Brands - Fargo
- Thread starter butchinmi
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I've always wondered who would win in a battle between Tom and Terry... Tom has a little bit better accomplishments but that match would have to be a toss up. I would pay to see that match whether they were 18 years old, 50 years old, or even 70 years. Here's a video of Tom and Terry competing in swimming if this helps influence your decision.
Terry was slightly better their true freshman year. Both were mentally tough and refused to lose, refused to give up. I could take down either of them, and I could score back points on them. But a typical practice session with one of them that first year would start out with us going even for the first 20 minutes, then them slowly asserting their dominance as they stayed strong and I faded.
Terry was a little more solid, whereas Tom was more prone to mistakes that first year. And that was even when Terry was wrestling 118 and Tom was 126, so given the weight difference I'd definitely give the edge to Terry that first year in terms of being the better wrestler.
However, I watched Tom beat Terry in a practice match their first year, at the end of a practice when they were the last two guys on the mat. It was the first time I'd seen Tom get the better of Terry, and afterwards Terry threw a fit while Tom gloated. It was both funny and painful to watch. Like watching two psychotic toddlers.
From the second year on I would say they were equally tough at their respective weights, but that Tom would probably have gotten the better of Terry simply due to being bigger.
I had only one official match with either of them--with Tom at 126. I scored first on a scramble--he was open for a Granby and I put him on his back and was up 5-0. He beat me 12-5. That kind of epitomized both his mental toughness as well as his weaknesses. (Because I was not great.)
Tom had the advantage of wrestling varsity his redshirt freshman year, which was a very tough season and he really solidified his game. Terry couldn't quite crack the code of Steve Martin that year so didn't get as much mat time against the top competition. But they both just continued to improve so dramatically, year after year after year. (Remember, Terry went from being a back-up behind a 7th place All-American to being an NCAA champ the following year at a higher weight class.) They both went from being tossed around like rag dolls by Davis, Penrith, Melchiore, Lewis in Year 1 to holding their own in Year 2, to taking over the legacy at those Olympic weights a few years later.
I hardly wrestled at all with Tom after his redshirt freshman year, as he went up to 134 and I went down to 118/114.5, and I wrestled less often with Terry as well (who went up to 126), and had a much tougher time scoring on him.
The difference between their two career results really came down to a couple of mental mistakes on Terry's part--against Kelber in 91 and again in the Olympic semis. But I'd never say that Terry wasn't as mentally tough...just the way things shook out over a period of fifteen seconds in two particular matches.
Terry was a little more solid, whereas Tom was more prone to mistakes that first year. And that was even when Terry was wrestling 118 and Tom was 126, so given the weight difference I'd definitely give the edge to Terry that first year in terms of being the better wrestler.
However, I watched Tom beat Terry in a practice match their first year, at the end of a practice when they were the last two guys on the mat. It was the first time I'd seen Tom get the better of Terry, and afterwards Terry threw a fit while Tom gloated. It was both funny and painful to watch. Like watching two psychotic toddlers.
From the second year on I would say they were equally tough at their respective weights, but that Tom would probably have gotten the better of Terry simply due to being bigger.
I had only one official match with either of them--with Tom at 126. I scored first on a scramble--he was open for a Granby and I put him on his back and was up 5-0. He beat me 12-5. That kind of epitomized both his mental toughness as well as his weaknesses. (Because I was not great.)
Tom had the advantage of wrestling varsity his redshirt freshman year, which was a very tough season and he really solidified his game. Terry couldn't quite crack the code of Steve Martin that year so didn't get as much mat time against the top competition. But they both just continued to improve so dramatically, year after year after year. (Remember, Terry went from being a back-up behind a 7th place All-American to being an NCAA champ the following year at a higher weight class.) They both went from being tossed around like rag dolls by Davis, Penrith, Melchiore, Lewis in Year 1 to holding their own in Year 2, to taking over the legacy at those Olympic weights a few years later.
I hardly wrestled at all with Tom after his redshirt freshman year, as he went up to 134 and I went down to 118/114.5, and I wrestled less often with Terry as well (who went up to 126), and had a much tougher time scoring on him.
The difference between their two career results really came down to a couple of mental mistakes on Terry's part--against Kelber in 91 and again in the Olympic semis. But I'd never say that Terry wasn't as mentally tough...just the way things shook out over a period of fifteen seconds in two particular matches.
That year they both lost to Alan Fried (Tom lost by tech, Terry 8-5 I think) . All time great bracket ...also had a very young lincoln mcilravy in it
No they did not wrestle each other, can't remember who beat Tom in the consi semis
Great information Tarp! Appreciate you sharing your insight.......any idea how close Terry was to beating out Rat Martin his redshirt freshman year??
Very close and if I recall correctly Gable favored that happening.
I once saw a video on Youtube of the match between Fried and Tom Brands at Fargo. Fried dominated and totally outclassed Brands. It was interesting to watch because you knew how the subsequent history panned out for those two. From time to time, I have tried to relocate that match on The Google, without success. Would love for someone to post the link if they can find it.
Martin beat him 2 matches to 0 in wrestle-offs. Both matches were close.
Martin didn't have a huge arsenal--really just single-legs--but he was good at them and also really good at defense. He had hips of cement, and you really had to get an angle to score. The number of single-leg TDs I scored on Martin I could count on one hand.
Terry was stronger and forced more scoring opportunities, had a more wide-open style, constantly attacking. He was not as strategic as Martin. He would just force things. He was like a young Mike Tyson compared to Martin's Muhammad Ali.
I would've given the edge to Brands against most opponents, and with more bonus points. I think Gable would agree.
But Martin was no slouch, and he earned the spot fair and square. As he did the following year against an equally tough Zaputil. He was a crafty little SOB.
This was an awesome post Tarp. Thanks for sharing and giving your point of view on it. Super cool.
If I knew that, I would know who beat Tom in the consi semis.. Because I know how a bracket works
I'm surprised that they were on the same side of the bracket. You'd think USA Wrestling would at least split up twin brothers.
i wrestled them both a number of times from youth through high school. They ended up wrestling each other in the finals of many youth tournaments and Tom always beat Terry when I saw them.
Jason Bryant might have the answer to this. I remember listening to one of his podcasts him talking about having a database of all of the placewinners in Fargo history.
EDIT: and here is the almanac http://www.mattalkonline.com/cadet-junior-nationals-all-american-almanac/
