No one is supposed to be talking about Tolly Thompson right now. Instead everyone is talking about him.
Thompson, who competes in the 264-pound division for the California Claw, has been overshadowed much of his competitive career by great U.S. freestyle heavyweights. All-time greats like Bruce Baumgartner, Tom Erickson, Stephen Neal, and Kerry McCoy have left lasting impressions on the division. The 31-year-old Thompson, a two-time Pan American gold medalist, for years has been on the cusp of breaking through.
“I’ve always been right there,” says Thompson, who makes his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. “But with all the great guys in the division, I’d always seem to get second or third place.”
At least until now.
No wrestler was more dominant than Thompson in the first two rounds of Real Pro Wrestling’s inaugural season. In the quarterfinals, after building an 8-0 lead in the first minute of the match, he pinned former Armenian Olympian Khoren Papoyan of the Minnesota Freeze. His semifinal performance was equally as impressive, as he completely outclassed and overpowered Kellan Fluckiger of the Texas Shooters en route to a 16-0 technical fall.
He will now face Pat Cummins of the Pennsylvania Hammer in the Real Pro Wrestling finals, which will air on PAX TV this Sunday.
“He’s a big guy who can move well,” says Thompson of Cummins. “You have to watch out because he can catch you with a throw and put you in serious danger.”
Two weeks ago, Thompson claimed his second U.S. Nationals freestyle title (and first since 1998) by pinning collegiate star Steve Mocco in the finals. Many believe that Mocco is the next great U.S. heavyweight, but Thompson isn’t ready to pass the torch quite yet.
“He’s an up and comer,” says Thompson. “Mocco is going to be a great one. But I’m just a little older, a little more seasoned right now. That’s all.”
It’s classic Thompson. First give credit to your opponent. Then, if time permits, talk about yourself. He is one of the classiest, down to earth wrestlers in the sport. On the mat, he’s a strong, powerful world-class heavyweight with extraordinary technique. Off the mat, he’s a humble, hardworking family man from Iowa.
Ask him who he thinks the greatest freestyle heavyweight in U.S. history is, and the 264-pound giant suddenly becomes very uncomfortable and politely refuses to answer the question, in fear of offending his peers. Prod him a little, and after a brief and uncomfortable silence, he spits out the politically correct answer, only because he doesn’t want to offend the interviewer by not answering. “I don’t know. Probably Bruce (Baumgartner) because he has all the medals,” he says.
Thompson grew up on a farm in the small town of Janesville, Iowa, where he learned the value of hard work.
“Growing up in that atmosphere, there aren’t a lot of distractions,” says Thompson. “No drugs. No alcohol. There isn’t a lot to do, besides work. I still believe to this day that growing up in that atmosphere is big reason why I am now the worker that I am. But my mother and father are both extremely hard workers.”
Thompson’s father, Leonard, wrestled for Iowa State University. So it was only natural that he took a liking to the sport.
“I was pretty much born in a singlet,” says Thompson, who began wrestling when he was five-years-old. “I’ve loved it ever since I was young. I was a like a little kid in a candy store. You know how kids love candy; I was like that with wrestling.”
In high school, Thompson finished runner-up twice at the Iowa State High School Wrestling Tournament. He was also an all-state performer in football. Both Iowa and Iowa State vied for his services. But in the end, Thompson felt that the University of Nebraska was the best fit for him.
“It was hard to leave the state of Iowa and my family,” says Thompson. “But with Mark Cody coaching there, and Rulon (Gardner) there, it made the decision process a little easier. But it was still a real tough decision. I just knew that it was the best thing for me at that point in time.”
Thompson went on to become one of the most accomplished wrestlers in University of Nebraska history. He was a three time All-American and the 1995 NCAA Champion at heavyweight. Along the way, he compiled an impressive career record of 157-21.
He has won almost every major international event at some point in his career such as the Dave Schultz Memorial, NYAC Christmas International, Sunkist Kids International, and Clansmen International. But he has yet to break through and make the U.S. World, which is what he hopes to do next month. He
Thompson is now an assistant coach for the University of Northern Iowa. He does his training in Cedar Falls with some of the Panther wrestlers, but makes the occasional trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to work on his technique.
One wrestler in particular who has worked with at the OTC is Gardner, a 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and fellow Nebraska alum.
“He’s a Greco guy, so he’s real solid with his gut wrench,” says Thompson. “So we spent quite a bit of time working on it. He’s a big guy, and you have to get a feel for wrestling both Greco and freestyle guys. You always try to pick up little things when you can.”
But as the first season of Real Pro Wrestling nears its conclusion, Thompson remains optimistic about the future of the sport.
“I really hope it takes it off,” says Thompson. “I think it’s great being a part of the first season. Future wrestlers who haven’t yet started wrestling will reap the benefits of Real Pro Wrestling.
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