Originally Posted by vaisforlovers  Will it ever be done again by a wrestler going from collegiate folkstyle in march to freestyle trials in June? |
IMO, It's not out of the question, BUT as long as the freestyle rules stay like this, it is unlikely.
Freestyle wrestling, as it stands today, is almost a completely different sport. In the past, I would say pre 2000 Olympics (I know QS and other's may/will disagree with that time period, I say that because that was my era of wrestling freestyle) the rules favored "our" folkstyle significantly more than they do today.
Today, Freestyle is all about strategy and less about action. NCAA wrestling is in my opinion, for the most part less about strategy and more about action. Kind of like Hockey and Soccer. Same idea, different skill set.
Until the rules change, it the transition will be difficult. Americans tend to do well their first time in a major international competition, but Americans against Americans the first time out are different. Look at Herbert, one might argue that had he wrestled this year, he would have been the best lb per lb wrestler. He took his red-shirt, wrestled nothing but freestyle, and didn't fair too well at the open.
Also, I think Greco is a different animal completely. Lowney was something special that doesn't come along very often. If he'd have gone to the USOEC, instead of Minnesota, I think he was talented enough to be on par with
Gatsalov only in greco. Thats rare. One of the reasons we have had success in greco recently is that there is the Greco program at Northern Michigan. Right now, a lot of that first generation are coming into their own on the senior circuit. The old timers that are still going strong are being pushed heavily by the new kids in that program.
If there was a Focused College program like that for freestyle, I think we wouldn't have such trouble like we've been having. If for no other reason then to provide consistent competition to the guys who are in their prime.
If you think about it like that, ASU would have been PERFECT. Not that I want to see their wrestling program go away, I don't. BUT, thats where sunkist is, there's already somewhat of an infrastructure there, and its got to be more attractive than a northern michigan. It would give talented freestylers like a Wright or Graff and give them another option besides DI.
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College wrestlers qualifying for olympics 
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