By Tim Hands of 5 Point Move - The US Olympic Trials will stand as the most important domestic Greco-Roman event this season, but not the biggest. That distinction belongs to the US Nationals, which of course is functioning as the primary ticket-punching tournament to get into those said Trials. 

Senior Greco-Roman athletes are in position to experience the same issue as their freestyle contemporaries: too many wrestlers, not enough qualifying spots to go around. 

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The difference is that for Greco, fewer athletes qualifying at the Nationals means eliminating opportunities for young up-and-coming studs from gaining valuable experience in State College that they can take with them into the next quadrennial. Freestyle has the same problem, of course, but they (men and women alike) currently enjoy much more game-ready depth. 

Compounding matters -- or elevating the stakes, if you prefer -- is the top-five stipulation. 

In order to qualify, athletes need to place in the top five. Period. There is no drill-down after that. For example, if two wrestlers who are already assured berths at the Olympic Trials happen to place first and second this Saturday, then that leaves only three other spots. This tournament is not a “highest place winner if not already qualified” type of scenario. 

The good news for Greco fans, and perhaps bad news for those on the outside looking in at the Trials, is that a healthy number of pre-qualified wrestlers are slated to compete. This is what Greco needs, every time, and especially in the United States. Combine that with the fact the USA Greco program is in the midst of harvesting its highest yield of youthful talent in more than a generation, and what you should have is a knockout tournament in more ways than one. 

60 Kilograms

Two recent Senior World Team members, three US National champs, and three U23 World Teamers highlight what always seems to be an exceedingly talent-rich bracket. Ryan Mango (Army/WCAP) is going for his third National crown in consecutive seasons while teammate Mike Fuenffinger will be hunting for his second. Dalton Roberts, the man who bested Fuenffinger in the ‘18 Open final, is naturally back in the mix because he doesn’t have an “off” switch. 

Taylor LaMont (Sunkist/UVRTC) and “Wildman Sam” Sammy Jones (NYAC/OTS) anchor the perceived top of this field, but fast on their heels might be the likes of Matt Schmitt (WV) and David Stepanian (NMU/OTS), who both opened a lot of eyes last month in New York and figure to enter this tournament with requisite confidence. 

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Dalton Roberts (NYAC/OTS)

Ryan Mango (Army/WCAP)

Sammy Jones (NYAC/OTS)

67 Kilograms

On paper, everyone in this bracket is looking up at the tandem of Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) and Jamel Johnson (Marines), the two most experienced and accomplished wrestlers at 67 who will be in Fort Worth. Sancho, a Trials finalist on four occasions, looked dynamite at the Farrell even at scratch weight as Johnson plugged along overseas for a training camp before jumping in the Haparanda Cup. 

But there are so many would-be assassins lurking in the shadows. Nolan Baker (NYAC) is riding a hot streak of practically unprecedented proportions, pinning opponents at a rate of 69 percent. He even flattened Johnson in Sweden for bronze. Then there is Michael Hooker (Army/WCAP) and Austin Morrow (NYAC), a pair of pros who have made big strides in their respective careers -- but yet like most of the others here -- are not seen as givens to get the job done in Texas. 

Junior World bronze Peyton Omania (MSU/CYC), Benji Peak (Sunkist/OTS), U23’er Lenny Merkin (NJRTC), and potentially Final X runner-up Xavier Johnson (Marines) are all in the argument, as well. This is a bracket that makes its money on flowery technique and head-cracking violence. With qualifying spots on the line, you should expect the intensity to hit Level 11 by the time the quarterfinals begin. 

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Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP)

Peyton Omania (MSU/CYC)

77 Kilograms

Here it is, for all intents and purposes the “Queen Mother of All Weight Classes” this Olympic Year. Kamal Bey is the man who will dominate most of the focus this weekend. A Junior World champ in ‘17 and a Senior World Teamer the next year, Bey has not competed since falling short to Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) at Final X: Rutgers. He is, however, fresh off of some training overseas and is likely looking to make a grand impression, as always. 

RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) is healthy and fully committed to this weight, which likely means a big performance is about to pop. Kendrick Sanders (NYAC/OTS) is along for the ride, too, after putting together a remarkable 2018-19 campaign that included his second Open title. But after that, there are also Peyton Walsh (Marines), three-time U23 World Teamer Jesse Porter, Junior World silver Andrew Berreyesa (NYAC/FLWC), Corey Hope (NYAC), and a whole host of others who will be battling for supremacy. 

There is no way around it -- the US Nationals are just a tease for 77 kg this season. Plenty of drama should avail itself on Saturday, and sure, the Trials themselves are a must-watch. But this tournament, fortunately or otherwise, really just acts as a prelude to the “Last Chance Qualifier” in March, which in 77’s case, will look like an All-Star meet. 

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Kamal Bey (Sunkist)

RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC)

Spencer Woods (NYAC/OTS)

87 Kilograms

It held the reins as the United States’ most stacked weight class for a few years, but for this event, 87 kilos is much more of a “prove it” bracket than it is a pool of bloodthirsty sharks. “The Lone Wolf,” three-time World Team member Patrick Martinez, is checking into his first tournament since bolting from the Olympic (and Paralympic) Training Center in favor of Ithaca this past summer. Martinez really impressed at times last season, especially from par terre bottom while overseas, but is coming off of a letdown at the Trials. Given the implications involved for ‘20, a motivated Martinez is guaranteed to walk out onto the mat Friday morning. 

But really, 87 in Fort Worth is all about the guys who are attempting to push their way to the top. That means wrestlers like Chandler Rogers (TMWC), who has really come on strong as a full-time Senior and isn’t even remotely close to being a finished product. Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) is right on the cusp of breaking out, and Carter Nielsen (Minnesota Storm/OTS) is the most agile and transition-friendly athlete here. You might want to keep an eye on two Marines: Vaughn Monreal-Berner and Terrence Zaleski. Both have improved mightily and may threaten for placement on the tournament’s second day of action. 

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Patrick Martinez (NYAC/FLWC)

Chandler Rogers (TMWC)

97 Kilograms

Nothing is a given. In other sports, the vernacular is ‘This is why they play the games.’ In wrestling, it is ‘This is why they wrestle the matches.’ So it is not a guarantee that Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) and Daniel Miller (Marines) will meet for the seventh time over the past 10 months, but it is certainly a matchup many would like to see. Sheridan has gotten the best of Miller the last few times they’ve stood across from each other, including in their three-round war at the ‘19 Trials Challenge Tournament. Just a few weeks ago, Miller was close to coming away with a decision before Sheridan bombed him with a headlock that led to a pin. 

In other words, they have a history. 

But neither athlete has qualified for the Trials just yet, which puts them in good company, as it were. Minnesota Storm’s Eric Twohey could almost be likened to a neophyte, except for the fact that he has beaten a variety of highly-credible opponents since coming on board two years ago. Ohio State-bound Nick Boykin (Sunkist) is starting to clean up his arsenal and define go-to attacks/approaches that lead to consistency, so he’ll be a player. The one sleeper who could steal the show if he gets hot is ‘16 Open runner-up Khymba Johnson (NYAC/OTS), who demonstrated degrees of self-belief and grit in New York that, honestly, were a revelation. If that same guy is in Texas, then the whole Miller/Sheridan narrative could get smashed in a hurry. 

130 Kilograms

Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) owns more than just three consecutive age-group World medals (including a Cadet gold from ‘17). He also has wins over Army/WCAP duo Jacob Mitchell and Toby Erickson, two very established Senior heavies. Schultz earned these victories at last year’s Trials mini tournament before going on to defeat ‘16 Olympian Robby Smith; and before falling to ‘18 World silver Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen) in two straight at Final X: Lincoln. Now a redshirt frosh at Arizona State, Schultz will be closely scrutinized this weekend by Greco people who are afraid he is being corrupted by all that folkstyle, though they likely won’t need to worry. Schultz has practically been reared for events just like this one. 

Mitchell and Erickson, in whichever order, figure to be the main challengers who emerge on Saturday, but West Cathcart (IRTC) and Haydn Maley (California RTC) have to be considered, as well. Cathcart re-entered Senior competition in ‘19 and certainly demanded attention thanks to his still-pretty-sharp big-man skills and athleticism. Maley is a known commodity dating back to age-group, and profiles as a future star in this weight class provided he continues down the Greco pathway. 

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Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist)

Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP)