Since I follow international wrestling, some people have asked me about my thoughts on the Olympic competition. Men’s freestyle, which starts tomorrow, is the area where I pay the most attention so I thought I’d put together a little primer on our US team. The ceiling is the highest I think a guy can place. The expected is self-explanatory. Some of this is hard because there is a blind draw and the only wrestlers eligible for the bronze medals (two in each weight) are guys who lose to the finalists so luck plays a big part of this. The 121 and 163 pound draws have already been released.

121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel: Haze will wrestle tomorrow and has a tough bout with a 2011 world bronze medalist from Kazakhstan last year right off the bat. I expected Nick Simmons, fifth in world last year, to take this weight, but Haze beat him at Trials. He won a couple of matches at the World Cup, but that wasn’t against the top guys. He was a Greco specialist until a few years ago. Ceiling: Fifth Place. Expected: No medal.

132 lbs. – Coleman Scott: This weight is one we should always do well in, but have only medaled in once since they went to the existing seven-weight system in 2002. Scott has been a standout since his high school days in western PA, but faces a difficult weight including Russia’s Besik Kudukhov, a multiple world champ, and Puerto Rico’s Franklin Gomez, who finished second to Kudukhov at worlds last year, but beat him in a match this year this year. Ironically, Scott’s only NCAA title came in a weight where Gomez was seeded first, but he was upset before the finals. I have irrational confidence in Scott, depending on the draw. Ceiling: Silver medal. Expected: Fifth Place.

145.5 lbs. – Jared Frayer: On paper, you should not expect much from Frayer. Another weight where we should reallye xcel, but no one really steps forward is left to this 33-year-old who has been on the fringes of the World team, but never broken through. The difference between him and a guy like Hazewinkel is tht Frayer has shown the ability to score points in bunches, especially off throws. I’m prepared for him to struggle, but know he can break through in a heartbeat. Ceiling: Bronze medal. Expected: No medal.

163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs: It’s hard to believe that before last year’s World Championships, Burroughs did not have a freestyle background. Then he ran through that tournament, including a tough three-period win over defending champ Dennis Tsargush from Russia. Burroughs has an interesting draw with many of his top competitors in the same half of his bracket, but they will have to battle each other to see who reaches the semi. With his big smile and explosive double leg, Burroughs is poised to be a star this weekend. Ceiling: Gold medal. Expected: Gold medal.

185 lbs. – Jake Herbert: Full of personality, Herbert has seen all ends of the spectrum. Three years ago, he was second in the world. Two years ago, he had a brutal draw, losing to the eventual bronze medalist in the first round who lost to the eventual silver medalist the next round. Last year, former Olympic champ Cael Sanderson came out of retirement and beat Jake in World trials (then finished fifth in the world). He can beat anyone, but will the planets align to let him? Ceiling: Gold medal. Expected: Bronze medal.

211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner: This is where I really have high hopes. Varner was third at worlds last year and seems to be primed for a run. He trains with Sanderson, who has coached the last two NCAA Championship teams, and I just feel like he’ll be the solid, no-nonsense guy who will really frustrate the veterans here. At worlds, he got a pin in the wrestlebacks and beat a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in three periods after losing the first one. Plus, he will wrestle on the last day so if we do well prior, he seems like the kind to feed off that. Ceiling: Gold medal. Expected: Silver or bronze medal.

264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev: Like the guys in the previous two weights, Tervel has been there. He was third three years ago and made the semis last year before ending up fifth. At that event, he beat two-time Olympic and two-time World gold medalist Artur Taymazov from Uzbekistan so he can hang with the big boys. Once again, it comes down to the draw, but we have traditionally done well in this weight. Ceiling: Gold medal. Expected: Bronze medal.

I am pretty optimistic in this assessment, I know. The draws will be huge, but I think our guys have trained well for this event. We tend to compete better when the competition is closer to home so hopefully London will be friendly.