Gone was Jordan Burroughs, who earned his World Team Trials appearance last year in Tashkent. Absent too was Kyle Dake, who won the Northeast Regionals qualifier the week prior and chose that event to qualify for the World Team Trials. With that duo gone the dream of a 74-kilo showdown with Andrew Howe and David Taylor wasn't to be.
And still the U.S. Open delivered.
Though the United States is not the most internationally successful wrestling nation, we do enjoy a depth that allows for excitement at domestic tournaments like the U.S. Open, World Team Trials and even smaller events like the NYAC Invitational.
That depth is important to remember as wrestling fans begin their discussion of Ed Ruth signing his developmental contract with Bellator -- and not only because he lost to Jake Herbert. Ruth, and any other wrestler who wants to pursue MMA should feel glad to go forward with the full support of the wrestling community. It's unrealistic to think that everybody in the room matters to the overall success of Team USA when we already enjoy one of the deepest programs in the world.
Ruth will likely have another crack at Herbert at the World Team Trials and if he wins his developmental contract will seem like nothing more than good business, but if he loses the rematch, or in an earlier round to Keith Gavin, then the community is likely to blame the cage.
Don't.
Fighting is just another job, and for men who have lived their life wrestling it's a natural fit for their talents. The benefit of MMA is that it can cut loose those who no longer have the drive to compete in wrestling. That's a blessing for a sport in a constant struggle for financial resources. USA Wrestling hosts these tournaments for a reason -- they want to see who is the most talented AND the most dedicated of their flock.
Ruth has given a lot to the sport of wrestling and he should be supported fully by the community whether he decides to transition to MMA, run a car dealership or pursue coaching. Our best should be cheered for any career they choose after they leave the mat -- no exceptions.
To your questions ...
Q: Now that Kyle Snyder has won his first U.S. Open title, do you see him being the man in the U.S. at 97 kilos through 2020? Or am I getting ahead of myself?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I do. I expect he will need to hold off Jake Varner during the finals of the World Team Trials, but predicting he's able to repeat that performance I think he will be in a great position to be "the guy" at 97 kilos for 2016 and 2020.
Standing in Snyder's immediate way is his lack of size. By international standards Snyder is a pretty stout, even small, 211.5 pounds. When comparing Snyder to Abdusalam Gadisov or Reza Yazdani you can see that there is some size for him to add before he can zero in on a gold medal. Big boys at the international level aren't one dimensional, and neither is Snyder, but the pounds still matter.
Given that he continues his progress, I'd expect Snyder's first gold medal on the senior level to come at the 2018 World Championships.
Q: I had the amazing opportunity to attend Worlds last year in Tashkent, my first international wrestling event. I'm looking forward to Vegas this September as well, but am confounded why UWW awards two bronze medals and fifth-place awards instead of the traditional 1st-6th or 1st-8th places.
Maybe it's because I'm from the U.S. but I am glad they still place it out to eighth at last weekend's U.S. Open. I'm used to this at NCAAs and high school state tournaments as well, but it really seems odd to me to see four guys on the podium at international events.
I remember watching the last Olympics with some non-wrestling friends. We caught a highlight of Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner on the podium and they were totally weirded out by the double bronzes. I had no explanation for them and had to chalk it up as one more confusing thing about our beloved sport.
Is the rest of the world used to this? Does this happen in other sports? I know you're involved with UWW. What's your take?
-- Andrew S.
Foley: Wow. You made it to Tashkent?! That's incredible. Good on you!
I'm immune to it at this point. Wrestling was given the extra medal spot in order to follow a repechage and save time at the Olympics. The average number of nation's medals per games increased to 29 in 2012 up from 22 in 2004. That is a significant increase that allows national federations to appeal for funding and grow the sport. The sport is so hard and the margin for error so tiny that I don't think it's a terrible precedent to follow (was established by judo).
Yes, the Olympic community is familiar with the practice, but I don't think they'll be taken off the stand unless there are more weight classes given, or possibly a two-day format figured out for Tokyo 2020. I also don't think that the IOC has asked wrestling to change their double bronze situation. Until that happens, nothing would occur.
Assuming Victoria Anthony makes the World Team, how does she stack up against the world at 48 kilos? Do you view her as a medal threat?
-- Mike C.
Victoria Anthony claimed her first U.S. Open title at 48 kilos (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Right now I see her as a 50/50 to make the bronze medal match at the World Championships in Vegas. Unfortunately, she's behind two-time world champion and World No.1 Eri Tosaka, Azerbaijan hammer Mariya Stadnyk (Azerbaijan), No. 3 Sun Yanan (China) and who ever Russia sends, but likely Valentina Islamova (Russia) who ranks No. 4.
Maybe she knocks off Islamova, but those top three are tough, tough, and unbeatable. For example, two years ago Sun Yanan won a World championship but then ran into Eri Tosaka the following year and lost a tight bout. Their follow-up match she got teched at the Asian Games.
I do enjoy watching Anthony wrestle and think she's developing a lot under the closer coaching of Valentin Kalika, who also coaches Helen Maroulis, Aaron Pico and Elena Pirozhkova.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
The pitch is back (today)
Cartwheels.
Seriously, the world gets pitch slapped
Q: What do you make of Denis Tsargush losing to Aniuar Geduev at the Russian Freestyle Wrestling Championships? How, if at all, does this affect the United States?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Ahhhh, but Tsargush actually lost to Iakub Shikhdzamalov who eventually lost to (very talented) Khabib Batyrov in the bronze-medal match. Aniuar Geduev won the Russian championship and the starting spot.
Russia will almost certainly sit Tsargush. He lost in 2013 and they kept him on the bench, so there is little reason to think that he would leapfrog Geduev, even if they felt he might beat Burroughs. Russia believes in the system more than the individual -- as well they should given their success.
This is GREAT news for Team America in the short term. I think that Burroughs will be much more likely to cruise to a World title than if he had to battle Tsargush again. However, the big wrench might be if the Russian doesn't finish second place and then Tsargush wins the Olympic spot in 2016.
By design the gold and silver medalist countries from the previous year are separated at the following year's championships or Olympics. That won't happen if Geduev doesn't make it to the finals, and it could be Burroughs who beats him before the finals.
Lots of ways this can play out.
Q: I saw you rank your top four four-timers. What are your top four three-timers; top four two-timers; and top four on-time NCAA champs?
-- MC
Foley: For the sake of argument and intrigue I'll focus this on the modern-era wrestlers (1980-today) and I won't go down the long, dark hallway of one-time champions!
Three-timers:
Ed Ruth (Penn State)
Stephen Abas (Fresno State)
Joe Williams (Iowa)
Tom Brands (Iowa)
Two-timers:
Ben Askren (Missouri)
John Smith (Oklahoma State)
David Taylor (Penn State)
Donny Pritzlaff (Wisconsin)
Q: Anthony Valencia and Mark Hall were very impressive in Las Vegas! Hypothetically speaking, if Valencia, Hall, Alex Dieringer and Bo Jordan were in a four-man tournament in freestyle, what would the final placements be?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Good grief that's one terrifying bracket. I think that Valencia's recent U.S. Open performance proved he's the leader of the group. Following him up would be Dieringer, Jordan and Hall.
I think. Hell, I don't know. Those four are pretty evenly matched, but I do think in terms of freestyle Valencia proved he might be on a different level than his age group.
Q: Who do you think will win the 86-kilo spot for Team America in men's freestyle?
-- Theo P.
Foley: Jake.
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