The 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials took place at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.(Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)AUSTIN, Texas -- Today, FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, and USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, announced that Lincoln, Neb., has been selected as one of three cities to host a Final X event. The event will be hosted at the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, starting at 6 p.m. CST on Saturday, June 9.
The Final X series will determine the 2018 U.S. Senior World Teams in men's and women's freestyle. Exclusive live and on-demand coverage of all three Final X events will be on FloWrestling.com, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4.
The two other Final X events will be held on June 16 in State College, Pa. and June 23 in Bethlehem, Pa.
"Final X is an incredible event for wrestling fans, athletes, and the sport itself, " FloSports SVP, Global Rights Acquisition Adam Fenn said. "The top American wrestlers will be at their best to compete for a spot on the World Team, and FloWrestling will be beside every mat, capturing the matches and giving fans the behind-the-scenes coverage they can't get anywhere else."
"The 2017 World Team Trials in Lincoln was one of our best events ever," USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said. "It proved that this great community loves and supports wrestling. With hometown heroes like Jordan Burroughs and James Green battling to make Team USA, 2018 promises to be another great showcase for our sport. Special thanks to Mark Manning, Bryan Synder and the spectacular group of organizers that have worked tirelessly to bring this Final X event to the University of Nebraska."
In Lincoln, the top two men's and women's freestyle wrestlers in each of seven weight classes will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 20-28, 2018.
The weight classes assigned to the Final X event in Lincoln are:
â— Men's freestyle weight classes (57 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg)
â— Women's freestyle weight classes (55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg)
The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in both styles allow for 2017 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X under certain conditions. In men's freestyle, the 2017 World medalist would have to compete in the same weight class as at the 2017 Worlds. In women's freestyle, the World medalist would have to compete in a specific weight class set by the Team Selection procedures.
Based upon these procedures, six athletes could advance directly to the Final X event in Lincoln at the specified weights. Included are 2017 World champions Jordan Burroughs (74 kg men) and Kyle Snyder (97 kg men), 2017 World silver medalists Thomas Gilman (57 kg), James Green (70 kg men) and Alli Ragan (59 kg women), and 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers (55 kg).
In weight classes which do not have a 2017 World medalist who qualifies for Final X directly, the winner of the 2018 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 26-28, will advance to Final X. The Final X field will be finalized at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men's and women's freestyle, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. Both the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament will air live and on-demand only on FloWrestling.com.
Lincoln has hosted past USA Wrestling events, including the 2017 Freestyle World Team Trials at the Bob Devaney Center. Other USA Wrestling events held in Lincoln were the UWW Junior National Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2004, and the Cadet National Championships in 1995. Many other major wrestling events have been in Lincoln, including the 2000 and 2009 Big 12 Championships and five Big 8 Championships (1960, 1971, 1982, 1990, 1995).
To access live and on-demand coverage of Final X, users must sign up to become a monthly or annual PRO subscriber on FloWrestling. Either subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network.
For more information, visit FinalX.tv, FloWrestling.com or TheMat.com.
About FloSports
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders and governing bodies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header are Basketball, MMA, Football, Wrestling, Track, Gymnastics and more.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 232,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.
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