The team had a few backups in the lineup, namely the absence of Tervel Dlagnev at 125 kilos and Jordan Burroughs at 74 kilos. The team tied a powerful Iranian squad with four wins a piece, but lost on classification points, and did the same against Georgia's complete lineup in the bronze-medal final.
While there are several takeaways from the event, perhaps the most intriguing was what happened off the mats between Jordan Burroughs and the Iranian Wrestling Federation.
Burroughs had missed the World Cup due to the birth of his second child, a daughter that he and his wife named Ora. The Iranian Wrestling Federation, though disappointed they couldn't give young stud Hassan Yazdani Charati a spin, sent Burroughs a gift to welcome the birth of his daughter.
That's not some next level type of psyche out or intimidation, that gesture is at the soul of what it means to be a wrestler, or any martial artist. Honor and respect among combatants.
The federation's actions were simple, but thoughtful in a way you almost never hear of in modern international sports. Family is at the center of life for both Iranians and Jordan Burroughs and it was refreshing to see that mutual interest and respect come to fruition..@alliseeisgold missed the World Cup for birth of baby daughter. Iranian Wrestling Fed. sent him Termeh as a gift. pic.twitter.com/kQsFJFfHMu
��" World Wrestling (@wrestling) June 15, 2016
On a similar note I found the latest musings of jiu-jitsu professor John Danaher equally enlightening. In a social media post the longtime Renzo Gracie NYC-based instructor discusses what it means to be a martial artist. Seeing as how he's an accomplished writer and brilliant human I won't do him the disservice of paraphrasing.
To your questions …
Q: How successful will Joey Davis be in MMA, in your opinion? Why did he sign with Bellator over UFC? Lastly, why did he not wrestle internationally?
-- Gregg Y.
Foley: Bellator is offering some of the best financial conditions to young fighters. In addition to developmental money, they are also able to carry more sponsors with them into the cage, which seems to help many of the sport's up-and-coming fighters.
If the UFC is sold this week then that might change. New owners might see the possibility of higher paychecks for young fighters, or a change in the way contracts are written. Until then Bellator will likely draw a lot of the young new talent to their promotion with the promise of money now and the hope of a bright and competitive future.
Q: What does the future hold for Jake Varner? Is he done competing? Will he move to heavyweight?
-- Mike C.
Jake Varner gets his hand raised after a victory at the Freestyle World Cup (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)For that to be the case I think Dlagnev would have to become more injured than he is currently and Varner would need enough time to file a motion with USA Wrestling for the right to wrestle for the starting spot against Zack Rey. I don't think that is a realistic possibility, especially considering that it would severely impact training schedules.
The other case might be is Dlagnev got to the event and Coach Burnett deemed him unhealthy to compete. There is at least a chance there could be a last-minute replacement, but I'd be shocked if it were anyone but Rey.
As for Varner post-2016 … I think that he's hanging them up and moving into another role within the sport. He had an incredible career, but at 30 years old there isn't much wrestling left.
Q: Can you explain to me the reasoning why wrestler Joel Bauman lost his eligibility from the NCAA for selling a song using his name while it seems that the wrestlers who don't seem to be facing the same loss of eligibility for a drug offense? Why was J Robinson rightfully allowed to handle the drug matter internally until it became public, whereas the Bauman situation was not given the same institutional courtesy? From my point of view it seems like inconsistency by the NCAA and the University of Minnesota but more so the NCAA.
-- Marcus R.
Foley: I'm pretty sure this comes down to exposure and optics. Bauman was in the media eye for his works, whereas the discipline associated with a very private -- possibly criminal -- act didn't draw attention.
Also, the rules that apply to these situations are vastly different. Bauman took money which is the NCAA's Rule 1.1. The suspension was therefore easy to make at an institutional level. For the Xanax athletes the discipline for their action was probably within a much looser definition. There was much more to consider and, ultimately, to prove.
Again, for Bauman it was an open and shut case.
Because Bauman performed under his own name and identified himself as a Minnesota wrestler, the NCAA ruled him ineligible for the remainder of the season. J. T. Bruett, Minnesota's compliance director, said Bauman violated an NCAA bylaw prohibiting student-athletes from using their name, image or status as an athlete to promote the sale of a commercial product.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Things got awkward in the Octagon a few weeks ago …
How the hell did I only now see this?
Q: Biggest takeaways from the Freestyle World Cup?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Dan Dennis has the opportunity to improve and I hope he spends some time with the national team coaches to help him with strategy and match pacing.
Tony Ramos is a 61-kilo wrestler with the ability to place at this year's World Championships in Budapest.
Frank Molinaro is an absolute machine and a better than 30 percent chance to medal at the Olympic Games.
Alex Dieringer is about as good a backup as you can find in the world. He'll get plenty of wrestling in the next four years and is my pick for 2021 and beyond!
J'den Cox was exposed a little, but I think that he will adapt and find solutions to some of his weaker areas. The loss was probably a humbling reminder that it's a big world of wrestling and it will never be conquered, much less with something like beginner's luck on his side.
Kyle Snyder, Olympic champion.
Zack Rey is a really solid heavyweight with a bright future after the 2016 Games.
Q: Do you think Logan Storley has what it takes to make it to the UFC and be as successful as other wrestlers like TJ Dillashaw, Frankie Edgar, and Henry Cejudo?
-- Gregg Y.
Foley: My doppelganger!
Sure, like I've written before he's a hammer and has a unique set of skills and intensity that should get him higher profile fights in the immediate future.
Q: I get the feeling Coach Lindland isn't making a push to recruit NCAA wrestlers to go Greco after college. It seems as if much more of his focus towards recruiting is to get kids to go Greco full time after/before their high school career ends. This seems odd considering the path he and Brad Vering took to world/Olympic medals. Any idea if recruiting college guys is on his agenda?
-- Matt C.
Foley: I get the same impression. If he has a plan to pluck high school kids then I can't say that I disagree with his logic. Currently Northern Michigan is the only place for Greco-Roman minded athletes to go train outside of Colorado Springs. If Lindland can get in their ears now then he has the ability to develop their talents without having to correct habits from four more years of folkstyle.
Whether or not that is the best option for each athlete is to be determined, but in principle I endorse his recruitment methodology.
Q: Could you explain a little about Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, its structure and Reece Humphrey's role?
-- @Robbybobbi
Foley: The structure will be Reece as their travel coach in charge of all organizational matter. I think he'll also be developing a training program for the team members to use while also creating and coaching at a youth development center in Los Angeles. That center will be built in the next year or so.
I think that Reece is a special character within our sport who connects to the younger generation with ease and confidence. He's also accomplished and bright. There is a really good chance that this decision will further help improve the state of the United States freestyle and women's wrestling programs.
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