By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Three-time World champion and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Spartan Combat RTC) has officially accepted his 74 kg men’s freestyle berth in Final X

Dake will battle for a spot on the 2022 U.S. World Team in Final X New York. presented by Tezos, on Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Dake is a three-time World champion, winning World gold medals in 2018, 2019 and 2021. He won a bronze medal at 74 kg at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. To make the U.S. Olympic team, Dake beat Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs in the championship series. He was a 2018 World Cup champion and won U.S. Open titles in 2016 and 2018. Dake was a four-time NCAA champion from Cornell, winning titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was the first wrestler to win four NCAA Div. I titles in four different weight classes. Dake received the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top college wrestler. A native of Lansing, N.Y., Dake won two New York state titles and a runner-up finish for Lansing High School.

This will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.

There are a variety of ticket options available for Final X New York, beginning at $65 so you don't miss the first in-person Benefit since 2019. Purchase your wrestling-only event tickets on Ticketmaster. For information on Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (wrestling event and exclusive after party access) that also provide the best wrestling-event seats, visit give.btsny.org/benefit or email Fund Development Manager Kerry Doyle at kdoyle@btsny.org."

The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling which will compete in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.

The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in each style allows for 2021 Senior World medalists and 2020 Olympic medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Dake has met this requirement and accepted his qualification.

There are 15 weight classes contested in Final X New York, five in each discipline. The weight classes assigned to the Final X New York are:

• Men’s freestyle: 65 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg

• Women’s freestyle: 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 72 kg

• Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg

The Final X opponent for Dake will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Coralville, Iowa, May 20-22.

The Beat the Streets Annual Benefit, a fan-favorite, is a major showcase of the best of international wrestling. These competitions have been at iconic locations across New York City.

Dake has competed in two previous Beat the Streets Benefit events, winning both of his bouts. In 2013, in Grand Central Terminal, Dake beat Iran’s Hassan Tahmasebi, 2-0, 1-0. In 2018, at Pier 17 in the Seaport District, he scored an impressive 13-1 technical fall over Livan Lopez Azcuy of Cuba.

In addition to Final X New York, Final X Stillwater will be held Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University. There will be 15 other weight classes contested in Stillwater.

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for both Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, and Final X New York, presented by Tezos

FINAL X NEW YORK, presented by Tezos

At Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater, Wednesday, June 8

Declared Qualifiers to date

Men’s Freestyle 74 kg - Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Spartan Combat RTC) vs. vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

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

Greco-Roman 97 kg - G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s Freestyle 57 kg - Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Philadelphia, Pa./Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

KYLE DAKE

Residence: Ithaca, N.Y.

Club: Titan Mercury WC

Personal Coaches: Mike Grey

Regional Training Center: Spartan Combat RTC

College: Cornell University

High School: Lansing, N.Y.

Born: Feb. 25, 1991

• Three-time World champion (2018, 2019, 2021)

• 2020 Olympic bronze medalist

• Two-time Final X champion (2018, 2019)

• 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)

• 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

Kyle Dake Beat the Streets history (2-0 record)

2013: Hassan Tahmasebi (Iran), 2-0, 1-0

2018: Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba), tech. fall, 13-1