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Cowboy RTC and the next quad

I guess at this point I agree with the unpopular opinion that folkstyle is holding us back on world stage… I don’t necessarily want to change anything but Japan killing everyone in freestyle shows us what happens when you fixate on freestyle (and the low single lol). I’ll never be anti folkstyle but I think the cracks are showing in our product.

We very well may have the next JB and DT come to the forefront soon, but as of now…
 
I guess at this point I agree with the unpopular opinion that folkstyle is holding us back on world stage… I don’t necessarily want to change anything but Japan killing everyone in freestyle shows us what happens when you fixate on freestyle (and the low single lol). I’ll never be anti folkstyle but I think the cracks are showing in our product.

We very well may have the next JB and DT come to the forefront soon, but as of now…
I’m not so sure. I agree, that this year has not been good, all around, on the freestyle circuit. I think we are aging-out of our freestyle mainstay for the last decade, or so. Remember, much of the time, our athletes perform best straight out school. We may have to tweak our program a little, but we have some hammers coming up through the pipeline.
 
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I’m not so sure. I agree, that this year has not been good, all around, on the freestyle circuit. I think we are aging-out of our freestyle mainstay for the last decade, or so. Remember, much of the time, our athletes perform best straight out school. We may have to tweak our program a little, but we have some hammers coming up through the pipeline.
I get it and like I alluded to, I’ll always be a bigger folkstyle fan but it’s hard to argue with what we’re seeing right now. I don’t think we’ve really changed much but I think other countries have. They are much more deliberate and freestyle oriented from the jump and we’re seeing guys like Ono just destroy past world champs (and US guys that might’ve won in years past imo). It’s not a one off with the Japanese either… Higuchi, Ono, Hiyooka, Takatani, Aoyagi… if Ono and Aoyagi win tomorrow that’s half the golds for 2024. That’s insane
 
I’m not so sure. I agree, that this year has not been good, all around, on the freestyle circuit. I think we are aging-out of our freestyle mainstay for the last decade, or so. Remember, much of the time, our athletes perform best straight out school. We may have to tweak our program a little, but we have some hammers coming up through the pipeline.
I think USA wrestling is on the ascendency with regard to quality and depth. The 2032 cycle will be crazy good. I know that's 8 years away but you can see the nucleus starting to form, and it looks deep to me. I see 2028 as better than 2024. That's my take.
 
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I think USA wrestling is on the ascendency with regard to quality and depth. The 2032 cycle will be crazy good. I know that's 8 years away but you can see the nucleus starting to form, and it looks deep to me. I see 2028 as better than 2024. That's my take.
Could be. I just think there is a pretty big gulf between our best and the world’s best at most weights right now. Hell, Ono is 20, Aoyagi is 22 and Kiyooka is 23. Higuchi and Takatani are older but still under 30. And that’s not giving any credence to who they might have coming up. That’s a PSU level of dominance in development and at a higher level. It’s hard to argue against them having a few more coming up.

I get that we’re older and still in a “changing of the guard” type time period but part of that is our current crop of youngsters just couldn’t beat most of the old men. Im sure we’ll be better but I’m not exactly sure who it’ll be.
 
Our issue is that from birth to 22, we mainly wrestle folk. Once at RTCs we learn freestyle intricacies but it can take several years to get to the same level as the rest of the world. I don't think that stops anyone from the USA from winning a gold. What it prevents is longevity at the top. I think the rest of the world has more time at the top than we do and that is what we see to some degree I think.
 
Our issue is that from birth to 22, we mainly wrestle folk. Once at RTCs we learn freestyle intricacies but it can take several years to get to the same level as the rest of the world. I don't think that stops anyone from the USA from winning a gold. What it prevents is longevity at the top. I think the rest of the world has more time at the top than we do and that is what we see to some degree I think.
Agreed but we have a crop or two that have failed to rise to the occasion… hopefully the next group can. As I said… the problem is the gulf between their best and our best imo. I get that we have depth but 1v1 isn’t good.

And there is always hope in the future groups. That’s why we love recruiting
 
Our issue is that from birth to 22, we mainly wrestle folk. Once at RTCs we learn freestyle intricacies but it can take several years to get to the same level as the rest of the world. I don't think that stops anyone from the USA from winning a gold. What it prevents is longevity at the top. I think the rest of the world has more time at the top than we do and that is what we see to some degree I think
That’s a hard argument to make . Most of are senior team members have had more than a few years to learn the intricacies. Burroughs , Dake , Taylor and Snyder have been at the top or near it for awhile.
 
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That’s a hard argument to make . Most of are senior team members have had more than a few years to learn the intricacies. Burroughs , Dake , Taylor and Snyder have been at the top or near it for awhile.
To defend my argument, I will posit that the current U17, U20, and U23 crop are better overall than 10 years ago. Kids are now wrestling freestyle at a younger age. While I can agree with you on your statement, I don't believe the present climate supports that future results will be like the past.
 
To defend my argument, I will posit that the current U17, U20, and U23 crop are better overall than 10 years ago. Kids are now wrestling freestyle at a younger age. While I can agree with you on your statement, I don't believe the present climate supports that future results will be like the past.
This last U23 team had a very bad tourney last week. I do believe that the U20 and U17 are going to be very good though.
 
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