Takedown Report

International Wrestling News (2021) – # 5

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A belated update of news in international wrestling. Keep on Wrestling!
Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Wrestling Announces Host Nations for ’22 and ’23 Senior World Championships, Will Update Location for Beach Wrestling World Series Stop
CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 3) — United World Wrestling confirmed this week that due to the CAS decision towards RUSADA the location of the 2022 and 2023 Senior World Championships have been shuffled.  Additionally, one of the four Beach Wrestling World Series Stops, originally planned to be hosted by Russia, will be moved. An alternate city is being explored and will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The UWW Bureau approved the candidature of Belgrade, Serbia as the host of the 2023 Senior World Championships. However, due to the same restrictions on the Russian Federation for hosting World Championships in 2021-2022, Belgrade will replace the former city of Krasnoyarsk as the World Championships host for 2022. For 2023 the World Championships host will be reallocated to Russia, with the city to be finalized in the coming months. “We are respectful of the CAS decision, WADA’s position and have adapted the schedule accordingly,” said UWW president Nenad Lalovic. “We recently held the Individual World Cup in Belgrade with great success and believe that Russia will be a fantastic host nation in 2023.” … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/wrestling-announces-host-nations-22-and-23-senior-world-championships-will-update-location?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Brock wrestler battles bureaucracy
Jevon Balfour seeks reinstatement of Olympic spot
Jevon Balfour thought he had taken the second-to-last step in his quest to represent Canada at the Tokyo Olympics when he defeated Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club’s Jasmit Phulka of 11-0 and 6-5 in a wrestle-off on Feb. 8, 2020, at the University of Calgary. Balfour, who defeated Phulka while wearing protective goggles, had been given the wrestle-off because he was unable to compete at the December 2019 Olympic trials after undergoing eye surgery in September 2019 to fix a detached retina.

The 26-year-old Brock Wrestling Club member naturally assumed the victory had guaranteed him the right to represent Canada in the 74-kilogram division at the Pan Am Olympic Qualification Tournament, March 13-15, in Ottawa. A top two finish in Ottawa would punch Balfour’s ticket to Tokyo. But a week before the qualifier, the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medalist received an email from Wrestling Canada informing him that he was ineligible to wrestle any more and that his Sport Canada carding (funding) had been cancelled. Wrestling Canada based its decision on the fact that United World Wrestling, the international governing body for amateur wrestling, had ruled Balfour couldn’t wear goggles while wrestling and he was not able get medical clearance to compete.

“I was like, ‘What? How did all of this happen just like that?’We started fighting it, because how could they do it so suddenly?” Balfour said. … rest of story at https://thevoiceofpelham.ca/2021/02/05/brock-wrestler-battles-bureaucracy/?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Jevon Balfour has to wrestle with the politics of his sport just to get a shot at an Olympic shot
It’s easy to be down on the Tokyo Olympics. Recent public-opinion polls suggest 80 per cent of Japan’s citizenry would prefer the Games be cancelled or postponed, and that was before the 83-year-old president of the local organizing committee resigned after suggesting women talk too much in meetings. From the thick of a pandemic winter, it can be a serious chore to muster enthusiasm for a coming-together of nations a little more than five months in the offing.

But then you hear the story of Jevon Balfour, the Brampton-raised, St. Catharines-based national wrestling champion who is being denied a chance at qualifying for Tokyo on a bureaucratic technicality, and you’re reminded of one of the chief reasons why these Olympics matter. They matter because an athlete like Balfour, who has every reason to be down on the maddening politics of amateur sport, is still doing everything in his power to get to the Games. They matter because every couple of years we ask a lot of our Canadian Olympians; we demand they own the podium, or something close. The least we can do is hope each of them gets a fair shot at delivering the goods.

Even though Balfour is getting the benefit of no such thing, his Tokyo dream persists. And you can understand why. At 26, he has been Canada’s champion in the 74-kilogram weight class five years running. He only narrowly missed out on a chance to represent Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics. … rest of story at https://www.thestar.com/sports/2021/02/12/jevon-balfour-has-to-wrestle-with-the-politics-of-his-sport-just-to-get-a-shot-at-an-olympic-shot.html?mc_cid=a6cfb4b322&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – WRESTLING WILL MOVE FROM UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. TO LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED SOON
USA Wrestling, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee have collectively decided that the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, originally scheduled for April 4-5, 2020, will not be held at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. USA Wrestling and Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics worked to reschedule the event in 2021. However, a decision to relocate the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling was made due to a variety of factors, including current COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and the desire to provide the ability to accommodate all of the participants, staff and fans.

In addition to the announcement of the relocation of this year’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, USA Wrestling, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Penn State and the Bryce Jordan Center will host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/08/Olympic-Trials-to-change-location?mc_cid=82bfd879a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Toby Erickson training to fulfill Olympic aspirations
They say the third time is the charm, and for Toby Erickson, after coming in third place twice, the third time may be just the thing he needs to accomplish something that is so elusive for many, including himself: Competing at the Olympics. Olympic trials for Greco-Roman wrestling are taking place April 2 and April 3 in Fort Worth, Texas, and Erickson is trying to put Montana on the map by being able to compete as a representative of the USA in this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The path to Tokyo will take Erickson all over the country, before he can think about traveling across oceans. Training camp has been ongoing in Boise, Idaho, but they started to wrap up recently. Erickson, who is the son of former Sidney High School all-state wrestler Delane Erickson, will continue training in Colorado Springs until the time comes to compete in Fort Worth.

Once Erickson hits the mats in Fort Worth in April, he literally cannot accept anything less than first place because only the top wrestler in the trials (tournament) gets to advance. Even if he wins the tournament, Erickson then has to travel to Bulgaria to compete in the last chance Olympic qualifier in May (to qualify the weight). Then he has to make the finals of the tournament there to qualify for the weight, and then he will be able to set foot in Tokyo as part of the USA team. … rest of story at https://www.sidneyherald.com/news/local_news/toby-erickson-training-to-fulfill-olympic-aspirations/article_f6364592-6fc1-11eb-8e1c-33f89c664d1a.html?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And 5PM44: Michael Hooker and Toby Erickson join the show
Episode 44 features a reinvigorated Hall as well as two guests, Army wrestlers Toby Erickson and Michael Hooker. With UWW updating the rules for Greco and an overseas trip on the horizon for US National Team members, there is plenty to discuss. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/fivepointmove/5pm44-michael-hooker-and-toby-erickson-join-the-show/?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – UPDATED: 36 ATHLETES TO REPRESENT THE USA AT THE MATTEO PELLICONE RANKING EVENT IN ITALY, MARCH 4-7
The United States is sending a massive delegation to the Matteo Pellicone in Rome, Italy, March 4-7, which will serve as a UWW Ranking Series event for the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway, later this year. Competing for the USA are 14 men’s freestylers, four women’s freestylers and 18 Greco-Roman athletes. Highlighting the delegation is 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (MFS 74 kg), 2019 World champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg WFS) and 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon (GR 130 kg).

Other past Senior World Team members include Tyler Graff (MFS 61 kg), Patrick Downey (MFS 92 kg), Victoria Anthony (WFS 50 kg), Ildar Hafizov (GR 60 kg), Raymond Bunker (GR 72 kg), Ben Provisor (GR 82 kg), Pat Smith (GR 77 kg), John Stefanowicz (GR 87 kg), RaVaughn Perkins (GR 82 kg), Josef Rau (GR 87 kg), Patrick Martinez (GR 87 kg) and G’Angelo Hancock (GR 97 kg). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/26/US-roster-for-Pellicone-Ranking-Tournament-in-Italy?mc_cid=02f3563d01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Baker Downs Merkin To Come Away Victorious At Capitol Cup
When Nolan Baker (67 kg, NYAC, 5PM #6) catches fire, he has a habit of torching everyone in his path. That was the story on Saturday as Baker raced through three matches in dominant fashion to earn his first US Senior tournament win. In the process, he also provided a startling reminder of his offensive capability just over one month away from the Olympic Trials.

The Capitol Cup began at 10:00am EST and aired live on Rokfin.
’18 U23 World Teamer Baker did not come all that close to reaching a sixth minute in any of his three bouts. His march to gold started with a technical fall at the expense of Corbin Nirschl (MWC); in the semifinal, Baker collected a pin against ’18 National runner-up … rest of story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/usa-greco/nolan-baker-victorious-capitol-cup/?mc_cid=02f3563d01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – #216 Brandon Slay – Olympic Gold Medalist
Brandon Slay is an Olympic Gold Medalist and the Executive Director for the Penn Regional Training Center.  Brandon’s run to Olympic Gold started at the US Open in the spring of 2000, where he entered the tournament as the 7th seed.  In the finals, he knocked-off Joe Williams, earning a bye to the Olympic Trials finals.  After making the 2000 Olympic Team by defeating former coach Brian Dolph, Slay had an incredible run at the Sydney Olympics, beating the great Saitiev in the semis, in OT!  We cover all of this and more in this episode. Enjoy this one folks.  
Learn more about Brandon Slay: 
-Brandon’s website: BrandonSlay.Com … rest of story at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/216-brandon-slay-olympic-gold-medalist/?mc_cid=d34d798fb2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Same, But Different: Spencer Woods Talks Pre-Trials Mentality
There is news. Spencer Woods, the “Alaskan Assassin” and 2019 National runner-up, is no longer planning on entering the 77-kilogram field at the upcoming US Olympic Team Trials. It is not because he cannot make the weight. He certainly can. Already has. Woods hit the 77 mark without much of an issue for the ’19 Bill Farrell Memorial, where he placed second. That performance is what qualified him for the Trials. It also came on the heels of an impressive gold-medal-wining run in Sweden, which was preceded by his even-more impressive run to the Open final six months prior.

Oddly, Woods’ decision to change weight categories is actually not a headline grabber. At press time, similar chatter is circulating regarding several other athletes who are on the fence about their own weight classes for April’s big show. Perhaps if wrestling had never grinded to a halt in the wake of the pandemic, these items would elicit more eyebrow-raises. That is not the case right now. Ask around. An uneasy feeling still hangs over the proceedings, as though everyone is just hoping the Trials are held sans last-minute postponement. Things look pretty good — but you really can’t blame the slight skepticism given the amount of cultural conditioning the nation has endured over the past 12 months. … rest of story at http://fivepointmove.com/army-wcap/spencer-woods-mentality/?mc_cid=d34d798fb2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Gruenwald: Russia, Stopping A Thief, & The REAL HERO
During his remarkable career as a Greco-Roman athlete, Jim Gruenwald managed to become a two-time Olympian and one of the unquestioned leaders of the US National program. He was an elite international competitor who was uncompromising and vicious on the mat; yet filled with a love for Christ and a willingness to passionately share his faith off of it. Today, he is the head coach at Wheaton College in Illinois, as well as a highly-influential voice pertaining to all matters of encouragement, devotion, and Christian servitude.

Back in 2010, a friend of mine, John Orsay, asked me to be a wrestling liaison for him and his son Jacob at the World Championships which. were being held in Moscow, Russia. The tournament, as ever, was fun to watch. Great wrestling everyday. John and Jacob got to meet the USA Wrestling Team and other international names of interest, including 12-time World and Olympic Champion Alexander Karelin.
One morning before we headed over to the venue, we ate breakfast at a café right off Arbat Street. The morning was cool, grey, and drizzly; but since we would be indoors for the rest of the day, we chose to eat outside. We picked a table close to the building in the canopied outdoor part of the café that was partially surrounded by a short-wrought iron fence. I recall there being a gentleman sitting alone next to the fence eating a meal and reading a paper a few feet from us. We had just received our breakfast when there was a commotion by the other patron. Focused on my meal and oblivious, I asked John what happened and he said, “I think that guy just got robbed.” … rest of story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/christian-faith/gruenwald-real-hero/?mc_cid=e764d9125d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4

10 } – LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER SET FOR MARCH 26-27 IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS; PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE NEGATIVE COVID PCR TEST 72 HOURS BEFORE MARCH 26
The Last Chance Qualifier, which is the final opportunity for wrestlers to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, will be held at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, March 26-27.
There will be a required COVID testing protocol for all athletes, coaches, team leaders and medical staff to participate in the event. All these people are required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. Test must have been completed less than 72 hours before March 26, 2021. Only a PCR test will be accepted. Women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman will be held on Friday, March 26, with men’s freestyle on Saturday, March 27. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/March/03/Last-Chance-Qualifier-set-for-Fort-Worth-March-26-and-27?mc_cid=e764d9125d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – 5PM45: Dennis Hall and Max Nowry
Max Nowry returns to the program as a legitimate guest following his antics on E43 and reunites with co-host Dennis Hall to discuss a variety of topics. Included are exchanges related to how some exercises are more mentally beneficial than they are physical, not competing until the Olympic Trials, weight class changes, and socializing in Fort Worth next month. 
… rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/fivepointmove/5pm45-dennis-hall-and-max-nowry/?mc_cid=463361f6e9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – ‘Focused’ Chamizo Steals Gold Against Burroughs at Matteo Pellicone
OSTIA (Italy), March 8 — After a 25-month wait, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) finally met again on the mat. At the Yasar Dogu in 2019, Chamizo had decided to sit out of the final, giving Burroughs the win. This was five months after the American had scored his third win over Chamizo at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov event in February.

Sure, the pandemic delayed the matchup but Burroughs’ loss at the 2019 World Championships  semifinal to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) in September deprived the fans of a rematch in NurSultan, Kazakhstan. Chamizo was on the other side of the bracket and reached the final against Sidakov. But on a blockbuster Sunday at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event in Rome, the two superstars clashed for the sixth time in what is quickly becoming wrestling’s prized rivalry in recent years. For the record, Chamizo closed the gap with Burroughs in head-to-head to 4-2 after winning a tense gold medal bout 3-2 at 74kg. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/focused-chamizo-steals-gold-against-burroughs-matteo-pellicone?mc_cid=3fad4ffad8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 27, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized