Was thinking about this during the season but with all the downtime interested in other folks thoughts. Why was Brady Berge wrestling freestyle during the beginning of the season last year? He had no legitimate shot at making the Olympic team. His injury had a significant impact on the team’s success. Cael has the difficult job of balancing individual needs with the team. Will Cael change his approach? Should Brady taken a an Olympic redshirt year? Thoughts?
Different Approach for Olympic Year
- Thread starter Featho
- Start date
Brady was trying to win an U23 Gold medal for the USA. It would be quite an accomplishment for any wrestler. I'm sure Cael would happily send the entire team to U23 Worlds if they qualified.
Competing for the country at the world level supercedes competing for the university at an age-group level... But that's just like, my opinion, man.
^^ This -- plus one very good way to become an Olympian when reach Senior-level age is to test and measure yourself against the world at your age group.
U23 being a special beast -- a mix of guys in Berge's age group (Juniors) and the younger competitors at the Senior level.
Berge was eligible for an Olympic shirt, and with hindsight maybe that should've happened.
With hindsight.
Of course, that would've made him ineligible to help the team this year. So we can't say both (1) Cael should've kept Berge out of U23 for the team AND (2) Cael should've Olympic shirted Berge. Those are incompatible claims.
With hindsight.
Of course, that would've made him ineligible to help the team this year. So we can't say both (1) Cael should've kept Berge out of U23 for the team AND (2) Cael should've Olympic shirted Berge. Those are incompatible claims.
SIAP/asked... those who took olympic shirts last year... will they be able to shirt again for the olympics next year? I am assuming yes.. but is it officially put out there?
There is no reason/rule preventing another ORS that anyone has been able to uncover
The OP's question can be asked when any wrestler is injured.
why was the wrestler riding a bicycle when he got injured?
why was the wrestler practicing extra when he got injured
why was the wrestler wrestling in Fargo this summer when the HS team state title was on the line this season?
ETC
why was the wrestler riding a bicycle when he got injured?
why was the wrestler practicing extra when he got injured
why was the wrestler wrestling in Fargo this summer when the HS team state title was on the line this season?
ETC
What, who got injured riding a bike, did he have a helmet on?? Dammit,I KNEW this would happen!!
Really?
1. Berge's event was not during NCAA season.
2. If PSU prohibited scholarship athletes from participating, they'll find other schools. For example: 3 years of Kyle Snyder's schedule at Ohio State.
3. Say bye to Cael if that ever happened.
1. Berge's event was not during NCAA season.
2. If PSU prohibited scholarship athletes from participating, they'll find other schools. For example: 3 years of Kyle Snyder's schedule at Ohio State.
3. Say bye to Cael if that ever happened.
I have to imagine when these kids are recruited there are extensive talks regarding the dreams and aspirations the individual athletes have for their future. Does it seems likely that in April, Brady would have called up Cael and said, “Hey coach I am wrestling at the U23 world freestyle championships this summer. Is that okay?” These kids have a meticulous plan provided by the coaching staff to have them peaking at the right time of the year. It seems likely that not only did Cael know of Brady’s plans, but that he helped him prepare for the event.
I am starting to think some posters too.We should put all wrestlers in bubble wrap all the time.
I kid, I kid.
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I agree and also am pretty sure a PSU, or at least NLWC coach was with him.
The NLWC coaches were in his corner. According to HR, that was just a cover for recruiting Kerkvliet...
The NLWC coaches were in his corner. According to HR, that was just a cover for recruiting Kerkvliet...
Who has only one knee because of..... you guessed it, FREESTYLE!
Other kids have one knee due to practice or matches or football or tripping on a curb or slipping on the ice or getting their feet tangled up with a dog or wrecking an arc or a car crash
Most likely you are right but this subject comes up anytime an athlete gets hurt doing anything not directly related to making fans feel good about themselves
This topic is a broken record. Cael gets the recruits he does because he is selling them that Penn State can help them realize their ultimate wrestling / life goals. You can't recruit like that and then preclude your athletes from doing the things necessary to ultimately achieve their goals. For many of these athletes, NCAA Championships are awesome but they have set their sights much higher and expect to work toward these freestyle goals along the way. What happened to Berge was unfortunate, but just the price of admission for getting these kinds of athletes at PSU.
P.S. And it helps recruiting immensely when our former (and existing) athletes make world teams, olympic teams, and win medals!
P.S. And it helps recruiting immensely when our former (and existing) athletes make world teams, olympic teams, and win medals!
Injuries stink, no doubt. Overall, the sport of wrestling has the highest incidence (RATE) of injuries when combining competition and practice rates. While higher, it's basically neck-and-neck with football, and about 60% higher than the 3rd highest sport (injury rate-wise), Men's Ice Hockey.
