With the 2025 US U20 World Team Trials and U23 Nationals mere hours away, Northern Michigan University-National Training Site assistant coach Parker Betts returns to the show to discuss a range of topics involving his program and touches upon a few personal items, as well.
Betts briefly shares his thoughts on the venue and location of the aforementioned U20/U23 National tournament before the conversation shifts towards NMU’s pair of Senior World Team members — Max Black (60 kg) and Payton Jacobson (87 kg). Black’s persona is the centerpiece of that segment due to the overt manner with which he carries himself and how his work ethic is what drives his confidence. Betts also speaks to several subjects pertaining to NMU and American Greco overall, such as training, why US athletes tend to retire, and whether or not he would entertain the idea of competing again in “one off” events.
A Few Highlights
Betts on how he approaches coaching at overseas camps
“For the most part, we have joined in with teams or clubs in their club practices and their coach will run our training camp, essentially. I pay attention to what the coach is doing or saying, and if it’s something new or haven’t seen before — because just like the wrestlers, I’m learning, too — then I go around (the room). Most of the time, the older guys who are more experienced are doing it right, but otherwise I am working with the younger guys or more inexperienced guys and helping them get the hang of what we’re working on.”
Betts on the emotion shown by Black and Jacobson at the World Team Trials
“How they show their emotions and stuff like that is huge because look at all of the media presence they got from it. And how much that has helped our program already. People can get mad at it, but look at what it’s doing for those two, look at what it’s doing for our program. I think people look at our sport and it’s like you’re always supposed to be stoic and not surprised if you win, or not happy if you win.”
Betts on the ripple effect for NMU from having two Senior World Team members
“I want to say during the first week after the Trials were over that we kept getting tagged in stuff, because I use social media a lot to promote our program and use that as a recruiting tool. For that first week, we kept getting tagged in photos and all of this stuff, and these photos were getting over 1,000 ‘likes’. Everyone is starting to get a glimpse at what we do, actually, and it is really starting to spread awareness of us. It was huge. That kind of stuff can go a long way and we’ve had people reaching out to us ever since. Whether they are collegiate athletes or possible recruits, everyone was asking to come train with us before U23’s, or if there is time in the summer when they can just come up and train. It has been amazing.”
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