Springs Time: Top Wrestlers Ponder the OTC Route

Springs Time: Top Wrestlers Ponder the OTC Route

May 16, 2014 by Willie Saylor
Springs Time: Top Wrestlers Ponder the OTC Route
It’s becoming a trend.

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It’s becoming a trend.

First we saw uber recruit Destin McCauley go to the Olympic Training Center prior to starting his college career, along with Pat Downey, who parlayed the experience into a JR. World Silver medal.

This year, Kyle Snyder, one of the most polished prospects in high school wrestling history, spent what would have been his Senior high school season, training in Colorado Springs.

Aaron Pico, who just wrapped up his Sophomore year of high school, didn’t live at the OTC. But he had stints there as he chose to skip the academic wrestling season to travel, train, and compete all over the world.

There’s been a rejuvenation of sorts in international wrestling, specifically in the consciousness and aspirations of our young talent. The success of stars like Jordan Burroughs might be one reason. The opportunity to win world medals now, through Cadet (which was reinstated in 2011) and Juniors, could be another. The U.S. has had a Cadet World Champion each of the last three years (Adam Coon, Zain Retherford, and Aaron Pico). Downey (Silver, 2012) and Snyder (Gold, 2013) reached world Junior finals.

The opportunity to make a dent on the world scene is there, and it’s there right now.

However, I’d attribute the recent phenomenon of elite high schoolers entertaining the idea of spending a season training in Colorado Springs to the work of Bill Zadick, Brandon Slay, and the U.S. Developmental Program.

In addition to the success stories above, several graduating and soon-to-be seniors have spent time at the OTC. They’ve tasted the life there. They’ve seen gains. And Zadick and Slay, who are as adept at coaching technique as they are connecting with young athletes, have coached them up and mentored them.

It’s a process that, by all indications, is working fine for USA Wrestling and our young talent. And it’s not likely to go anywhere soon.

Several top athletes are weighing there options for their final year of high school, with some of the top names likely to spend their senior season training at the OTC.

We’ll go through the names that have been rumored to be considering Colorado Springs here:


#1-Myles Martin, New Jersey
Still uncommitted, Myles is among the Top 3 recruits for 2015. He’s competed extensively, making the finals of Fargo, FloNationals, and Ironman, and is a supremely athletic upper weight that should round out to 184 in college.
He’s spent a good deal of time in Colorado Springs, and entered FILA JR’s as an undersized 185lber, going 3-2 with a win over 3x Fargo Champ, and Northwestern FR, Mitch Sliga.

My Vote: Maybe
While the experience with Senior-level guys at the OTC would be good, Martin does have a strong supporting cast of coaches and family back home. And his high school McDonogh, MD, wrestles one of the toughest schedules in the country.


#3-Zach Kelly, Pennsylvania
Kelly always had a ton of potential, but it’s been in the last year that he’s really started to shine. It started with a finals appearance at National Preps. He backed it up with fine 3rd place showing at Fargo that included a win over Anthony Valencia. And then he was 10 seconds away from a Super 32 title before Jake Danishek secured the winning takedown. At Who’s #1, he lost to Ryan Blees and sustained and injury that kept him out the entire year. He’s committed to Bucknell for 2015.

My Vote: Hell Yes
Kelly is in a situation where he’ll be sidelined most of the year again. He transferred from public school (Burrell) to prep school (Kiski) and repeated a grade. That essentially means no high school action until National Preps. After missing a season with injury, does he need to miss another one? Hell no.


#4-Austin Myers, Kentucky
One of the best kids in the country no one talks about, Myers competes in a state, and with a schedule, that doesn’t allow us to see him often. His offseason schedule included only NHSCA events, at which he reached the finals three times (Fr. 1st, So. 1st, Jr. 2nd).

My Vote: For Sure
This will be the second straight year Myers spends ranked inside the Top 5 nationally. He won’t break a sweat often as one of the best big men in the country wrestling his regular season schedule in Kentucky. He still has to commit to a college, but he’ll find it easier to get a referral from Bill Zadick to a prospective coach, than to find college scouts at the small, regional events he’d otherwise be at.


#1-Fox Baldwin, Florida
Baldwin’s been a phenom his entire career, placing at FloNationals as a 119lb 8th grader. He’s racked up most of the Florida state records and won both FloNats and Fargo. He’s already committed to the University of Virginia next year.

My Vote: For Sure
What benefit is there in another year demolishing opposition in Florida? He just spent the last season wrestling up in weight because there wasn’t many that could come close to pushing him in the state of Florida. He’s the perfect candidate for a year at the OTC.


#1-Fredy Stroker, Iowa
A highly-talked about talent before he even reached high school, Stroker’s stock is still going up. He earned top status after winning a mini-bracket of the top four wrestlers at Who’s #1 in November and has remained perfect since. In fact, he looked sharper than ever this season.

My Vote: All the cards are lined up
Stroker comes from a strong program (Bettendorf) that wrestles a solid schedule. But there isn’t likely to be many stiff tests for him anyway.
And consider this:
1) He already completed all classes necessary to graduate
2) His father just retired from the military (the only reason the family lived in Iowa)
3) His workout partner, Logan Ryan, has graduated


#4-Taylor Lujan, Georgia
The latest talent rumored to be contemplating the OTC is Lujan, who's uncommitted and coming off a banner year in which he reached both FloNational and Super 32 finals. He gritty and one of my favorite recruits in the 2015 class. 

My Vote: Nah
As much as I love Lujan’s arc and ceiling, he's still green and young (he was a Cadet last year). I’d rather see him stick around the high school ranks and work with his club coaches (who have been doing a great job with him), before he heads off to college. 


Not Gonna Happen
#1’s Zahid and Anthony Valencia, CA
The Valencia Brothers pondered the OTC only briefly and have ruled the idea out.


Another Who Should Consider 
#1-Lance Benick, Minnesota
Even last year, Benick wrestled up to find any sort of challenge. The only competition he’ll find in Minnesota again this year will be if he heads over to the Gopher room. He’s the only wrestler in the country to be ranked #1 at this time last year that still is.
He’s a football player, so perhaps playing his senior season is something he’d like to do, but a year at the OTC could make him scary good.