Freestyle WTT Challenge Tournament previews at 70 kg men and 57 kg women
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Victory portrait of Jason Chamberlain from U.S. Open by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors. Victory portrait of Alex Hendrick from the U.S. Open by Robbert Wijtmann.
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
Today, we present previews in men’s freestyle at 70 kg and women’s freestyle at 57 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 70 KG
As a weight class with a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Jason Chamberlain advanced directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in Rochester. Chamberlain is a veteran who has been competitive for many years. The 70 kg weight class has seemed to be his best place, as he has also competed below and above this weight. He had his best domestic tournament by winning in Las Vegas. A Junior and University World team member, Chamberlain is looking to cash in after many years of preparation.
Taking a surprise second place at the U.S. Open was 2018 NCAA runner-up Hayden Hidlay of NC State. He made a big splash with his runner-up finish at the NCAAs as a true freshman, entering the tournament with an unbeaten record. He has made a rapid jump to the highest levels after a successful high school and age-group career. Among those he beat to reach the Vegas finals against Chamberlain were veteran Chase Pami and past Junior World Team member Alec Pantaleo.
The NCAA champion at this weight class was Jason Nolf of Penn State, who is also a member of the Senior National Freestyle Team, after placing third in the 2017 World Team Trials at this weight class last year. Nolf won his second NCAA crown in spite of a late season injury, which was a big question mark right until the NCAAs began. If Nolf is healthy and training, he is capable of big things at this weight class.
2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro placed sixth at the U.S. Open after a 4-2 semifinal loss to Chamberlain, then taking defaults in the consolations down to sixth place. Molinaro will be one of the favorites in Rochester at this weight class based upon his freestyle achievements, including his fifth at the 2016 Olympics, his World Cup title in 2016 and a number of international medals.
Molinaro was second in the 2017 World Team Trials at 65 kg to Zain Retherford, who did not medal in Paris. Retherford won his third NCAA title and second Hodge Trophy for Penn State this year, and is eligible for Rochester. Retherford may not try out this year, and if he does, could be at 70 kg. If he is in the field at either weight, Retherford will be among the favorites.
Pantaleo wrestled back to third place after his semis loss to Hidlay. He was fifth at last year’s U.S. Open as well. Pantaleo was 10th in the 2016 Junior World Championships after making the U.S. team at the Junior World Team Trials. He placed fifth for Michigan at the 2018 NCAAs at the same weight as Nolf and Hidlay.
A veteran star who qualified by winning the Dave Schultz Memorial in November was Kellen Russell, a 2013 U.S. Open champion, who did not enter the Open in Las Vegas. Russell, a two-time NCAA champ at Michigan, had placed in five straight U.S. Opens before this year.
You can not overlook Kyle Ruschell, the 2018 Bill Farrell Memorial International runner-up, who was a member of the 2014-15 Freestyle National Team and won a gold medal at the 2017 Pan American Championships. A former star at Wisconsin, Ruschell did not go to Las Vegas either.
Another experienced freestyler who was fourth at the U.S. Open was Dylan Ness, who has qualified for the World Team Trials a number of times and is a tough match at this level. Placing fifth at the Open was 2017 Junior World silver medalist Ryan Deakin, who is star at Northwestern. Griffin Parriott, the Purdue star who was a 2017 UWW Junior Nationals freestyle champion, placed seventh in Las Vegas to join this deep field.
This weight class should have great matches right from the start. The winner of this weight advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face 2017 World silver medalist James Green of the Sunkist Kids for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 70 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Jason Chamberlain, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial gold medalist – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC)
2018 NCAA champion – Jason Nolf, Yatesboro, Pa. (Penn State)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial silver medalist – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (New York AC/BWC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Hayden Hidlay, Lewistown, Pa. (Wolfpack WC)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Alec Pantaleo, Canton, Mich. (Michigan RTC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Dylan Ness, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm),
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Ryan Deakin. Broomfield, Colo. (Northwestern)
2018 U.S. Open sixth place – Frank Molinaro, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Griffin Parriott, Webster, Minn. (Boilermaker RTC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face World medalist James Green (Sunkist Kids)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 57 kg
As a weight class with a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Alex Hedrick advanced directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in Rochester. The World medalist already in Final X is 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Helen Maroulis, considered by many the most impressive women’s wrestler on earth at this time. There is a small group of qualifiers who will battle for the chance to face Maroulis.
Hedrick has seemingly come out of nowhere, a Californian competing for Simon Fraser University up in Canada. As a freshman at SFU, Hedrick placed second at the WCWA Nationals at 123, losing in the finals by one point to her teammate Dominique Parrish. At the U23 Trials in March, she was third at 57 kg, losing to 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers in the semifinals. But at the U.S. Open, Hedrick powered through a small weight class with four victories. If the world did not know about Hedrick yet, that will no longer be the case.
Taking second after losing to Hedrick in the Vegas finals was Michaela Beck, who is one of the top high school stars in the nation out of New York. Beck has been competing in Senior international events all season. She won a gold at the Flatz Open in Austria, won a bronze at the Pan American Championships in Peru the week after Vegas, placed fourth at the Bill Farrell International and also wrestled in Sweden and Ukraine.
Placing third at the U.S. Open was past Women’s National Team member Brieana Delgado, who qualified for Rochester earlier in the season with a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International. Delgado is an assistant coach at OCU, where she was a star in college. She was also third at the U.S. Open back in 2014. Of the 57 kg field at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, she has the most experience.
Taking fourth at the U.S. Open was another Californian wrestling up at Simon Fraser, Lauren Mason. She was eighth at the 2018 WCWA Nationals in college, then placed second to teammate Parrish at the U23 World Team Trials.
Also making the field by taking fifth in Las Vegas is Megan Black, a three-time WCWA All-American and two-time finalist who completed her career this season at McKendree. Black was 10th in the 2017 U23 World Championships, and has won U23 and University National titles during her career. One other athlete could make this field by winning the UWW Junior World Team Trials down in Irving, Texas this weekend.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face 2017 World champion Helen Maroulis of the Sunkist Kids for the World Team spot.
Women’s Freestyle 57 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Alex Hedrick, Fair Oaks, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial silver medalist – Brieana Delgado, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Aires WC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Michaela Beck, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Lauren Mason, Auburn, Calif. (Unattached)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Megan Black, Batavia, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member –
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face World medalist Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids)
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
Today, we present previews in men’s freestyle at 70 kg and women’s freestyle at 57 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 70 KG
As a weight class with a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Jason Chamberlain advanced directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in Rochester. Chamberlain is a veteran who has been competitive for many years. The 70 kg weight class has seemed to be his best place, as he has also competed below and above this weight. He had his best domestic tournament by winning in Las Vegas. A Junior and University World team member, Chamberlain is looking to cash in after many years of preparation.
Taking a surprise second place at the U.S. Open was 2018 NCAA runner-up Hayden Hidlay of NC State. He made a big splash with his runner-up finish at the NCAAs as a true freshman, entering the tournament with an unbeaten record. He has made a rapid jump to the highest levels after a successful high school and age-group career. Among those he beat to reach the Vegas finals against Chamberlain were veteran Chase Pami and past Junior World Team member Alec Pantaleo.
The NCAA champion at this weight class was Jason Nolf of Penn State, who is also a member of the Senior National Freestyle Team, after placing third in the 2017 World Team Trials at this weight class last year. Nolf won his second NCAA crown in spite of a late season injury, which was a big question mark right until the NCAAs began. If Nolf is healthy and training, he is capable of big things at this weight class.
2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro placed sixth at the U.S. Open after a 4-2 semifinal loss to Chamberlain, then taking defaults in the consolations down to sixth place. Molinaro will be one of the favorites in Rochester at this weight class based upon his freestyle achievements, including his fifth at the 2016 Olympics, his World Cup title in 2016 and a number of international medals.
Molinaro was second in the 2017 World Team Trials at 65 kg to Zain Retherford, who did not medal in Paris. Retherford won his third NCAA title and second Hodge Trophy for Penn State this year, and is eligible for Rochester. Retherford may not try out this year, and if he does, could be at 70 kg. If he is in the field at either weight, Retherford will be among the favorites.
Pantaleo wrestled back to third place after his semis loss to Hidlay. He was fifth at last year’s U.S. Open as well. Pantaleo was 10th in the 2016 Junior World Championships after making the U.S. team at the Junior World Team Trials. He placed fifth for Michigan at the 2018 NCAAs at the same weight as Nolf and Hidlay.
A veteran star who qualified by winning the Dave Schultz Memorial in November was Kellen Russell, a 2013 U.S. Open champion, who did not enter the Open in Las Vegas. Russell, a two-time NCAA champ at Michigan, had placed in five straight U.S. Opens before this year.
You can not overlook Kyle Ruschell, the 2018 Bill Farrell Memorial International runner-up, who was a member of the 2014-15 Freestyle National Team and won a gold medal at the 2017 Pan American Championships. A former star at Wisconsin, Ruschell did not go to Las Vegas either.
Another experienced freestyler who was fourth at the U.S. Open was Dylan Ness, who has qualified for the World Team Trials a number of times and is a tough match at this level. Placing fifth at the Open was 2017 Junior World silver medalist Ryan Deakin, who is star at Northwestern. Griffin Parriott, the Purdue star who was a 2017 UWW Junior Nationals freestyle champion, placed seventh in Las Vegas to join this deep field.
This weight class should have great matches right from the start. The winner of this weight advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face 2017 World silver medalist James Green of the Sunkist Kids for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 70 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Jason Chamberlain, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
Nov. 17 Dave Schultz Memorial gold medalist – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Cliff Keen WC)
2018 NCAA champion – Jason Nolf, Yatesboro, Pa. (Penn State)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial silver medalist – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (New York AC/BWC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Hayden Hidlay, Lewistown, Pa. (Wolfpack WC)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Alec Pantaleo, Canton, Mich. (Michigan RTC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Dylan Ness, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm),
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Ryan Deakin. Broomfield, Colo. (Northwestern)
2018 U.S. Open sixth place – Frank Molinaro, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Griffin Parriott, Webster, Minn. (Boilermaker RTC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X in Lincoln on June 9, to face World medalist James Green (Sunkist Kids)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 57 kg
As a weight class with a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Alex Hedrick advanced directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in Rochester. The World medalist already in Final X is 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Helen Maroulis, considered by many the most impressive women’s wrestler on earth at this time. There is a small group of qualifiers who will battle for the chance to face Maroulis.
Hedrick has seemingly come out of nowhere, a Californian competing for Simon Fraser University up in Canada. As a freshman at SFU, Hedrick placed second at the WCWA Nationals at 123, losing in the finals by one point to her teammate Dominique Parrish. At the U23 Trials in March, she was third at 57 kg, losing to 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers in the semifinals. But at the U.S. Open, Hedrick powered through a small weight class with four victories. If the world did not know about Hedrick yet, that will no longer be the case.
Taking second after losing to Hedrick in the Vegas finals was Michaela Beck, who is one of the top high school stars in the nation out of New York. Beck has been competing in Senior international events all season. She won a gold at the Flatz Open in Austria, won a bronze at the Pan American Championships in Peru the week after Vegas, placed fourth at the Bill Farrell International and also wrestled in Sweden and Ukraine.
Placing third at the U.S. Open was past Women’s National Team member Brieana Delgado, who qualified for Rochester earlier in the season with a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International. Delgado is an assistant coach at OCU, where she was a star in college. She was also third at the U.S. Open back in 2014. Of the 57 kg field at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, she has the most experience.
Taking fourth at the U.S. Open was another Californian wrestling up at Simon Fraser, Lauren Mason. She was eighth at the 2018 WCWA Nationals in college, then placed second to teammate Parrish at the U23 World Team Trials.
Also making the field by taking fifth in Las Vegas is Megan Black, a three-time WCWA All-American and two-time finalist who completed her career this season at McKendree. Black was 10th in the 2017 U23 World Championships, and has won U23 and University National titles during her career. One other athlete could make this field by winning the UWW Junior World Team Trials down in Irving, Texas this weekend.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face 2017 World champion Helen Maroulis of the Sunkist Kids for the World Team spot.
Women’s Freestyle 57 kg
Directly to best-of-three series - 2018 U.S. Open champion – Alex Hedrick, Fair Oaks, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
Other Challenge Tournament entries
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial silver medalist – Brieana Delgado, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Aires WC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Michaela Beck, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Lauren Mason, Auburn, Calif. (Unattached)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Megan Black, Batavia, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member –
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face World medalist Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids)
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