Listen to “5PM51: Lining up with Tanner Farmer” on Spreaker.
After a long hiatus, the Five Point Move Podcast returns just in time for the first major tournament on American soil in eight months along with a guest who keeps making big waves in the heavyweight division.
Tanner Farmer (130 kg, NYAC/IRTC, 5PM #3) is the main attraction for Episode 51. Farmer, the former NCAA Division I lineman for the University of Nebraska, exploded onto the Greco scene in 2020 and, quickly, has become a legitimate Senior-level contender. Most are familiar with his domestic ledger thus far: 4th at the ’20 US Nationals, his first-ever Senior showing; next he won the Olympic Trials’ Last Chance Qualifier; lastly, he finished third in the ’21 World Team Trials. If the past season had observed a traditional events schedule, Farmer’s third-place would have resulted in National Team honors.
Though all of the above are noteworthy enough, the primary topic this time around with Farmer is international competition. Prior to the US program’s winter tour, the heavyweight had yet to battle foreigners, nor had he experienced a lengthy overseas training camp. Both were x’ed off the list for Farmer between late-January and mid-February. And, he managed to make valuable improvements to his skill-set while in Europe, the most significant of which was his gutwrench. Farmer does not hesitate to acknowledge that his par terre go-to was upgraded during camp; impressively, he admits that also wasn’t his main focus. Nevertheless, it paid dividends. At the Nikola Petrov Memorial, Farmer’s gutwrenching ability helped secure a pair of lopsided victories in addition to a berth in the medal round.
Upcoming concerns are likewise on the table. This coming Friday, Farmer will compete in the Bill Farrell Memorial with Pan-American selection up for grabs. The highest US placewinner in each weight category makes that Team (with the exception of 97 kilograms, for ’21 World bronze G’Angelo Hancock has that spot locked down in advance), and Farmer is considered an extremely strong candidate to do so. In maintaining the overall theme of this episode, he closes out by sharing how his recent European exploits have rendered him even more dangerous with an important event now on the horizon.
A Few Highlights
Farmer on Cohlton Schultz’s appearance in the NCAA D1 Championships
“I think it’s amazing how he has shown that with a predominantly Greco skill-set, you can advance and become elite-level. The way it looks to me, he is going to be the champion next year.”
Farmer on the impetus to improving his gutwrench while in Croatia camp
“I realized that the gut I use here in America — that usually works very well — did not work on those Europeans in camp. Did not turn them once, the gut that you’ve seen me use in all of the American tournaments. I was bamboozled, wondering, Why is this not working?”
Farmer on balancing patience with aggression and strength
“I’m trying to balance my tactics on how to approach these matches, but also how to take advantage of the physical gifts that I have. In being one of the strongest guys in the world in this sport. I’m very confident in that fact.”
Listen to “5PM50: Mr. Fantastic Benji Peak” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM49: Robby Smith on coaching, fatherhood and mentors” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM48: Austin Morrow and Gary Mayabb” on Spreaker.
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