Let's find out who's going to Oslo!

My evening blogging perch has been secured. 

Wrestling on TV. On the big screen. Where it belongs. pic.twitter.com/FhlydYyTM7

— Dom Kunitsy (@SpeyWrestle) September 12, 2021

It's party time in Lincoln, Nebraska. Yesterday, the Cornhusker football team beat Buffalo right next door in Memorial Stadium, today, two Husker alums are wrestling to make a freestyle world team. That would be the sixth world team for James Green. For Jordan Burroughs, this would make his tenth world or Olympic team.

But Green and Burroughs' opponents, Ryan Deakin and Alex Dieringer respectively, will have something to say about that. Wrestling starts at 3:00PM ET (although with time zones, who can ever be sure?). Matchups below.

World Team Trials Finals schedule and mat assignments! pic.twitter.com/7lCEDc0PGx

— Dom Kunitsy (@SpeyWrestle) September 12, 2021

Men's Freestyle

61 Daton Fix (TMWC/Cowboy WC) vs Nathan Tomasello (TMWC/Oklahoma RTC) 

65 Yianni Diakomihalis (TMWC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs Joseph Mckenna (TMWC/Pennsylvania RTC) 

70 James Green (TMWC/SE RTC) vs Ryan Deakin (TMWC/Chicago RTC) 

79 Jordan Burroughs (SKWC/Pennsylvania RTC) vs Alex Dieringer (TMWC/Cliff Keen WC) 

92 J'den Cox (TMWC/NJ RTC) vs Kollin Moore (TMWC/Ohio RTC) 

125 Nick Gwiazdowski (TMWC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs Mason Parris (Cliff Keen WC)

Women's Freestyle

53 Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) 

55 Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) vs Jenna Burkert (Army WCAP) 

59 Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Megan Black (Army WCAP) 

62 Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC)

65 Forrest Molinari (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Emma Bruntil (Titan Mercury WC)

72 Kennedy Blades (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Kylie Welker (Titan Mercury WC) 

Greco-Roman

55 Max Nowry (Army WCAP) vs Brady Koontz (Titan Mercury WC)

60 Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) vs Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP)

63 Sam Jones (New York AC) vs David Stepanian (New York AC) 

67 Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) vs Peyton Omania (New York AC) 

72 Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) vs Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids WC) 

77 Jesse Porter (New York AC) vs Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury WC) 

82 Ben Provisor (New York AC) vs Spencer Woods (Army WCAP)

87 Alan Vera (New York AC) vs Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm) 

97 Tracy Hancock (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids WC) 

130 Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Jacob Mitchell (Army WCAP) 

72 Kennedy Blades (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Kylie Welker (Titan Mercury WC) 

Match 1 - Kennedy won their last matchup at the Olympic Team Trials Last Chance Qualifier, but now Welker has at least two shots at revenge. Blades goes right in, takedown, half nelson for 2 and 2. Welker responds with a takedown and a turn with a lace. Almost gets a second turn but Kennedy fights off the turn. At the stoppage though Blades needs injury time, so much torque on those knees. Blades is up and at them. Clock starts, Welker leading by criteria, 4-4. Welker fends off a Blades shot and nearly gets an exposure but time runs out in the period. Welker wrestling tough, keeping Blades at bay in neutral. One minute to go. 20 seconds, same score. Welker keeps her positioning and takes mat 1!

Match 2 - No scores after a minute. Kennedy close to a go behind but Welker fights her off and grabs the points for herself. 2-0 after 90 seconds. Welker powers Blades to the edge and gets a step out to make it 3-0, 30 seconds left int the first. Blades in deep, switches to one side, trying to pick Welker up but Welker sags her hips and fights to give up just one. Hand fighting in the center. Blades drops to the mat. This does not look good. They may have hit heads, Blades looks unconscious. But she's moving now. Her corner wisely concedes and Blades walks off the mat, which is a welcome sight. Welker makes the world team. Not the way you want to do it but you have to be impressed by the work Welker has done this season. Now on to Oslo!

125 Nick Gwiazdowski (TMWC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs Mason Parris (Cliff Keen WC) 

Match 1 - They split their matches at the RTC Cup, with Gwi winning the last one. Both high value shooters for heavies. Gwiz scores first with a crotch lock counter off Parris' shot. Gwiz scores again on a down block-go behind. 4-0 late in the first. Another scramble in the second and Gwiz comes out on top once again, he leads 6-0. Parris keeps shooting but Gwiz shuts him down. Less than a minute to go. Gwiz takes round one, 6-0!

Match 2 - Gwiz looking to close this out and make his fourth world team. he scores first to make it 2-0. Not a lot of action for the rest of the period and we go to the break Gwiz still leading. In the second period its another takedown for Gwiz to double his lead. Parris answers with a shot that drives Gwiz out of bounds to make it 4-1. Two minutes remaining. Gwiz opportunistically drops on a single and picots to the side, dropping Mason to the mat and scoring two. A gut wrench makes it 8-1. They trade takedowns and that's how it ends, 10-3. Looking like New Nick! Gwiz makes the team and lets out a victorious shout! Looking forward to seeing what New Nick can do in Norway!

65 Forrest Molinari (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Emma Bruntil (Titan Mercury WC)

Match 1 - Bruntil in on a shot early, gets a single leg in the air but Molinari stomps it back on the mat. Back to neutral. No scores after a minute. Molinari goes on the clock. Bruntil in on a shot as the clock expires. Molinari fends off the attack but gives up the shot clock. Another shot by Bruntil but Molinari scores two on the scramble. Short time shot by Bruntil is for naught and Forrest leads 3-2 at the break. Bruntil on the attack, single leg, comes around for two. Forrest not happy. She responds with a takedown to regain the lead. Forrest holds on for the victory! Thrilling stuff!

Match 2 - Low scoring first period, just a single point for Molinari. Serious scrapping going on though. In the second Forrest gets physical and scores a pair of takedowns. Another one makes it 7-0 as Molinari starts to pull away. Incredible effort from both wrestlers, Burntil attacking the whole match, Molinari just had too much power. A final takedown in the closing seconds makes it 9-0 and Forrest Molinari is back on a world team!

70 James Green (TMWC/SE RTC) vs Ryan Deakin (TMWC/Chicago RTC) 

Match 1 - No scores after a minute. Then Green breaks through with a two-point score. Deakin then disappears behind Green and evens it up. 2-2 Deaking leads on criteria. Another flurry in short time, Deakin gets a step out. 3-2 Deakin at the break. Green pressuring in on the boundary, Deakin parries and gets another step out. 4-2 lead for the Northwesterner, 2 minutes left in the match. Deakin wrestling tough, wants revenge for 2019 Final X, and a repeat of the 2019 US Open. He uses his reach advantage for a go-behind, extending his lead to 6-2. Green responds with a takedown, 30 seconds to go. Clutch takedown for Green! He's on top with 10 seconds to go. 6-6 win via criteria for Green! Awesome match!

Match 2 - Gonna be tough to top the last one. Green generally more offensive in the first minute but no scores. Typed too soon, Green low shot converts on a low double for two. No turns for the Lace Man. Back in neutral, Green on the attack but can't convert. Still 2-0 with a minute left in the first. green one period away from making his sixth world team. Although Deakin is also one move from taking the lead in this match. Now Deakin on s single and he slips behind for two and he does take the lead on critiera. He looks for a lace but runs out of time in par terre. A couple flurries but no more scores with a minute left. Down to the last 20. Green shoots in, front headlock for Deakin. He holds off Green for as long as he can but Green forces a step out with 5 seconds left! That'll give Green the lead. Or does it? We will review. Looked pretty clear but tough not to throw the brick in that situation. Call is confirmed. 5 seconds later James Green is on his sixth world team! The Cornhusker crowd loves it! 

53 Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) 

Match 1 - No scores in the first, Fearnside goes on the clock. She gets behind Heaton but not before her clock expires. Gives up one but does get a step out. Heaton cautioned for fleeing as well. Then in short time a takedown for Fearnside to go up 3-1. Second period underway. They trade takedowns and Fearnside still leads by two, 5-3. Less than a minute to go. 30 seconds, Fearnside leads by two. Fearnside holds on to hold off the red hot Ronna Heaton!

Match 2 - No scores after a minute and we pause for some blood clean up. Not long later we need to stop again as Fearnside's nose continues to leak. This is a very long break as they're having trouble plugging the leak. And the solution is to bandages wrapped around Fearnsides headthat coverage on her nose. Doesn't look comfortable but Fearnside fires off a shot when the whistle blows and converts for two on the boundary. We go to the break and Fearnside has a 2-0 lead looking like a rhinoplasty patient. But Fearnside cares not for her nose bandages and counters a Heaton shot with a side cradle that she whips over for a fall! Fearnside would not be denied!

92 J'den Cox (TMWC/NJ RTC) vs Kollin Moore (TMWC/Ohio RTC)

Match 1 - J'den's wrestled just two matches so far to make the finals, both shut outs. Moore had a tough one with Nate Jackson in the semis and needed injury time. He gutted out the win and is on the mat again looking no worse for the wear. No scores after 90 seconds, Moore goes on the clock with about 1:10 on the clock. That's how the period ends. J'den has had slow first periods before but he usually heats up in the second, and he fires off a single that he converts early in this second period. Now Moore on a single, but Cox is one of, if not the, hardest guys to score on with a single leg. Moore manages a stalemate. oore keeps the pressure on but J'den Houdini's out of danger. Reattack by J'den and he picks up another takedown. That's how it ends, another shutout win for Cox!

Match 2 - J'den trying to make his fifth world or Olympic team and his third consecutive 92kg world team. Moore attacks but J'den defnds. Lots of fakes coming from J'den as he starts taking ground. Moore goes on the clock but it's Cox that forces the step out so it's a point either way. Period ends with a 1-0 lead for J'den. On the attack in the second, J'den gets a single leg and hops Moore out of bounds for second point. Another attack, now Cox converts for two and the four point lead. Moore visibly in pain. Shoulder or collar bone clear still bothering him from yesterday. Moore grits out more attacks but J'den denies him. J'den Cox makes another world team and goes unscored upon in Team Trials!

59 Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Megan Black (Army WCAP) 

Match 1 - Nelson shoots in, goes out the backdoor and flips Black for the first two. A few more scrambles but no scores after 2 minutes. Now Black gets on the board with a step out. We go to the break, 2-1 Nelson. Black attacking on the whistle, driving Nelson out of bounds. She gets two on continuation and leads 3-2. We pause for blood time, and for Black to get a head wrap. They're back on the mat. The exchange step outs and it's 4-2 Black with 90 seconds to go. Black decides the best defense is a good offense and fires off a couple shots, running the clock down to under a minute, still 4-3 in her favor. But it's Nelson who comes up clutch! Scoring in short time and holding on for the 5-4 victory!

Match 2 - A tactical first two minutes. Black goes on the clock first. Nelson scores during the activity clock to wipe it from the scoreboard and adds two points to her name. Period ends with Maya one period from making her first senior world team. She was a Junior Gold medalist in 2017. In the second period, Nelson goes on the clock. Time expires but directly afterwards she gets an expsore and makes it 4-1. The next shot Black takes Nelson counters and slams Black to the mat. She gets the fall and is going to Oslo!

61 Daton Fix (TMWC/Cowboy WC) vs Nathan Tomasello (TMWC/Oklahoma RTC) 

Match 1 - NaTo 2.0 shoots first and gets a step out in the first 30. Fix responds with a hi-c that he converts for two, then into a gut wrench for two more. Fix digging underhooks, he drives NaTo out of bounds with Tomasello's hands all up in his grill. The refs notice and award Fix a penalty point. 6-1 Fix leads, NaTo also with a caution. That's how the period ends, though Tomasello nearly had a takedown before time ran out in the first. NaTo in on a single with 90 seconds to go but Fix counters with a wicked crotch lock and rolls Tomasello over for two. He leads 8-1, we're back in neutral. Time running out for NaTo, he gets in on a shot, he runs Fix down for two but with only a couple ticks left of the clock it'll be Daton Fix with the 8-3 victory!

Match 2 - No scores after a minute. Fix digs an underhook and drives NaTo to the edge but Tomasello circles back in. Nate made a couple attacks of his own but goes on the clock first. NaTo fires off a nice Hi-C but it doesn't in deep enough to even create a scramble and Fix scores the first point off the clock. One or two decent flurries to close out the period but no more points, score remains 1-0. Nice shot off the whistle by Daton to start the second and he finishes clean for a 3-0 lead. A gut wrench near the boundary will make it 5-0. Still time for NaTo to work but that's a sizable lead with defense as good as Daton's. Low single by NaTo but Fixbelly whizzers and grabs far ankles to eventually get the go behind and a seven point lead. One minute remaining. Final 30. Daton claps, 10 seconds to go. Time expires and Fix lets out a shout! He's back on the world team!

62 Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids WC) vs Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC)

Match 1 - One of the best rivalries in wrestling is renewed! Velte won bronze at the 2018 Worlds but it was Miracle who made the 2019 Worlds and Tokyo Olympic teams. Miracle somehow avoids a takedown but goes on the clock. Then right before time expires she gets a takedown. Period ends with Miracle in the lead 2-0. Velte charges back in the second with a takedown of her own. Or does she? We will review. Miracle loses the challenge and Velte takes the 3-2 lead. Shot by Miracle, she gets a step out for the criteria lead. Then the out-right lead with a takedown. Less than a minute to go, 5-3 Miracle.

Match 2 - Velte comes out firing early in the first and scores the first takedown. Velte trying to gives us our first third match of the freestyle series. Miracle would obviously prefer to finish things up after this match. She scores a takedown of her own to further those efforts. Then with about a minute left, counters a Velte single leg and get's two more, nearly knocking the judge's table over in the process. We go to the break, Miracle holding a 4-2 lead. Second period underway. Stalemated action after 30 seconds. Low single shot by Velte but Miracle times it and scrambles around for the go-behind. She leads 6-2. Beauty of a sweep single by Kayla and she converts for her eighth unanswered point. Less than a minute left. A front headlock for an exposure and it's 10-2 with 20 seconds to go. That's how it'll finish as Miracle makes her third consecutive world or Olympic team!

65 Yianni Diakomihalis (TMWC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs Joseph Mckenna (TMWC/Pennsylvania RTC) 

Match 1 - Yianni in short offense with a front headlock, and he flips McKenna over for the first score. Or does he? Challenge by the PRTC and coach Slay. And it's ruled that McKenna initiated the move, a feet to back dump so it's 4 blue, 0 red, McKenna leads. Great challenge. Yianni responds by shooting under and driving McKenna out of bounds for 1. Single leg for Yianni, this time he converts for two on the edge. That's how the period ends, but not before some serious clubs are thrown by both guys. Double leg for Yianni. He muscles Joey up and leaps in the air to send McKenna tumbling over for a four-pointer. It's now 7-4 Yianni. McKenna shoots in, great scramble and crotch lock defense from Yianni and we get a stoppage with a little over a minute to go. 30 seconds to of. Step out for McKenna with just 8 ticks left on the clock. Yianni shoots, McKenna headlock, he flips Yianni with 2 seconds to spare! McKenna wins on criteria! Or does he? Yianni says it was his move. The refs disagree. McKenna officially wins 8-7!

Match 2 - I know I personally wouldn't mind if this series went to a third match. Not pulling for either athlete but the more bouts we get between these two the better! A flurry in the first minute but no score. McKenna on a shot but Yianni goes rubber knee. McKenna had been warned earlier so he goes on the clock first. No scores or committed attacks so Yianni gets the first point. 30 seconds to go in the period. No scores so we go to the break, Yianni with the 1-0. A much slower and more tactical period to the two from their first match. Soon after the whistle a low level shot from Yianni, big scramble ensues, they go tumbling out of bounds and Yianni gets the step out. Could have been grounded but tough to see from my angle. Another low shot from Yianni and this time a clear step out and a 3-0 lead with 2 minutes left. Shot from Yianni, head lock stalemate. Another shot from Yianni, out of bounds but grounded. Nice misdirection shot and Yianni goes out the backdoor. He gets the turn, or the takedown, either way, in the scramble, and leads 5-0. Final seconds. McKenna gets a step out with just 5 ticks remaining. Another step out as time expires and  Yianni takes round 2 by the score of 5-2. Indeed we will have a third match between these hammers!

Match 3 - A third match, what a treat for us all. Nice flurry right off the bat. McKenna shoots, Yianni reshoot, they tumble through the air, two for Yianni, two for McKenna, then another exposure for Yianni at the edge of the mat. Yianni stays shooting, gets a clean low double. Transitions to a lace. Gets one turn, plenty of room for more. But McKenna fights out of it. 8-2 Yianni early in the match. Another takedown for Yianni, just a double. McKenna makes him work for it but the points are on the board. Gut wrench for Yianni and that does it! Yianni is pumped, emphatically pointing to the mat. He's going to Oslo!

55 Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) vs Jenna Burkert (Army WCAP) 

Match 1 - An Olympian and a OTT finalist both changing weights and meeting at 55. This is the marquee women's matchup! Winchester bumping up, Burkert goes down a weight. And its Burkert who scores first, 2-0. Winchester answers with a takedown of her own and it's tied at the break, Winchester with criteria. Half way through the second Winchester limp arms out of a whizzer to get two on the edge and extends her lead 4-2. Two step outs later and it's 6-2. Winchester cruising but a whipover by Burkert gives her the 6-6 criteria win! Or does it??? Did time run out? They will review. It's about as close as it gets. They're gonna wanna go frame by frame. They do, and it is 4! With less than a second! Incredible! Burkert takes round 1!

Match 2 - Winchester shoots in but Burkert furiously counters with a front headlock. She gets the go-behind, then a gut wrench and goes up 4-0 early. Snap down go behind for another two and Jenna leads 6-0. Lots of time to work but that's a lot of point in not a lot of time. Winchester gets on the board with a go behind after an intense flurry by the boundary. Period ends, Burkert up 6-2. Winchester forces a stepout and narrows the deficit by one. Burkert answers right back with a snap down go behind and its 8-3. 90 seconds remain. Go behind and gut for Winchester and its 8-7 just like that. 51 seconds on the board. 15 seconds, on the edge, whizzer from Burkert, Winchester hits her with a leg elevator and gets the exposure. It's a 9-8 win for Jacarra! In the final 5 seconds she gets it done and forces a third match! Also very not mad about that. 

Match 3 - Pressure from Jacarra, Jenna about to be warned for passivity, then fires off a headlock. Winchester comes out on top but its ruled a slip. Back to neutral 0-0. Burkert goes on the clock after 90 seconds of action. Burkert can't get anything going to Winchester scores first. But Burkert answers by forcing a step out to grab the lead by criteria, score at 1-1. Action on the edge of the mat in short time but its blown dead before anything can happen. Winchester working for a go behind but runs out of time in the first period, still 1-1. Second period begins with 30 seconds of collar ties before Jenna forces a step out to take the outright lead 2-1. Winchester with an underhook, answers with a step out of her own to take the lead back via criteria. Score is 2-2 with a little under a minute to go. Jacarra holding center, now Jenna taking ground. Seatbelt whizzer on the edge of the mat. Jacarra switches out of danger and shoves Jenna off the mat to take make it 3-2. Short time, Jenna on a single, shin whizzer from Jacarra. Jenna fights through and gets the takedown with just 5 seconds left on the clock! Winchester comes close in the final exchanges but Burkert is back on the world team! Gutsy performance by both wrestlers. What a series! 

79 Jordan Burroughs (SKWC/Pennsylvania RTC) vs Alex Dieringer (TMWC/Cliff Keen WC) 

Match 1 - We'll see how JB handles Ringer's horsepower. No scores after 30. Then on a restart Burroughs blast doubles right off the whistle for four. Classic freight train for JB. I think he enjoys those extra 5 kilos. Ringer answers right back through! Tricep dump for four and he's got Burroughs on his back. JB bridges out of danger and we have ourselves a match! No scores until short time, then Burroughs gets another blast double, this time just for two. 6-4 at the break. Dieringer pressuring in but Burroughs avoids giving up step outs twice, but barely. Two minutes to go. Now JB goes on the clock, not typical for a bout already wth 10 points on the board but Ringer has been the aggressor. And JB's got doubles again! Clock erases and 2 more on the board. 8-4 JB leads, much to the delight of the Husker partisan crowd. Ringer shooting in, JB gives up a step out. Now warned for not engaging. 30 seconds to go, JB by 3. He'll have criteria. But it won't matter, he circles and gets a go behind with 8 seconds left to ice it. Burroughs win 10-5!

Match 2 - The men's freestyle main event. It'll either be the third to last match of the Trials or we do it again as the closing finale. Ringer gets a caution. No scores after 83 seconds and Ringer goes on the clock. Ringer pressures in but JB circles and gets the first point. Burroughs fires off a double and muscles Ringer out of bounds for his second point. Those extra five kilos of power once again coming in handy. As time expires in the first period Burroughs goes classic blast double and gets two more points. Just 2 seconds left in the period. Second period underway know and it's 4-0 for Burroughs, 3 minutes from making another world team in Lincoln. Ringer on the attack, but JB defends and gets grounded action at the boundary. 90 seconds left, still 4-0. JB goes on the clock with 1:11 left in the match. With 20 seconds on the shot clock Ringers get a step out. 51 remaining, its 4-1 in Burroughs favor. Injury time for JB's ankle. He shakes it off and is back in the center. Burroughs warned for fleeing contact. No points though. There's a quick step out for Ringer. 12 seconds to go, 4-2. Another step out with 5 seconds to go. Jordan Burroughs makes his 10th world or Olympic team! But yikes he is limping, not celebrating. He hobbles off the mat, showered by applause. 

Man, hope the ankle heals. As we all do! 

Now that's how you decide who makes the World Team! I am so pumped for the World Championships. This is a salty crew we're taking, in all styles. Thanks for reading along and apologies for the typos. See you in Norway, friends!