One of Ohio State's most-decorated athletes of all time is still in the prime of his career, and angling for a trip to a fifth-consecutive Senior Men's Freestyle World Championships. Kyle Snyder, the man known by fans as "Captain America," wrestles Saturday night at Final X in Lincoln, Neb., for a spot on the 2019 U.S. Men's World Team.
The lineup for Lincoln. pic.twitter.com/kcdRhXK6GH
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 14, 2019
Final X is the best-of-three event to determine each spot on Team USA across all three disciplines: men's and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman. The world team selection process began months ago as wrestlers competed at the U.S. Open for a spot in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament - Snyder will again face Kyven Gadson, who earned his way into Final X by advancing through that process.
If you're not up to speed on the World Team selection and are curious, here is an explainer from FloWrestling, the USA Wrestling media partner who produces Final X.
Gadson is a familiar foe for Snyder, dating back to Captain America's freshman season. The three-time All American for Iowa State pinned Snyder in the finals of the NCAA Championships at 197 pounds... the one time in his career Snyder failed to win the NCAA title.
Since then, however, it's been all Snyder in their rivalry for the 97 kg spot on the men's freestyle team. Snyder has been Team USA's man at that spot since 2015, when he won his first of three world championships in a row, including the 2016 Olympic gold medal.
If the clothes make the man, as the saying goes, it looks like the Buckeye legend is primed and ready to take another swing at world gold:
Captain America pic.twitter.com/vBHV8AmiZA
— Kyle Snyder (@Snyder_man45) June 13, 2019
Final X Lincoln kicks off with Session I at 1 p.m. Sunday, featuring women's freestyle matches at 55 and 59 kg, and men's Greco matches at 60, 63, 72 and 97 kg. Snyder will wrestle in Session II at 7 p.m., with women's freestyle matches at 53, 62 and 76 kg, men's Greco matches at 130 kg, and men's freestyle matches at 57, 61, 74 and 97 kg.
The event will stream live via FloWrestling.
