Post 2023 Senior Nationals

Jacob Warner of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club leaves the mat after his final match of the tournament.

That’s a wrap on the 2023 Senior Nationals. It’s an interesting tournament at an interesting point in the four-year Olympic cycle (well, three this time, in some ways).

Maya Letona of Columbia University/New York RTC warms up (left). Wrestler Austin DeSanto (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) and his coach, Tom Brands. have developed a special relationship during the five years DeSanto has been in Iowa City.

It’s the opportunity with the most spots to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Top 5 make it at each weight. So it’s really important in the quest to make an Olympic team. People are anxious and there’s pressure to perform and win, as with any competition.

However, if you lose a match, it’s not the end of the road. You can still qualify at the Last Chance event in April. And if you don’t win the whole thing, you can still advance to the ultimate goal of the quad. So there’s less pressure and anxiety if you’re in the top 5, and even if you aren’t, you aren’t done yet. There’s still hope.

So it’s very important, yet also not critically so. That creates an atmosphere where people are excited for opportunities to advance, but also to get data, learn, and be better prepared for future tests as we reach the culmination of the journey. There’s an abundance of happiness, excitement, and positivity. Dreams aren’t crushed.

That happens later.

So with the end of the year and the holidays hanging in the air, people are ready for a break, to regroup for the final four-month push to State College April 19-20, 2024.

It’s a special weekend and the feel is unique.

Also: wrestling is the best.