First World Team Spots are Gone

Photo: John Sachs

For the second year in a row, Jordan Burroughs & James Green were able to defend their World Team spots in their collegiate arena. The consistency is quite impressive when you look through American results. Not just the world medals, but the ability to hold off domestic challenges is something rarely seen. 

Burroughs held off college superstar Isiah Martinez (Illinois) who lost just three matches in four years of college. The first match did not feature a takedown. Martinez was able to get Burroughs in several ties and react quickly to Burroughs' counters, but in the end step out points went the way of the legend. The second match wasn't as close, and Burroughs heads to attempt to win his 6th Olympic/World championship. 

James Green is heading to his 4th straight World Championship. He's coming off a silver, his second medal,  and with Chamizo (Italy) moving up Green may be a favorite for the crown. 

The most anticipated scrap was of phenom Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) and Thomas Gilman (Iowa), returning silver. Gilman was able to win the tie ups and stop attacks from distance grinding out the two matches to head back to the World Championships. Last year, Gilman broke a bit of a slump for USA at the lowest weight class with the first medal since Henry Cejudo's 2008 Olympic Gold. 

The twenty "Final X" weight classes feature nine returning medalists from the 2017 World Championships, but not all of them will be heading back. It's been a while since a healthy Jacarra Winchester wrestled in the trials, and she took out bronze medalist Becka Leathers in two matches. She hit a far knee tap twice and a foot sweep after a slide by to score in exciting fashion and distance the score. Leathers was in deep on several shots, but unable to finish enough to make up the deficit. It is Winchester's first world team. 

Kyven Gadson hit a blast double sending Snyder off the mat & stage and Jenna Burkert fought hard, but they were unable to get anything going against Kyle Snyder & Alli Ragan. Tamyra Mensah-Stock dominated with two tech falls. These three head back for another appearance to round out the first set with spots locked up. 

FINAL X IN LINCOLN
Saturday, June 9 at the Bob Devaney Center

Men's freestyle 70 kg
James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) dec. Jason Chamberlain, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC), two matches to none
Bout One – Green dec. Chamberlain, 2-0
Bout Two – Green dec. Chamberlain, 2-1

Women's freestyle 59 kg
Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids/Hawkeye WC/OTC) dec. Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), two matches to none
Bout One – Ragan dec. Burkert, 4-0
Bout Two – Ragan dec. Burkert, 5-0

Men's freestyle 97 kg
Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) dec. Kyven Gadson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone RTC), two matches to none
Bout One – Snyder dec. Gadson, 9-0
Bout Two – Snyder dec. Gadson, 10-2

Women's freestyle 55 kg
Jacarra Winchester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC) dec. Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC), two matches to none
Bout One – Winchester dec. Leathers, 10-6
Bout Two – Winchester dec. Leathers, 5-1

Men's freestyle 57 kg
Thomas Gilman, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC) dec. Daton Fix, Sand Springs, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy WC), two matches to none
Bout One – Gilman dec. Fix, 6-3
Bout Two – Gilman dec. Fix, 2-1

Women's freestyle 68 kg
Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC) dec. Randyll Beltz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), two matches to none
Bout One – Mensah-Stock tech. fall Beltz, 10-0
Bout Two – Mensah-Stock tech. fall Beltz, 10-0

Men's freestyle 74 kg
Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) dec. Isaiah Martinez, Leemore, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Illini RTC), two matches to none
Bout One – Burroughs dec. Martinez, 4-1
Bout Two – Burroughs tech. fall Martinez, 11-1