The Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational has extra importance this year. One spot at the Olympic Team Trials is up for grabs. The highest medaling American that has not already qualified will earn a berth in the trials. If no American is in the top 3 at a weight class a berth will not be earned. This qualifying spot is awarded in each weight class in all three styles.

The heightened importance of the event is reflected in the entries. The Bill Farrell has attracted deep fields of the top US wrestlers. Even with the NCAA season underway, top NCAA athletes that aren’t taking a redshirt this year will be making an appearance in NYC.

There will be some international competitors, but most of them outside of the Canadians are not registered at press time. Catch all the action Live on FloWrestling.

57kg:
Ali Naser
Alan Waters
Andrew Hochstrasser
Bradley Pataky
Brandon Precin
Cruse Aarhus
Dan Mitcheff
Daniel Dennis
David White
Dylan Bray
Frank Perrelli
Jake Hergenhein
Jered Cortez
Josh Kramer
Josh Bodnarchuk
Kyle Hutter
Mark McKnight
Michael Arciaga
Nathan Tomasello
Nick Simmons
Obenson Blanc
Sam Hazewinkel
Stevan Micic
Steven Takahashi
Tyler Graff

Olympic years are special. They put the competitive fire back into wrestlers that you have seen the passion sapped from over the years. The field of guys looking to take the qualifier spot at 57kg is impressive, and it will answer a lot of questions about how much of an impact the old guard will have in the trials process.

Blanc, Simmons, and Hazewinkel have all made past world or Olympic teams. Can they reestablish themselves, or will the crew of young talent push them off into the sunset?

Weight changes will be interesting to track this year as we trim down to six weight classes from eight. Daniel Dennis made the championship series against Reece Humphrey at 61kg in 2015. Will he be able to adjust back to 57kg and perform at the same level?

Pick: Daniel Dennis over Sam Hazewinkel

65kg:
Aaron Pico
Dave Habat
Frank Molinaro
Isiah DeGuzman
Jason Chamberlain
Jordan Oliver
Josh Maruca
Kellen Russell
Kendrick Maple
Kevin Iwasa-Madge
Logan Stieber
Mario Mason
Michael Mitchell
Michael Asselstine
Michael Dunkum
Nazar Kulchytskyy
Nicholas Villarreal
Chase Pami
Tony Tolbert
Vinny Leone

65kg is loaded internationally and domestically. This is a compelling weight at every tournament. The Bill Farrell is especially compelling because Aaron Pico will make his home soil debut at a senior level tournament.

Pico has been one of the most successful US athletes at the junior level, as he has earned a silver and bronze medal at worlds. He has competed in exhibition dual events against senior level competitors, earning a win over Alibeggadzhi Emeev and dropping a close match to Brent Metcalf. Pico competing in a field with Stieber, Molinaro, Russell, Maple, Chamberlain, and Oliver will finally gives us an indication of where Pico is in the pecking order.

The depth of top tier competitors is unbelievable. Qualifying for a spot in the Olympic Team Trials will certainly be a great accomplishment at 65kg. Brent Metcalf and James Green are the two already qualified, the rest will have to fight for the coveted spots. The highest finishing American will earn that spot here at the Bill Farrell Memorial.

Pick: Jordan Oliver over Kellen Russell



74kg:
Adam Hall
Anthony Valencia
Bekzod Abdurakhmonov
Ashin Banks
Camden Carter-Grimes
Dan Vallimont
Ganbayar Sanjaa
Jason Welch
Josh Shields
Cyler Sanderson
Mason Manville
Michael Blanton
Michael Moreno
Nate Miller
Nathaniel Carr
Nestor Taffur
Nick Marable
Quinton Godley
Ryan Lue
Steve Santos
Tyler Ray
Vladyslav Dombrovskiy

World medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov headlines the field at 74kg. He has been a mainstay on the international circuit for a few years, but that has been down at 70kg. Nick Marable is also making the jump back up to 74kg. He did hand Jordan Burroughs one of his two losses on the senior level. He looks to qualify for the Olympic Team Trials.

Anthony Valencia burst on to the senior scene last year with a third place finish at the US Open. He had a respectable showing at Madison, and looks to build momentum into his redshirt year. I expect Quinton Godley and Jason Welch to be in the mix for the qualifying spot as well.

A wildcard in the field is Ganbayar Sanjaa. Sanjaa is currently a volunteer assistant at the University of Maryland. He was a two-time All-American at American University. Prior to coming to the United States he did compete for the national team in Mongolia. He should be a factor in his natural style.

Pick: Nick Marable over Bekzod Abdurakhmonov

86kg:
Andrew Sorenson
Austin Trotman
Austin Morehead
Canaan Bethea
Chris Perry
Clayton Foster
Deron Winn
Edward Ruth
Grayson St. Laurent
Jon Reader
Joshua Asper
Patrick Downey
Richard Perry
Robert Hamlin
Timmy McCall
Tyler Caldwell
Tyrell Todd
Victor Terrell
Zahid Valencia

In 2014 it appeared Ed Ruth was going to take over 86kg and be a medal contender over the next few years. A tough loss to Mohammadian (IRI) at the World Championships steered him of course in 2014 and Jake Herbert’s reappearance derailed the plans in 2015. Can Ed Ruth get back on course? Step one will be locking down a qualifying spot here at the Bill Farrell Memorial.

This field isn’t going to be an easy one to get back on track against. Jon Reader was almost the guy to knock off Ruth at the World Team Trials in 2015. I would enjoy watching another Jon Reader, Ed Ruth showdown.

Clayton Foster is another rival in the field that has given Ruth trouble. It was Foster that defeated Ruth in a wild match at the 2014 US Open. Ruth did come back to make the World Team though. Expect these two to light up the scoreboard if they match up.

Chris Perry, Richard Perry, Austin Trotman, Tyrell, Todd, Zahid Valencia…. There is no shortage of storylines. Get your popcorn ready when 86kg hits the mats.

Pick: Ed Ruth over Clayton Foster



97kg:
Alex Thoms
Cayle Byers
David Zabriskie
Donald McNeil
Dustin Kilgore
Enock Francois
JD Bergman
Jeffery Felix
Josh Childs
Josh Manu
Kyven Gadson
Lance Benick
Micah Burak
Wynn Michalak
“I just want some ice cream, man,” would have been a memorable quote from Kyven Gadson no matter who he had just pinned at the NCAA championships. The fact that he pinned Kyle Snyder just prior to spouting out the famous line engrains it in wrestling fans minds forever. Gadson is looking to have the same type of success Snyder enjoyed this summer and fall.

The field at Bill Farrell will be a great measuring stick for Gadson. Former World Team member JD Bergman is the most credentialed guy in the field. Several times Bergman has been upended by Wynn Michalak. Bergman wasn’t going to let that happen when they last met at the 2015 World Team Trials. Expect these two to be the guys to beat, in order to lock down the Olympic Team Trials qualifying spot.

Pick: JD Bergman over Kyven Gadson

125kg:
Benjamin Durbin
Dom Bradley
Eric Thompson
Justin Grant
Korey Jarvis
Matthew Meuleners
Michael Kosoy
Nick Gwiazdowski
Tyrell Fortune

Dom Bradley made the national team last year by defeating Nick Gwiazdowski for true third. Gwiazdowski set that match up by defeating Tyrell Fortune. The three are the top contenders to win the Bill Farrell and take the qualifying spot.

Pick: Nick Gwiazdowski over Dom Bradley

The storylines are abound in NYC this Saturday. College stars taking time away from their NCAA season, former World and Olympic Team members fighting for qualifying spots, the Canadian women bringing a strong contingent, guys getting back into Greco Roman, and much more. Catch all the bouts live on FloWrestling.