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 92-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(s)

• David Taylor (if he enters)
• Zahid Valencia

While he has not entered yet, there have been a lot of rumors and speculation that David Taylor will be entering this bracket. If he chooses to do so, he will be a clear favorite. He is undeniably one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time and has two wins over clear #2 at the weight - Zahid Valencia. Both of those wins came at Final X 2022 where Taylor won 4-2 in match 1 and 10-0 in match 2.

See the scoring highlights from Taylor and Valencia’s 2022 Final X series below.

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If Taylor doesn’t enter, Valencia is the clear favorite. Even if Taylor does enter, Valencia has two advantages on Taylor:

as a 2023 World bronze medalist at the weight, Valencia gets to sit to the finals

Valencia doesn’t have the potential distraction of coaching a D1 team

The rest of the field, including Taylor, must go through the challenge tournament on Saturday before taking on Valencia on Sunday. Taylor will automatically receive the #1 seed if he chooses to enter. Besides his two losses to Taylor, Valencia has only lost to Aaron Brooks and Bo Nickal since 2019 and has wins over Trent Hidlay, Pat Downey, and Michael Macchiavello.

Zahid Valencia’s win over Trent Hidlay at the 2023 US Open

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The Top Contender

• Trent Hidlay

In my opinion, the main competitor most likely to knock off either Taylor or Valencia is Trent Hidlay. The 25-year-old 4X All-American and 2X NCAA finalist from NC State beat Alex Dieringer, Mark Hall, and Carter Starocci at the Olympic Trials. However, he is 0-2 against Valencia at the senior level and 0-1 against him in college. He has never wrestled the other two wrestlers in the “contenders” category.

Don’t Be Surprised If These Guys Make A Deep Run

• Michael Macchiavello
• Pat Downey
• Eric Schultz
• Jonathan Aiello
• Aeoden Sinclair    

While he didn’t have the best 2024 at 97 kg, Michael Macciavello was a staple on the 92 kg scene for the couple of years prior. He made Final X 2023 by beating Nate Jackson and Kollin Moore at the US Open. However, he would go on to lose to Valencia in two matches at Final X.

Watch the highlights from Macchiavello and Valencia’s 2023 Final X Series below

Pat Downey is as big a name as any in wrestling because of the off the mat antics. However, I’m hear to remind you that he can wrestle. He was looking sharp and up 4-0 against Starocci at the 2024 Olympic Trials before his conditioning failed him and he gave up 11 points in the final two minutes. If he comes in better shape than April, he’s dangerous.

Eric Schultz is a guy a lot of Nebraska fans will be excited to watch in Omaha, but a lot of casual wrestling fans could be sleeping on. The former Husker beat Macchiavello at Olympic Trials 3-2 at 97 kg. He and Jay Aiello have had a fun rivalry since graduating college. Schultz won their first three meetings in 2022 and 2023, but Aiello has won the last three.

Watch the most recent meeting between Schultz and Aiello (2023 Senior Nationals) below.

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The one young guy I think could do some damage in this bracket is Aeoden Sinclair. Sinclair was the #4 overall recruit coming out of high school this year. He’s got good technique, but was a little outmuscled and tactically inferior against David McFadden at the Last Chance Qualifier and then Josh Barr at U20 World Team Trials. I don’t expect him to make the finals, but I’m excited to see what he can do after spending a couple of months in a college room.

Predictions

The big question is does David Taylor enter? While I’m giving Valencia a much bigger chance to win than I believe a lot of the public is, Taylor is still my pick if he enters. Don’t forget that Valencia gave Aaron Brooks a much tougher match than either of his matches with Taylor at Olympic Trials. And their first match at Final X was close, and that was two years ago. However, Taylor still won two matches to zero. I don’t think Taylor would enter if he didn’t feel good about winning.

Final 92 kg Predictions

Finals - David Taylor over Zahid Valencia

3rd Place - Michael Macchiavello over Jay Aiello