Wrestling promises better product than last Olympic Trials in Iowa City

IOWA CITY — A record number of wrestling fans filed into Carver-Hawkeye Arena and watched the nation's top competitors attempt to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. More than 54,000, actually.

The sport was a little different then. The rules, scoring and format caused fits for spectators trying to follow the freestyle and Greco-Roman events.

After the threat of being removed from the Olympic Games, beginning in 2020, wrestling implemented numerous changes to be easier to understand, more exciting and inclusive. The changes helped the sport earn its way back on the Olympic program seven months later.

The improved product will be on display Saturday and Sunday during the USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials Carver-Hawkeye Arena. According to the University of Iowa, 10,700 tickets have been sold over the two-day, four-session event.

'I think what we need to prove here is our sport is much better than it was four years ago, and I think it is,' legendary Iowa Coach and 1972 Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable said Friday at a pre-tournament news conference. 'We'll see a lot more better matches. People will leave and want to come back.'

Matches were switched to two three-minute periods with cumulative scoring instead of the best of three two-minute periods. Even though criteria is a tiebreaker, it beats the ball-grab that determined positions for a decisive clinch position.

Gable compared it to making the drive to Riverside and letting chance produce a winner.

'There is a casino there,' Gable said. 'It's pretty much like a roll of the dice. That's how you win when you're pulling the balls out of the bags.

They call that gambling and you don't gamble in sports. You have a clear cut way of winning and we still have some more work to do on that yet. It's not perfect but we're heading in the right direction.'

Scoring was changed to reward offense and aggressiveness. Takedowns are now worth two points and reversals are worth one. The new points system was a reason Hawkeye Wrestling Club's Daniel Dennis returned to competition after a three-year hiatus.

'It's not as tactical,' Dennis said. 'I'm not very strategic. I'm probably not smart enough to strategize as much as these people do. I think more letting it all hang out and laying it all out on the line definitely helps me.'

Dennis is part of the 125 ½-pound weight class with two-time U.S. World Team member Tony Ramos, a 2014 NCAA champion for Iowa. They are joined by 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott.

Hlas: Dennis and Ramos 2 different personalities fighting for Olympic berth

Ramos said the action will be different from last Olympic cycle.

'I think it's going to be more exciting,' Ramos said. 'I think the rules are a lot better than what they were. There are still some things they can fix but we're heading in the right direction.'

Iowa head coach Tom Brands, who claimed a 1996 Olympic title in Atlanta, said the format leads to better performances from wrestlers.

'It is light-years better,' Brands said. 'The main thing is we keep getting better.

'There are so many more things to get excited about when you think about it. The best wrestling of the individual comes out in a six-minute match under these rules as opposed to two-minute periods.'

Gable said elimination of subjective scoring and finding a way to implement overtime instead of criteria for wins could be helpful. The sport has moved forward thanks to new United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic, who was elected to the International Olympic Committee.

'I do think people will see a better product and be more excited,' Gable said, 'and that will be better for our sport down the road.'

A desire exists to add to the six weight classes. Currently all three divisions — men's and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman — each have six weight classes. The women's freestyle field has added two, while men's divisions have dropped one each.

About 40 total college national champions will compete at CHA. Being able to spread them out over more weights would be a better situation. At 143 pounds, top-seeded Brent Metcalf, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time national finalist will face the winner between former national champions Frank Molinaro and Kellen Russell. Also on that side of the bracket is 2015 World bronze medalist James Green, dropping down from 70 kilograms, and Ohio State four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber.

'The fans are going to see outstanding wrestlers more than ever,' Gable said. 'At the same time, that's not where we want to be. We want outstanding wrestlers but we don't want 40 of them. We want to spread out a little better.'

More: Newer, better Metcalf looks for improvement

The field will include reigning world champions Jordan Burroughs (163) and Kyle Snyder (213) in men's freestyle and Helen Maroulis (116 1/2) and Adeline Gray (165) in women's freestyle.

Snyder became the youngest U.S. freestyle world champion in September and awaits the challenge tournament winner, which could be 2012 Olympic champion and former Iowa State NCAA titlist Jake Varner.

'He's got to make it through the challenge bracket first and there are a lot of tough guys in the bracket but definitely excited about it,' said Snyder, who won his first NCAA title last month for Ohio State after coming out of an Olympic red-shirt season as a sophomore. 'I wrestled him three times last year. We've wrestled a lot in practice, a lot of simulation matches and just drilling together, getting to know how we wrestle a little bit.

'I'm excited to see whether or not I've improved over this last year.'

Burroughs has become the face of U.S. wrestling since 2011. He has won World championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015. He won Olympic gold in 2012 and was a World bronze medalist in 2014.

He opened his senior freestyle career with a U.S. record 69 straight victories. He is a heavy favorite to represent the country in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brands compared Burroughs to Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

'I think it helps our (United States) program,' Brands said. 'At some point, it becomes about results and that's where Burroughs has been money. What a story and I don't think he gets enough credit.'

Bobby Telford also will represent the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in the men's freestyle field. He will face Justin Grant in the opening round at 275.

More: Dominant Adeline Gray highlights women's freestyle field

Among the other wrestlers with Iowa ties are former Independence and University of Northern Iowa wrestler Blaize Cabell and Waterloo native and former Iowa State NCAA champion Kyven Gadson, who are both at 213.

Former UNI All-American Joe Colon is at 125 ½ and former Waverly-Shell Rock and Grand View champion Eric Thompson will be at 275.

Iowa State's Jon Reader and Cyclone Wrestling Club's Angel Escobedo and Deron Winn will compete as well.

Ballard senior Rachel Watters and former Eddyville-Blakesburg state medalist Megan Black, Iowa's first female state placewinner, are in the women's freestyle field.

Olympic Wrestling Trials

When: Saturday, Sunday

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City

TV: NBCSN (6 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Sunday)

Live Stream: NBC Live Extra (All Mats, Sessions)

Tickets: $75 adults, $50 youth

Saturday's schedule 

8 a.m. — Doors open

9 a.m. — Challenge tournament in men's freestyle (65, 125 kg), women's freestyle (58, 63, 69 kg) and Greco-Roman (59, 66, 85, 98 kg)

5 p.m. — Doors open for night session

6 p.m. — Best-of-3 championship series

Sunday's schedule

8 a.m. — Doors open

9 a.m. — Challenge tournament in men's freestyle (57, 74, 86 and 97 kg), women's freestyle (48, 53, 75 kg) and Greco-Roman (75, 130 kg)

5 p.m. — Doors open for night session

6 p.m. — Best-of-3 championship series

Plan ahead: The University of Iowa encourages fans to allow extra time to travel to CHA. Some lots are permit-only and others cost $10.

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