Who's Qualified For The 2018 World Team Trials?
Who's Qualified For The 2018 World Team Trials?
Who is qualified for the 2018 World Team Trials challenge tournament in men's freestyle so far?
This weekend marks the return of freestyle season at the Bill Farrell Memorial International in New York City. Held annually at the New York Athletic Club, it is a qualifier for the World Team Trials challenge tournament this coming May.
The winners of all 10 weights (or more accurately, highest-placing American who has not yet qualified) will get a spot in Rochester, Minnesota, for the Trials challenge tournament. So let's see who already has locked up a qualification for WTT.
57kg
Thomas Gilman (Titan Mercury/Hawkeye WC): World Silver Medalist
Tim Lambert (Sunkist Kids/NWC): Dave Schultz Runner-up
Spencer Lee (Titan Mercury/Hawkeye WC): NCAA Champ
Zane Richard (Illini RTC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Bronze
Gilman has a bye to Final X in Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 9, meaning he has several months to prepare for any of his potential opponents. Next weekend will mark the first time he has wrestled since the World Clubs Cup.
61kg
Joe Colon (Titan Mercury/Valley RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Seth Gross (Jackrabbit WC/Sunkist Kids): NCAA Champ
Jon Morrison (Cliff Keen WC/NYAC): Bill Farrell Champ
With Logan Stieber heading up to 65kg, this weight is wide open. These two met in the backside of the Trials last June.
65kg
Logan Stieber (Titan Mercury/Ohio RTC): World Team Member
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC): World Team Team Member
BJ Futrell (Titan Mercury/Penn RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Yianni Diakomihalis (FLWC/New York RTC): NCAA Champ
Evan Henderson (Badger RTC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Champ
We could see the first match between Retherford and Stieber since the 2016 Olympic Trials, which was won by Stieber 8-6. If Retherford wins the U.S. Open or World Team Trials challenge tournament, he'll get to wrestle in the Final X in State College on June 16, in his collegiate home gym at Rec Hall.
70kg
James Green (Titan Mercury/NWTC): World Silver Medalist
Kellen Russell (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC): Dave Schultz Winner
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC): NCAA Champ
Kyle Ruschell (Badger RTC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Silver
Green gets the bye to Final X in Lincoln after his second career world medal.
74kg
Jordan Burroughs (Titan Mercury/NWTC): World Gold Medalist
Nazar Kulchytskyy (Titan Mercury/Badger RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion WC): NCAA Champ
Tommy Gannt (Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Champ
For the eighth year in a row, Jordan Burroughs sits in the finals. He will join Gilman, Green and Kyle Snyder in the Final X in Lincoln on June 9.
79kg
Jon Reader (Sunkist Kids): Dave Schultz Winner
Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids): NCAA Champ
Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Champ
Reader looked phenomenal at the Dave Schultz. Valencia is coming off a junior world silver and looks perfect for this weight.
86kg
Richard Perry (NYAC/Penn RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC): NCAA Champ
Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm): Bill Farrell Champ
Perry was just outside of the national team last year, with Nick Heflin and J'den Cox moving up to 92kg this year. Nickal did not compete in WTT last year but did wrestle Perry in the semis of the U.S. Open.
92kg
J’den Cox (Titan Mercury/Missouri WF): World Bronze Medalist
Nick Heflin (Oklahoma RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Michael Macchiavello (Wolfpack RTC): NCAA Champ
Kenny Courts (Terrapin WC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Champ
Despite his world medal, J'den Cox does not get a bye to Final X because he is moving up in weight.
97kg
Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury/Ohio RTC): World Gold Medalist
Blaize Cabell (Valley RTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Ty Walz (Southeast RTC/Titan Mercury): Bill Farrell Champ
Kyle Snyder once again sits in the finals after winning his third straight world title. The man he beat for his first title was Abdusalam Gadisov of Russia, the same guy Blaize Cabell beat in the Schultz semis.
125kg
Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury/Wolfpack RTC): World Bronze Medalist
Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids/NWTC): Dave Schultz Winner
Gwiz has a bye to the Final X at Lehigh on June 23 thanks to the bronze medal he won in his first world championships. He beat Bradley in the WTT finals last year.