Sesker's Slant: Talking Metcalf, Burroughs, World Championships
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Brent Metcalf finishes off a 14-3 technical fall win over Akhmed Chakaev of Russia at the World Cup. Larry Slater photo.
LOS ANGELES – It’s just a matter of time.
That’s Brent Metcalf’s philosophy when he steps on the mat.
When opponents block, back up and wrestle defensively, as many of them do, Metcalf continues with his aggressive, attacking mentality and figures it’s just a matter of time before he takes control of a match.
Metcalf went unbeaten for the second straight year at the World Cup, turning in an impressive 4-0 performance to lead the U.S. to a second-place finish this past weekend at the Forum in Los Angeles.
He outscored his four opponents by a combined 32-8 margin at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf opened by downing Cuba’s Franklin Maren Castillo 7-2 and Russia’s Akhmed Chakaev 14-3 on the first day of competition.
On Day 2, he beat two-time World bronze medalist Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia 8-2. He then defeated World silver and bronze medalist Masmoud Esmailpour of Iran 3-1.
Metcalf is a three-time U.S. World Team member, but he’s struggled at the World Championships. He has a combined record of 1-3 in three trips to the Worlds.
The 28-year-old Metcalf is still wrestling at a very high level, but he knows how important the next two years are with the 2015 Worlds being held in Las Vegas in September and the 2016 Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
There is no doubt Metcalf is capable of contending for a World and Olympic title. He’s that good and he’s confident he can do it.
It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it.
Metcalf is in a very deep and strong weight class in the U.S. that includes past Junior World medalists Aaron Pico, Logan Stieber and Jordan Oliver, in addition to 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy and past National Team members Kellen Russell and Frank Molinaro.
Pico and Stieber continue to make huge strides and will definitely be in the mix to challenge Metcalf. Oliver also has the talent to be the guy in this division.
Metcalf continues to progress. He’s a wrestler that foreign competitors are well aware of and one that many are intimidated by. He’s still the favorite to represent the U.S. at the 2015 Worlds.
It’s just a matter of time before he breaks through.
100 wins and counting for Jordan Burroughs
What more can you say about Jordan Burroughs?
His dominant World Cup reign continued as he went 4-0 this past weekend in L.A.
He teched a Russian and an Iranian, and also dominated Olympic and World medalist Livan Lopez of Cuba.
Burroughs is now 19-0 in four trips to the World Cup, and his career international record is now an amazing 102-2.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion is ready for another shot at three-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia.
Burroughs beat Tsargush at the 2011 Worlds and 2012 Olympics before falling to him at the 2014 Worlds. Burroughs lost to Tsargush in the 2014 World semifinals before coming back to place third.
Tsargush did not compete at the World Cup, but Russian coaches said he will compete at the 2015 Worlds in Las Vegas.
“I know Tsargush is back at home watching this,” Burroughs said. “Tsargush, if you are watching, I’m training hard and I’m wrestling hard, and I’m ready for every match.”
Burroughs continues to not only be the best wrestler in the U.S., he’s also the best interview and best ambassador we have.
Don’t miss a chance to see Burroughs compete. He’s a special athlete who has meant so much to the sport.
American fans needed at World Championships
The second straight World Cup in L.A. was a good event, with vocal and passionate fans in attendance.
The Iranian community in Los Angeles came out in full force and comprised more than 50 percent of the fans at the World Cup.
I love seeing passionate wrestling fans, but American fans need to get out and support the great U.S. wrestlers when they have a chance.
American fans are strongly encouraged to come out and support the 24 U.S. wrestlers who will compete at the World Championships on Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas.
The 2015 Worlds are the main qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games and it’s an important event for the U.S. team. A strong, vocal pro-American crowd could hold a big key for the American team at the 2015 World Championships.
I promise you, this will be the highest level and caliber of wrestling you’ve ever witnessed. You don’t want to miss it!
Feel free to provide any feedback to me at csesker@usawrestling.org or to my Twitter account @csesker
LOS ANGELES – It’s just a matter of time.
That’s Brent Metcalf’s philosophy when he steps on the mat.
When opponents block, back up and wrestle defensively, as many of them do, Metcalf continues with his aggressive, attacking mentality and figures it’s just a matter of time before he takes control of a match.
Metcalf went unbeaten for the second straight year at the World Cup, turning in an impressive 4-0 performance to lead the U.S. to a second-place finish this past weekend at the Forum in Los Angeles.
He outscored his four opponents by a combined 32-8 margin at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf opened by downing Cuba’s Franklin Maren Castillo 7-2 and Russia’s Akhmed Chakaev 14-3 on the first day of competition.
On Day 2, he beat two-time World bronze medalist Mandakhnaran Ganzorig of Mongolia 8-2. He then defeated World silver and bronze medalist Masmoud Esmailpour of Iran 3-1.
Metcalf is a three-time U.S. World Team member, but he’s struggled at the World Championships. He has a combined record of 1-3 in three trips to the Worlds.
The 28-year-old Metcalf is still wrestling at a very high level, but he knows how important the next two years are with the 2015 Worlds being held in Las Vegas in September and the 2016 Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
There is no doubt Metcalf is capable of contending for a World and Olympic title. He’s that good and he’s confident he can do it.
It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it.
Metcalf is in a very deep and strong weight class in the U.S. that includes past Junior World medalists Aaron Pico, Logan Stieber and Jordan Oliver, in addition to 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy and past National Team members Kellen Russell and Frank Molinaro.
Pico and Stieber continue to make huge strides and will definitely be in the mix to challenge Metcalf. Oliver also has the talent to be the guy in this division.
Metcalf continues to progress. He’s a wrestler that foreign competitors are well aware of and one that many are intimidated by. He’s still the favorite to represent the U.S. at the 2015 Worlds.
It’s just a matter of time before he breaks through.
100 wins and counting for Jordan Burroughs
What more can you say about Jordan Burroughs?
His dominant World Cup reign continued as he went 4-0 this past weekend in L.A.
He teched a Russian and an Iranian, and also dominated Olympic and World medalist Livan Lopez of Cuba.
Burroughs is now 19-0 in four trips to the World Cup, and his career international record is now an amazing 102-2.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion is ready for another shot at three-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia.
Burroughs beat Tsargush at the 2011 Worlds and 2012 Olympics before falling to him at the 2014 Worlds. Burroughs lost to Tsargush in the 2014 World semifinals before coming back to place third.
Tsargush did not compete at the World Cup, but Russian coaches said he will compete at the 2015 Worlds in Las Vegas.
“I know Tsargush is back at home watching this,” Burroughs said. “Tsargush, if you are watching, I’m training hard and I’m wrestling hard, and I’m ready for every match.”
Burroughs continues to not only be the best wrestler in the U.S., he’s also the best interview and best ambassador we have.
Don’t miss a chance to see Burroughs compete. He’s a special athlete who has meant so much to the sport.
American fans needed at World Championships
The second straight World Cup in L.A. was a good event, with vocal and passionate fans in attendance.
The Iranian community in Los Angeles came out in full force and comprised more than 50 percent of the fans at the World Cup.
I love seeing passionate wrestling fans, but American fans need to get out and support the great U.S. wrestlers when they have a chance.
American fans are strongly encouraged to come out and support the 24 U.S. wrestlers who will compete at the World Championships on Sept. 7-12 in Las Vegas.
The 2015 Worlds are the main qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games and it’s an important event for the U.S. team. A strong, vocal pro-American crowd could hold a big key for the American team at the 2015 World Championships.
I promise you, this will be the highest level and caliber of wrestling you’ve ever witnessed. You don’t want to miss it!
Feel free to provide any feedback to me at csesker@usawrestling.org or to my Twitter account @csesker
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