I'd call it big if JO didn't gas. That was a nice throw--you don't usually see Zain get out of position like that, but credit to Oliver, he's real good (and you can definitely see his training partner making an impact).
AWL Discussion Thread
- Thread starter pawrestlersintn
- Start date
Bear in mind that JO got hurt in his last match overseas a month or 2 ago. He hasn't been able to train much since. He has no reputation of gassing --- I can remember only 2 other matches where he gassed. One against Pico and one against Metcalf -- both times he had an injury issue that prevented him from training.
I would not expect to see him gas again against Zain if they hit next year.
However, weight is a challenge for him. Getting down to scratch weight 2 days in a row will be tough for him. Much tougher than for Zain, so that could close the gap.
Will be fun to watch, but bottom line is right now JO is 3-0 vs Zain.
I would not expect to see him gas again against Zain if they hit next year.
However, weight is a challenge for him. Getting down to scratch weight 2 days in a row will be tough for him. Much tougher than for Zain, so that could close the gap.
Will be fun to watch, but bottom line is right now JO is 3-0 vs Zain.
Why have I always thought of Zain as the heavier of the 2?
Could be cuz JO was 141 as a senior and Zain was 149 I spose.
Does anyone recall Zain telling someone over the summer that one of.his focuses was to trim down a bit himself to assist with the 2-hour weigh-in? He seemed a bit smaller to me on Friday. When was his first match against Oliver? I only recall the US Open semifinal.
That was only being granted the first year of the new rules. So moving forward it's scratch both days...
I didn't know that either. The UWW Rulebook, published September 2018, still has the 2 kilo allowance. The 2019 Edition of the USA Wrestling Handbook says scratch weight both days, but is superseded by UWW Rules, as appropriate. Based on this info, the UWW will remove the allowance at next publication...
Oliver must have grown a lot (he did look a lot more muscle bound than I've seen him), as he wrestled three of his four years in college at 133.
I can't remember a third match either, I thought that semifinal was the first time they'd met.
They wrestled at the 2015 Dave Schultz Memorial also, Oliver won 6-1.
Of course he had an advantage....Plus he needed a couple calls to win....Everyone saw that....Let's just see how things play out.....I feel very confident that Zain is the best and will be representing the USA....JMO
And did not give up a single TD all year.
I’m sure he wasn’t the first to do that, but I think we was the last. Be curious to know who else managed this feat.
I totally disagree. JO stokes flames on social media, but I see that as good for the sport.
Zain is silent and unapproachable. JO engages with fans at events (respectfully), does interviews w/ Flo and comes off great in them, IMO.
He battles the scale and has had some injuries (who hasn't at his level). That's the only knock on him (oh, and failing to complete paperwork on a Dr's prescription that got him in trouble).
Zain may get to his level of success some day (may even surpass it), but he will never have the slickness and skill of JO, IMO.
Zain is just too milk toast. Doesn't mean he isn't a great talent, but if you are going to say "JO can be a piece of....." without backing it up, calling Zain out for his lack of charisma/excitement is fair game.
Just think how much fun/exciting the other PSU elite wrestlers are compared to Zain (Ruth, Taylor, Bo, Hall, Nolf...). They all brought/bring a lot more to the table than "Plain Zain".
Agree” POS” maybe harsh. Maybe its the tattoo’s, maybe it’s the “ thug act” on social media, maybe its the failed drug test. Maybe he gets a bad rap, but maybe he’s brought it on himself.
If my one daughter brought Zain home for dinner, and the other brought Oliver, guess which guy would be sitting next to me?
I wouldn't say that Zain is unapproachable. Every single time I've interacted with him, he's been friendly, courteous, super good w/ kids, and given as much time for autographs, etc as anyone could possibly want. No--charisma isn't his ballyhoo, but he's a fantastic ambassador for the sport in the same way he was a fantastic teamate: "Do what I do, and you'll really listen when I have something to say." (Will Wallace: "FREEEEDOMMMMM!" -> 5/5 in the finals).
I definitely haven't seen JO be a POS, and I don't mind his social media persona much--though I don't care for his taste in music, lol.
As far as "level of success goes"--you must be referring to Freestyle alone, cause I'm pretty sure 3 > 2 (NC), and 2 > 0 (Hodge).
Of course, on the Freestyle scene--how many world teams has JO made?
Last edited:
Too hung up on the name-calling, which imo should never happen, but does.
That said, your take is interesting. "Unapproachable"? No, not even close.
Measuring success by "slickness"? I'll take wins and losses, and with Zain's career just beginning, will take a wait-and-see. Zain certainly is a driven young man, so nothing would surprise me.
The rest of your post is pigeon-holing at it's best. Judge all you want, you won't touch the man and his character, what he brought to the PSU program leadership-wise, and the excitement of his wrestling (which apparently only PSU fans saw
). Zain is the humblest, respectful wrestler I've ever met. And because he doesn't have some sort of perceived flair, he's somehow lesser a wrestler? A man doesn't have to spout off on social media to have an impact. There's room for all sorts in the world of wrestling. I like Zain.
Of the first two times they met, Zain was outmatched in 2015, and even at trials (when the margin of victory is a correct throw, it really wasn't much of a margin). The AWL match was probably atypical because Zain doesn't give up those kind of points, and the five-point move he probably doesn't give up with coaches in his corner. Easier to coach away stuff like that, but "don't gas" isn't a viable coaching strategy. Zain will outlast Jo when it counts, just as DT outlasted Yazdani.
I’ll never forget when Zain handed his headgear to some random kid after winning Nat’s. Not some old wornout pair of meaningless headgear, no, he gave him THEE headgear he had just won the NC with.
I met Zain at beat the streets. I thought he wasn’t the least bit approachable until after the match he wrestled. At that point, as nice as ice on a summer day. I hope if you think Zain was unapproachable you try again.
Sorry for the name calling, he’s not my cup of tea. Can’t wait till they meet again
Man, all the water carrying in this thread makes my eyes tired.
Moving on......If you think Zain isnt approachable, its a you thing. Not a him thing.
Moving on......If you think Zain isnt approachable, its a you thing. Not a him thing.
I wonder if he'd trade the $5k for even one Hodge. I bet he would! Too bad that's not how you earn it.
Similar threads
