Askren lost to Paulson and the rest of the Sunkist Men's Freestyle Finalists

[Schlottke]

Looks that way from the finals matchups..

55 kg/121 lbs. ? Danny Felix (Sunkist Kids) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC)

60 kg/132 lbs. ? Dugarsuren Lkhagvadorj (Mongolia) vs. Michael Lightner (Sunkist Kids)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. ? Eric Larkin (Sunkist Kids) vs. Cary Kolat (Sunkist Kids)

74 kg/163 lbs. ? Travis Paulson (Sunkist Kids) vs. Tyrone Lewis (Gator WC)

84 kg/185 lbs. ? Jake Herbert (New York AC) vs. Chris Pendleton (Gator WC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. ? Kurt Backes (Sunkist Kids) vs. Israel Silva (Sunkist Kids)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Les Sigman (Sunkist Kids) vs. Tervel Dlagnev (Loper WC)

[ODH]

Bigger surprise to me is that Konrad lost.
US heavyweight is incredibly deep.

Mocco, Thompson, Konrad, Rowlands and now Sigman.

[Big]

Askren should never have cut down to 163.

[jpizar83]

Heavyweight's going to get even deeper when Dlagnev is done with college this year. I believe he beat Sigman recently, maybe at Sunkist?

Askren should never have cut down to 163.

163 is definitely the best weight for him. He's never been physically strong and the boys at 185 are definitely not weak. Stand him next to Joe Williams and tell me he could compete at that weight.

[Big]

World Team Trials 2005:

Ben Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids) def. Andrew Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 0-7, 6-4, 6-0

http://www.themat.com/results.php?pa...ResultID=15993

[jpizar83]

Big difference between Andy Hrovat and Joe Williams. I'd put Fullhart ahead of him. Hrovat, even though he won the match, was not as good as Mo Lawal in 2006. Askren was also just a two-time finalist at that time and was probably underestimated.

[bluestater]

Ben's walking around weight was 172-174. A bump up to 184 would make no sense.

[ODH]

World Team Trials 2005:

Ben Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids) def. Andrew Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 0-7, 6-4, 6-0

http://www.themat.com/results.php?pa...ResultID=15993

Based on his wide open style it is not surprising that he has some big wins.
I think to get to #1 he has to adapt his style for Frestyle.
I think that matters more than what weight class he ends up at.