Not all athletes from the country are vested in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Aspiring USA wrestling stars are currently focused on the 2024 US Marine Corps Junior and U16 Wrestling Nationals to make Fargo the stage where they make their mark. And yet, it seems like many of these kids are being asked to go beyond their abilities and face their opponents without the necessary backup. But not everyone’s having it.

Seeing how some participants are left alone, former Olympic wrestler and PanAm Games medalist Andy Hrovat took matters into his hands during the U16 Round of 32, only to be ostracized by his peers. But the Ranger-47 Wrestling Club founder had a few things to say about it.

In a post on X from earlier today, Hrovat made his feelings clear about how disorganization has taken over USA’s junior wrestling itinerary at the Fargo freestyle tournament. “I have one athlete wrestling for Texas. They have 20 coaches and my kid didn’t have anyone in his corner in the round of 32,” wrote Hrovat in his post as he drew the attention of all wrestling connoisseurs on how the representative of his wrestling club was left to fend for his own.

“I stepped in for the first period before his coach showed up and then they complained to USAW about it. These people are pure evil,” fumed the ex-University of Michigan wrestler. Considering how the USA has carved out a name for itself at the highest levels of international wrestling tournaments, one would be hard-pressed to believe that talent is nurtured from an early age to preserve this legacy. However, as Andy highlights, it’s not always the case.

While the tussle between the USAW and Hrovat has laid bare the miscommunication and the reluctance to support the rising stars of the country, it’s not that all coaches share the same view on how to foster talent. Sometimes, coaches are known to go the extra mile just to make sure their wrestlers have the necessary mental support to earn a victory.

Not everyone shares USA Wrestling’s conundrum

In many cases, nationally famed coaches aren’t shy to get some extra hands to help out their athletes when the stakes are high. One such example that shines bright is how Penn State’s legendary head coach Cael Sanderson is never too deterred to share the exploits with his colleagues. At April’s US Olympic Team Trials, Sanderson was witnessed conferring with MMA star and former NLWC wrestler Bo Nickal as they aided Aaron Brooks in securing a spot in Team USA. Brooks took down the Magic Man David Taylor to punch his ticket to the upcoming Paris Olympics, which in turn opened up a new avenue for the latter that also caught the nation by surprise. The result at the Bryce Jordan Center prompted Taylor to end his run as a professional wrestler and take office as a mentor to budding stars at Oklahoma.

Ever since Taylor was named the eighth head coach of OSU, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist has been stirring up the pot with speculations about how he might restore the Cowboys’ glory with his wisdom. Even in his new role as a coach, David looks to display the same kind of perseverance and grit that have made him an iconic name in the global wrestling community. Taylor is a firm believer in wrestlers and coaches working together to generate the desired results.

With so many examples at hand, will the USAW choose to follow the path laid out by the sport’s true veterans? Or will it succumb to protocols and bureaucratic red tape to remain ignorant of the athletes’ needs? Only time will tell.