Kyle Snyder has completely locked down 97 kg in the United States since 2015. It appears this year might be more of the same, but wrestling fans could finally see Snyder battle six-time World and Olympic medalist J'den Cox to make Team USA. Here's everything you need to know about 97 kg at the Olympic Trials.

The Favorite

Kyle Snyder

2015 World gold 97 kg

2016 Olympic gold 97 kg

2017 World gold 97 kg

2018 World silver 97 kg

2019 World bronze 97 kg

2021 Olympic silver 97 kg

2021 World silver 97 kg

2022 World gold 97 kg

2023 World bronze 97 kg

After winning two Junior World medals, Kyle Snyder burst onto the senior scene in 2015 by winning World gold over returning World champ Abdusalam Gadisov of Russia. Since that time, Snyder has made every possible World or Olympic team and secured a medal in all nine of his trips to the World Championships or Olympic Games. Four of those medals have been gold. Snyder's most impressive World title came in 2017 when he knocked off seven-time World and Olympic champ Abdulrashid Sadulaev to secure Team USA's first team title since 1995. No American wrestler has been as consist as Kyle Snyder during the past decade.

Watch Kyle Snyder's victory over Abdulrashid Sadulaev from 2017

The Contender

J'den Cox

2016 Olympic bronze 86 kg

2017 World bronze 86 kg

2018 World gold 92 kg

2019 World gold 92 kg

2021 World bronze 92 kg

2022 World silver 92 kg

World champ and six-time World or Olympic medalist J'den Cox is the only true contender against Kyle Snyder this year. In addition to his six senior level medals, Cox had three NCAA titles for the Missouri Tigers between 2014 and 2017. After his junior season, Cox qualified for the Olympics by running an insane gauntlet. After dispatching NCAA finalist Clayton Foster in his opening match, Cox beat World silver medalist 8-1 in the quarterfinals. He narrowly defeated World teamer Keith Gavin in the semis before facing Kyle Dake in the best of three finals. Match 1 went to Cox 8-1, Dake took match 2 5-3 with a late takedown, and Cox took match 3 4-3. In the 2017 World Team Trials, Cox took a best of three series from David Taylor. He has been an integral part of Team USA's successful run during the past two quads.

Scoring highlights of J'den Cox's best of three series against David Taylor

Kyle Snyder vs J'den Cox Rivalry

The Kyle Snyder vs J'den Cox rivalry dates back to their high school days. Their long history has been well documented. Their first meeting on a big stage came in Fargo in 2011 where they met in both Greco, which Cox won, and Freestyle, which Snyder won.

In college, Snyder got the better of Cox in their lone meeting in the 2015 NCAA semifinals. Both wrestlers ended their careers as three-time NCAA champs.

Their first senior level meeting came at the 2015 US Open. Snyder won that bout 4-3. It appeared that Snyder and Cox might battle on the senior level regularly, but with Snyder staying at 97 kg for the next quad and Cox splitting time between 86 kg and 92 kg, they were in different brackets until the 2020 Olympic Trials.

The 2020 Olympic Trials didn't happen until 2021 due to Covid-19, but Snyder and Cox did meet in a best-of-three series at the Rudis Supermatch event in March of 2021 where Snyder won two matches to zero. The first came via 5-5 criteria victory, and the second was a 7-5 decision. Wrestling fans anticipated rematches between Cox and Snyder at both the 2021 Olympic Trials and 2023 Final X, but neither happened. In 2021, Cox missed the time window for weigh ins and was unable to compete, and in 2023, Cox suffered an injury the day of the event that kept him off the mat.

The Rest Of The 97 kg Field

If the bracket plays out according to Jon Kozak's Olympic Trials seed projections, Christian Carroll and Tony Cassioppi will meet in the only round of 16 match at the weight. That's a fascinating bout between two former heavyweights. Cassioppi comes down from 285 lbs after a college career at Iowa that included 3 NCAA All-American finishes while Carroll is coming off a redshirt year at Oklahoma State. If Carroll can get past the former Hawkeye, expect Oklahoma State fans to be highly optimistic about his prospects next season whether Carroll competes at 197 lbs or 285 lbs. The winner of that match would see six-time World and Olympic medalist J'den Cox in the quarterfinals.

The second quarterfinal in this bracket could be between Nate Jackson and Kollin Moore. Both guys are coming up from 92kg for the Olympic year. Moore beat Jackson by 12-2 tech in the Senior Nationals finals in December and has traditionally owned this rivalry.

Watch Kollin Moore vs Nate Jackson in the Senior Nationals finals

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The third quarterfinal at 97 kg should feature Mike Macchiavello and Jay Aiello. Macchiavello is coming off a Final X appearance at 92 kg last year, and Aiello is a 2021 U23 World bronze medalist. In their last meeting, Macchiavello won 11-0 in the Bill Farrell semis. He's a heavy favorite to keep winning against Aiello.

If Kozak's seed predictions hold, Isaac Trumble and Eric Schultz will meet in the bottom quarterfinal. Trumble's seed is the biggest question mark at this weight. His recent freestyle results include winning a U23 World title last fall and making the US Open finals at 97kg a year ago.

97 kg Olympic Trials Predictions

Nobody other than Kyle Snyder has represented the US at this weight at an Olympic Games or World Championships since 2015, and he's the favorite to do it again. J'den Cox's six medals are formidable, and he's proven to be the lone wrestler in this field who can push Snyder. It's 100% possible that Cox solves the Snyder puzzle in a best of three series. Still, given Snyder's consistent excellence, I see him representing the US once again in Paris.

Top 4 97 kg Predictions

1. Kyle Snyder

2. J'den Cox

3. Kollin Moore

4. Isaac Trumble

USA Olympic Trials Wrestling Schedule and Brackets 

Click here to see the full event schedule and brackets.

USA Wrestling Trials Brackets 

Mens Freestyle Preliminary Brackets at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials

Women's Freestyle Preliminary Brackets at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials

2024 Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers

For an updated list of everyone who has qualified for the 2024 Olympics, Click Here. 

How To Watch the 2024 Olympic Wrestling Trials

Live coverage of all four mats at the U.S Olympic Team Trials will be streamed on Peacock from April 19-20. 

Streaming will begin on Friday, April 19 with Session 1 at 10 a.m. ET

When are the US Olympic Trials?

The U.S Olympic Trials will be held over two days from April 19-20 in State College, Pennsylvania.

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