Olympics

After prison release, state wrestler free to pursue Olympic dream

When Dan Chandler answered his phone on that April day in 2010, the number wasn’t familiar. The voice, however, was. “Hey, this is Jordan,” the caller said. “I was just wondering if you guys still have Greco practice.”

Jordan Holm didn’t expect his former coach to remember him. Years ago, Chandler had guided the Northfield native to a junior national title in Greco- Roman wrestling, during a time when Holm also won two high school state championships. That was before his promising college career came to an abrupt and shocking end, when Holm was imprisoned in Iowa for third-degree sexual abuse — a crime he steadfastly maintains he did not commit. Continue reading at startribune.com

One-on-One with Dustin Schlatter

Dustin Schlatter is an Olympic hopeful in freestyle at 66 kilos. In November, Schlatter won the New York AC International in his first competition since dropping down from 74 kilos. He was member of the U.S. World Team in 2009.

As a collegiate competitor at the University of Minnesota, Schlatter was an NCAA champion as a true freshman and three-time All-American. He finished his collegiate career with a record of 114-10. His .919 career winning percentage ranks fourth in program history behind only Larry Zilverberg (.948), Brock Lesnar (.948), and Cole Konrad (.922). Continue reading at intermatwrestle.com

Living the Dream Medal Fund pushes wrestlers to stay with sport

Johny Hendricks is a two-time NCAA wrestling champion. On August 6 he made $44,000 for beating Mike Pierce in a UFC fight with no title implications; he was guaranteed half of the purse just for competing. In 2011 he fought three times, earning more than $150,000 from the UFC.

Jordan Burroughs is also a two-time NCAA wrestling champion. On September 18 he made $50,000 for winning the freestyle world championships. The gold medal means Burroughs was the best 163-pound wrestler in the world in 2011 and it makes him a favorite to win gold at the 2012 Olympics, but without endorsements Burroughs earned less than one-third of what he could have made as a mediocre UFC fighter in 2011. Continue reading at sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Hayfield native says yes to Olympic Trials

In 2004, Nick Severson had a shot at making the U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

He passed on it.

Eight years later, the Hayfield native has gone from kicking himself over that decision made as a 26-year-old, to kicking things back into gear.

The 250-pounder has spent the last 13 months making a profound attempt to turn himself back into an elite wrestler, with the hope that he could do a do-over on that 2004 choice. Continue reading at postbulletin.com

Calm under pressure, Andrew Bisek qualified the USA at 74 kg

With the 74 kg/163 lbs. Greco-Roman Olympic weight class qualification riding on one performance, USA Wrestling Greco-Roman National Coach Steve Fraser and the rest of Team USA looked to Andrew Bisek to qualify the weight class for the London Games.

Bisek didn’t disappoint, placing second at the Pan American Olympic Qualifying tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. last weekend. Job one was reaching the finals, as the top two qualified their nation for London. Continue reading at themat.com

Former Olympic Brandon Paulson goes from wrestling mat to mentoring

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The Road to London begins in what might look like an industrial park warehouse in Shoreview. But the PINnacle is anything but. It is a wrestling dream factory.

“I know a lot of coaches don’t want kids to dream because they’re scared of failure. I totally disagree,” explained Brandon Paulson, a former Olympian, “I want kids to dream. I want that 9-year-old to think he can be an Olympic champion, because then they’re going to do whatever it takes.” View/Continue reading at kare11.com

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