Youngsters look to challenge veterans at Final X: Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. – What wrestling provides is a vast collection of personalities. On Friday, a day before Final X: Lincoln, that diversity was on full display.

It was nice mix of old and new, grizzled veterans of international and national battles and some youngsters who are in town to try and prove that, despite their youth, they are ready to represent the United States in Kazakhstan this September at the 2019 World Championships. Five men’s and women’s freestyle weight classes, and five Greco-Roman weight classes will be determined Saturday, rounding out the U.S. squad. The other weight classes (minus 79 kg) were determined last weekend on the campus of Rutgers University.

Four “old-timers” – Jordan Burroughs, Ildar Hafizov, Tyler Graff, and Katherine Shai – have seen their 30^th birthdays come and go. And all, not just those veterans, have arrived in Lincoln at different points, mentally and physically, with one goal. Win two matches on Saturday in either the noon or 6 p.m. session.

“I’m the old man now,” said Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids), who won his first World-level gold medal in freestyle in 2011 and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. The dominant force at 74 kg in American freestyle reflected on those who have challenged him, men like Kyle Dake and David Taylor, among many who have taken their best shot against the former Cornhusker. Burroughs has been a part of rising force in U.S. freestyle, pointing out the 2010 squad’s struggles. Almost a decade later, U.S. freestyle is among the world’s best and, as Burroughs pointed out, just making an American team is getting more and more difficult every cycle. Burroughs’ next challenger is four-time NCAA finalist and two-time champion Isaiah Martinez (Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC), who lost twice to Burroughs at the 2018 Final X: Lincoln.

For the elder statesmen of the group, the 31-year-old Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) his motivation has much more meaning than simple wrestling. In 2008, he wrestled in the Olympics for his native Uzbekistan, but moved to the U.S. and made his first U.S. Greco-Roman squad in 2017. The 60 kg man, who squares off with Leslie Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs/U.S. Army WCAP), has not seen his family in five years.

“I am very thankful for the World Class Athlete Program for having me because without the Army I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Hafizov said. “I am living a dream right now. I want my spot, to go to Kazakhstan because my family will be there and I haven’t seen them for five years now.”

For Shai (Denver, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) her journey to Lincoln includes the birth of a baby less than two years ago. She faces 2018 World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC) in a women’s freestyle best-of-three at 53 kg. James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) has had a long few days. His wife gave birth at 1:30 a.m. (CST) Friday morning, meaning the 2017 World silver medalist in freestyle has a few things on his mind this weekend, including dispatching Ryan Deakin (Broomfield, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC) for the U.S. freestyle spot at 70 kg.

Among those “rising stars” there is 18-year-old Colton Schultz, trying to join the likes of Dan Hodge, who competed in an Olympic tournament before setting foot on the University of Oklahoma campus back in the 1950s. There is Oklahoman Daton Fix, a 21-year-old sophomore-to-be who lost a tough NCAA finals bout in folkstyle last March in Pittsburgh.

Schultz turns 19 this September. The Arizona State signee won a Cadet World title in 2017 and a bronze at the 2018 Junior World Championships and has grown up watching many of those at the press conference Friday, including his opponent, Adam Coon, a 2018 World silver medalist in Greco-Roman. Schultz and Coon square off at 130 kg during Saturday night’s session.

“It’s been pretty cool to watch everything he’s done,” Schultz said. “Seeing USA Wrestling on the podium, especially Greco, is pretty cool. I have a lot of respect for him for that. At the same time, I know he is the guy I have to go through to be a World champ, to be an Olympic champ.

“I just know that if I wrestle well things can go my way.”

Burroughs and Martinez are pitted as a co-Main Event with Fix (Sand Springs, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) and former Iowa Hawkeye Thomas Gillman (Iowa City, Iowa/ Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC). Gillman, a 2017 World silver medalist in freestyle, usually a man known for a quote or two, simply said that “if you don’t have something nice to say about somebody then don’t say anything at all.” He left it at that sitting next to 2019 NCAA runner-up Fix, who won the U.S. Open earlier this year.

For a sport that spends much of the time in close physical contact Friday’s press conference was a breath of fresh air. There was no taunting, no “why so serious moments” and much respect among the 30 athletes fighting for the same thing. Ironically, the first time any real contact was involved came when Burroughs patted Martinez on the back while the former Illini star was giving praise to his Saturday opponent. Most expect things to get very physical on Saturday. Picking a “Main Event” is not easy. There are plenty to choose from.

● Four-time World champion Adeline Gray (Denver, Colo./New York AC), perhaps the best-dressed of the participants, faces Precious Bell (Lancaster, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) for the 76 kg spot in women’s freestyle.

● A well-rested Joe Colon (Fresno, Calif./Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC) meets veteran Tyler Graff (Princeton, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/NJRTC) in what could be a major battle for the 61 kg spot in men’s freestyle. Colon earned a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships, while Graff, runner-up at the 2014 NCAA championships in folkstyle, has continued to improve.

● Any tournament featuring Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) means Main Event. The 2016 Olympic champion and 2018 World silver medalist, like Burroughs, has been the face of American freestyle. His opponent Saturday night is a familiar one, Kyven Gadson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids/Cyclone RTC), who pinned Snyder in the 2015 NCAA finals.

Saturday’s first session has plenty of star power.

● G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs/Sunkist Kids) has been busy and faces Lucas Sheridan (Colorado Springs/U.S. Army WCAP) for a Greco spot at 97 kg. Hancock joined Gray as the best-dressed of the day. His athleticism and high-flying style are a threat to anybody in the world.

● The U.S. Marine Corps was well-represented on Friday and will be on Saturday. Xavier Johnson (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) and Raymond Bunker (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) attended in full dress uniform. Paying respect to the USMC and their opponents was at the top of their list. Bunker, who admitted to not knowing what Greco was in 2015, faces Air Force product Alex Mossing (Colorado Springs/Air Force ROTC) for a spot at 72 kg, while Johnson and Ryan Mango (Colorado Springs/U.S. Army WCAP) will have an old fashioned Army-USMC brawl for the 63 kg berth in Greco.

● Veteran Alli Ragan (Iowa City/Sunkist Kids/Hawkeye WC) and Lauren Louive (Iowa City/New York AC/Hawkeye WC) open the day at 59 kg, while Jacarra Winchester (Colorado Springs/Titan Mercury WC/OTC) and Dominque Parrish (Scotts Valley, Calif./Sunkist Kids) seek the 55 kg spot in women’s freestyle.

● And certainly worthy of top billing is 62 kg in women’s freestyle. Mallory Velte (Sacramento, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), 2018 World bronze medalist, meets three-time U.S. Open champ Kayla Miracle (Iowa City/Sunkist Kids/Hawkeye WC) in what should be a very physical encounter.