#FreestyleFriday: 2019 National Team wrap-up
by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
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