Special wrestle-off for Junior World Team spot to take place this weekend in Akron

2016 Junior World bronze medalist and 2017 Senior World Team member G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/Sunkist Kids) has challenged 2017 Junior Greco-Roman World Team Trials champion Blake Smith (Peoria, Ariz./NMU-OTS) for the 96 kg/211 lbs. spot on the 2017 Junior Greco World Team.

Because Hancock is a returning 2016 Junior World medalist and competed in the 2017 Senior World Team Trials, he is afforded the opportunity for a delayed wrestle-off for the Junior World Team spot. That wrestle-off will take place this weekend in Akron, Ohio, at the UWW Cadet and University Nationals.

The two will weigh-in on Thursday night for the best-of-three series. Bout one of the series will kick off the weekend at 9 a.m. Friday.

At the World Team Trials in Las Vegas in April, Smith tore through the 96 kg bracket, putting up three technical falls en route to the finals series. There, he faced Haydn Maley, who took the first bout with a fall in 1:33. In the second match, Smith rallied with a 50-second fall to force the series to a third round. Trailing 9-6 in the first period, Smith stuck Maley in 1:02 to lock in the championship.

That same weekend, Hancock won the Senior World Team Trials spot at 98 kg/216 lbs., taking out familiar foe Hayden Zillmer in the finals in two matches. Hancock took the first match, 6-4, before securing his spot on the team with a 2-0 win in the second bout.

Fans can keep up with all the action, watching live on Flowrestling.org or following @USAWrestling on Twitter.