As reported last Monday, the United States Greco-Roman program is gearing up for “January Camp 2022”, which begins on January 6 at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The gathering encompasses seven days, including two days set aside for “active recovery”.
The annual winter camp serves as a launch point for participating athletes. Those Seniors who will comprise the rosters for the upcoming European tour receive an opportunity to refresh or sharpen up both their skills and conditioning prior to departure — while others can utilize the week-long camp to further their bases ahead of the mid-season push to the US Open and World Team Trials.
Each year, January Camp is treated like a big deal. It is the de-facto kick-off to the calendar year and occurs during a time in the schedule when, typically, there are a variety of significant events on the horizon. Though that is the case for the US entering ’22, there has also been an obvious dearth of competition. Following Oslo, only one American has entered a Senior international tournament (Randon Miranda, who won in Egypt last month); the U23 Worlds were in November, as well, but by and large it has been quiet due to pandemic-influenced postponements that were responsible for keeping US athletes landlocked at home.
Because of this lack of competitive opportunities in conjunction with what has already been a prolonged adjustment period for American Greco-Roman competitors since the spring of ’20, the tenor surrounding January Camp is more enthusiastic than is even the norm.
Part of the zeal might also be the result of an enormous camp roster.
The Attendees
At press time, over 50 wrestlers are listed for camp.
Among the lot are recent Olympians and World Team members such as ’21 World bronze G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist, world #5, 5PM #1), Ildar Hafizov (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Sammy Jones (63 kg, NYAC), Jesse Porter (77 kg, NYAC), Dalton Roberts (60 kg, Army/WCAP), Alex Sancho (67 kg, Army/WCAP), Cohlton Schultz (130 kg, Sunkist), Patrick Smith (72 kg, Minnesota Storm), and Max Nowry (55 kg, Army/WCAP).
Up and down the roster are top established Seniors, many of whom holding National Team credentials. This was, is, to be expected. But one component separating ’22’s iteration of winter camp from the pack is the influx of age-group participants.
Fresh off of a bronze from the Junior Pan-Am Games is Dominic Damon (67 kg, NMU/NTS), who was also on the Junior World Team this past summer. Oregon State redshirt Kodiak Stephens (87 kg) mirrors Damon’s recent Greco exploits. Stephens was a Junior World Teamer in ’22 and earned silver at the JR Pan-Am Games. One more who hit the medal stand in Colombia earlier this month and will be in Springs for camp is Eli Pannell (97 kg, Burg TC).
Damon…Stephens…Pannell… How about Payton Jacobson (67 kg, NYAC/NTS)? Or Robert Perez III (67 kg, Sunkist)? Jacobson and Perez were two of the most talked-about age-groupers of ’21 and both made definitive impacts in different ways (aside from their memorable one-off clash in Wisconsin). Perez shook hands for the first time with Senior competition in the form of the two “Last Chance” tournaments, winning the July qualifier. Before all that, he was a Cadet World Teamer and multi-time Fargo champ. In the ’19/’20 season, Jacobson burst onto the scene by grabbing a few overseas medals and has since added some bulk to his frame as he looks to begin challenging on the top level.
Jacobson’s fellow NMU’er Jonathan Gurule is still age-group eligible and brought with him to Marquette relevant National-level experience. He is progressing as a part of Northern’s vast arsenal of lightweights. Aiden Nutter — younger brother of ’19 Junior World bronze Alston — decided to switch over full-time and has, quickly, garnered attention. Nutter’s first legit Senior event was the July qualifier, which he won. Another young camper who is eager to advance up the ladder — and who initiated a substantial degree of excitement upon pursuing FT Greco — is Justus Scott (72 kg), whose physicality has provided fun fodder for hardcores. And like Nutter, Perez, and Tyler Cunningham (82 kg, MWC), Scott prevailed in July to stamp his ticket to the ’21 Senior Trials.
It is not uncommon for younger prospects to crack their way into big-time Senior training opportunities, but ’22’s collection for January — which all told includes over ten athletes — demonstrates the US program’s impassioned commitment to long-term development. That the younger group is heartily invested in chasing down Senior success plays an important role in why they are being given this opportunity.
Camp Extras
On the schedule for camp are three items which may require further explanation.
— Days 3 and 6 feature a “Game”; this is often a warm-up or active recovery mechanism for the wrestlers and is usually handball, soccer, or basketball.
— Day 5 will see the Greco guys mix it up with their freestyle counterparts. The morning session will revolve around par terre work, while the afternoon will concentrate on-the-feet.
— During the morning session on Day 7 is “Pyramid”, which refers to wrestling live or drilling according to increasing or decreasing time intervals (e.g., six-minute period, five-minute period, four-minute period, etc.).
2022 US National Greco-Roman January Camp
January 6-12 — Colorado Springs, CO
ROSTER
*as of December 19, ’21
55 kg
Dalton Duffield (Army/WCAP, 5PM #4) — ’18 U23 World Team, ’19 National runner-up
Jonathan Gurule (NMU/NTS)
Max Nowry (Army/WCAP, 5PM #1) — 2X World Team, 3X National Champion, 3X Pan-American Championships gold
60 kg
Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP, 5PM #2) — 2X Olympian, 2X US World Team, ’20 Pan-American Olympic Qualifier silver, ’19 Military World bronze
Randon Miranda (Rise RTC, 5PM #4) — ’21 National Champion, ’21 Pan-American Championships silver, 2X Thor Masters silver, 2X U23 World Team, 2X Junior World Team
Aiden Nutter (NMU/NTS, 5PM #8) — ’21 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier gold
Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP, 5PM #1) — 2X World Team, 2X National Champion, 2X U23 World Team, 2X Junior World Team
Carter Stephenson (EAP) —
Gabriel Townsell (CARTC) — ’16 Junior World Team Trials runner-up
63 kg
Mike Fuenffinger (Army/WCAP, 5PM #3) — 2X National Champion, ’19 Final X runner-up, ’18 National runner-up
Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC, 5PM #4) — ’20 U23 National Champion, ’19 U23 World Team Trials runner-up
Gunnar Hamre (Combat WC)
Sammy Jones (NYAC, 5PM #1) — ’21 World Team, 2X National runner-up, ’14 University World bronze
Chayse LaJoie (NYAC/Spartan RTC, 5PM #9) — ’21 Junior World Team, ’20 Junior National Champion
Corbin Nirschl (MWC, 5PM #6)
David Stepanyan (NYAC/NTS, 5PM #2) — ’21 U23 World Team, ’21 World Team Trials runner-up, ’21 National runner-up
Jeremiah Van Cleve (OR)
67 kg
Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #7) — 2X National runner-up, ’20 U23 National runner-up
Dominic Damon (NMU/NTS) — ’21 Junior World Team, ’18 Cadet World Team, ’21 Junior Pan-American Games bronze
Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC, 5PM #10) — ’19 U23 World Team, ’20 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier gold
Duncan Nelson (NMU/NTS) — ’18 Bill Farrell Memorial bronze
Alston Nutter (Sunkist, 5PM #5) — ’19 Junior World bronze, ’21 National runner-up
Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS, 5PM #7 at 72 kg) — ’20 Junior National Champion, ’21 Junior Trials runner-up, ’21 Pan-American Championships silver
Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP, 5PM #2) — ’20 Olympian, ’19 National Champion, ’17 U23 World Team, ’20 Pan-American Olympic Qualifier silver
72 kg
Cael Kahle (Ringers)
Griffin Parriott (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #6)
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #1) — 3X World Team, ’19 Pan-American Games gold, 3X Pan-American Championships gold
Justus Scott (Army/WCAP, 5PM #7) — ’21 Junior World Team, ’21 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier gold
Noah Wachsmuth (EAP) — ’21 Junior Pan-American Championships gold
77 kg
Mike Donato (NYAC)
James Foy (Minnesota Storm)
Nate Grimes (NYAC, 5PM #9) — ’20 U23 National Champion
Britton Holmes (Army/WCAP, 5PM #8) — ’21 U23 World Team, ’19 U23 World Team Trials runner-up
Corey Hope (NYAC) — ’16 Dave Schultz Memorial gold, ’17 Lavrikov Memorial silver
Austin Morrow (NYAC/NTS, 5PM #7) — ’21 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier gold, ’16 University World Team
Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #3) — ’21 National Champion
RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC, 5PM #4) — ’18 World Team, ’16 Olympic Trials Champion, 2X National Champion, 2X Pan-American Championships gold
Jesse Porter (NYAC, 5PM #1) — ’21 World Team, ’20 Olympic Trials Champion, 3X U23 World Team
82 kg
Tommy Brackett (Gator, 5PM #5) — ’21 U23 World Team, ’21 National runner-up, ’17 U23 Trials runner-up
Tyler Cunningham (MWC, 5PM #7) — ’21 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier gold
Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #4) — ’21 World Team Trials runner-up, ’21 National runner-up
Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP, 5PM #2) — ’21 U23 World Team, ’21 National Champion, ’21 World Team Trials runner-up, ’19 National runner-up
87 kg
Seth Gardner (Brunson UVRTC)
Patrick Martinez (NYAC, 5PM #3) — 3X World Team, ’19 National runner-up, ’16 Pytlasinski bronze
George Sikes (NYAC/NTS, 5PM #5) — ’18 U23 World Team
Kodiak Stephens (Beaver Dam RTC) — ’21 Junior World Team, ’21 Junior Pan-American Games silver
97 kg
G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist, world #5, 5PM #1) — ’21 World bronze, ’20 Olympian, 4X World Team, ’19 Hungarian Grand Prix gold
Khymba Johnson (NYAC, 5PM #5) — ’16 National runner-up
Eli Pannell (Burg TC) — ’21 Pan-American Games bronze
Robert Plympton (OR)
Chad Porter (Sunkist, 5PM #7) — ’19 U23 World Team, ’18 Junior World Team
Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP, 5PM #4) — ’19 World Team Trials Champion, ’19 Final X runner-up, ’18 Bill Farrell Memorial gold, ’19 National runner-up
130 kg
West Cathcart (NYAC/IRTC, 5PM #5) — ’20 National runner-up
Tanner Farmer (NYAC/IRTC, 5PM #3) — ’20 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier gold
Keaton Fanning (NYAC/NTS) — ’21 Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier gold
Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP, 5PM #2) — ’19 National Champion, 2X US National Team, ’21 World Team Trials runner-up
Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist, 5PM #1) — ’21 World Team, 2X National Champion, 2X Junior World medalist, ’17 Cadet World Champion
CAMP SCHEDULE
Day 1 (Jan. 6)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
7:30am-8:00am — Morning briefing
8:30am-10:00am — On-the-feet training
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — Par Terre training
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 2 (Jan. 7)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
8:30am-10:00am — Live wrestling
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — On-the-feet situational training
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 3 (Jan. 8)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
9:00am-11:00am — Game
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
2:00pm-4:00pm — Sauna
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 4 (Jan. 9)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
7:30am-8:00am — Morning briefing
8:30am-10:00am — On-the-feet training
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — Par Terre training
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 5 (Jan. 10)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
8:00am-9:30am — Par Terre training with Men’s freestyle
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — On-the-feet training with Men’s freestyle
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 6 (Jan. 11)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
11:00am-12:00pm — Consultation with Casey Goessel
12:00pm-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — Game/sauna
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Day 7 (Jan. 12)
7:00am-10:00am — Breakfast
8:30am-10:00am — Pyramid
11:00am-1:30pm — Lunch
3:00pm-4:30pm — Par Terre training
4:30pm-7:30pm — Dinner
Listen to “5PM50: Mr. Fantastic Benji Peak” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM49: Robby Smith on coaching, fatherhood and mentors” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM48: Austin Morrow and Gary Mayabb” on Spreaker.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music