The Ohio State wrestling program will be well-represented at this weekend's World Team Trials on the campus of the University of Nebraska as Kyle Snyder and Logan Stieber lead a pack of current, former and future Buckeyes in the hunt for a spot on the United States World Team.
The Senior World Team will compete at the 2017 UWW World Championships in Paris in late August, while the Junior World Team will face the best Junior wrestlers in the world at the UWW Junior World Championships in Tampere, Finland.
The World Team Trials reward wrestlers with world medals in the past year with a berth in the championship bout, allowing them to bypass the grueling challenge tournament. Stieber (61 kg) and Snyder (97kg) will each enjoy this advantage as they are in the finals thanks to a World gold medal and Olympic gold medal, respectively.
Joining Stieber and Snyder in the field in the Senior World Team Trials are current Buckeyes Nathan Tomasello (57 kg) and alumnus Nick Heflin (86 kg). Kollin Moore (96 kg), Kevin Snyder (96 kg), and Luke Pletcher (60 kg) round out the current Buckeyes in the Junior World Team Trials, while verbal commit Malik Heinselman (50 kg) and sought-after recruit David Carr (66 kg) will also be in the Junior tournament.
Tomasello will face a ridiculous field at 57 kg, where the winner of the challenge tournament will face Iowa graduate (and former Stieber nemesis) Tony Ramos. Stieber awaits the winner of the challenge tournament at 61 kg, which features guys like Kendric Maple and Cody Brewer. Heflin will have to play the role of giant slayer in the 86 kg bracket as nearly every expert is predicting a barnburner between Olympic bronze medalist J'Den Cox and two-time NCAA champ David Taylor in the Trial finals. Snyder awaits the winner of the 97 kg challenge tournament, which features Kyven Gadson. Gadson, you may remember, was the last wrestler to defeat Snyder in NCAA competition, pinning Snyder in the NCAA finals of Snyder's freshman year.
In Senior weights that do not feature Buckeyes, Frank Molinaro recently learned he would be in the finals as US Open champ Jordan Oliver tested positive for a banned substance. James Green earned a bye to the finals at 70 kg, where he awaits guys like Jason Nolf and Dylan Ness. In one of the deepest brackets in the country, Jordan Burroughs looks to get back to form at 74 kg, but it will not be easy against the likes of Kyle Dake, Alex Dieringer, Chris Perry, and Isaiah Martinez. Nick Gwiazdowski won the US Open at 125 kg, so he awaits the winner of the challenge tournament. The winner at 125 will take the place of long-time World Team member and current Ohio State assistant Tervel Dlagnev, who has retired from competition.
In the Junior brackets, Heinselman awaits the winner of the two-man bracket at 50 kg. Pletcher will need to navigate a tough bracket at 60 kg to face Mitch McKee in the Finals. David Carr will need to win his way through a loaded bracket at 66 kg in order to face Ryan Deakin. Kevin Snyder and Kollin Moore will participate in the 96 kg bracket, where the winner of the challenge tournament will face Andrew Marsden for a spot on the World Team.
The Junior Team Trials take place on Friday, while the Senior Team Trials kick off Saturday morning. Those interested can watch on Roku or Apple TV, or the action will stream on Flo Wrestling (subscription required).
