The starting position ahead of the Federal Jubilee Wrestling Festival in Appenzell appears to be open. Fabian Staudenmann and Samuel Giger are the favorites. But Joel Wicki & Co. also have ambitions.
The top favorite
The big favorite for the Feststeig is Fabian Staudenmann. The 24-year-old Bernese from Guggisberg has been in impressive form recently, winning three wreath festivals in August, including the mountain classic on the Schwägalp. His last-second victory in the final round of the Bernese Cantonal Championships in Burgdorf was particularly impressive, when he was able to put Samuel Giger from north-eastern Switzerland to the sawdust after six previous unsuccessful attempts. No other wrestler currently combines explosiveness, strength, technique and power to such perfection as Staudenmann. Added to this are his defensive skills, which recently caused Giger to despair. Defeating Staudenmann is almost an impossibility. The 2021 Kilchberg winner has yet to suffer a single defeat this season.
The elemental force
The second big favorite in Appenzell is Samuel Giger. Although the man from Thurgau has not been irresistible this season, he was beaten by Staudenmann and Adrian Walther at Schwarzsee and has only won two wreath festivals this year. A meagre haul for the 26-year-old - but one that is closely linked to physical ailments. A persistent shoulder injury put the model athlete out of action for a long time. However, once Giger is in full possession of his strength, he will be aiming for the third Swiss title of his career. In 2021, he won the Kilchberg Schwinget together with Staudenmann and Damian Ott, and last year he was celebrated as the superior winner at the Unspunnen Festival. He put Staudenmann in the sawdust in the first round and defeated Walther in the final round. Two wrestlers with whom Giger still has a score to settle this season.
The wrestling king
Of course, the wrestling king of Pratteln is also one of the favourites. However, Joel Wicki has not been as explosive this season as we have come to expect from the 27-year-old from Sörenberg. Once again, his comparatively small but all the more muscular body is tweaking. After his three victories at cantonal festivals, Wicki took a longer break from competition to heal "minor ailments". However, his return to the sawdust did not go as planned. Unusual slip-ups against supposedly easy opponents prevented further victories. To make matters worse, Pirmin Reichmuth had to withdraw due to injury. This means that Wicki is the only serious contender for victory in the ranks of the Central Swiss team and is, of course, almost on his own. Certainly not an advantage.
The mini-Abderhalden
The second force from north-eastern Switzerland is Werner Schlegel. The 21-year-old from Toggenburg has developed into an absolute top wrestler this season and has stepped out of the mighty shadow of Samuel Giger, at least temporarily. Schlegel has three wreath victories to his name this season, including the prestigious triumphs at Schwarzsee and the Nordostschweizer. He recently suffered a minor setback in the form of defeats 2 and 3 in the current season on the Schwägalp. Schlegel, who is often compared to three-time wrestling king Jörg Abderhalden due to his background, his physical constitution and his wrestling style, must have been upset by the defeats. On the other hand, they have taken pressure off his shoulders. And everyone knows that a bitten Schlegel is dangerous.
The Bernese giant
200 centimeters: Hardly any other wrestler reaches as far into the sky as Adrian Walther. Coupled with a fighting weight of 100 kilograms, the model athlete from Habstetten outweighs his opponents time and time again. A year ago, Samuel Giger was too strong in the final round of the Unspunnen-Schwinget. At Schwarzsee, however, the Bernese was able to defeat the Thurgau native for the first time after three previous unsuccessful attempts. What the 23-year-old lacks this season, however, is the killer instinct in the decisive situations. Walther has been in a final round four times this year, none of which he was able to win. If he wants to spring a surprise at the season's highlight, he will have to overcome this shortcoming.
SDA
