Hottest Weight Class Now Sizzles
The most volatile weight class in American freestyle wrestling became even more tempestuous over the weekend, providing several subplots as Spokane prepares to hold the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June.
Even before the weekend’s U.S. Nationals here, there wasn’t a classification quite like 180.5 pounds, which claims 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson, backto-back NCAA titlist Les Gutches, two-time World champion Royce Alger and USA Wrestling executive director Jim Scherr.
Gutches had been 0-for-3 against Jackson, but the senior from Oregon State pulled off a 5-2 overtime decision in the title match Saturday night. The outcome left Jackson vowing to “get” his upstart rival when the Trials come to the Arena the weekend of June 7-8.
Scherr, meanwhile, had drawn criticism from many wrestlers - Jackson, in particular - for launching a comeback without stepping down as director. Jackson’s frustration crested during a 4-0 victory over Scherr early Saturday, when Jackson, 31, used a break in the action to rock the 36-year-old Scherr with a two-handed shove to the chest.
“I was just trying to set the tone right off the bat,” Jackson explained. “This isn’t fun and games out here.”
Scherr downplayed the rift. “I was just flat,” he said. “That’s it.”
Gutches, Jackson and Scherr will renew their drama at the Trials, which take the top six placers from Nationals, in addition to winners from the five regional tournaments. Scherr won the Northeast Regional. Schultz honored
Saturday night’s finals began with a tribute to former Olympic champion Dave Schultz, who was murdered in January, allegedly by USA Wrestling benefactor John E. du Pont. Schultz, 36, had been training to defend his 1995 national 163-pound title when he was gunned down outside du Pont’s expansive training center.
Nancy Schultz, the wrestler’s widow, brought the couple’s two small children to Las Vegas.
“It’s still a struggle, but I think being here helps, rather than making me sadder,” Nancy Schultz said at a press conference Thursday. “It’s less of a struggle here because I have the support. It brings me a lot of happiness and I hope it does them, too.”
Friends of the 1984 Olympic champion wore T-shirts with the late wrestler’s likeness on the front. The back read, simply, ” … the legend lives on.” , Second to one
Two-time Olympic heavyweight champion Bruce Baumgartner continued his mastery of Tom Erikson, beating his toughest American competitor for the eighth time in a national title match. The 36-year-old Baumgartner, a 15-time national champ, handled the 31-year-old Erikson 2-0 in their latest battle.
“They’re both great athletes,” said Olympic freestyle coach Joe Seay, who coached Erikson at Oklahoma State. “Tom just has this psychological block against Bruce.” , DataTimes