2018 World Team Trials: Who's Qualified So Far
2018 World Team Trials: Who's Qualified So Far
The complete list of qualifiers in men's freestyle for the 2018 World Team Trials challenge tournament.
We've hit April, which means the U.S. Open is at the end of this month. That is the final way to qualify for the 2018 World Team Trials, which are next month in Minnesota.
So, who is already qualified for that WTT challenge tournament? Let's go over them below.
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. Zane Richards was the most recent to qualify at this weight after getting a bronze at the Farrell.
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. Jon Morrison looked great in winning the Bill Farrell last weekend, snatching victories in both the semis and finals with last second head pinches.
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. Kyle Ruschell sealed his spot in the Trials with a silver at the Farrell.
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 Gantt (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. Tommy Gantt looked excellent en route to a Farrell title, up a weight from the last several years.
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. Alex Dieringer is going to try to dump the whole world on its head.
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. For the second year in a row, Greco world teamer Joe Rau qualifies for the freestyle trials.
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 Silver
Despite his world medal, J'den Cox does not get a bye to Final X because he is moving up in weight. Kenny Courts pinned a Russian junior world champ to make the Farrell finals.
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. Ty Walz took the Bill Farrell crown to qualify.
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.