Bryon Thomas

[Willie Reagan]

What does it take for Bryon Thomas to get the respect that he deserves. He just won another National title, and most people don't even mention his name when they talk about the great 154 lb. pullers. Bryon is a very good friend of mine, he doesn't get on the board. He trains his ass off, and he wins almost every tourney that he pulls. He isn't even on the ranking list. Personally I think that he is the best 154 in NA. If any 154 pullers want to argue that fact, then they may want to consider setting up some supermatches with him. He deserves to get Paid for his talent.
JMO!!

[guy]

Personally I think that he is the best 154 out there

I think you could be right Willie

[enginterzi]

that is for sure that he is one of the best in NA.i say one of the best because i think Simon got much stronger since the last time they have pulled and he beat Devin and Soliwada as far as i have heard.that would be great to see them pulling in hook which they both like.

did Bryon won AAA nationals easily or did he have any problems?

i would list my rankings as(no order) ; Soliwada-Bryon-Simon

[jamesretarides]

And where does a Vern Martel or a Gabe Accardi fit into that mix.

[enginterzi]

i think it would be good to see Gabe pulling at the out of NE,and Vern pulled in masters in Vegas(sounds like he will continue in masters)?in my opinion these three are the best three in NA right now.just my opinion.

i give the most credits to Simon and Vern for pulling all over very often.Simon has been pulling against anyone up to middle weight with being a serious opponent for anyone,and Vern is still rocking 154s even he is over 40(i hope he will continue pulling in senior classes).

Gabe is one of the light weight legends,i hope to see him pulling more often and in the events like nationals&vegas where most of the best meet eachother.

[simon]

Bryon is a great puller but he is a victim of his own lack of activity, JMO. The PinArm rankings have him ahead of me right behind Soliwoda, who I just beat 3 weeks ago, at the same event Rick beat Devin twice (one was a questionable slip call) and Devin has beaten me 4 out of the last 6 times we have pulled, (all this past weekend).

To me here in lies the problem with rankings in this sport guys have to pull other top guys right now in this season we can’t base their stature on what they did in the past. Devin was killing me back when Bryon last beat me, now I can hold my own with him, people change, things change, that is why they have a new season in virtually every sport, the old one is gone and the new one starts all over again.

Bryon pulled two pretty tough opponents at the AAA’s both came up from 138 and neither has beaten any of the top guys at 154 in the US. Do I think he is a top 154… absolutely no question he is, do I think they are top 154's yes I do.

Look at Devin and I we go back and forth, this is why supermatches don’t determine who the best is; this is why one single event or match does not determine who is the best, in my opinion only consistent banging of top pullers against each other again and again taking measure of where they place tough event after tough event, is the only way to truly shake out who is the best, but guys have to come out and pull in order to make that happen.

This is the PinArm rankings

1. Rick Soliwoda
2. Bryon Thomas
3. Gabe Accardi
4. Simon Berriochoa
5. Devin Bair
6. Ray Hennerichs
7. Mike Surplus
8. Corey Ruiz
9. Ray Jenkins
10. Norm Devio


Based upon my experience if I was going to put the top 10 154’s in the US in a group I would say..

in no order.
Devin
Rick
Simon
Gabe
Surplus
Thomas
Ray H
Shaloub
Ruiz
Rivas

Now you take this group throw them in a special showdown bracket, $1,000 per man winner take all, pull to all places then you might have a decent ranking.


Thank you Engin very very kind.

Vern healthy can hand us all our hats, for the purpose of this he is not a US puller so excluded him.


Since this came up I will tell anyone that is interested that I doubt I will be pulling 154 in Denver, I am just so busy that I am not going to worry about it, whatever I weigh I pull. Since I walk around 165ish now a days, I doubt I will be pulling 154, sorry to disapoint anyone that was coming for me.

[enginterzi]

Simon,i have no doubt that you will be somewhere in top three in any class that you will pull at the nationals up to 165s (as long as an injury or a very bad draw or a killing match does not happen).

i wish you the best.

[Steve Kirlew]

wreagan said:

If any 154 pullers want to argue that fact, then they may want to consider setting up some super matches with him

I'm not disputing that at all! I've never seen him pull but to win the US nationals he has to be very good! I'd love to wrestle him! ;D I'm not saying i'd win but i'd love to try him. Where is he from? I'll be in Vegas training with Brent Noris and others this Sat and then i'll be in Utah for a month. I could fly out where he is probably. Just let me know.

[enginterzi]

i would suggest Bryon to compete and win at nationals to compete the worlds in England.if any of the 154s in the world even slows down Haidzimurat Zoloev in England then this 154 can be considered as one of the best in the world,for sure the best of his continent.

imo Roman Tsindilliani is the only one that may slow down Haidzimurat Zoloev under 154,but i really would like to see someone else to slow down Zoloev under 154.

[Steve Kirlew]

enginterzi said:

i would suggest Bryon to compete and win at nationals to compete the worlds in England.if any of the 154s in the world even slows down Haidzimurat Zoloev in England then this 154 can be considered as one of the best in the world,for sure the best of his continent.

imo Roman Tsindilliani is the only one that may slow down Haidzimurat Zoloev under 154,but i really would like to see someone else to slow down Zoloev under 154.

If you come, will you be doing the 154's Engin? Also, what weight will Roman do this year?

[enginterzi]

i will come and compete in England if GOD pleases (and if customs do not stop me ).i am for sure planning to pull 165s to win another gold medal at my 5. different weight class in the worlds.

Roman is part of Russian team at 143s for Europeans but sometimes Russians pull different classes than the classes that they pull at their nationals (only in the worlds when there is not 2 Russian competitors in that class ) as Artem did last year by pulling 90 kg in Russia and Europeans but pulled 100 kg in the worlds.

i am almost a solid 165 right now and getting prepared for two powerful Russians (two of Liliev-Pisarkov and Bulenkov machines),Cobra,Jabnesak,Craig Sanders and probably a bone breaker Georgian

[enginterzi]

enginterzi said:

imo Roman Tsindilliani is the only one that may slow down Haidzimurat Zoloev under 154,but i really would like to see someone else to slow down Zoloev under 154.

i would not write those things if i was planning to pull 154s in England i twice beat Zoloev last year at Europeans and i can beat again if i want to.

[Tim Elliott]

I also know Bryon well and he is an amazing puller. He is from Pennsylvania Steve and is one of the shyest most humble people that i know of. Willie also knows Bryon and can vouch for this. He doesn't travel because he does not like large crowds. He told me this last weekend that he hopes that he can compete with the great pullers that were there. I just chuckled at him and said everyone here in the 54's hopes they can compete with you. But that is just his personality. He has the ability and the drive to be THE BEST but not the mentality. I hope i don't sound like i am bashing him believe me he is a very good friend of mine and that is not my intentions whatsoever. He told me before the AAA started that he was physically ready but mentally he was shaky.

I hope i didn't ramble too much but i am trying to explain why he does not travel and does not get the respect that he deserves. Too be honest I think that he might rather have it that way.

[Casey Szparaga]

Although he ended up third right (1st left), I think Jason Rivas got a win over Thomas at nationals.

[Tim Elliott]

Yes he did but it was because they called Bryon for fouls in a breakarm twice. They were very questionable calls but i don't blame them for calling them because of what had already happened that weekend. Bryon never had his arm pinned all weekend. He did say after the match that Jason had him outside and that he gives him all the credit it the world. But those that know much about Bryon know that he has a different style and it is kinda weird looking and it looks kinda like a break arm even on the set up but to pin his arm after the match stops is a different story.