The first leg of what could wind up being a series of training camps for United States Greco-Roman Seniors began today at the Suples Headquarters in Boise, Idaho. Presided over by Suples founder and former Northern Michigan head coach Ivan Ivanov, the brief camp is expected to run until the weekend. After that, another opportunity for US athletes is to avail itself at the Utah Valley RTC, though for now the situation could be described as tenuous.
Reportedly, turnout in Boise was lower than either anticipated or hoped for. However, word also is that Ivanov still managed to put the wrestlers through a variety of drills that were both challenging and openly embraced. We aim to provide relevant insights and updates as they arrive during the week.
Japan On It
Members of Japan’s National Team got started with their own camp earlier today, the nation’s first since the coronavirus shutdown. It is said in the report on their federation’s domain that 22 attendees, counting wrestlers and coaches, all tested negative for the virus that causes COVID-19. Kenichiro Fumita (60 kg, world #1) — who is all but slotted in to represent Japan at next year’s Tokyo Olympics after winning his second World title last September — is among those who took the mat. “It has been a while since I practiced in Japan, and I’m happy to say that I’m happy to have the opportunity to devise my own ideas,” the two-time Senior champ said (quote generated by machine translation).
Fumita won his first World title in ’17, the next year he earned gold at the U23 Worlds, and in September sparkled yet again, taking out Russia’s Sergey Emelin in the final. (Photo: Sachiko Hodaka)
Japan’s camp is taking place in Tokyo at the Ajinomoto Training Center. United World Wrestling’s Ken Martz also has a story on the festivities focusing more on the women’s freestyle participation.
Pytlasinski Now On the Calendar
The Polish Wrestling Federation is targeting November 6-9 for the annual Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Memorial (Warsaw). As is the case with UWW pertaining to World tournaments, Poland is taking it step-by-step and will be keeping a watchful eye on the status of the pandemic, noting that dates may be “subject to change“.
If it goes off, that means the Senior calendar will pick up in a big way come October, with the Grand Prix Zagreb Open (CRO) appearing first (October 16-18), followed by the Haavisto Cup (FIN) on the 24th and Sweden’s Haparanda Cup the very next weekend.
It is doubtful there would be an American presence in any of the aforementioned events. Should the United States plan on fielding a Senior Team for the World Championships in December, a selection tournament (aka, World Team Trials) will become necessary sometime in the fall, which would result in a much shorter turnaround than is the norm for the National program.
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