US Open Finals vs NCAA Finals
- Thread starter AgSurfer
- Start date
While each and every competitor at both events poured every ounce of themselves into those matches, I feel it is unnecessary to chose one over the other.
These tournaments with the elite wrestlers gets better every year no matter the level because the quality of wrestling has never been better. Talent level is at its best and only getting better. A lot of the increase in popularity and talented kids coming in at the lower ranks can be traced back to Cael and what he is doing to popularize the sport!
I'll go with US Open given that it had fewer hands to the face video challenges.
My brother and I just had this debate, but with the angle being... which one should we attend? NCAA prices for tickets, the actual supply of tickets, and hotels are getting out of hand. Vegas offers cheaper flights and hotels, plus there seemed to be no shortage of tickets. Also, each bracket at the Open usually has multiple NCAA champs battling it out. Maybe football stadiums will improve NCAA prices, but how great will the sight lines be? Then there is the extras Vegas offers, so we are thinking of mixing it up moving forward.
I realize the title says “Finals”... but the thrill of the NCAA tournament has always been Friday, for me.
There is nothing in sport that compares to the two Friday sessions of the NCAA tournament. Quarter final upsets. Overtime victories. An unseeded wrestler winning in the blood round. Iowa being mathematically eliminated before the semis conclude (but just wait until next year). The pinnacle of the NCAA tourney isn’t Saturday night.
There is nothing in sport that compares to the two Friday sessions of the NCAA tournament. Quarter final upsets. Overtime victories. An unseeded wrestler winning in the blood round. Iowa being mathematically eliminated before the semis conclude (but just wait until next year). The pinnacle of the NCAA tourney isn’t Saturday night.
While we are tossing out thoughts - I wish there were more weight classes in Olympic wrestling. What can be done to make enuff noise so this change occurs?
The lack of a team race definitely hurts the open, but the quality of wrestling in the finals of late has been fantastic. A bit of a bummer our very best sit it out (Final X), but I am very much considering going to Vegas at a future Open, and who knows, maybe making it a tradition. I just wish I liked casinos.
Someone would have to pay off the IOC. Let’s make Mark Cuban a fan of the sport.
Pay off the IOC is the biggie. Better wrestling leadership (USA and International) is another important ingredient.
Agree. In terms of entertainment, Saturday night is the bottom of the barrel, in my opinion.
Agreed. Friday is my favorite wrestling day of the year, hands down. The only thing I sometimes am disappointed about is missing a great quarterfinals match because I was already glued to a great match.
Understand all that’s typed above. Different animals to me, and I have enjoyed both.
For me, never having attended the Open live, and only seeing it streamed, is something I’d like to fix one day.
Been to many National Championships, and the “team” aspect being what it is, has three full days of intrigue for an entire team’s fanbase. Again, just a different animal, but experiencing an engaged, and large group of supporters, over those 3 days, is amazing. Fans wake up talking about, and go to bed, talking about — wrestling. We eat out, and talk — wrestling. Amazing.
As for the wrestling, I’ve always enjoyed freestyle, even when I was the minority. Today, with the rule changes over the last 5 years or so, it’s an even better product, and the wrestlers coming through representing the USA are just fabulous.
For me, never having attended the Open live, and only seeing it streamed, is something I’d like to fix one day.
Been to many National Championships, and the “team” aspect being what it is, has three full days of intrigue for an entire team’s fanbase. Again, just a different animal, but experiencing an engaged, and large group of supporters, over those 3 days, is amazing. Fans wake up talking about, and go to bed, talking about — wrestling. We eat out, and talk — wrestling. Amazing.
As for the wrestling, I’ve always enjoyed freestyle, even when I was the minority. Today, with the rule changes over the last 5 years or so, it’s an even better product, and the wrestlers coming through representing the USA are just fabulous.
Last edited:
If the U.S. Open had the best in each weight attending it would be more exciting. I hate the fact that the meet is basically used as a qualifier for the WTTs so winning or losing means less when the big prize is WTT or final X .
my biggest qualm is the length of freestyle matches. techs being 10 points and all you need is exposure for 2 means a lot of first period stoppages, even among close competitors.
i love criteria though. really puts pressure on the losing wrestler late, rather than just stalling for OT in folk.
not necessarily, the criteria determined 1 - 1 tie, due to each getting clock points suck... seems like they always take turns putting you on the clock and you should look to stall first!
not necessarily, the criteria determined 1 - 1 tie, due to each getting clock points suck... seems like they always take turns putting you on the clock and you should look to stall first!
wouldn't there still be incentive for the wrestler who is losing on criteria to try and score? there's no winning in rideouts equivalent in freestyle.
anyone losing should have incentive to score. Just saying one can stall out in either styles
as soon as one person scores in freestyle there is always someone in the lead and someone trailing. 1-1 is not a tie, 2-2 is not a tie, and that's due to criteria. the action at the end of the third period when the score is 2-2 in folkstyle is, in general, a lot more boring than freestyle since neither wrestler is losing in that moment.
That’s a great way to phrase and think of it. My debate kid might say: you crystallized the hell out of that issue.
Good work!
That’s a great way to phrase and think of it. My debate kid might say: you crystallized the hell out of that issue.
My Deadhead would smoke your Debate Kid
I dunno, the goopher mat in the barn seems pretty spacious...
I like freestyle cause it gives me lots of room to stretch my legs.
