Final X / US Open / World Team Trials explainer

[okokzach]

I posted this on the Intermat boards and a few people found it helpful, so I thought I'd post it here as well in case anyone is a bit confused by the process.

Let's work backwards:

• A team of 10 wrestlers to represent the US will be decided at Final X(the X is for 10).
  • At Final X, the two best wrestlers at each weight will compete in a best 2 out of 3 matches format.
• There are three different ways to earn a spot at Final X at each weight:
  • (1) Winning a 2024 World/Olympic medal
  • (2) Winning the 2025 US Open
  • (3) Winning the 2025 World Team Trials (WTT)
    • WTT can be thought of as an "if needed" event.
• If there is a wrestler who qualifies through method (1), then method (3) does not apply for that weight.
  • e.g. Spencer Lee won the silver medal at the 2024 Olympics at 57kg and so he automatically qualifies to compete at Final X for the 57kg spot on this year's team.
  • Thus, there will be no Final X competitor from the WTT at 57kg.
  • The same is true for 61kg because Vito Arujau won bronze at the 2024 World Championships.
• All weights will have a Final X competitor from the US Open.

So, we have two Final X spots locked in from 2024 medalists (57kg and 61kg). This weekend we had ten more spots determined from the US Open. The remaining eight spots will be determined at WTT.

By weight:

• 57kg: Spencer Lee vs, Luke Lilledahl
• 61kg: Vito Arujau vs. Jax Forrest
• 65kg: WTT winner vs. Joey McKenna
• 70kg: WTT winner vs. Yianni Diakomihalis
• 74kg: WTT winner vs. Mitchell Mesenbrink
• 79kg: WTT winner vs. Evan Wick
• 86kg: WTT winner vs. Zahid Valencia
• 92kg: WTT winner vs. Trent Hidlay
• 97kg: WTT winner vs. Kyle Snyder
• 125kg: WTT winner vs. Wyatt Hendrickson

 

[Air_Thurman]

Is the process the same for the non-senior teams?

 

[okokzach]

Is the process the same for the non-senior teams?

No, Final X is only for the senior team (men's and women's), and this year it will only be freestyle.

 

[Okie_Pat]

I think with a few adjustments Hamiti has a really good chance to make the team. He was on Wick's legs several times. And for a guy who hasnt wrestled any FS in 3-4 years he looked good. Needs to work on setting up his turns for sure. Looked like he wasnt very confident on the mat with them.

 

[okokzach]

Here is my understanding of the other World Team selection processes:

First, to explain the process for the U23 team, I need to add in some complexity that I intentionally left out in my initial explainer above. That is about the meaning of the Senior Men's National Team.

• The "National Team" is the Top 3 guys at each weight. That is, the two guys who make Final X, plus the next-highest finisher from WTT.
  • I think this means 57kg and 61kg will be contested at WTT to essentially determine who gets third place/the third spot on the Senior National Team.
  • For the other eight weights, whoever gets 2nd at WTT will be the third team member on the Senior National Team.
  • Only one guy will compete at Worlds. The other team members are there as backups and training partners.

U23

• The U23 representative at each weight is given based on a priority system.
• First priority goes to the highest-ranking Senior Men's National Team member who meets the age requirement for U23.
  • e.g. Jax will be offered the spot at 61kg because he's already qualified for Final X and his opponent, Vito, is over the age limit.
  • The same would go for Lilledahl at 57kg and Mesenbrink at 74kg if they win Final X, or if their opponent is over the age limit for U23.
• Next priority goes to the 4th ranked wrestler from the Senior National Team selection. I believe this would be the next-best guy from WTT.
• If no age-eligible wrestler meets the above criteria, or if such a wrestler declines the spot, it will go to the winner of the U23 World Team Trials.

U20

• The U20 representative at each weight is decided in a best-of-three series at the U20 WTT finals.
• One spot in the WTT finals is given to the winner of the U20 US Open.
• The other spot is given to the winner of the WTT Challenge Tournament.
  • The Challenge Tournament takes place in the morning of the same day as the WTT finals.

U17

• The U17 representative at each weight was decided at the U17 US Open. The finals of the were a best-of-three series.

 

[NCcowboy]

Here is my understanding of the other World Team selection processes:

First, to explain the process for the U23 team, I need to add in some complexity that I intentionally left out in my initial explainer above. That is about the meaning of the Senior Men's World Team.

• The "Team" is the Top 3 guys at each weight. That is, the two guys who make Final X, plus the next-highest finisher from WTT.
  • I think this means 57kg and 61kg will be contested at WTT to essentially determine who gets third place/the third spot on the Senior Team.
  • For the other eight weights, whoever gets 2nd at WTT will be the third team member on the Senior World Team.
  • Only one guy will compete at Worlds. The other team members are there as backups and training partners.

If the 3rd place finisher has not wrestled the second place finisher, there will be a one match wrestle off for the 3rd member of world team at Final X. This will be one match and not 2 of 3.

 

[Travis25]

Thank you for this information. It is very helpful. I wish they made these senior level events easier to follow. Crazy that you have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to see a bracket.

Do any have these events have an impact on who makes the Olympic team or is that a whole separate process?

 

[NCcowboy]

Thank you for this information. It is very helpful. I wish they made these senior level events easier to follow. Crazy that you have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to see a bracket.

Do any have these events have an impact on who makes the Olympic team or is that a whole separate process?

There will be the same process in 2028 (unless they change), but this repeats each year.

You would think it would be easier to follow, but there were links from the brackets to Flo site and matches.