Bill Zadick was USA Wrestling’s men’s freestyle coach-in-waiting the last time the United States assembled an Olympic Team. 

This time around, he was a fan, an objective observer and an analyst who was watching matside earlier this month in Fort Worth, wondering how the team he’d lead into Tokyo would look. 

“I think we have a very exciting and capable group,” the USA men’s freestyle National Team coach said. “There’s always a bunch of drama and surprises at an Olympic Trials and this year there was certainly those elements to it. There were challenging and deep weights all the way through, so I think the guys who came through can be very confident about their medal chances and hopes for Tokyo. I know our staff is certainly excited about what our team looks like.” 

The following are some of Zadick’s thoughts on the six men’s freestyle Olympic Trials champions. 

57 kilograms — Thomas Gilman 

“Thomas Gilman has been a powerful force at 57 kilos and it was a super-deep weight class. It was a difficult weight for our coaches to even seed the weight because it was so competitive. There was a lot of this guy beat that guy who beat this guy. I think Gilman has really shown some growth. Of course, he wrestles a really in-your-face and tenacious style and I think he showed some new wrinkles to what he’s bringing to the mat and some growth in what he’s what he’s bringing to what was already pretty good.”

65 kilograms — Jordan Oliver 

“Oliver broke through. I think for a long time people have thought he had the physical ability and the skills and that’s a big piece of it. He certainly put it together on that weekend. You look at the resumes of who was at the 65-kilo weight class and it’s a who’s who of wrestling in the last decade. Jordan wrestled a great tournament and he beat some really high-level guys and he did it in strong and smart fashion. It’s obviously an important weight. It’s the one we have yet to qualify and I feel confident in his ability. The things he did and showed in the Trials are the things he’s going to need to do to qualify the weight and then go on to win a medal and win the gold medal.”

74 kilograms — Kyle Dake 

“Dake is known as being a great strategist and tactician, and Jordan (Burroughs) is, too. They’ve both been amazing competitors throughout their careers and that being probably the marquee match of the Trials, you’re talking such a high level of wrestling, it was a razor-thin margin. As the National coach, we know whoever wins, we’re super-confident in that individual. 

“In those situations, the guy who ultimately makes the team, it gives him so much confidence because of what he’s had to do to get there that he’s thinking nothing but gold medals. I believe that’s the case. We’re hopeful for Kyle. He had an amazing performance, but I know he’s not satisfied. I know he’s looking to do some special things this summer.” 

86 kilograms — David Taylor  

“He’s never been afraid to trade points and I don’t think he is now, either, but now he’s added another level of ability. If you’re preventing a guy from scoring and you can still gunsling like he does, it puts another asset in his bag. He’s that much more dangerous.” 

97 kilograms — Kyle Snyder 

“I thought he did a great job. When you break down his performance, two really strong matches — one a tech fall and the other one just well in hand the whole time. If you break down where he scored points, he scored in some different positions than he normally scores in. That’s an example of growth in his style. I think he showed some things where we can grow and get better, and that’s been a hallmark of who he is. He’s not really ever holding onto anything. He’s hungry. He loves wrestling, he loves challenges, he loves giving his best effort and I thought he did a really good job there.”

125 kilograms — Gable Steveson 

“Tough weight and a lot of really good guys and I think Gable showed himself to be on a new level. I think he’s made a tremendous jump in the last year not only in his wrestling but I think in his maturity and his perspective … just a mature perspective and a real focus on improvement and being the best version of himself. You see it in his performance, but I think you see it in his body, too — his dedication to the weight room and improving. He looks so powerful and explosive and quick and he’s just light-footed for such a big man.”