Freestyle World Team Trials preview at 97 kg/213 lbs.
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Olympic and World champion Kyle Snyder flexes after a big win at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Perhaps the top American wrestling star on the world scene right now in men’s freestyle is 2016 Olympic champion and 2015 World champion Kyle Snyder. He was the youngest American to win each of those titles, at 19 years old at the 2015 Worlds and just 20 years old at the 2016 Olympics.
Snyder, who won his second NCAA title at heavyweight for Ohio State this year, has not taken the foot off the pedal in freestyle. In January, he became the first U.S. champion at the respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia since 2009. As has been the case in other seasons, Snyder has lost some matches overseas, but uses them to continue improving. He seems at his best at the most important events. Snyder advances directly into the best-of-three Championship Series in Lincoln, because of his Olympic gold.
Snyder had to beat another top World star, 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, to make both the 2015 World Team and the 2016 Olympic Team. They were all classic battles. Varner has not wrestled since the 2016 Trials, but has not said if he is done competing. Perhaps he comes back at heavyweight? He may not be in Lincoln, except to coach, but until he officially retires, he remains in the conversation.
At this point, the top challenger to Snyder could be 2017 U.S. Open champion Kyven Gadson. He is just getting started in his freestyle career, with a bronze medal at the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International, a 2016 University Nationals title, and a third place at the 2016 U.S. Open. What is interesting is that Gadson, as a senior at Iowa State, pinned then-freshman Snyder in the 2015 NCAA finals at 197 pounds. That big win by Gadson could play a factor if they meet in Lincoln, even if it only gives Gadson some additional confidence.
The rest of the field includes some young talent and some experienced veterans. Punching his ticket to Lincoln by winning the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial was Dustin Kilgore, who was third at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials. Kilgore, the first and only NCAA champion for Kent State, was No. 2 in this weight class in 2014, when he lost to Varner in the World Team Trials finals. He boasts two Pan American Championships titles, and numerous other medals. He has both the talent and experience to be a major factor in this division.
This weight class has a pair of brothers from Colorado who are both capable of pushing for a place in Championship Series, Micah Burak, who was second at the U.S. Open, and Nathan Burak, who placed third. Micah, the older brother, was an All-American for Penn, and was fourth in the Olympic Trials. Younger brother Nathan, a three-time All-American for Iowa, is just getting his feet wet in Senior freestyle, and won a silver medal at the Paris International this year. Both have excellent skills and strong defense, and seem to give everybody they wrestle a very tough match.
Taking a surprise fourth place at the 2017 U.S. Open was Nikko Reyes, a California native who was an NCAA qualifier for Illinois and transferred to Northern Colorado. Reyes was second behind Gadson at the 2016 University Nationals, and won a match in their best-of-three series. He also was fourth in the 2014 UWW Junior Nationals when he was still at Illinois.
Dropping down from being a college heavyweight to place fifth at the U.S. Open is the tough Ty Walz, who was a three-time All-American at Virginia Tech. For three straight years, Walz placed in freestyle at the University Nationals, taking third in 2016, fifth in 2015 and fourth in 2014. His size and strength could make him a disruptive force at this weight division.
Kallen Kleinschmidt became a U.S. Open All-American for the first time this year with his sixth place finish. He qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City after winning the Last Chance Qualifier in 2016. He has quickly made a mark and shown improvement since becoming a USOTC freestyle resident athlete.
Taking seventh at the U.S. Open was Cal-State Bakersfield NCAA qualifier Matt Williams, his first big freestyle achievement at the Senior level. Back in 2014, he was eighth at the UWW Junior Nationals.
The final qualifier in the field is Greco-Roman specialist Hayden Zillmer, who was an All-American for North Dakota State before focusing on international wrestling. Zillmer was third in the 2016 Olympic Trials at 85 kg in Greco-Roman, and since moving up to 97 kg, moved up to second in the 2017 Greco-Roman World Team Trials. Zillmer piled up a ton of international matches in Greco in the last season. He defeated Timmy McCall in the finals of the Last Chance Qualifier in freestyle by a 6-4 margin.
Winning the Last Chance Qualifier at 125 kg was former UNI star Blaize Cabell, who has wrestled often at 97 kg in recent seasons, including at the 2017 U.S. Open, where he did not place in the top eight. Cabell, who also competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, has the option of dropping to 97 kg in Lincoln if he chooses.
The 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials will be hosted at the Devaney Center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 10. Tickets can be purchased here
The event will be broadcast by Flowrestling.
World Team Trials Qualifiers at 97 kg/213 lbs.
’16 Olympic medalist advances to Trials Finals series – Kyle Snyder, Woodbine, Md. (Titan Mercury WC)
World Team Trials Tournament qualifiers
’16 Bill Farrell highest U.S. medalist – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’17 Dave Schultz highest U.S. medalist – Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
’17 U.S. Open runner-up – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open third place – Nathan Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open fourth place – Nikko Reyes, Savoy, Ill. (Valley RTC)
’17 U.S. Open fifth place – Ty Walz, Cleveland, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open sixth place – Kallen Kleinschmidt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
’17 U.S. Open seventh place – Matt Williams, Apple Valley, Calif. (Road Runner)
’17 Last Chance Trials Qualifier highest placer –Hayden Zillmer, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials results at 97 kg/213 lbs.
1st - Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC), two matches to one
Varner dec Snyder, 4-4
Snyder dec Varner, 4-0
Snyder dec Varner, 6-1
Challenge Tournament
1st - Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids), 6-0
3rd – Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC) dec. J.D. Bergman (New York AC), 3-1
True Third - Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) dec. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
Perhaps the top American wrestling star on the world scene right now in men’s freestyle is 2016 Olympic champion and 2015 World champion Kyle Snyder. He was the youngest American to win each of those titles, at 19 years old at the 2015 Worlds and just 20 years old at the 2016 Olympics.
Snyder, who won his second NCAA title at heavyweight for Ohio State this year, has not taken the foot off the pedal in freestyle. In January, he became the first U.S. champion at the respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia since 2009. As has been the case in other seasons, Snyder has lost some matches overseas, but uses them to continue improving. He seems at his best at the most important events. Snyder advances directly into the best-of-three Championship Series in Lincoln, because of his Olympic gold.
Snyder had to beat another top World star, 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, to make both the 2015 World Team and the 2016 Olympic Team. They were all classic battles. Varner has not wrestled since the 2016 Trials, but has not said if he is done competing. Perhaps he comes back at heavyweight? He may not be in Lincoln, except to coach, but until he officially retires, he remains in the conversation.
At this point, the top challenger to Snyder could be 2017 U.S. Open champion Kyven Gadson. He is just getting started in his freestyle career, with a bronze medal at the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International, a 2016 University Nationals title, and a third place at the 2016 U.S. Open. What is interesting is that Gadson, as a senior at Iowa State, pinned then-freshman Snyder in the 2015 NCAA finals at 197 pounds. That big win by Gadson could play a factor if they meet in Lincoln, even if it only gives Gadson some additional confidence.
The rest of the field includes some young talent and some experienced veterans. Punching his ticket to Lincoln by winning the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial was Dustin Kilgore, who was third at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials. Kilgore, the first and only NCAA champion for Kent State, was No. 2 in this weight class in 2014, when he lost to Varner in the World Team Trials finals. He boasts two Pan American Championships titles, and numerous other medals. He has both the talent and experience to be a major factor in this division.
This weight class has a pair of brothers from Colorado who are both capable of pushing for a place in Championship Series, Micah Burak, who was second at the U.S. Open, and Nathan Burak, who placed third. Micah, the older brother, was an All-American for Penn, and was fourth in the Olympic Trials. Younger brother Nathan, a three-time All-American for Iowa, is just getting his feet wet in Senior freestyle, and won a silver medal at the Paris International this year. Both have excellent skills and strong defense, and seem to give everybody they wrestle a very tough match.
Taking a surprise fourth place at the 2017 U.S. Open was Nikko Reyes, a California native who was an NCAA qualifier for Illinois and transferred to Northern Colorado. Reyes was second behind Gadson at the 2016 University Nationals, and won a match in their best-of-three series. He also was fourth in the 2014 UWW Junior Nationals when he was still at Illinois.
Dropping down from being a college heavyweight to place fifth at the U.S. Open is the tough Ty Walz, who was a three-time All-American at Virginia Tech. For three straight years, Walz placed in freestyle at the University Nationals, taking third in 2016, fifth in 2015 and fourth in 2014. His size and strength could make him a disruptive force at this weight division.
Kallen Kleinschmidt became a U.S. Open All-American for the first time this year with his sixth place finish. He qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City after winning the Last Chance Qualifier in 2016. He has quickly made a mark and shown improvement since becoming a USOTC freestyle resident athlete.
Taking seventh at the U.S. Open was Cal-State Bakersfield NCAA qualifier Matt Williams, his first big freestyle achievement at the Senior level. Back in 2014, he was eighth at the UWW Junior Nationals.
The final qualifier in the field is Greco-Roman specialist Hayden Zillmer, who was an All-American for North Dakota State before focusing on international wrestling. Zillmer was third in the 2016 Olympic Trials at 85 kg in Greco-Roman, and since moving up to 97 kg, moved up to second in the 2017 Greco-Roman World Team Trials. Zillmer piled up a ton of international matches in Greco in the last season. He defeated Timmy McCall in the finals of the Last Chance Qualifier in freestyle by a 6-4 margin.
Winning the Last Chance Qualifier at 125 kg was former UNI star Blaize Cabell, who has wrestled often at 97 kg in recent seasons, including at the 2017 U.S. Open, where he did not place in the top eight. Cabell, who also competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, has the option of dropping to 97 kg in Lincoln if he chooses.
The 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials will be hosted at the Devaney Center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 10. Tickets can be purchased here
The event will be broadcast by Flowrestling.
World Team Trials Qualifiers at 97 kg/213 lbs.
’16 Olympic medalist advances to Trials Finals series – Kyle Snyder, Woodbine, Md. (Titan Mercury WC)
World Team Trials Tournament qualifiers
’16 Bill Farrell highest U.S. medalist – Dustin Kilgore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’17 Dave Schultz highest U.S. medalist – Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
’17 U.S. Open runner-up – Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open third place – Nathan Burak, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open fourth place – Nikko Reyes, Savoy, Ill. (Valley RTC)
’17 U.S. Open fifth place – Ty Walz, Cleveland, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 U.S. Open sixth place – Kallen Kleinschmidt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
’17 U.S. Open seventh place – Matt Williams, Apple Valley, Calif. (Road Runner)
’17 Last Chance Trials Qualifier highest placer –Hayden Zillmer, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials results at 97 kg/213 lbs.
1st - Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC), two matches to one
Varner dec Snyder, 4-4
Snyder dec Varner, 4-0
Snyder dec Varner, 6-1
Challenge Tournament
1st - Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids), 6-0
3rd – Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC) dec. J.D. Bergman (New York AC), 3-1
True Third - Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) dec. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC), 3-2
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