Q&A about Senior Nationals in Coralville, Iowa, October 9-11
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
With the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic ever-changing, USA Wrestling is working to provide as many details as possible available as soon as possible. The event has been organized to meet the demand from Senior wrestlers for a competition as soon as it was safe to participate, and USA Wrestling has worked with its local organizing committee in the Iowa City area to provide this opportunity.
Is this only for Senior-age athletes, or are there other divisions? – This event is only for Senior-age athletes, with competition in each Olympic discipline.
Is this a qualifier for Olympic Team Trials? – NO. It is not an Olympic Trials Qualifier. At this time, there have not been any approved changes in the Olympic Trials procedures. Potential changes are now going through the committee and USOPC approval process. Regardless of those decisions, this event will not be included as part of the Olympic Trials process.
Is this a qualifier for a 2020 Senior World Championships? If United World Wrestling (UWW) confirms that a 2020 Senior World Championships will be held in December in Serbia, and if USA Wrestling decides to attend the event, the appropriate Sport Committees will set those qualifying standards. It is quite possible that the event in Iowa City would become the qualifier for a 2020 World Championships. UWW is expected to meet in August to review whether to hold their proposed World Championships events in 2020.
How many weight classes are there, and could that change? At this time, there will be only the six Olympic weight classes in each of the Olympic disciplines. However, if this event becomes a 2020 World Team Trials, there would be 10 World Championships weight classes in each Olympic discipline.
Will it be a best-of-three finals? NO, as a Senior Nationals event, there is a single championship match. If this becomes a World Team Trials, then it would change to a best-of-three series.
Is there prize money? NO, there is no prize money for this event.
Does this change National Team stipend or National Team rankings? NO, this event has no impact on the National Team support or ranking.
Are athletes turning 18 in 2021 eligible? These athletes are not eligible for the Senior Nationals in Coralville. Only athletes who are Senior-eligible in 2020 will be able to participate.
Can foreign athletes participate: NO, this is a Senior Nationals and no foreign athletes are allowed to enter.
Can college athletes participate? YES, if college athletes meet the age requirements and are U.S. citizens, they may enter the Senior Nationals. For questions regarding who can pay the expenses for a college athlete to attend, coaches and athletes should check with their institution’s compliance officer.
Will there be seeding at the Senior Nationals? YES, seeding meetings will be held virtually, and the seeding rules of past Senior Nationals will be used for this event.
Will the results affect seeding at the Olympic Trials? YES. As with any Senior-level competition in the USA or internationally, head-to-head matches and/or common opponents from this event can be considered for seeding at the Olympic Trials.
When can athletes begin to register?: Registration opens Thursday, August 20
How will USA Wrestling make the competition safe? USA Wrestling’s Return to Mat Guidelines will be followed with some additional safety measures. The event will follow local and state health and safety requirements.
When can I buy tickets and what do they cost? Fans will be able to order tickets starting at 12:00 noon CT on Monday, August 3 by visiting www.xtreamarena.com. Ticket prices for the Senior Nationals will be: All Session Adult $45; All Session Youth $25; Single Day Adult $35; Single Day Youth $15; All Session Coaches $20 (must have current USAW Leader Membership)
What is the information on coaches passes?: All Session Coaches are $20 (must have current USA Wrestling Leader Membership). Must purchase through USA Wrestling Membership website, which will be available August 20th
When can I apply for media accreditation to cover the tournament? USA Wrestling will open up its online media accreditation system in order for journalists to seek accreditation. However, all journalists must be in compliance with USA Wrestling’s Athlete Safety Media Policy for the 2020-21 membership year, which requires all media to have passed USA Wrestling’s background check and also have current Safe Sport certification. No acceptances will be given until after the new membership year begins on September 1. Some journalists may need to update their background check or SafeSport after September 1. In addition, due to space availability and COVID-19 restrictions, there may be a limitation on the number of media permitted to attend. Contact Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling,org with questions.
Is this only for Senior-age athletes, or are there other divisions? – This event is only for Senior-age athletes, with competition in each Olympic discipline.
Is this a qualifier for Olympic Team Trials? – NO. It is not an Olympic Trials Qualifier. At this time, there have not been any approved changes in the Olympic Trials procedures. Potential changes are now going through the committee and USOPC approval process. Regardless of those decisions, this event will not be included as part of the Olympic Trials process.
Is this a qualifier for a 2020 Senior World Championships? If United World Wrestling (UWW) confirms that a 2020 Senior World Championships will be held in December in Serbia, and if USA Wrestling decides to attend the event, the appropriate Sport Committees will set those qualifying standards. It is quite possible that the event in Iowa City would become the qualifier for a 2020 World Championships. UWW is expected to meet in August to review whether to hold their proposed World Championships events in 2020.
How many weight classes are there, and could that change? At this time, there will be only the six Olympic weight classes in each of the Olympic disciplines. However, if this event becomes a 2020 World Team Trials, there would be 10 World Championships weight classes in each Olympic discipline.
Will it be a best-of-three finals? NO, as a Senior Nationals event, there is a single championship match. If this becomes a World Team Trials, then it would change to a best-of-three series.
Is there prize money? NO, there is no prize money for this event.
Does this change National Team stipend or National Team rankings? NO, this event has no impact on the National Team support or ranking.
Are athletes turning 18 in 2021 eligible? These athletes are not eligible for the Senior Nationals in Coralville. Only athletes who are Senior-eligible in 2020 will be able to participate.
Can foreign athletes participate: NO, this is a Senior Nationals and no foreign athletes are allowed to enter.
Can college athletes participate? YES, if college athletes meet the age requirements and are U.S. citizens, they may enter the Senior Nationals. For questions regarding who can pay the expenses for a college athlete to attend, coaches and athletes should check with their institution’s compliance officer.
Will there be seeding at the Senior Nationals? YES, seeding meetings will be held virtually, and the seeding rules of past Senior Nationals will be used for this event.
Will the results affect seeding at the Olympic Trials? YES. As with any Senior-level competition in the USA or internationally, head-to-head matches and/or common opponents from this event can be considered for seeding at the Olympic Trials.
When can athletes begin to register?: Registration opens Thursday, August 20
How will USA Wrestling make the competition safe? USA Wrestling’s Return to Mat Guidelines will be followed with some additional safety measures. The event will follow local and state health and safety requirements.
When can I buy tickets and what do they cost? Fans will be able to order tickets starting at 12:00 noon CT on Monday, August 3 by visiting www.xtreamarena.com. Ticket prices for the Senior Nationals will be: All Session Adult $45; All Session Youth $25; Single Day Adult $35; Single Day Youth $15; All Session Coaches $20 (must have current USAW Leader Membership)
What is the information on coaches passes?: All Session Coaches are $20 (must have current USA Wrestling Leader Membership). Must purchase through USA Wrestling Membership website, which will be available August 20th
When can I apply for media accreditation to cover the tournament? USA Wrestling will open up its online media accreditation system in order for journalists to seek accreditation. However, all journalists must be in compliance with USA Wrestling’s Athlete Safety Media Policy for the 2020-21 membership year, which requires all media to have passed USA Wrestling’s background check and also have current Safe Sport certification. No acceptances will be given until after the new membership year begins on September 1. Some journalists may need to update their background check or SafeSport after September 1. In addition, due to space availability and COVID-19 restrictions, there may be a limitation on the number of media permitted to attend. Contact Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling,org with questions.
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