70 kg Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Preview & Prediction
70 kg Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Preview & Prediction
A full 70 kg men's freestyle preview with predictions for the 2024 World Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 14-15.
The 2024 World Team Trials are September 14-15 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Champions determine this year’s representatives at the World Championships in Tirana, Albania, on October 28-31.
A challenge tournament will be held to determine who will wrestle in the best-of-three finals. Below is a schedule and breakdown of the 70-kilogram men’s freestyle bracket. This preview is based on the wrestlers who might be in attendance. All matches are streamed live on FloWrestling.
Schedule
Saturday, September 14
10 AM — Session I: Prelims, Quarterfinals, and Consolations
5 PM — Session II: Semifinals and Consolations
Sunday, September 15
10 AM — Session III: Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, 3rd Place and Round 1 best-of-three finals
2 PM — Session IV: Round 2 best-of-three and Round 3 if necessary
The Favorite
- James Green
Green hasn’t wrestled at 70 kg since February 2022 but there are a few reasons why Green should be considered the man to beat at the World Team Trials. First up, and maybe most important, Green held down this weight for Team USA from 2015-2021. In that time frame, Green made six straight world teams and won two world medals (bronze in 2015 and silver in 2017). Right before Green retired in early 2022, he defeated Zain Retherford who then went on to make two consecutive world teams - winning world silver in 2022 and gold in 2023.
Going along with Green making every team he attempted is Green’s success against his competitors at the World Team Trials. Green’s only loss to a competitor who will be in this bracket is a 5-3 decision to Alec Pantaleo at the 2021 Poland Open. Despite that loss, Green has 4 wins over Pantaleo and is undefeated against Jordan Oliver. Pantaleo and Oliver will be two of the main contenders but Green is the man to beat until proven otherwise.
Green's win over Jordan Oliver at the 2021 World Team Trials:
The Contenders
- Alec Pantaleo
- Jordan Oliver
- Bryce Andonian
The above three wrestlers should all be considered the next tier behind Green. As mentioned above, Alec Pantaleo is the only wrestler in this bracket who has a win over Green and is also one of the best wrestlers in the world at 70 kg. Along with his win over Green, Pantaleo has notable international wins over 3-time world champion Haji Aliyev as well as 2023 World Silver medalist Amir Yazdani. Pantaleo is 3-0 against Jordan Oliver and in 2023 Pantaleo peaked at #6 in our international rankings. If Pantaleo makes the world team this year, he’d absolutely be one of the favorites to bring home a medal.
Pantaleo's win over James Green at the 2021 Poland Open:
Jordan Oliver is taking a break from MMA and coming back to the mats to attempt to make his first-ever world team. Oliver last wrestled at Final X in 2022 when he lost an epic best-of-three series to eventual world silver medalist Zain Retherford. Because Oliver has taken time off, there are obvious questions surrounding how close he’ll perform to 100%. However, Oliver’s track record and potential make him a serious contender and he shouldn’t be underestimated.
Jordan Oliver's win over Zain Retherford at Final X 2022:
Bryce Andonian might be the most entertaining, and dangerous, wrestler in this entire bracket. Andonian won a U20 world bronze medal in 2021 but has never made a run at making a senior world team. Andonian struggled with injuries his final two years of college but when he’s healthy, he’s capable of taking out anyone in the world at 70 kg. Beyond that, Andonian likely is familiar with James Green based on Green’s time training at Virginia Tech from 2020-2022.
Bryce Andonian's win for bronze in the 2021 U20 World Championships:
Don’t Be Surprised If These Guys Make A Deep Run
- PJ Duke
- Kaleb Larkin
- Paniro Johnson
- Will Lewan
- Jarrett Jacques
- Evan Henderson
- Yahya Thomas
Yes, this is a long list but it should show everyone just how deep 70 kg at the World Team Trials will be. First, there’s the young guys - PJ Duke and Kaleb Larkin. PJ Duke is coming off a great performance at U20 Worlds where he won a bronze medal. At U20 Worlds, Duke displayed some high-powered offense and has incredible power for someone who is still just a senior in high school. Duke might be young, but he’s ready for the senior level and showed that by making the U20 World team in a field that included college wrestlers like Kannon Webster, Antrell Taylor, Brock Mantanona, and Dylan Gilcher.
Duke's win over Kannon Webster to make the 2024 U20 World Team:
Kaleb Larkin will be a freshman this year at Arizona State and start at either 149 or 157 for the Sun Devils. Larkin revealed to everyone just how dangerous he is on the mats last November when he won the Bill Farrell while defeating Jesse Mendez, Matt Kolodzik, and Pat Lugo. At the Olympic Trials, Larkin had a back-and-forth battle with Yianni Diakomihalis and even though he lost, Larkin showed he’s capable of wrestling with anyone on the senior level right now.
Larkin's win over Jesse Mendez at the 2023 Bill Farrell Tournament:
The next group of guys consists of wrestlers who are just beginning their senior-level careers and those I expect to contend for world team spots over the next quad - Paniro Johnson, Will Lewan, and Yahya Thomas. Paniro Johnson will already be going to Albania as a part of the U23 World Team. Johnson made that team in June by defeating the likes of Daniel Cardenas, Caleb Rathjen, Ed Scott, and John Wiley. Johnson is as good as anyone from the neutral position and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him take out one or more of the “contenders” at this weight.
Paniro Johnson's win over Ed Scott at the 2024 U23 WTT:
We haven’t seen Will Lewan compete much on the senior level but he has a pedigree and style that suggests he could make some noise at trials. Along with being a 2-time All-American at Michigan, Lewan was a U17 world champion back in 2017. Lewan is a solid hand-fighter, holds strong position defensively, and is incredibly challenging to score on. That style doesn’t make for the most exciting match but it does usually keep Lewan in every match he wrestles and it should be no different at trials.
Will Lewan's win over Bryce Andonian at the 2022 NWCA All-Star Classic:
Yahya Thomas was stuck in between Olympic weights but should be a consistent challenger at 70 kg over the next four years. The Northwestern All-American made a U20 world team in 2019, a U23 World team in 2022, and most recently won the Grand Prix of Spain this past July at 70 kg. Thomas is similar to Lewan in that he is strong defensively and is capable of keeping matches close with even the best guys in the world. Thomas’ performance at U23 Worlds is a great example of him being able to wrestle with the top competitors at 70 kg. Though Thomas placed 5th and failed to bring home a medal, he wrestled a highly competitive match with 2023 world silver medalist Amir Yazdani. Thomas lost that match to Yazdani 4-2 but he was right there to defeat the world medalist.
Yahya Thomas' match against Amir Yazdani at 2023 U23 Worlds:
The final group of wrestlers are the established senior-level guys, the stalwarts - Jarrett Jacques and Evan Henderson. Jacques had a solid year at 74 kg making the Olympic Trials and placing 4th while recording wins over Vincenzo Joseph, Quincy Monday, Tyler Berger, and Alex Facundo. Jacques’ performance was overlooked by many but proved he can wrestle with the best and will be a guy to watch out for at World Team Trials.
Jarrett Jacques' win over Joe Sealey at 2023 Senior Nationals:
Evan Henderson has been similarly overlooked in the past but has consistently strung together high-level wins. Henderson’s senior level hitlist is insane and includes wins over Ismail Musukaev, Vazgen Tevanyan, Nick Lee, Anthony Echemendia, Matt Kolodzik, Jaydin Eierman, Joey McKenna, Shayne Van Ness, and several others. That list alone tells you how good Henderson is and even though he’s toward the end of his competitive career, he’s a threat to everyone in this bracket.
Evan Henderson's win over Nick Lee at the 2022 World Team Trials:
Prediction
If James Green is the same wrestler who won two world medals and made six world teams, he's the runaway favorite to make the world team again this year. It's understandable to question whether or not Green is the same guy but until I see otherwise, I'm picking James Green to win the trials in Omaha and make his seventh world team.
Full 70 kg Predictions:
Finals - James Green over Alec Pantaleo
3rd Place - Bryce Andonian over Kaleb Larkin