its whole has been more akin to Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr than to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Where there is disagreement from Flo, vitriolic sentiment has followed.
Readers have not liked this angle, which isn't a surprise. The wrestling community abhors in-fighting almost as much as it does Title IX. Given all the sport faces, fans expect a united front -- especially among organizations with common goals. Also, as pointed out by Twitter, the issue seems to be more with Track than the NWCA. Stray bullets can cause very serious damage.
The issue has been raised and certainly there will be more discussions in the future. Ultimately the wrestling world will want a worldwide database with every record of every wrestling, complete with score, video and photo. We aren't quite to that point, but to get there it's inevitable that Flo and Track and USA Wrestling, NWCA and United World Wrestling will all need to cooperate and play a role. How that happens is yet to be seen, but for now the wrestling community doesn't seem as apoplectic about the situation as the more imminent stakeholders
To your questions …
Q: I know it's early, but this year I see four guys -- Cody Brewer, Isaiah Martinez, Alex Dieringer and Nick Gwiazdowski) -- who could likely go undefeated with the most of their victories being major decisions, tech falls or pins. Gabe Dean could also likely go undefeated in arguably the deepest weight class. Who do you like to come out in the end as the Dan Hodge Trophy winner and why?
-- Eric B.
Nick Gwiazdowski works to finish a shot on Adam Coon in the NCAA finals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The Hodge doesn't always go to the guy who had the hardest road, or did the most impressive thing at the NCAA tournament, but more to the guy who has a combination of factors. Working in favor of Gwiz is becoming a three-time heavyweight champion in years that were hotly contested and where he won many matches in dominant fashion. Add in a win at the NYAC (as background), his feature in Muscle + Fitness and a style that keeps fans interested and he becomes my leading candidate via PR.
Dieringer is much more difficult since exceptional wrestling at Oklahoma State isn't a new occurrence. However, a shot at the team title could bring his name more to the forefront. Still, he's my No. 2.
Brewer is significant, but when he wins his second title it will only amount to 12 months on top of the NCAA wrestling world, which isn't enough time to outpace the 36 months stint of Gwiz and Dieringer.
Dean, while an amazing talent, is the distant fourth if only because he could acquire a loss and won't be able to put up as impressive of numbers as the other three candidates in terms of total points scored.
Q: I'm a huge David Taylor fan. Initially, I was excited to hear he was bumping up to 86 kilos. I was optimistic that even though at first he might be a little undersized, I thought he'd be much quicker than most of his competitors and that the strength difference wouldn't be that significant. However, in watching his matches in Baku he looked much slower with that extra weight on than I thought he would and all of his opponents clearly appeared to have a big strength advantage over him. The most discouraging match was watching him against the Iranian for third place. While I know he's lost 10-0 before I've never seen him dominated like that. Do you think there's any reason to believe he can make the team at 86 kilos and be competitive in Rio (assuming the U.S. qualifies the weight)?
-- Eric B.
Foley: I outlined the issue with going up in weight in a previous mailbag, and many of those issues seemed to be present in Baku. Ultimately when you go up in weight you have to adjust to pumping the same amount of red blood cells (the ones that take oxygen around) to a lot more muscle. The muscles, when starved of oxygen, lock up and don't perform well. Across and entire day of top-level international competition, it's not surprising to see diminished results.
I don't think there is any reason to panic, both for qualification and for seeing David Taylor have a legitimate shot against international completion. He has the best coaches, trainers and workout partners available and a wealth of experience in his past. He'll be challenged by the old guard and new, but in the long view his performance in Baku was just fine.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
April!
Terry
Q: Do you know what the single season and career record for technical falls are? Would seem Imar has the pace to put both those marks at risk. Who else do you recall being as consistent at throwing up such large point totals match after match?
-- Nathan T.
Foley: I don't know what the season and career records are for technical falls (if someone knows, please post in the comments section), but maybe we should talk about Imar being a Hodge candidate.
Imar has crafted a unique style of dominance where he's constantly scoring, but less often finding a fall. Maybe that's circumstantial, but it may also be a way to get in a little more work on the mat.
Some other big-time scorers that come to mind are Josh Lambrecht and Jesse Jantzen.
Q: In your opinion, between Ben Askren and Henry Cejudo, who is the better wrestler-turned-fighter? Do you think Ben Askren will ever fight in the UFC?
-- Gregg Y.
Foley: Cejudo is the more talented all-around fighter. Though he lacks the knockout strength of even higher-level boxers he's got incredible skill on his feet. Also, Cejudo is a much more accomplished wrestler that Ben, having won the Olympic gold medal.
Askren will likely ride out his career in the OneFC where he is being paid gobs of money to fight a few times a year, while simultaneously running his wrestling schools. Bellator may be an option again at some point in the future, but the UFC isn't interested. They have enough guys who are much less critical of their organization who can also sell fights to the wrestling community, but also have KO power at the welterweight division.
Q: Everyone is excited about 86 kilos. It would be great to see David Taylor vs Ruth (I'm picking Ruth). But there's another great intrasquad matchup potentially in the works: Kyle Dake vs. Gabe Dean (I'm picking Dake here). Your picks? Does Dean have a chance against the other three?
-- Ronald M.
Foley: Great insight! Yes, I hadn't really thought about the Dake vs. Dean matchup. I imagine that they know who will win, but I agree with you that Dake seems like the favorite given his age and the Big Brother theory.
Given that, and the fact that he's not beating Ruth (again) I don't see him as a strong candidate. However, the one outside factor is that he will have an entire collegiate season in his rearview, which has proven to be beneficial to many recent international wrestlers.
Q: When can we expect to see more big dual events such as the Alrosa Cup and World Clubs Cup?
-- @wrestlingnomad
Foley: I don't know, but the format would need to be improved. The World Cup is highly successful for United World Wrestling, still there needs to be a way to incentivize more countries
Q: What do you make of Eastern Michigan shutting out Michigan State? Does that say more about Eastern Michigan or Michigan State?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Michigan State.
The program had reached rock bottom with their negative half-point at the NCAA tournament, but being shut out by any team is also a significant barometer of a programs inability to motivate.
Eastern Michigan has been well coached for a long time and this was a competent performance by better wrestlers.
Q: I have been impressed with Princeton in the early part of the season! Seems to be a program on the rise. What are your thoughts on Chris Ayres as a coach?
-- Mike C.
Foley: He's always been one of my favorites and after a few years of hard recruiting and culture change the success is coming a little easier.
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