5PM68: Two-time World Teamer Benji Peak

Two-time World Team member "Mr. Fantastic" Benji Peak discusses recovering from a broken neck and returning to action just in time for the first two UWW Ranking Series tournaments of the year. Peak goes into detail about his injury, whether or not he was fully convinced that he would wrestle again, and how he has felt since resuming training. In addition, Peak is one of several accomplished USA Greco-Roman athletes who has recently joined Sam Hazewinkel's new team called Position Wrestling based out of Oklahoma. Peak touches on that, as well, along with a string of other topics which are layered in his entertaining perspectives. SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

2023 World Team member Zac Braunagel joins the show for a rare two-segment episode. In the first segment, Braunagel discusses the circumstances surrounding his decision to leave Illinois for the Navy WC. He also recounts his title from the Bill Farrell Memorial and then looks ahead to what was then an upcoming trip to Sweden.  In the second segment, Braunagel follows-up on what his experience at the Haparanda Cup was like, as well his time training with Team Norway, and concludes with a snapshot of what his plans might entail come the winter and leading up to World Team selection in April.  SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

Joe Uccellini is the founder of one of America's best clubs, Curby 3-Style in Troy, New York. Recently, Uccellini was also named as an assistant coach for the West Point Wrestling Club/RTC.He also has a unique background. As a competitor, Uccellini was coached by two Hall of Fame leaders, the late Joe DeMeo at ATWA, and Ivan Ivanov at Northern Michigan University. SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

Parker Betts is the assistant coach for what is arguably the United States' most important Greco-Roman program, Northern Michigan University's National Training Site.In his latest appearance on the podcast, Betts discusses the training block for NMU's two Senior World Team members, Max Black and Payton Jacobson, and provides valuable insights on a range of other topics, including how NMU has received a lot more recent attention given the school's recent successes. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

One of the most interesting and authentic voices within the sport of wrestling is featured on Episode 64 as two-time Olympian and five-time US World Team member Ildar Hafizov joins the program. Topics include his decision to move up in weight at this stage of his career, how and why he began running practices for the Army team, what it has been like to move into coaching while still competing, and the motivation behind him venturing out to do clinics for age-group wrestlers as well as their coaches. It is a very extensive discussion, and one that offers plenty of valuable (and entertaining) insights. SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

2024 Olympian and recently-named Athlete of the Year Payton Jacobson joins the show for Episode 63 and discusses every big moment from his breakout season. In addition to providing behind-the-match details and what he enjoyed most about his journey to Paris, Jacobson also shares some of the struggles he endured as a young athlete in the spotlight, and what it was like carrying high expectations into the biggest tournament of his life thus far.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

Patrick Curran of Northern Michigan University's National Training Site is one of the US Greco-Roman program's brightest young prospects. In just over a year-and-a-half since joining NMU, Curran has had the opportunity to train and compete overseas in order to expand his skill-set, which has already translated to several impressive performances on the domestic circuit. Curran is also equally entertaining on and off the mat, and his story is one to which most wrestlers around the country can relate.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

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. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

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. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS

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. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSSSUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | RSS