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Spencer’s competition in Turkey

Well he didn’t make the team to bring home a medal finish top 5 at worlds. Gilman got beat by Zane. Then 3 world medalist didn’t challenge him to qualify at pan ams. Not sure how it would have been fixed.
It would have been fixed if one of the world medalists challenged Zane. They probably didn't want to make the weight cut for Pan Am's and then the Olympic Qualifier, and likely looked at the field and thought Zane would qualify the weight with no problem.

Those decisions did not work out so well.
 
What were his unique circumstances? Of course he’s a phenom but he’s been hurt for 7 years. And had next to 0 senior level competition.

The one thing that was bantered around on some outlets was letting the US nationals champion challenge which he was. I’ve been an advocate of moving the trials for unqualified weights before Pan-Ams but not everybody likes that either
The unique circumstance is that he’s one of the best lightweight prospects ever and he’s finally healthy enough to compete at a high level internationally.
 
The unique circumstance is that he’s one of the best lightweight prospects ever and he’s finally healthy enough to compete at a high level internationally.
Except he wasn’t healthy enough to qualify for any of the criteria to challenge.
I love Spencer and think he would have won the spot if healthy last year. If the US National champ was a criteria he would have gotten a chance. It’s a slippery slope if we start saying….well he’s really good so he gets to challenge. Leading up to OTTs he had basically 0 tests on the senior international circuit.
 
Just curious, have any of the wrestlers who chose not to challenge Zane actually come out and explained why? Seems like there are some obvious reasons they might not challenge, but curious if anyone has actually offered their reason in an interview.

Hopefully this ends as a nothing burger (Spencer easily qualifies the weight), but really does seem they need a better approach to ensuring that first and foremost, the darn weight gets qualified as early as possible.
 
Just curious, have any of the wrestlers who chose not to challenge Zane actually come out and explained why? Seems like there are some obvious reasons they might not challenge, but curious if anyone has actually offered their reason in an interview.

Hopefully this ends as a nothing burger (Spencer easily qualifies the weight), but really does seem they need a better approach to ensuring that first and foremost, the darn weight gets qualified as early as possible.
Haven’t seen any official statements but Vito was battling injuries and trying to win a title at 133. Probly not in his best interest to make weight at 57 kg to challenge then again for the Pan Am qualifier and try to be a 133 full feed guy. Similar for Fix. Assuming since it’s a tough cut they wanted to be at their best for the OTT and not on the second time making weight with the risk of not getting the spot due to the difficulty of cutting twice
 
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Just curious, have any of the wrestlers who chose not to challenge Zane actually come out and explained why? Seems like there are some obvious reasons they might not challenge, but curious if anyone has actually offered their reason in an interview.

Hopefully this ends as a nothing burger (Spencer easily qualifies the weight), but really does seem they need a better approach to ensuring that first and foremost, the darn weight gets qualified as early as possible.

It was a weight issue. Also VIto and Fix wrestling NCAA.

Leads more credence to guys taking an Olympic AND moving the trials. It's too close to season.
 
Except he wasn’t healthy enough to qualify for any of the criteria to challenge.
I love Spencer and think he would have won the spot if healthy last year. If the US National champ was a criteria he would have gotten a chance. It’s a slippery slope if we start saying….well he’s really good so he gets to challenge. Leading up to OTTs he had basically 0 tests on the senior international circuit.
I’m just not going to live in La La land and pretend Richards would’ve given team USA a better chance to qualify the weight than Lee. The criteria should have some wiggle room.
 
I’m just not going to live in La La land and pretend Richards would’ve given team USA a better chance to qualify the weight than Lee. The criteria should have some wiggle room.
What’s the wiggle room? You have to have a standard. I don’t disagree that Lee>Richards. It was just proven. What criteria would you like changed? He has to qualify somehow. It can’t be just because we think he’s
 
What’s the wiggle room? You have to have a standard. I don’t disagree that Lee>Richards. It was just proven. What criteria would you like changed? He has to qualify somehow. It can’t be just because we think he’s

Some countries treat their Olympic representative more like sports teams do. Just because you win the wrestle off, doesn't mean you are guaranteed the spot. I don't think we should take it that far, but if you are the team rep and compete at worlds and don't medal, you should no longer be considered the team rep. You should go back to just being part of the field.
 
Some countries treat their Olympic representative more like sports teams do. Just because you win the wrestle off, doesn't mean you are guaranteed the spot. I don't think we should take it that far, but if you are the team rep and compete at worlds and don't medal, you should no longer be considered the team rep. You should go back to just being part of the field.
No problem with that. The question is when do you do the challenge tournament? Do u then do another for the Olympic spot? I’d be in favor of making the US Nationals winner the rep for unqualified weights.
 
The guy from Iran must have extremely WIDE shoulders because how the hell do you fit that last name on the back of a shirt or hoodie??? he would definitely be exempted from filling out any forms where you bubble in the letters of your last name and that kid NEVER had a chance to get a license plate for his bike with a name like his.
 
It is what it is for 57kg and 65 kg both Lee and Retherford need to get the job done. I have no doubt that if they both wrestle like they dd at the OTT the weights will be qualified. Lee looked incredible in his matches complete domination in all three. I was there watching he still amazes me because Richards and Gilman are strong wrestlers and Lee just over powered them! His knees looked fine in all his matches. IMO getting a few more matches in will be good for him.
 
It is what it is for 57kg and 65 kg both Lee and Retherford need to get the job done. I have no doubt that if they both wrestle like they dd at the OTT the weights will be qualified. Lee looked incredible in his matches complete domination in all three. I was there watching he still amazes me because Richards and Gilman are strong wrestlers and Lee just over powered them! His knees looked fine in all his matches. IMO getting a few more matches in will be good for him.

Yep. I liked Spencer's mentality, that he's treating the last chance qualifier as a blessing bc it gives him more competition in preparation for the Olympics. Should be good for him and hopefully build his confidence even more going into the Olympics.
 
I don't get why this is so confusing to people. Do you guys really believe we should just get to send a full team because we're the USA? Of course there's a process--just like literally every other Olympic sport. Not even the men's and women's basketball teams are guaranteed a spot in the games. They have to qualify.
 
I don't get why this is so confusing to people. Do you guys really believe we should just get to send a full team because we're the USA? Of course there's a process--just like literally every other Olympic sport. Not even the men's and women's basketball teams are guaranteed a spot in the games. They have to qualify.
That damned Jamaican bobsled team and Eddie the Eagle ruined everything.
 
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I don't get why this is so confusing to people. Do you guys really believe we should just get to send a full team because we're the USA? Of course there's a process--just like literally every other Olympic sport. Not even the men's and women's basketball teams are guaranteed a spot in the games. They have to qualify.
Huh? Who said that? I believe the process is flawed, and might be part of the reason the best freestyle team in the world only has 4/6 spots qualified.
 
I don't get why this is so confusing to people. Do you guys really believe we should just get to send a full team because we're the USA? Of course there's a process--just like literally every other Olympic sport. Not even the men's and women's basketball teams are guaranteed a spot in the games. They have to qualify.
who are you arguing with??? no one is saying that the Olympics should let the USA in if they don't qualify....

unless i have a bunch of people blocked and they are saying that.
 
who are you arguing with??? no one is saying that the Olympics should let the USA in if they don't qualify....

unless i have a bunch of people blocked and they are saying that.


Huh? Who said that? I believe the process is flawed, and might be part of the reason the best freestyle team in the world only has 4/6 spots qualified.

There are multiple posts in this thread and other that clearly do not understand the qualifying process. "The qualifying weight thing is very confusing." Ummm...how? "We have been good for 10 years at this weight, so..." Like that's relevant.
 
Huh? Who said that? I believe the process is flawed, and might be part of the reason the best freestyle team in the world only has 4/6 spots qualified.
But your offering no criteria that the one guy you want to have had a chance would have qualified under. Except we think he’s really good.
 
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They could allow guys with unique circumstances like Spencer to wrestle off for the spot. Again, the goal is to give Team USA the best chance to qualify the weight. Fairness shouldn't matter.
I love where your heart is at, but there's gotta be a process and I actually think we have a very good one. Not perfect, but very good.
 
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But your offering no criteria that the one guy you want to have had a chance would have qualified under. Except we think he’s really good.
I know it may be risky because it would be subjective, but I wouldn't have a problem with leaving the criteria but allowing the head coach to make a final decision and override. Coaches get paid alot, they decide who wrestles on their team in NCAAs, and they should have a feel for who is hot, healthiest, and most likely to do well at a qualifier given the competitors. If they override and make bad choices, they are replaceable. At least give the process some flexibility when it comes to qualifying.
 
The guy from Iran must have extremely WIDE shoulders because how the hell do you fit that last name on the back of a shirt or hoodie??? he would definitely be exempted from filling out any forms where you bubble in the letters of your last name and that kid NEVER had a chance to get a license plate for his bike with a name like his.
If he is tall then his name could be written vertically down his back.
 
Except he wasn’t healthy enough to qualify for any of the criteria to challenge.
I love Spencer and think he would have won the spot if healthy last year. If the US National champ was a criteria he would have gotten a chance. It’s a slippery slope if we start saying….well he’s really good so he gets to challenge. Leading up to OTTs he had basically 0 tests on the senior international circuit.
Glad Spencer won the team trials, I think he is our best 57kg guy, but you had to be a 2024 NCAA champ to qualify, not just a previous NCAA champ.
 
There are multiple posts in this thread and other that clearly do not understand the qualifying process. "The qualifying weight thing is very confusing." Ummm...how? "We have been good for 10 years at this weight, so..." Like that's relevant.

I think the "We have been good at this weight" comment (without going back to read) is relevant to the extent that, if we have a weight class in which we excel, something is wrong with the process if we keep failing to qualify it.
 
I think the "We have been good at this weight" comment (without going back to read) is relevant to the extent that, if we have a weight class in which we excel, something is wrong with the process if we keep failing to qualify it.
Or we just not that good at that weight.

really only applies to 65.
 
I think the "We have been good at this weight" comment (without going back to read) is relevant to the extent that, if we have a weight class in which we excel, something is wrong with the process if we keep failing to qualify it.
One would figure if your country medaled at the weight in the prior Olympics, that country would auto qualify the weight for the next Olympics.

But it’s not shocking a big group of bureaucrats can’t keep it simple and have to make it much more complicated in the name of “fairness.”
 
One would figure if your country medaled at the weight in the prior Olympics, that country would auto qualify the weight for the next Olympics.

But it’s not shocking a big group of bureaucrats can’t keep it simple and have to make it much more complicated in the name of “fairness.”
4 years? No. Previous world top five get exemptions. We couldn’t get it done there.
 
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