2018 World champion Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes RTC) has officially accepted his berth in Final X. He will battle for the spot at 79 kg/174 lbs. on the 2019 U.S. World Team in men’s freestyle at Final X: Rutgers on Saturday, June 8.

PURCHASE FINAL X - RUTGERS TICKETS

The event will be hosted at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. Exclusive live and on-demand coverage will be provided on FloWrestling, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4.

Dake won a gold medal at 79 kg at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in his first Senior World appearance. He qualified for the World Championships with a victory in Final X. Also in 2018, he was a World Cup champion, a Yasar Dogu International champion in Turkey and a silver medalist at the respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia. Dake boasts two U.S. Open titles (2016 and 2018). He was second in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and was also second at the World Team Trials three times (2013, 2014, 2017).

He won four NCAA titles for Cornell (2010-13), and became the first to win four Div. I championships in four different weight classes. Dake was selected as the 2013 Dan Hodge Trophy winner, as the nation’s top college wrestler. He was also a two-time New York state high school champion for Lansing High School.

To order tickets, go to the tickets tab on the official Final X website at: www.FinalX.tv

WATCH FINAL X - RUTGERS LIVE

The Final X series will determine the 2019 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines, and is held in two different locations and dates in June. 

The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams allow for 2018 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X at the weight class where he/she won a medal in 2018. 2018 World medalists must declare, in writing, their intent to accept the automatic berth into by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1. Dake has met this requirement and accepted his qualification. 

In Final X, the top two wrestlers in each World Championships weight class will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2019 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, September 14-22, 2019

There are two sessions in each Final X event. The series at 79 kg, featuring Dake, has not yet been assigned a session time.

The Final X opponent for Dake will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 16-19.

The weight classes assigned to the Final X: Rutgers are:

• Men’s Freestyle: 65 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
• Women’s Freestyle: 50 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, 72 kg
• Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg

Ticket prices for Final X are:

• VIP Floor - $100 
• Reserved seating (100 level) - $65 
• General Admission (200 – 300 level) - $40
• Group (GA only) – Buy 10 or more tickets and get $40 off

In addition to Final X: Rutgers, the series also includes Final X: Lincoln on June 15 at the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Final X is an exciting partnership between USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, and FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content.

FINAL X: RUTGERS

At the RAC in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, June 8

Qualifiers to date

Men’s FS 79 kg - Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s FS 86 kg – David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s FS 92 kg – J’den Cox (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

FINAL X: LINCOLN

At Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 15

Qualifiers to date

Men’s FS 74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s FS 53 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s FS 76 kg – Adeline Gray (Denver, Colo./New York AC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

KYLE DAKE

Residence: Ithaca, N.Y.                Club: Titan Mercury WC

College: Cornell                          High School: Lansing, N.Y.

Born: Feb. 25, 1991                     Height: 5-9

• 2018 World champion
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2018 World Cup champion
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• Three-time U.S. World Team Trials runner-up (2013-14, 2017)
• Two-time U.S Open champion (2016, 2018)
• 2018 Yasar Dogu International champion (Turkey)
• 2017 Paris International champion (France)
• 2014 Cerro Pelado International champion (Cuba)
• Four-time NCAA champion for Cornell (2010-13)
• First to win four NCAA Div. I titles in four different weight classes
• 2013 Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, as nation’s top college wrestler
• 2008 U.S. Junior World Team member in Greco-Roman
• Two-time New York state high school champion

About FloSports

FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Wrestling, Rugby, MMA, Football, Track, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.

About USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 237,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.