Five Point Move - U.S. Greco-Roman Wrestling

NMU Assistant Coach Parker Betts returns to the show to discuss his athletes' performances at the Senior World Team Trials, as well as to look ahead to the U23 World Championships next month, a tournament that will feature three Northern Michigan University wrestlers -- Max Black, Jonathan Gurule, and Olympian Payton Jacobson.
 
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E60 features the unique pairing of Billy Sullivan and Justus Scott. The Nevadan duo have been friends since their youth wrestling days and have continued to achieve one milestone after another as adults. Sullivan and Scott both made the U20 World Team in 2021, they joined Army WCAP together the next year, and late last month they both won the U23 World Trials, which means they will be on a second World Team together. 

Sullivan and Scott -- who are also now roommates -- discuss the previous season as they both worked to contend at the Olympic Trials in weight classes outside of their respective comfort zones. An overview of the U23 Trials is explored, as well, and is followed by banter pertaining to numerous topics surrounding the impressive development their careers have undergone since joining the Army. 

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Episode 59 of the Five Point Move Podcast brings back Northern Michigan University assistant coach Parker Betts, who discusses Payton Jacobson's rise to the 2024 Olympic Team, what the impact of that has been, as well as the performances of several other NMU top athletes including National Team member Max Black. 

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Episode 57 welcomes in two of the nation's top Greco-Roman competitors: three-time World Team member/six-time US National Champion Kamal Bey and 2021 U23 World Teamer David Stepanyan.
Fresh off of being named Five Point Move's Athlete of the Year for 2023, Bey reflects back on some of the highlights he experienced last season as well as the lessons learned from setbacks that he eventually turned into new goals to achieve. Bey, candid as always, proceeds to dig further into several personal insights pertaining to the sport and also provides his perspective on developing more athletes in the USA.

Northern Michigan standout Stepanyan made a lot of noise at the US Nationals last month, where his performance brought with a ticket to the Olympic Trials. Over those two days in Fort Worth, Stepanyan re-asserted himself as a potential force heading into selection for the Paris Games, and so he pulls listeners into what his thought process was during the tournament. There is also the matter of international development. Born to Armenian parents, Stepanyan sheds light on the differences between the American program and how wrestlers come of age overseas. To close out, he shares what his training plan will likely entail as the aforementioned Olympic Trials tournament approaches.

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Episode 56 of the podcast focuses on two athletes from the best weight class in the sport -- 87 kg. Three-time National Champion "The Alaskan Assassin" Spencer Woods and multi-time National Teamer Rich Carlson join the program to discuss their performances from the recently-wrapped Nationals with looks ahead towards the rest of the Olympic push. The two top-level competitors also share training philosophies and mindset insights that are relatable to both wrestlers as well as fans.

PHOTO OF CARLSON: Sam Janicki
PHOTO OF WOODS: Tony Rotundo
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A different format is in order for Episode 55 as three members of the 2023 USA Greco-Roman World Team are featured in a series of separate audio clips, most of which revolving around Final X: Newark. Co-host Dennis Hall returns to offer input relative to the athletes' descriptions and perspectives, as well as to provide analysis on several key topics.

Also included are words from US Greco-Roman General Manager Justin Ruiz, who delivers his take on Final X and the upcoming pre-Worlds training block for the Americans.


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Ryan Epps returned from Basic Training after joining the U.S. Army to compete for its World Class Athlete Program and then he found himself winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Epps will face Spencer Woods at 82kg at Final X.

Epps was a three-time All-American and two-time NCAA Division III champion at powerhouse Augsburg University.

The show will break down the weights at Final X in The Classic Style. Welcome back!


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Two guests are featured in Episode 53, Northern Michigan University Assistant Coach Parker Betts and Pan-Am Championships gold medalist Jamel Johnson. Betts provides perspectives on several topics surrounding the NMU program, including the status of Benji Peak and the school's three recent U20 World Team members. Betts also opens up about an important upcoming trip to Sweden, as well as the value of being able to perform backflips (seriously).

As for Marine Captain Johnson, another handful of subjects are brought to the table. Johnson shares his thoughts on the 2022 Worlds from last month, the potentiality of winding down his own career, the continued misunderstanding of Greco-Roman in the US, the need for more education on the part of officials, and much, much more. Not an episode to be missed!

Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald joins the show. Jim just released a new book, Not All Roads Lead to Gold.

“Not All Roads Lead to Gold” is a book that tells a story that answers the “Why?” Why should I do something that doesn’t always end with a Gold Medal? Is the journey worth the time, energy, and pain.