Freestyle World Team Trials preview at 70 kg/154 lbs.
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
James Green of the USA nails a leg attack against Nobuyoshi Takojima of Japan in the 2017 Beat the Streets Benefit in Times Square. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-fall.com
Ever since completing his career at the Nebraska, where he was a four-time All-American, James Green has been one of the best freestyle wrestlers in the nation. Green has staked his claim at 70 kg, and was a World bronze medal at the weight class in 2015, and placed seventh in the world in 2016. Not only is he a skilled athlete with sharp technical skills, but he also has the necessary heart to win under pressure.
Green has won some important international events in recent seasons, including a gold at the World Cup in Los Angeles in 2016, a silver at the 2016 Pan American Championships, a silver at the 2014 University Worlds and a gold at the Grand Prix of Spain. He was second at the World Team Trials at this weight in 2014, and has been the top American here for the last two years. Green will be competing on his home mats in Lincoln at the World Team Trials, which could be a big advantage as well.
Having his best performance on the national level this year is Nazar Kulchytskyy, who was second behind Green at the U.S. Open in a competitive finals. A native of Ukraine, Kulchytskyy was a star for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he won three NCAA Div. III national titles. A talented freestyle wrestler, he has made a run at the last few U.S. World Teams. He has won gold medals in international events in France and Cuba and seems very comfortable at this weight class.
Veteran Chase Pami had his best U.S. Open this year with a third-place finish in Las Vegas, to go along with a fourth place in 2011 and fifth place in 2013. Pami also added a gold medal at the Paris International this January. An NCAA runner-up for Cal Poly, Pami has continued to develop his craft in freestyle, now training under Brandon Slay at the Pennsylvania RTC.
Placing fourth at the U.S. Open was Jason Nolf, a 2017 NCAA champion for Penn State who is just scratching the surface in his freestyle career. Nolf was second behind high school sensation Mark Hall in the 2016 UWW Junior World Team Trials. Hall, who is now Nolf’s teammate at Penn State, went on to win the Junior World title at 74 kg last year. Nolf fits real well at the 70 kg weight class, and continues to develop his freestyle game under Olympic champions Cael Sanderson and Jake Varner and the other great coaches at Penn State.
There could be two stars who compete at 70 kg who did not qualify at this weight class. 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy, who was fourth at the 2017 U.S. Open at 66 kg, is reportedly going up to 70 kg in a recent report from Flowrestling. Kennedy was third at the 2016 World Team Trials at 70 kg in November, an indication of his potential to do very well against this field.
Also, two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist Isaiah Martinez of Illinois won the Last Chance Qualifier at 74 kg in May. Martinez had dropped to 70 kg for the 2016 World Team Trials in November. Although he is expected at 74 kg, he has shown he can make this weight.
Young star Alec Pantaleo of Michigan placed fifth at the U.S. Open. Pantaleo made the UWW Junior World Team in 2016, and finished 10th in the Junior World Championships at 66 kg. Pantaleo was sixth at the NCAA Championships for Michigan in 2016 as a sophomore, and took a redshirt season this year.
One of the most experienced and talented in this field is Jason Chamberlain, who finished sixth at the U.S. Open. Chamberlain lost twice to Pantaleo in Vegas, and also dropped a match to Nolf. He was a 2015 Pan American champion and competed at both the University Worlds and Junior Worlds for Team USA. He is now a coach for the new program at Fresno State. Chamberlain was fourth in the 2016 World Team Trials at this weight, losing to Kennedy in the True Third match.
A relative newcomer to Senior freestyle scene this year is former NC State star Tommy Gantt, who was seventh at the U.S. Open this year. Gantt also boasts a sixth place finish at the 2014 U.S. Open while still in college. Gantt was eighth in the 2016 NCAA Championships for the Wolfpack.
The final entry in the field was four-time NCAA All-American Dylan Ness of Minnesota, who won the Last Chance Qualifier in Minnesota in May. Ness pinned former Lehigh star Santiago Martinez in the finals to secure the spot. Ness has qualified for the World Team Trials two other times, including his first appearance while he was still a high school star in Minnesota back in 2010.
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 70 kg/154 lbs.
’17 U.S. Open champion advances to Trials finals series – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
World Team Trials Tournament qualifiers
’17 NCAA Division I champion – Jason Nolf, Yatesboro, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC/Penn State)
’17 U.S. Open runner-up – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Madison, Wisc. (Titan Mercury WC/Wisconsin RTC)
’17 U.S. Open third place – Steven Pami, Philadelphia, Pa. (Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC)
’17 U.S. Open fifth place – Alec Pantaleo, Canton, Mich. (Michigan RTC)
’17 U.S. Open sixth place – Jason Chamberlain, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC)
’17 U.S. Open seventh place – Tommy Gantt, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack WC)
’17 Last Chance Trials Qualifier highest placer – Dylan Ness, Bloomington, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2016 World Team Trials results at 70 kg/154 lbs.
1st - James Green (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) dec. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), two matches to none
Bout One – Green dec. Oliver, 2-1
Bout Two – Green dec. Oliver, 4-3
3rd – Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Adam Hall (Titan Mercury WC), 6-1
True third place – Jimmy Kennedy (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0, 4:02
Ever since completing his career at the Nebraska, where he was a four-time All-American, James Green has been one of the best freestyle wrestlers in the nation. Green has staked his claim at 70 kg, and was a World bronze medal at the weight class in 2015, and placed seventh in the world in 2016. Not only is he a skilled athlete with sharp technical skills, but he also has the necessary heart to win under pressure.
Green has won some important international events in recent seasons, including a gold at the World Cup in Los Angeles in 2016, a silver at the 2016 Pan American Championships, a silver at the 2014 University Worlds and a gold at the Grand Prix of Spain. He was second at the World Team Trials at this weight in 2014, and has been the top American here for the last two years. Green will be competing on his home mats in Lincoln at the World Team Trials, which could be a big advantage as well.
Having his best performance on the national level this year is Nazar Kulchytskyy, who was second behind Green at the U.S. Open in a competitive finals. A native of Ukraine, Kulchytskyy was a star for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he won three NCAA Div. III national titles. A talented freestyle wrestler, he has made a run at the last few U.S. World Teams. He has won gold medals in international events in France and Cuba and seems very comfortable at this weight class.
Veteran Chase Pami had his best U.S. Open this year with a third-place finish in Las Vegas, to go along with a fourth place in 2011 and fifth place in 2013. Pami also added a gold medal at the Paris International this January. An NCAA runner-up for Cal Poly, Pami has continued to develop his craft in freestyle, now training under Brandon Slay at the Pennsylvania RTC.
Placing fourth at the U.S. Open was Jason Nolf, a 2017 NCAA champion for Penn State who is just scratching the surface in his freestyle career. Nolf was second behind high school sensation Mark Hall in the 2016 UWW Junior World Team Trials. Hall, who is now Nolf’s teammate at Penn State, went on to win the Junior World title at 74 kg last year. Nolf fits real well at the 70 kg weight class, and continues to develop his freestyle game under Olympic champions Cael Sanderson and Jake Varner and the other great coaches at Penn State.
There could be two stars who compete at 70 kg who did not qualify at this weight class. 2014 World Team member Jimmy Kennedy, who was fourth at the 2017 U.S. Open at 66 kg, is reportedly going up to 70 kg in a recent report from Flowrestling. Kennedy was third at the 2016 World Team Trials at 70 kg in November, an indication of his potential to do very well against this field.
Also, two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist Isaiah Martinez of Illinois won the Last Chance Qualifier at 74 kg in May. Martinez had dropped to 70 kg for the 2016 World Team Trials in November. Although he is expected at 74 kg, he has shown he can make this weight.
Young star Alec Pantaleo of Michigan placed fifth at the U.S. Open. Pantaleo made the UWW Junior World Team in 2016, and finished 10th in the Junior World Championships at 66 kg. Pantaleo was sixth at the NCAA Championships for Michigan in 2016 as a sophomore, and took a redshirt season this year.
One of the most experienced and talented in this field is Jason Chamberlain, who finished sixth at the U.S. Open. Chamberlain lost twice to Pantaleo in Vegas, and also dropped a match to Nolf. He was a 2015 Pan American champion and competed at both the University Worlds and Junior Worlds for Team USA. He is now a coach for the new program at Fresno State. Chamberlain was fourth in the 2016 World Team Trials at this weight, losing to Kennedy in the True Third match.
A relative newcomer to Senior freestyle scene this year is former NC State star Tommy Gantt, who was seventh at the U.S. Open this year. Gantt also boasts a sixth place finish at the 2014 U.S. Open while still in college. Gantt was eighth in the 2016 NCAA Championships for the Wolfpack.
The final entry in the field was four-time NCAA All-American Dylan Ness of Minnesota, who won the Last Chance Qualifier in Minnesota in May. Ness pinned former Lehigh star Santiago Martinez in the finals to secure the spot. Ness has qualified for the World Team Trials two other times, including his first appearance while he was still a high school star in Minnesota back in 2010.
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 70 kg/154 lbs.
’17 U.S. Open champion advances to Trials finals series – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
World Team Trials Tournament qualifiers
’17 NCAA Division I champion – Jason Nolf, Yatesboro, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC/Penn State)
’17 U.S. Open runner-up – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Madison, Wisc. (Titan Mercury WC/Wisconsin RTC)
’17 U.S. Open third place – Steven Pami, Philadelphia, Pa. (Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC)
’17 U.S. Open fifth place – Alec Pantaleo, Canton, Mich. (Michigan RTC)
’17 U.S. Open sixth place – Jason Chamberlain, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC)
’17 U.S. Open seventh place – Tommy Gantt, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack WC)
’17 Last Chance Trials Qualifier highest placer – Dylan Ness, Bloomington, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2016 World Team Trials results at 70 kg/154 lbs.
1st - James Green (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) dec. Jordan Oliver, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), two matches to none
Bout One – Green dec. Oliver, 2-1
Bout Two – Green dec. Oliver, 4-3
3rd – Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Adam Hall (Titan Mercury WC), 6-1
True third place – Jimmy Kennedy (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0, 4:02
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