ADVERTISEMENT

Final X

in hindsight, kind of risky for DT not to compete at all since worlds last year. when comparing the matches, the rust was evident in match 1. what if it took him 2 matches to shake it off and zahid stole the spot? clearly the better guy. honestly can't believe how many people thought that was a real conversation.

Given the results, it wasn’t risky at all.
nerd-ackchyually.gif
 
It was the right reversal. I'm saying people still complain the initial call was made regardless as if it's some favoritism to Penn State. It's so difficult to referee and things happen so fast.
it is very difficult to officiate. Has to be, as even the top officials can't agree on how to call the same action.

I had the same view, and would have given the 2 also. Unbelievable Zahid was able to stay up under those circumstances. Which is why they have review, is to get it right. The problem is, they often don't, even after review.
 
i'm not optimistic about either, but JO hasn't been yet and has more diverse offense. more paths to victory. just an opinion. have to admit i'm not as up on the world scene as i used to be so i'm not sure what 70 kg looks like. could be it's a weak weight and both have a good chance to medal.
As El Jefe stated in the past, there are no 'weak weights' at Worlds.
 
Regarding JO and Zain. They both have struggled on the senior level international stage. JO wrestles trying to win by doing the least amount possible. Hell, it is that mentality that cost him a third NCAA title and allowed Stieber to win 4. Zain on the other hand seems to struggle trying to finish off his matches.
Based on history neither will do much at worlds, but if Zain ever figures out how not to lose the last 30 seconds of his matches Zain has medal potential.
 
Regarding JO and Zain. They both have struggled on the senior level international stage. JO wrestles trying to win by doing the least amount possible. Hell, it is that mentality that cost him a third NCAA title and allowed Stieber to win 4. Zain on the other hand seems to struggle trying to finish off his matches.
Based on history neither will do much at worlds, but if Zain ever figures out how not to lose the last 30 seconds of his matches Zain has medal potential.
I'm thrilled that Zain has figured out how win upper body tie-ups.

Losing those has cost him at least 3 previous matches.
 
A couple of thoughts:

1) My wife commented on Zahid’s body composition. She said, “He’s a lot fatter than the other dude.” She wouldn’t know DT or Zahid from Adam, so I thought that was funny.

2) Is Helen Maroulis the most technically proficient wrestler in the US? The variety of attacks is stunning.

3) Sarah Hildebrandt should be the “after-takedown” consultant for USAW when she retires. If she gets you on the mat, it might be game over. Her leg lace is art.
 
DT is turning 32 this year, he's seemingly changed his style a bit since tearing his ACL in 2019 and looking a bit "slower" (good bit of that is probably more age than ACL, he really took his time with ACL rehab).

Last year he wrestled OTT, Pan Ams, Olympics and Worlds with the Olympics being his biggest life goal forever to peak for ... I think our coaches had good reason for holding him out. It's about extending his career as long as possible now.
 
Zain's bad international moment was 2020 Pan Ams, not denying that. He got caught against a way inferior wrestler doing a move he didn't need to. Unfortunately the consequences were significant.

But nobody has done anything at 65KG for USA since Bill Zadick. Everyone thought Yianni was a slam dunk to medal or win if he just made it but even with all 4 Olympic Medalists opted out of 2021 Worlds, Yianni went 1-1. It's a difficult weight bottom line. It's deep. Most top countries have multiple wrestlers probably close to their top dog.
 
I'm not sure there is a clear heir apparent right now between Aaron, Mark, and Zahid. (Especially since Taylor is in no hurry to retire.)

That's good news for Team USA as all 3 are capable of medaling.
I love Mark Hall but I think he is clearly 4th at this point and don’t see a way up for him. Zahid just seems to have his number at this point and the last number of matches haven’t really been very competitive. AB is so young and still clearly on the rise. I think he is a better freestyler as well which is a scary proposition for the rest of the world. Mark also is just a tweener. 86kg is just too big for him and even if he grows into the weight others who have length will always give him trouble. DT, Zahid, and AB are probably top 10 guys in the world so it’s no slight on Marky. I’m interested to see how long he competes before he transitions into coaching full time.
 
I'm not sure there is a clear heir apparent right now between Aaron, Mark, and Zahid. (Especially since Taylor is in no hurry to retire.)

That's good news for Team USA as all 3 are capable of medaling.
i know this is a psu forum, but mark simply doesn't belong in the discussion. he's not even close to zahid anymore. 16-0 across two matches at the trials. 32-0 across their 4 senior level matches since 2019. It's not even competitive anymore. he's also done nothing to show he's a medal contender at 86 either, outside of the fact that it's not a deep weight.

you can throw brooks in because there's something of an unknown quantity, but he also was nowhere near close the last time we saw him on the senior level. but if there's a guy i would pick to challenge zahid, it would be him.
 
It was 6-2 Zahid at OTTs and Zahid should have been cautioned multiple times at the end. Zahid nearly fell over dead, too.

I thought it was interesting that DT didn’t try to push the pace with Zahid. He just let Zahid throw himself at him and went through the motions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: diggerpup
It was 6-2 Zahid at OTTs and Zahid should have been cautioned multiple times at the end. Zahid nearly fell over dead, too.

I thought it was interesting that DT didn’t try to push the pace with Zahid. He just let Zahid throw himself at him and went through the motions.
a convincing loss to zahid followed up by getting teched 11-0 by PD3 is not "close" in my book. could he be now? probably a lot closer, but we don't know yet.
 
a convincing loss to zahid followed up by getting teched 11-0 by PD3 is not "close" in my book. could he be now? probably a lot closer, but we don't know yet.
AB has work to do to close the gap on Zahid for sure. I'm shocked Zahid gets underrated on here. He's clearly in line for the next crop of US freestylers. Zahid also had one of the best college careers ever that gets forgotten because of how it ended.

Zahid also made Final X in 2018 at 79KG. Cut to 174 had to be insane since he doesn't look small at 86KG either. IMO he has the frame for 97KG even.

He was pretty close to Bo at OTT also, IIRC Bo chin whipped him for 4 when it was a one point match. It's a testament to how good DT is and still is that he's still clearly on another level to the youngling.
 
DT is turning 32 this year, he's seemingly changed his style a bit since tearing his ACL in 2019 and looking a bit "slower" (good bit of that is probably more age than ACL, he really took his time with ACL rehab).

Last year he wrestled OTT, Pan Ams, Olympics and Worlds with the Olympics being his biggest life goal forever to peak for ... I think our coaches had good reason for holding him out. It's about extending his career as long as possible now.
Regarding DT turning 32 this year, imagine the potential career of someone like Amit Elor who only turned 18 on January 1. I am anxious to see how well she does at this year's World Championships. She was not challenged at either the Cadet or Junior level last year. In 2021 she wrestled in both the Cadet and Junior World Championships, taking gold in both without being scored upon. She outscored her opponents 63-0 in winning both tournaments. Here is the UWW link to all of her Cadet and Junior World Championships bouts. Amit Elor matches The sky is the limit for her. Also, you can use this link to view UWW matches for any wrestler. [Edit: when typing in a wrestler's name you need to spell it identical to how the UWW has it in their match database. For instance, if you type in David Taylor, David Taylor III, or even his full UWW-listed name, David Morris Taylor III, nothing comes up, but if you type in Taylor III his matches show up. It is definitely not user-friendly and you may have to run a few variations of a wrestler's name to find the matches. For more unique last names (not a common last name like Taylor) just type in the last name only.]
 
Last edited:
I love Mark Hall but I think he is clearly 4th at this point and don’t see a way up for him. Zahid just seems to have his number at this point and the last number of matches haven’t really been very competitive. AB is so young and still clearly on the rise. I think he is a better freestyler as well which is a scary proposition for the rest of the world. Mark also is just a tweener. 86kg is just too big for him and even if he grows into the weight others who have length will always give him trouble. DT, Zahid, and AB are probably top 10 guys in the world so it’s no slight on Marky. I’m interested to see how long he competes before he transitions into coaching full time.
Where does C Star fit into this discussion d
AB has work to do to close the gap on Zahid for sure. I'm shocked Zahid gets underrated on here. He's clearly in line for the next crop of US freestylers. Zahid also had one of the best college careers ever that gets forgotten because of how it ended.

Zahid also made Final X in 2018 at 79KG. Cut to 174 had to be insane since he doesn't look small at 86KG either. IMO he has the frame for 97KG even.

He was pretty close to Bo at OTT also, IIRC Bo chin whipped him for 4 when it was a one point match. It's a testament to how good DT is and still is that he's still clearly on another level to the youngling.
Zahid was on a strict diet of cocaine making that cut
 
Look at C-Star. Does anybody think he can make 162.8 lbs. ?
Im
Sorry for confusion. I was trying to see how people felt C Star would do up at 86kg vs Zahid and AB? Next time I’ll be more clear, it really sucks there aren’t more Oly weights
 
  • Like
Reactions: nitlion6
Who has made the national team at freestyle?
2022 U.S. Wrestling World Championships Team

Men’s Freestyle

57kg Thomas Gilman
61kg Seth Gross
65kg Yianni Diakomihalis
70kg Zain Retherford
74kg Kyle Dake
79kg Jordan Burroughs
86kg David Taylor
92kg J’den Cox
97kg Kyle Snyder
125kg Hayden Zillmer

Women’s Freestyle
50kg Sarah Hildebrandt
53kg Dominique Parrish
55kg Jacarra Winchester
57kg Helen Maroulis
59kg Abigail Nette
62kg TBD
65kg Mallory Vette
68kg Tamyra Mensah-Stock
72kg Amit Elor
76kg Dymond Guilford

Men’s Greco-Roman
55kg Max Nowry
60kg Ildar Hafizov
63kg Jesse Thielke
67kg Alejandro Sancho
72kg Benjamin Peak
77kg Kamal Bey
82kg Ben Provisor
87kg Alan Vera
97kg G’Angelo Hancock
130kg Cohlton Schultz
 
i'm not optimistic about either, but JO hasn't been yet and has more diverse offense. more paths to victory. just an opinion. have to admit i'm not as up on the world scene as i used to be so i'm not sure what 70 kg looks like. could be it's a weak weight and both have a good chance to medal.
Didn't JO fail to qualify the US last year or the year prior?
 
  • Like
Reactions: nitlion6
AB gets points for beating the Olympic bronze medalist twice last season (albeit in folkstyle).
 
i know this is a psu forum, but mark simply doesn't belong in the discussion. he's not even close to zahid anymore. 16-0 across two matches at the trials. 32-0 across their 4 senior level matches since 2019. It's not even competitive anymore. he's also done nothing to show he's a medal contender at 86 either, outside of the fact that it's not a deep weight.

you can throw brooks in because there's something of an unknown quantity, but he also was nowhere near close the last time we saw him on the senior level. but if there's a guy i would pick to challenge zahid, it would be him.
When is Iowa going to form an RTC and send wrestlers to world and Olympic team qualifiers?
 
When is Iowa going to form an RTC and send wrestlers to world and Olympic team qualifiers?
The mini twins are waiting for someone to show up with a 3" binder of information on how to make one successful. After next season old Larry Lee can start his job of compiling information for operation "RTC Catch Up"
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT