Pat Downey defeated Nick Heflin to claim the WTT Challenge Tournament title at 86 kilograms (Photo/ Larry Slater)Some of the best wrestling of the year comes in the spring and summer.
And this year is no exception.
The World Team Trials Challenge Tournament this past weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina offered plenty of excellent wrestling and compelling storylines.
The event set the stage for next month's Final X events that will determine the U.S. lineup for the 2019 World Championships
Here are my top takeaways from the freestyle competition this past weekend.
Gable is for real
If anybody had any questions about Gable Steveson at the end of the college season, those doubts were emphatically erased at the World Team Trials. Steveson turned in a stunning and dominant dismantling of a very good wrestler named Adam Coon in the heavyweight finals. Steveson is an age-group world champion with a tremendous skill set. He's strong, powerful, mobile and explosive while also being very good technically. I can't wait to see him match up against two-time world medalist Nick Gwiazdowski in the Final X next month at Rutgers.
Bo knows freestyle
2019 Hodge Trophy winner Bo Nickal jumped right into freestyle competition, and as expected, has made an immediate splash on the Senior level. Now comes the big test - battling reigning world champion and Olympic medalist J'den Cox in the Final X at 92 kilograms. Nickal is a tremendous talent who could fare well internationally, but he needs to knock off an excellent wrestler in Cox to make the American squad. Cox is a gamer who knows how to peak when it counts. The Cox-Nickal matches at the Final X will be intriguing and fun to watch.
Gilman, Green not done yet
Less than two years after winning world silver medals in Paris, Thomas Gilman and James Green were upset in the U.S. Open last month. Both wrestlers came to Raleigh on a mission and took care of business to advance to the Final X. Gilman will look to avenge a U.S. Open loss to Junior world champion Daton Fix, who he swept in last year's Final X at 57 kilograms. Green will look to bounce back against Ryan Deakin, who knocked him off at the Open at 70 kilograms. Gilman and Green obviously know how to perform when the stakes are highest. We will see how it all plays out in a few weeks.
Can Ringer challenge Dake?
Junior world medalist Alex Dieringer has become a force on the Senior level and he has had an outstanding season. That was evident when he avenged a setback from last season by rolling past two-time NCAA champion Zahid Valencia at the Trials. Dieringer now faces a tough challenge against reigning world champion Kyle Dake in the 79-kilogram finals. But don't count Dieringer out. He dropped a close bout to Dake in the 2018 U.S. Open. The problem is that Dieringer will have to beat Dake twice to make his first Senior world team.
Zain Train powers into Final X
Zain Retherford will receive another shot at two-time NCAA champion and two-time Cadet world champion Yianni Diakomihalis in the Final X at 65 kilograms. Retherford outlasted a very good wrestler in Jordan Oliver to win the Trials challenge final. Retherford, also a Cadet world champion, lost a close bout to Yianni at the U.S. Open last month. These are two young studs with bright futures ahead on the Senior level. Retherford made the Senior world team two years ago and he may have a slight edge in the best-of-3 series at the Final X. No doubt, these will be great matches to watch. Look for this series to go the full three matches.
Can Imar close gap on JB?
Isaiah Martinez kept his composure and showed great resolve to outlast young stud Jason Nolf in an entertaining final-round series at 74 kilograms in Raleigh. Now Imar, with a full year of international experience, takes on Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs at the Final X. Burroughs swept Martinez on his home turf in Lincoln last year and he will look to repeat that feat in the same venue this year. Imar has wrestled well, but knocking off JB in his backyard is a tall order.
Gadson strong
It would be interesting to see Kyven Gadson receive his shot to compete at the World Championships at 97 kilograms. He's an excellent wrestler who could do well in that event. The problem is he's been stuck behind Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Kyle Snyder. Gadson receives another shot at Snyder after winning at the Trials. Gadson blasted Snyder off the stage with a double leg in their opening match in the Final X last year before Snyder rebounded to sweep the finals series. Gadson will need much more of that in this year's Final X battle.
Downey earns shot at Taylor
Pat Downey's matches are rarely boring and that was the case again when he prevailed at the Trials at 86 kilograms. The Junior world silver medalist now advances to challenge reigning world champion David Taylor at the Final X. Downey is a gifted, determined and fearless competitor who will be ready to battle, but Taylor is wrestling at an extremely high level right now and will be very difficult to beat just one time. Downey would have to beat Taylor twice to make the world team.
Graff still battling
Tyler Graff has long been considered a top-level wrestler, but big titles have eluded him at big tournaments. Now Graff earns another shot in an important event after he won the Trials to advance to the Final X against returning world bronze medalist Joe Colon at 61 kilograms. Colon earned a recent win over returning world champion Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez of Cuba before falling to NCAA champion Nick Suriano at the Beat the Streets event. Graff has beaten Colon before, including a win in the NCAA semifinals in 2014. Colon is lethal in the top position so Graff will have to avoid being taken down.
Salute to Ramos
The Trials event in Raleigh marked the end of the wrestling career of Tony Ramos, who took his shoes off and left them on the mat to signify his retirement after a semifinal loss. Ramos had an excellent career, capturing an NCAA title for Iowa before making two U.S. World Teams. Ramos was a tenacious competitor whose trademark was staring down his opponents before the opening whistle. I was fortunate to get to know Tony off the mat and he's a genuinely good dude who's done a lot for the sport. He has become a top-notch coach and will continue to make big contributions to wrestling. Congrats to Tony on a great wrestling career. Well done.
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