Gwiazdowski accepts Final X berth, and will compete for U.S. World Team at Final X: Rutgers on June 8
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Two-time World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC) has officially accepted his berth in Final X. He will battle for the spot at 125 kg/275 lbs. on the 2019 U.S. World Team in men’s freestyle at Final X: Rutgers on Saturday, June 8.
The event will be hosted at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. Exclusive live and on-demand coverage will be provided on FloWrestling, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4.
Gwiazdowski has won World bronze medals the last two years, first at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France and then at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Gwiazdowski has won the Pan American Championships the last two years (2018 and 2019). Gwiazdowski won a bronze medal at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. He was also a 2017 U.S. Open champion.
Gwiazdowski was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State. As a freshman, he was an NCAA All-American for Binghamton. He won his NCAA titles for the Wolfpack in 2014 and 2015. He was a two-time New York state champion for Duanesburg High School.
To order tickets, go to the tickets tab on the official Final X website at: www.FinalX.tv
The Final X series will determine the 2019 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines, and is held in two different locations and dates in June.
The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams allow for 2018 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X at the weight class where he/she won a medal in 2018. 2018 World medalists must declare, in writing, their intent to accept the automatic berth into by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1. Gwiazdowski has met this requirement and accepted his qualification.
In Final X, the top two wrestlers in each World Championships weight class will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2019 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, September 14-22, 2019
There are two sessions in each Final X event. The series at 125 kg, featuring Gwiazdowski, has not yet been assigned a session time.
The Final X opponent for Gwiazdowski will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 16-19.
The weight classes assigned to the Final X: Rutgers are:
• Men’s Freestyle: 65 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
• Women’s Freestyle: 50 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, 72 kg
• Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg
Ticket prices for Final X are:
• VIP Floor - $100
• Reserved seating (100 level) - $65
• General Admission (200 – 300 level) - $40
• Group (GA only) – Buy 10 or more tickets and get $40 off
In addition to Final X: Rutgers, the series also includes Final X: Lincoln on June 15 at the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Final X is an exciting partnership between USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, and FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content.
FINAL X: RUTGERS
At the RAC in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, June 8
Qualifiers to date
Men’s FS 125 kg - Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 79 kg - Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 86 kg – David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 92 kg – J’den Cox (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 68 kg - Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
FINAL X: LINCOLN
At Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 15
Qualifiers to date
Men’s FS 74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 97 kg - Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 62 kg - Mallory Velte (Sacramento, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 53 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 76 kg – Adeline Gray (Denver, Colo./New York AC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s GR 130 kg - Adam Coon (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
NICK GWIAZDOWSKI
Residence: Raleigh, N.C.
Club: Titan Mercury WC
College: North Carolina State, Binghamton
High School: Duanesburg, N.Y.
Born: December 30, 1992 Height: 6-1
• 2017 and 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 and 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• 2016 Bill Farrell International Champion
• Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2017)
• Third in 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)
• Two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State
• Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman
• Two-time New York state high school champion
About FloSports
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Wrestling, Rugby, MMA, Football, Track, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 237,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.
The event will be hosted at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. Exclusive live and on-demand coverage will be provided on FloWrestling, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4.
Gwiazdowski has won World bronze medals the last two years, first at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France and then at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Gwiazdowski has won the Pan American Championships the last two years (2018 and 2019). Gwiazdowski won a bronze medal at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. He was also a 2017 U.S. Open champion.
Gwiazdowski was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State. As a freshman, he was an NCAA All-American for Binghamton. He won his NCAA titles for the Wolfpack in 2014 and 2015. He was a two-time New York state champion for Duanesburg High School.
To order tickets, go to the tickets tab on the official Final X website at: www.FinalX.tv
The Final X series will determine the 2019 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines, and is held in two different locations and dates in June.
The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams allow for 2018 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X at the weight class where he/she won a medal in 2018. 2018 World medalists must declare, in writing, their intent to accept the automatic berth into by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1. Gwiazdowski has met this requirement and accepted his qualification.
In Final X, the top two wrestlers in each World Championships weight class will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2019 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, September 14-22, 2019
There are two sessions in each Final X event. The series at 125 kg, featuring Gwiazdowski, has not yet been assigned a session time.
The Final X opponent for Gwiazdowski will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., May 16-19.
The weight classes assigned to the Final X: Rutgers are:
• Men’s Freestyle: 65 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg
• Women’s Freestyle: 50 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, 72 kg
• Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg
Ticket prices for Final X are:
• VIP Floor - $100
• Reserved seating (100 level) - $65
• General Admission (200 – 300 level) - $40
• Group (GA only) – Buy 10 or more tickets and get $40 off
In addition to Final X: Rutgers, the series also includes Final X: Lincoln on June 15 at the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Final X is an exciting partnership between USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, and FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content.
FINAL X: RUTGERS
At the RAC in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, June 8
Qualifiers to date
Men’s FS 125 kg - Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 79 kg - Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 86 kg – David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 92 kg – J’den Cox (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 68 kg - Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
FINAL X: LINCOLN
At Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 15
Qualifiers to date
Men’s FS 74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s FS 97 kg - Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 62 kg - Mallory Velte (Sacramento, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 53 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Women’s FS 76 kg – Adeline Gray (Denver, Colo./New York AC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Men’s GR 130 kg - Adam Coon (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC/Cliff Keen WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
NICK GWIAZDOWSKI
Residence: Raleigh, N.C.
Club: Titan Mercury WC
College: North Carolina State, Binghamton
High School: Duanesburg, N.Y.
Born: December 30, 1992 Height: 6-1
• 2017 and 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 and 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• 2016 Bill Farrell International Champion
• Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2017)
• Third in 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)
• Two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State
• Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman
• Two-time New York state high school champion
About FloSports
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Wrestling, Rugby, MMA, Football, Track, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 237,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.
