Sesker's Slant: Action-packed World Cup is an event you don't want to miss
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
2014 World Cup Video: USA vs. Iran
Jordan Burroughs, shown at the 2014 World Cup in L.A., is a combined 15-0 in three appearances at the World Cup. USA Wrestling file photo.
LOS ANGELES – I’ve been to more than 100 wrestling events in my nine-plus years with USA Wrestling.
The 2014 World Cup in Los Angeles ranks as one of the most exciting, entertaining and enjoyable events I’ve ever covered.
This event had it all. It featured high-caliber, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed wrestling in a fierce dual-meet competition between the World’s best teams. It also had vocal, boisterous and enthusiastic crowds in a great venue with spotlighted mats.
The World Cup for men’s freestyle wrestling returns to the Forum in L.A. this weekend, and it promises to be every bit as good if not better than last year’s exciting competition.
The U.S. is very hungry, driven and motivated to win an event it hasn’t won since 2003. This is very much a team event with very much patriotism and national pride on the line as fans wave flags and cheer passionately for their respective countries.
The loaded and experienced American team is comprised of seven of the eight U.S. World Team members from 2014.
The U.S. team is led by the dynamic Jordan Burroughs, a two-time World champion and Olympic gold medalist. Burroughs sports a spotless 15-0 record at the World Cup over the past three seasons.
Burroughs was injured in his first-round match at the 2014 World Championships, but still battled back to win a bronze medal. He’s healthy again, and very determined and eager to have a huge 2015 to build momentum heading into the 2016 Olympic year.
The U.S. also features 2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner, who returned to full-time competition last year. Varner is still one of the best in the World and he’s eager to get back on the medal podium at the Worlds this year.
Returning World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev continues to be a force at heavyweight. 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott is also back and he’s ready for another big run this season.
The U.S. also features three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf along with 2014 World Teamers Tony Ramos, Nick Marable and Ed Ruth on its loaded roster.
18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico also is on the U.S. roster for the World Cup. He’s from Los Angeles and is the No. 2 U.S. athlete behind Metcalf at 65 kg/143 lbs.
This is a special and exciting year for wrestling in the United States with the World Championships also being held in Las Vegas in September.
The U.S. will have to win a loaded World Cup pool that includes Russia, Cuba and Mongolia on Saturday to earn a spot in Sunday’s finals.
Returning champion Iran is once again bringing a powerful squad to California and is the favorite to win the other pool which also includes Azerbaijan, Turkey and Belarus.
Iran won the title last year with Russia second and the U.S. third.
The U.S. and Iran met last year in the same pool, and it was one of the most hard-fought and competitive dual meets I’ve ever seen. The skill level, action and drama were outstanding. Iran pulled out a close win, and the U.S. is eager for another shot at the strong Iranian team.
The large Iranian community in L.A. came out in full force last year. They were very vocal with their chants and horns playing during the event.
A challenge is being issued to American fans to give our best wrestlers the home-mat advantage they so richly deserve at the World Cup. We are looking for a loud and vocal crowd to give the American athletes a huge boost this weekend.
Trust me, this is an event you absolutely don’t want to miss. If you can, come on out and support this very strong United States team this weekend.
Tickets are still available and this is an event you definitely want to witness in person.
There will be two sessions each day for the World Cup. On Saturday, there will be sessions held at 3 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. On Sunday, the first session is at 11 a.m., with the championship duals set for 4:15 p.m.
It’s going to be a tremendous event. Can’t wait until the first whistle on Saturday afternoon.
Hope to see you in L.A.!
Feel free to provide any feedback to me at csesker@usawrestling.org or to my Twitter account @csesker
Jordan Burroughs, shown at the 2014 World Cup in L.A., is a combined 15-0 in three appearances at the World Cup. USA Wrestling file photo.
LOS ANGELES – I’ve been to more than 100 wrestling events in my nine-plus years with USA Wrestling.
The 2014 World Cup in Los Angeles ranks as one of the most exciting, entertaining and enjoyable events I’ve ever covered.
This event had it all. It featured high-caliber, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed wrestling in a fierce dual-meet competition between the World’s best teams. It also had vocal, boisterous and enthusiastic crowds in a great venue with spotlighted mats.
The World Cup for men’s freestyle wrestling returns to the Forum in L.A. this weekend, and it promises to be every bit as good if not better than last year’s exciting competition.
The U.S. is very hungry, driven and motivated to win an event it hasn’t won since 2003. This is very much a team event with very much patriotism and national pride on the line as fans wave flags and cheer passionately for their respective countries.
The loaded and experienced American team is comprised of seven of the eight U.S. World Team members from 2014.
The U.S. team is led by the dynamic Jordan Burroughs, a two-time World champion and Olympic gold medalist. Burroughs sports a spotless 15-0 record at the World Cup over the past three seasons.
Burroughs was injured in his first-round match at the 2014 World Championships, but still battled back to win a bronze medal. He’s healthy again, and very determined and eager to have a huge 2015 to build momentum heading into the 2016 Olympic year.
The U.S. also features 2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner, who returned to full-time competition last year. Varner is still one of the best in the World and he’s eager to get back on the medal podium at the Worlds this year.
Returning World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev continues to be a force at heavyweight. 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott is also back and he’s ready for another big run this season.
The U.S. also features three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf along with 2014 World Teamers Tony Ramos, Nick Marable and Ed Ruth on its loaded roster.
18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico also is on the U.S. roster for the World Cup. He’s from Los Angeles and is the No. 2 U.S. athlete behind Metcalf at 65 kg/143 lbs.
This is a special and exciting year for wrestling in the United States with the World Championships also being held in Las Vegas in September.
The U.S. will have to win a loaded World Cup pool that includes Russia, Cuba and Mongolia on Saturday to earn a spot in Sunday’s finals.
Returning champion Iran is once again bringing a powerful squad to California and is the favorite to win the other pool which also includes Azerbaijan, Turkey and Belarus.
Iran won the title last year with Russia second and the U.S. third.
The U.S. and Iran met last year in the same pool, and it was one of the most hard-fought and competitive dual meets I’ve ever seen. The skill level, action and drama were outstanding. Iran pulled out a close win, and the U.S. is eager for another shot at the strong Iranian team.
The large Iranian community in L.A. came out in full force last year. They were very vocal with their chants and horns playing during the event.
A challenge is being issued to American fans to give our best wrestlers the home-mat advantage they so richly deserve at the World Cup. We are looking for a loud and vocal crowd to give the American athletes a huge boost this weekend.
Trust me, this is an event you absolutely don’t want to miss. If you can, come on out and support this very strong United States team this weekend.
Tickets are still available and this is an event you definitely want to witness in person.
There will be two sessions each day for the World Cup. On Saturday, there will be sessions held at 3 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. On Sunday, the first session is at 11 a.m., with the championship duals set for 4:15 p.m.
It’s going to be a tremendous event. Can’t wait until the first whistle on Saturday afternoon.
Hope to see you in L.A.!
Feel free to provide any feedback to me at csesker@usawrestling.org or to my Twitter account @csesker
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