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By Patrick Lujan
The threat of the International Olympic Committee to cancel the sport of wrestling in 2020 has caused the Guam wrestling community to be in the state of concern.

Maria Dunn has participated in two Olympic Games. The IOC is considering dropping the sport in 2020. (file photo)
“It’s one of the founding sports of the Olympics. That’s why a lot of people are shocked,” said two-time Guam Olympic wrestler Maria Dunn.
According to national reports, the IOC is contemplating removing the sport in 2020, a two-cycle process that must be made for proper notification.
“Basically, they’re saying that 2016 will be the last of wrestling,” added the 26-year-old Dunn. “It’s not final, but they’re deciding now that 2020 could be it. It’s a preliminary decision.”
Dunn, who trained for nearly a year in England prior to the 2012 Games, said it’s been a rumor for quite some time now that the lack of spectators has been the primary reason for such a drastic decision.
“Everyone was banking on it (being safe) being one of the three oldest sports in the Olympic Games and the fact that it was one of the traditional sports. I think it’s sad because I believe the Olympics is the spirit of sport, not the spirit of money or politics.”
The threat had led to a worldwide protest from wrestlers from around the globe. It has even brought to the countries of the United States and Iran to actually agree on something (U.S./Iran agree).
As for our local wrestlers it will surely hurt the aspirations of the select few who have legitimate shots at their Olympic dreams.
“My initial reaction was that it was crippling to wrestling worldwide,” said Terry Debold, who has been coaching wrestling on Guam since 1982. “But after reading about it, it shouldn’t deviate our local interest and our local wrestlers from being world champions.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle, but it’s certainly not the only level to achieve their goal. There’s still a lot of arenas for these guys to demonstrate their abilities. We should continue to develop the program.”
Just this year, young talents such as Jonah Whitt and Micah Lopez has shined bright in international and regional competition along with their dominance in local meets.
Like Debold, Dunn feels the sport will carry on either within just the wrestling world or as a building block to other sports.
“It’s more for hobby or part of the mixed martial arts game,” she said. “We’ll still have a lot of people wrestling because it has a good MMA base and it’s good for a lot of other sports.”
The Olympian hopes to coach high school wrestling next school year.
Read about Dunn’s thoughts post 2012 Games (‘I should’ve gone nuts’ Aug. 11, 2012)
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs