2009 U.S. World Team Trials Preview (Freestyle)

The 2009 U.S. World Team Trials take place Saturday and Sunday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The champions will represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Herning, Denmark.

This year’s field in the freestyle competition is full of young, rising stars looking to break through. At the 2009 U.S. Nationals, all seven champions crowned were first-time winners. Those wrestlers included Nick Simmons (55 kg), Mike Zadick (60 kg), Trent Paulson (66 kg), Travis Paulson (74 kg), Jake Herbert (84 kg), Jake Varner (96 kg), and Steve Mocco (120 kg).

Below is a weight-by-weight preview of the freestyle competition at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials.

55 kg:
With 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo not competing, Nick Simmons becomes the favorite to win this weight class and represent the U.S. at the World Championships. Simmons broke through and won his first U.S. Nationals title in April, defeating Obe Blanc in the finals. Simmons receives an automatic berth in the best-of-3 finals. High school phenom Logan Stieber placed third at the U.S. Nationals, but is coming off a loss last weekend to Tony Ramos in the finals of the Junior FILA World Team Trials. Veteran Danny Felix had a disappointing U.S. Nationals where he failed to place, but he received a wildcard into the event. He placed second in the 2009 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open. Michael Martinez, a college wrestler at Wyoming, is an experienced freestyle who spent time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Other wrestlers who could figure into the mix at this weight class include college wrestlers Ben Kjar, Ben Ashmore, and Brad Pataky.

Finals Prediction: Nick Simmons over Danny Felix

60 kg:

Mike Zadick defeated Shawn Bunch to win the U.S. Nationals title at 60 kg (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Mike Zadick, who won a World silver medal in 2006, was impressive in winning the U.S. Nationals title last month. But he has struggled in the last two world-level events in which he has competed, going a combined 0-3, which has given him extra motivation going into this season. Zadick has earned an automatic berth in the best-of-3 finals. Shawn Bunch will be looking to make his first U.S. World team after finishing second to Zadick at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials and 2009 U.S. Nationals. Matt Valenti, who won two NCAA titles for Penn, finished third at the U.S. Nationals. Andy Simmons wrestled well at the U.S. Nationals, finishing fourth. There are several young, talented wrestlers in this weight class who have the ability to challenge, including Coleman Scott, who finished runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Nationals, and collegiate stars Reece Humphrey, Nick Gallick, and Daniel Dennis. Jordan Oliver, who recently made the FILA Junior World team, also qualified in this weight class.

Finals Prediction: Mike Zadick over Shawn Bunch

66 kg:
Trent Paulson, a Council Bluffs native, is coming off his first U.S. Nationals title last month. Paulson, who placed third at the Alexander Medved International, will be looking to make his first U.S. World team wrestling in his hometown. He gets to sit out the Challenge Tournament since he won the U.S. Nationals. Doug Schwab placed fifth in the 2007 World Championships, but went 0-2 at the Olympic Games, and then lost twice at the U.S. Nationals to place fourth. Brent Metcalf finished runner-up at the U.S. Nationals, just weeks after he competed at the NCAAs for Iowa. U.S. Nationals third-place finisher Brian Stith has had a great freestyle season. He was runner-up at both the New York AC event and Dave Schultz Memorial … and also has two wins over Schwab. Jared Frayer, who was runner-up at the 2006 U.S. World Team Trials, will contend for the title. He finished fifth at the U.S. Nationals after a 10-month layoff. Former U.S. World team member Chris Bono is coming off a disappointing U.S. Nationals performance, where he placed seventh, but he should also figure into the mix. Earlier this year, Bono defeated Stith to win the Dave Schultz Memorial. Josh Churella, who trains at the Overtime School of Wrestling, is a young and talented wrestler who could make some noise in this weight class. Another wrestler to keep your eye on is collegiate star Darrion Caldwell, who received a wildcard into the event.

Finals Prediction: Doug Schwab over Trent Paulson

74 kg:

Dustin Schlatter finished third at the U.S. Nationals at 74 kg (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Travis Paulson, like twin brother Trent, won his first U.S. Nationals title in April, which gives him an automatic berth in the best-of-3 finals, and will be looking to make his first U.S. World team wrestling in his hometown of Council Bluffs. Keith Gavin, a World University bronze medalist in 2008, finished runner-up to Paulson at the U.S. Nationals. Dustin Schlatter, who never lost a match at Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo while in high school, finished third at the U.S. Nationals. He also placed third at the Dave Schultz Memorial earlier this year. Ryan Churella is steadily improving and has the tools to challenge for the title. He finished fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Dave Schultz Memorial, and U.S. Nationals. Collegiate stars Jon Reader and Andrew Howe both placed at the U.S. Nationals and should figure into the mix. Zack Esposito won a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado event in Cuba, but did not compete at the U.S. Nationals. If he does compete in Council Bluffs, he poses a threat to contend in this weight. Mike Poeta, who is coming off an outstanding collegiate career at Illinois, could also be a factor.

Finals Prediction: Dustin Schlatter over Travis Paulson

84 kg:
Jake Herbert made a smooth transition from collegiate wrestling to freestyle wrestling, winning the U.S. Nationals less than a month after finishing his collegiate career at Northwestern. Herbert, a two-time NCAA champion, had previously never placed at the U.S. Nationals, but will now be looking to parlay his first U.S. Nationals title into his first U.S. World Team Trials title. By winning the U.S. Nationals title, Hebert does not have to compete in the Challenge Tournament. Bryce Hasseman has put together a nice season, winning the Dave Schultz Memorial and the Dan Kolov International. He was third at the U.S. Nationals, losing only to Herbert in the semifinals. Eric Luedke, who was runner-up to Herbert at the U.S. Nationals, has been steadily improving. He was runner up at the Dave Schultz Memorial, Dan Kolov International, and Pan American Championships. David Bertolino is coming off a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Nationals. Other wrestlers in this weight class who should figure into the mix include Tom Meester, Brandon Sinnott, Travis Pascoe, and Carl Fronhofer.

Finals Prediction: Jake Herbert over Bryce Hasseman

96 kg:

Jake Varner won the U.S. Nationals at 96 kg without surrendering a single point (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Jake Varner wrestled like a man on a mission at the U.S. Nationals, winning the title without surrendering a single point. Varner, who won an NCAA title for Iowa State in March, has a wrestling style that is very conducive to the current freestyle rules. He receives an automatic berth in the best-of-3 finals. Varner’s stiffest challenge may come from Andy Hrovat, who has decided to move up from 84 kg. Hrovat, a 2008 Olympian, was caught and pinned by Tom Meester in the opening round of the U.S. Nationals before defaulting out of the event. Kyle Cerminara wrestled well at the U.S. Nationals, finishing runner-up to Varner. Former Central Michigan standout Wynn Michalak is coming off a third-place finish at the U.S. Nationals, which included victories over Mike Tamillow and Dallas Herbst. Tamillow, despite not placing at the U.S. Nationals, has put together a solid season, finishing in the top three in three international tournaments. Herbst was fourth at the U.S. Nationals. Sean Stender finished third at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, but suffered an injury at the U.S. Nationals and defaulted to sixth. Another challenger in this weight class is Kurt Backes, a fourth-place finisher at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and bronze medal at the Cerro Pelado. Brandon Halsey placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals, losing only to Varner and Herbst.

Finals Prediction: Jake Varner over Andy Hrovat

120 kg:
Steve Mocco is the man to beat in this weight class. Mocco, who placed seventh at the 2008 Olympic Games, has won six international events this season. He recently won the U.S. Nationals over Tervel Dlagnev. Mocco will receive an automatic berth in the best-of-3 finals. Dlagnev, a 2008 University World champion, has solidified himself as the top contender to Mocco in this weight class. He owns a victory over Mocco this season at the New York AC International event in November. Les Sigman, who won four NCAA titles for Nebraska Omaha, placed third at the U.S. Nationals, losing only to Dlagnev in the semifinals. The young and talented Dom Bradley, a collegiate wrestler at Missouri, placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. Ryan Tomei, Bubba Gritter, and Michael Irving also placed at the U.S. Nationals in this weight class.

Finals Prediction: Steve Mocco over Tervel Dlagnev

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2009 U.S. World Team Trials Preview (Freestyle)

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