Chicks Heart Fights

As I begin to pack my suitcase for the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas this weekend, my mind wanders to my last trip to the Olympic Trials. I mentioned this over at Fourth Place Medal , but it’s worth bringing up again - go to the trials. During the 2004 Trials, I saw wrestlers who had knee surgery three days before the tournament hobble their way to the mat. I watched guys who had long retired come back out for one more chance. In one of the best ceremonies of all sports, I saw many wrestlers who I have respected for years announce their retirement by leaving their shoes on the mat. Best of all, I saw our Olympic team: eighteen young men and women who grabbed their chance to represent the United States in Athens. In August of 2004, I cried when the US wrestlers won medals, not only because I was proud of them as American wrestlers, but also because I had just watched all of the people who were left home.

This weekend, I can’t wait to see all this drama unfold again in Las Vegas. During this week, Chicks Heart Fights will have a preview of weight classes in each discipline. First up, men’s freestyle.

55 kg/121 lbs.

60 kg/132 lbs: Unfortunately, the U.S. did not qualify this weight class for the Olympics, so these gentlemen will be competing for spots on the national team, but they will not be Olympians. My precious Mike Zadick is the front runner at this weight class, though he was one of the wrestlers that couldn’t get the weight qualified. Shawn Bunch is the top seed, followed by Coleman Scott, Zadick and Nick Gallick. Michael Lightner should also make a run for the top spot. Despite the seeds, Gallick and Zadick will meet in the finals, and though it pains me to say it, Gallick will win.

Why, hello, Doug Schwab!

66 kg/145.5 lbs.: This weight class is stacked with veterans. Doug Schwab qualified for the best of three series, meaning that the winner of the challenge tournament will face Dougie when he’s Fresh. (Get it? Dougie Fresh? No?) Bill Zadick, Chris Bono and Jared Frayer are the favorites to meet up with Schwab. If the planets are properly aligned, we’ll get to see Zadick and Bono wrestle because there is no love lost between the two. To me, Cary Kolat is the most intriguing entry into this weight class. He was an Olympian in 2000, and after placing ninth, he stopped wrestling. Though I think Schwab will win the spot on the Olympic team, he will face the unexpected Kolat in the best of three.

74 kg/163 lbs: I may get a little giddy about this weight class, because this is where my Missouri Tigers have our first chance at having an Olympian in wrestling - ever. Ben Askren had made a smooth (yet funky) transition to freestyle wrestling, and is seeded first. Donny Pritzlaff has beaten Ben in the past, but I don’t think that will happen again. Tyrone Lewis and Matt Lackey will give Ben a run for his money, but at the same time, I believe, faithfully, that Ben will represent the US.

Mo Lawal: automatic for the people

84 kg/185 lbs: I worked media at the 2005 World Team Trials, and after Mo Lawal made the team, a reporter asked him “Does wrestling need Mo Lawal?” He bust out laughing and said, “No, Mo Lawal needs wrestling.” I think of that every time I read that people don’t like his antics. Anyway, Mo is qualified for the best of three series, and he has a damn good chance to medal in Beijing. Before he gets there, he needs to get through Andy Hrovat, a wrestler who pinned him last year, or Joe Williams, a veteran. Still, I think we’ll all see Mo wrestle in Beijing, and we’ll love his antics then.

96 kg/211.5 lbs: Oh, Daniel. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. Daniel Cormier qualified for the best of three series, and was an Olympian in 2004. None of his competitors - including Nik Fekete, Max Askren and Damion Hahn - will pose much of a challenge. I just would really like to see Daniel get over the hump, and bring home some hardware.

120 kg/264.5 lbs: Tommy Rowlands has qualified for the best of 3, and though Steve Mocco and Les Sigman will challenge, Rowlands will win Trials.

And there you have it - my ideas on who will win the Olympic Trials. Surprises usually happen, though, no matter what, we will have a great team representing America.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS