Arm-Spin Awards- OTT's

[arm-spin]

Since I haven't actually seen the matches and am doing this based on brackets/play by play, let's do this by consensus.

Outstanding wrestler- the nominees are:
1- Jared Frayer- put up some pretty big scores. Ware, Schlatter, Metcalf- he beat 3 former #1's. Impressive
2- Ellis Coleman. From the looks of things, pretty dominant preformance in a tough bracket that features 2 (admittedly past their prime) world champions, and head to head wins over former #1's Davis and Betterman.
3- Dlagnev. Zero points against, beat old rival Sigman who I think used to beat him up.

Golden Pylon (sucess through minimal offense)

1- Sam Hazewinkel. Basically said his game plan was to slow Simmons down. He's an inspiring winner in the all-head-case series round #2, but he did it in "style" with many, many clinches and video reviews.
2- Ben Provisor. Highest scoring period in the tournament was 2-0. Not sure how many of his points were off clinch defense... apparently his final point came of a video reviewed pushout when both went out of bounds- that's the Golden Pylon spirit Is it just me or do the US Greco guys not throw a lot?
3-not sure. Did Varner do a lot of stalling? I know his final was low scoring.

Best non-winner

1- Andrew Howe. Won the "Glamor" bracket and gave Burroughs a very tough match before injuring out. That really sucks.
2- Travis Paulson- bumped up for his brother's sake and came this close to winning at 84. Also a golden pylon candidate? Honorable mention goes to Chris (should also be at 74) Pendleton.
3- Simmons? Apparently his match with Cejudo was nuts... pretty miserable to lose on video reviewd clinches.

Hazewinkel and Frayer did better than I thought they would (not doubting their ability, just their history) and Kilgore and Jordan did worse, i thought both had the #2 spot sown up. Like I said earlier, the Penn State stars got a rude awakening.

[TLV]

Varner certainly didn't stall. He's developed quite an offense and his match against TR showed it. he kept trying a "Cael"; i.e., an ankle pick and finally got it. He is a beast.

[vaisforlovers]

Varner was pretty active. I have officially stopped clowning his style over the last year or so. Hes a monster.

Haze didnt do much in the finals but he had to be careful with Nick. He was plenty active I thought in the tournament otherwise.

I guess you have to pick winners though.

Coleman has such a sick gut. Cant wait to watch him blossom into a world class guy over the years.

[vaisforlovers]

I think the mens team breaks down like this

Gold medal threats: burroughs, varner and dlagnev

Decent shot at medaling: haze, herbert

Would be surprised if they medaled: frayer, 60 kg

[JensenS]

You have to wonder if Frayer has a Bill Zadick esque run in him.

Obviously would be a huge upset (just like Zadick was) but the similarities of an older unknown guy making his first ever World Team rings a few bells.

[vaisforlovers]

Yeah, maybe im selling him short. He has a unique style that translates better than I think metcalf would have. 66 is super deep though right?

[Zapp Brannigan]

I like Frayer, I hope his unorthodoxy and lack of scouting reports leads to a medal. I'm a Florida guy, and even though, in the end, I was rooting for Metcalf, part of me was happy for Frayer, too. Very conflicted. Reminded me a little of the Ness-Dennis final.

[arm-spin]

Yeah, maybe im selling him short. He has a unique style that translates better than I think metcalf would have. 66 is super deep though right?

Yeah it's super deep. Taghavi is the defending champ but there are about 10 guys that could realisitically win it. I dont' think any of the medallists from the last Olympics have even qualified.