Spencer Lee gets ready to wrestle in the NCAA semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The 2020 Olympic Games will be here before you know it.
The upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, Japan are only seven months away.
And with just six freestyle roster spots available per country in each of the three styles of international wrestling, there promises to be some epic battles for the coveted 18 roster spots on the U.S. Olympic squad.
The Olympic quest continues with the U.S. Nationals scheduled for this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. This event serves as the main qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
The top five finishers in each of the 18 Olympic weight classes qualify for April's Olympic Trials at Penn State University.
There are 64 wrestlers already qualified for the Olympic Trials, including 24 in freestyle, 20 in women's wrestling and 30 in Greco-Roman.
Here are some of the top storylines to watch in what shapes up to be an action-packed weekend of wrestling in Fort Worth, Texas:
Spencer Lee's return to freestyle
The two-time NCAA champion for Iowa hasn't wrestled a freestyle match in more than three years. But nobody should look past Spencer Lee, who owns a combined three world titles at the Junior and Cadet levels. Lee has proven he is an excellent folkstyle wrestler at the collegiate level, but freestyle is where he is most proficient. Even though he chose not to take an Olympic redshirt this season, Lee is still expected to make a splash in Texas when he competes at 57 kilograms. Among the other entries in this loaded weight class are NCAA champions Cory Clark, Nathan Tomasello and Darian Cruz, Junior world medalist Vitali Arujau and past World Team Trials champion Nahshon Garrett.
Yianni D set to take mat
Like Lee, Yianni Diakomihalis is a two-time NCAA champion whose best style is freestyle. Yianni is a two-time Cadet world freestyle champion who nearly made the Senior World Team in 2019 before falling to Zain Retherford at 65 kilograms. Yianni is a talented wrestler who looks like someone who could be a dominant force internationally on the Senior level. Yianni will compete in a stacked weight class in Texas that includes 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro along with past Junior world medalists Jordan Oliver and Joey McKenna.
Teshya Alo defeated Jenna Burkert at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Return of Teshya Alo
Hawaii's Teshya Alo was one of the country's top female prospects entering this four-year Olympic cycle. She dominated at the age group levels and won a Cadet world title in 2016. Now she's back to compete in women's wrestling at 62 kilograms. Alo has experience wrestling at the Senior level where she won the U.S. Open in 2015. It will be interesting to see how she fares in Fort Worth.
Graff wrestling Greco
Among the surprise entries in Greco-Roman is Tyler Graff, who made the 2019 U.S. World Team in freestyle at 61 kilograms. Graff is coming off a superb season where he made his first Senior-level world team. If he stuck with freestyle, he would have to drop down to 57 kilograms or move up to 65. He is entered at 60 kilograms for the U.S. Nationals in Greco.
Kamal Bey throws Pat Smith at Final X: Rutgers (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Bey, Dieringer among top stars
Top young stars Kamal Bey and Alex Dieringer have already qualified for the Olympics, but both wrestlers are registered for this weekend's event. Bey is a talented Greco-Roman athlete who has won a Junior World Team and made a Senior World Team in 2018. Bey competes at 77 kilograms. Dieringer is a three-time NCAA champion who won a Junior world silver medal in freestyle. Dieringer has moved up to 86 kilograms after finishing second to Kyle Dake in the Final X this past season at 79 kilograms. If Bey and Dieringer place in the top five at their weight in Texas, one fewer qualifier advances to State College.
Comeback for Lampe
Two-time world bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe is registered at 50 kilograms in women's wrestling. Lampe returned to competition this past summer and is a tough, hard-nosed wrestler who has proven herself in a number of big tournaments. She will look to regain her winning form after stepping away from competition for much of this Olympic cycle.
Will Zahid, Mekhi be in the mix?
Two-time NCAA champion Zahid Valencia and NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis are two wrestlers who could make a big impact in freestyle at the U.S. Nationals. Valencia is a Junior world silver medalist who has wrestled well on the Senior level the past two years. He will compete at 86 kilograms. Lewis won a Junior world title last year despite not having much freestyle experience. He will be at 74 kilograms. These are two young studs who have the potential to be standouts on the international level.
Joe Warren is back
Joe Warren is among the Greco-Roman entries at 67 kilograms. Warren is the last American wrestler to win a world title in Greco-Roman wrestling in 2006. He went on to become a Bellator world champion in mixed martial arts. Now 43 years old, Warren returned to wrestling competition last month at the Bill Farrell event in New York City. It will be interesting to see if Warren can earn a top-five finish in Texas and qualify for the Olympic Trials.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
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