Spladle08

Going to be lots of fun matches. I'm excited to see how all the young guys do. Enjoy the day brother

I think I saw 10 Eastern.

125kg nothing thrilling

97kg No Sadulaev no problem Zhab cruises to the semis

86kg Different countries now but Naifonov vs Kurugliev still happened and was still a low scoring match Naif 2-1

74 kg semis are hot fire Salk vs Kadi and Bayramov vs Chamizo

65kg Skriabin is about the most notable but Aliyev meets Dudaev in the semis.

No discussion? Atli and Lehr lost at 57kg already, I'm diving in now

The Asian qualifier will add some hurdles at both weights as well. Be excited

It's a mystery who we will send. Prime Lee is hard to pick against, as is prime Vito. I think most Americans (as you predicted) favor those 2. But between Lee's time off, and Vito's weight cut, who knows? Suriano, Fix, Gilman, etc.... Our format for determining the possible reps gives everyone a shot and there's a realistic chance neither Lee nor Vito make it to the best of 3 final. I'm hopeful our rep is quality and performs at his best at the qualifier and Olympics, but I can't confidently back anyone as "most likely to win the trials"

Dude is a monster and absolutely can win World and Olympic titles if he decides. DT is likely gone after this year, feels like Snyderman has one more cycle left. Brooks at 86 seems to fit like a glove if he wants to stay trimmed down... yeah 86kg if DT quits, but 92kg if DT wants to go a few more would make for a great team.

*Any wrestler who is clearly a coin-flip with all of the top guys, can get hot in March and win a few coin-flips in a row, even if they lost a head scratcher. Is what I think you meant to type. This thread will fill up but there's been many many many ridiculous "Upsets" just randomly in duals or early season tournaments. (Get excited, I'm hoping some people reference ones I've forgotten)

I was about to post this, glad I checked to see if anyone else did... Geeeeeeez 74 and 86kg are loaded with talent. Some monsters are going to end up at last chance. As far as what we are concerned about 57kg our rep can beat the whole bracket but at least 2 guys that could provide difficult hurdles won't make it. 65kg: Similar at least one of Aliyev/Skriabin/Dudaev wont make it, and then guys like, Arsamerzouev, Arushanian, Dzebisashvili, and even Kizhan (Andre) Clarke, could spring upsets on whoever we send to last chance. I remain more nervous about 65kg than I am about 57kg

He was close to doing the unthinkable, but training to beat one guy tends to be different than training to beat the world (see. Marstellar). I maintain, IMAR was a PHENOMENAL wrestler! Your name says it all, so I won't try to win a debate but..... no buts. Side note: Iranians learn an underhook series designed for freestyle success, like American's learn unnecessary motion. So Yaz = underhook basically applies to any Iranian who wins. But I get where you're going, sometimes being great at 1 thing is enough. Burroughs heck Cael, John Smith. They didn't have a lot but they had something unstoppable

Going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I absolutely believe Mark could've dialed it back and worked his way down to 74kg. Staying at 79kg would've helped. I think he saw the roadblocks that Dake and JB presented and just said, "Why kill myself year round when we have World champions at 3 weights in a row." and just kind of accepted being 2-4th in line at a more comfortable weight. Great wrestler but one of the many that existed when you had to be the best in the world to represent the USA above 70kg

My shoulder has been "tweaked" for years. Every-time I roll with HS kids, its just a matter of time before it goes "Screw you" and I'm useless. Can't imagine having that feeling when you have immense talent and are striving towards something meaningful. Unspectular end of a spectacular rassler

I thought he took 2nd at worlds the year before Richards went.... let me look this up . Yeah 2022 when he lost to Abakarov. Oh then Pan Ams in 23, was there an allowance there? I don't know man, I feel like he is reaching the end of his run and this might be his last rodeo. I just can't see him letting the scale be an issue. Dude is consistently at the top domestically. I don't think anything has changed, but I'm fully aware anyone can be beaten with our stable of 57kg monsters.

The demise of Gilman has been greatly exaggerated. Obviously 57kg is impossible to predict but aside from completely sh*tting the bed against Richards, what are yall basing this on? Dude is a terror vs international opponents, just seems built for the weight. Whoever we send is going to do great but I don't doubt Gilman vs anyone in the bracket.

Not to make this an IMAR thread. But I don't think he would've ever had enough to be consistently effective on the world stage. From gas tank issues, to being kind of one dimensional. His approach gave Americans a lot of issues but I don't think it was going to translate. Just another Nick Marable, better than I'll ever be, but had a ceiling.

Theres 0% chance if Fix continues wrestling he will do it up at 65kg. He's not a dominant force on the world stage as is. (Coming from me, an Oklahoman and Fix fan) He will ABSOLUTELY go 57kg for the Olympics and 61kg for non-olympic worlds. Or if Vito becomes this hurdle he can't overcome , maybe he will go the opposite weight of Vito for the foreseeable..... Going 65kg is just "punting" his career. Similar to Mark Hall at 86kg. "I want to be around the sport but I'm done trying to actually win a world title"

So to understand your point. No consequences for anything on the edge of the mat makes for a superior product? I can see encouraging wrestling in the center of the mat is not entertaining to you, and I will try to adjust my views moving forward.

This seems to be a knock on folkstyle? I'm not following

Other posters: I'd prefer they have to stay on the mat and wrestle instead of run away like cowards. Folkstlye Weirdos: If you can't run away to prevent the attacking wrestler from scoring why even wrestle the match?

Care to elaborate?

Everything related to the Olympics.