#FreestyleFriday: 2019 National Team wrap-up

As the 2019 season comes to a close, let’s take a look back at what the USA Wrestling Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team this year.

Overall, the 2019 National Team produced five World medals, including Senior golds from Kyle Dake and J’den Cox, Senior bronzes from Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder and a U23 World gold from Bo Nickal.

Below, the National Team, which is comprised of the top-three Americans at each weight, is listed below by college represented. The names that are italicized mark the 2019 Senior World Team members. Athletes with an asterisk* by their names mark those that attended more than one university.

Each athlete has his biggest accomplishment of the season since making the National Team next to his name.

Penn State (6)
Zain Retherford – No. 1 at 65 kg – World Team member
David Taylor – No. 2 at 86 kg – did not compete this season, due to injury
Bo Nickal – No. 2 at 92 kg – U23 World champion
Nico Megaludis – No. 3 at 61 kg -  National Team member
Frank Molinaro – No. 3 at 65 kg - Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
Jason Nolf – No. 3 at 74 kg - silver at Bill Farrell International

Cornell (2)
Kyle Dake – No. 1 at 79 kg – Senior World champion
Yianni Diakomihalis – No. 2 at 65 kg – Yasar Dogu champion

Iowa (2)
Pat Downey – No. 1 at 86 kg*- Pan American Games bronze medalist
Thomas Gilman – No. 2 at 57 kg - Yusup Abdusalamov International champion

Iowa State (2)
Pat Downey – No. 1 at 86 kg* - Pan American Games bronze medalist
Kyven Gadson – No. 2 at 97 kg - bronze at Cerro Pelado International

Minnesota (2)
Gable Steveson – No. 2 at 125 kg - Bill Farrell International champion
Anthony Nelson – No. 3 at 125 kg - National Team member

Nebraska (2)
James Green – No. 1 at 70 kg – silver at Alans International

Jordan Burroughs – No. 1 at 74 kg – Senior World bronze medalist

North Carolina State (2)
Nick Gwiazdowski – No. 1 at 125 kg - Pan American Games champion
Mike Macchiavello – No. 3 at 92 kg - silver at Bill Farrell International

Ohio State (2)
Kyle Snyder – No. 1 at 97 kg – Senior World bronze medalist
Nick Heflin – No. 3 at 86 kg - National Team member

Oklahoma State (2)
Daton Fix – No. 1 at 57 kg – Pan American Games champion
Alex Dieringer – No. 2 at 79 kg – Yasar Dogu champion

Arizona State (1)
Zahid Valencia – No. 3 at 79 kg – National Team member

Illinois (1)
Isaiah Martinez – No. 2 at 74 kg - Bill Farrell International champion

Iowa Central CC (1)
Pat Downey – No. 1 at 86 kg* - Pan American Games bronze medalist

Lehigh (1)
Darian Cruz – No. 3 at 57 kg – bronze at Dave Schultz Memorial International

Missouri (1)
J’den Cox – No. 1 at 92 kg – Senior World champion

Northern Iowa (1)
Joe Colon – No. 2 at 61 kg - Pan American Championships gold medalist

Northwestern (1)
Ryan Deakin – No. 2 at 70 kg – National Team member

Rutgers (1)
Anthony Ashnault – No. 3 at 70 kg - Pan American Championships gold medalist

Virginia Tech (1)
Ty Walz – No. 3 at 97 kg - silver at Alexander Medved Prizes

Wisconsin (1)
Tyler Graff – No. 1 at 61 kg – fifth at Senior World Championships