Wrestling Blogs - Brandon Scott

121 - Matt Azevedo (Sunkist Kids)

132 - Shawn Bunch (USOTC)

145.5 - Schwab (Hawkeye WC)

163 - Ryan Churella (Overtime)

185.5 - Andy Hrovat (Overtime)

211.5 - Kurt Backes (Sunkist Kids)

264 - Steve Mocco (Hawkeye WC)


Now some discussion:

121 - Cejudo has his Olympic gold, does he now try to make money? He's hiring an agent for a reason people, and it ain't to go to college or wrestle for Turkmenistan. Azevedo is obviously next in line, and as long as Henson is his coach, he's the man. Nick Simmons will surprise some people and do damage, but what's next for this weight class. I don't see Cejudo wrestling in 2009. I definitely think he will come back for the next season, however. It all depends on how much money he can make with his Olympic Gold success. Does he make enough to live comfortably, does he get an endorsement deal or two, where he only has to make a commercial or two a year and appear at Corporate Yearly Awards Ceremony?

132 - Shawn Bunch is next. He is living in Colorado Springs now, and I really see him evolving into the next great athletic phenom. Under Zeke Jones he'll learn how to wrestle on top as well. I don't know if Zadick is done, but if he's not going to wrestle internationally, he needs to be. Gallick is still there as well, but same goes for him - his head coach is still making international trips, why isn't he?

145.5 - Schwab doesn't look to be done, and I hope he wrestles more international matches this year. Now begs the question - we know that Terry Brands will be HC of the Hawkeye WC, but does that mean they guys are actually going to list them as their club? Meaning, is the Hawkeye club going to be footing the bill for these guys? Everyone wants to talk about the return of the Hawkeye WC, but that won't happen until they start paying some money to these guys.

163 - Churella is my surprise pick. Kevin Jackson has high thoughts of him, and he placed 3rd at Seniors and 4th at the Olympic Trials. That is surprising success for a first timer, and Bormet has proven he can develop world team members (believe me, Hrovat does not beat Lawal without Bormet). Also, Travis "Muscle Boy" Paulson is right there as well, but I'm anxious to see how well he develops while coaching at Nebraska (i.e. no cael sanderson as a daily influence/coach). I understand Tyrone Lewis isn't done, but I think he has reached his ceiling. The fact that he couldn't beat a 6 month freestyler (askren) doesn't give me much confidence in his ability to improve.

185.5 - Hrovat is slowly turning me into a believer. His almost win against Adam Saitiev at the World Cup showed he has a lot of ability. Also, if he doesn't folkstyle in the waning seconds of his match at the Olympics, I think he makes it to the semis, and ultimately medal contention. Varner will finish second behind Hrovat these next few years I think. I hate Varner so much. Wrestling-wise, I think he has more talent than anyone except for his head coach. But he doesn't exert himself to dominance in any form. Without passivity, hey, freestyle is going to be great to Varner, and I think he beats Hrovat for the 2012 Olympics.

211.5 - Backes is definitely next. Now here starts an interesting dynamic as well. Sunkist Kids has a ridiculous roster and, year in and year out could be named the best club in the US. Does new Head Coach KJ make Sunkist Kids club members train at the sprawling Riches Wrestling Complex? Doubtful, unless mr. martori can afford to give living expenses to the guys that are coaching. Also, does KJ push his guys to train at the USOTC, like he did while the HC there? Doubtful, but none-the-less interestling, considering how much he wants the US to be best freestyle nation in the world (which will take much more dedication to year-round freestyle training).

264.5 - Mocco is doing the right things. He wrestles internationally, and will follow Brands to Iowa. Brands is a proven coach at the international level, I just hope that living in Iowa City will not be a setback to Mocco's development as a freestyler (I think it will be). Scott Steele is an interesting case. After graduation does he enter the Navy or Army? If he enters Navy, they don't have a program where he can train solely on wrestling, a la the WCAP that Dremiel Byers and the rest of the Army guys have. Tervel Dlagnev has to discussed as well; light in the butt with great movement, he's fun to watch. He's a member of the Sunkist Kids and I think he would develop well under Kevin Jackson.