Qualification has begun for U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling;
65 athletes are already qualified to compete in Iowa City , April 21-22
USA Wrestling has released the first 65 athletes who have qualified to compete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Iowa City , Iowa , April 21-22.
The qualification process for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials has begun, based upon the qualifying procedures approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee for wrestling.
Each of the three Olympic styles of wrestling will have a different qualification process, as proposed by their individual Sports Committees, presented by USA Wrestling and approved by the USOC.
Athletes who have already qualified include the following:
- Past U.S. World and Olympic Team members in all three styles
- The top three placewinners at the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials in men’s freestyle wrestling.
The list of past U.S. World and Olympic Team members includes wrestlers who have indicated that they may try out for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.
Based upon the approved qualification process, three athletes have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the Championship Finals Series at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City , by virtue of winning a medal at an Olympic weight class at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul , Turkey .
Those automatically in the Championship Finals Series are:
- 2011 World Champion Jordan Burroughs ( Lincoln , Neb. /Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men’s freestyle
- 2011 World bronze medalist Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle
- 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner ( State College , Pa. /Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in men’s freestyle
These three athletes will only have to win a best-of-three series in Iowa City to secure a spot on the Olympic team.
The approved Olympic Team Selection Criteria for each style can be read at:
http://www.themat.com/usawrestling.org/nationalteams.php?page=team_criteria
The next scheduled event which will provide the opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling is the Sunkist Kids International Open in Mesa , Ariz. , October 29-30.
This year, there will not be a U.S. Open for men’s freestyle. Instead, there will be a Men’s Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier held in Las Vegas , Nev. , Dec. 3 in Las Vegas , Nev. , held alongside the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational. Three athletes in each weight class will qualify for Iowa City .
The U.S. Open for Greco-Roman and Women’s Freestyle will be held in Arlington , Texas , Dec. 16-17, 2011. Seven athletes in each weight class will qualify for Iowa City from this event.
In addition to listing the athletes by weight class, USA Wrestling will also produce a list of qualifiers based upon their college affiliation, either as a current or past student-athlete, current coach or involvement with a Regional Training Center .
USA Wrestling will continue to update and publish the list of athletes who have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.
For more information on the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, visit:
IowaCitytoLondon.com
UPDATED QUALIFIERS FOR U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS FOR WRESTLING (as of Oct. 5)
The qualification process has begun for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City , Iowa , April 20-21. Please note that athletes may change weights from where they qualified. Also, please note that each style has a different qualification system for their Olympic Trials field.
2012 MEN’S FREESTYLE U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS
55 kg/121 pounds
’11 World Team Trials Champion – Nick Simmons, Corvallis , Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
’11 World Team Trials second place – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman , Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Obe Blanc, Stillwater , Okla. (Gator WC)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Henry Cejudo, Columbus , Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Danny Felix, Morgantown , W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Obe Blanc, Stillwater , Okla. (Gator WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Nick Simmons, Corvallis , Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
Wildcard selection, if applicable –
60 kg/132 pounds
’11 World Team Trials Champion – Reece Humphrey, Columbus , Ohio ( New York AC)
’11 World Team Trials second place – Shawn Bunch, Columbus , Ohio (Gator WC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Coleman Scott, Stillwater , Okla. (Gator WC)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Reece Humphrey, Columbus , Ohio (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Shawn Bunch, Columbus , Ohio (Gator WC)
Past U.S. World Team member –
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
66 kg/145.5 pounds
’11 World Team Trials Champion – Teyon Ware, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
’11 World Team Trials second place – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City , Iowa (New York AC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Josh Churella, Ann Arbor , Mich. (New York AC)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Cary Kolat, Chapel Hill , N.C. (North Carolina RTC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Teyon Ware, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City , Iowa (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member –
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
74 kg/163 pounds
’11 World Medalist in Trials Finals – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln , Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
Challenge Tournament qualifiers
’11 World Team Trials second place – Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake , Ind. (New York AC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Nick Marable, Columbia , Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. World Team member – Trent Paulson, Ames , Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Dustin Schlatter, Minneapolis , Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Past U.S. World Team member – Travis Paulson, Ames , Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
84 kg/185 pounds
’11 World Team Trials Champion – Cael Sanderson, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
’11 World Team Trials second place – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor , Mich. (New York AC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Keith Gavin, Bethlehem , Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Cael Sanderson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor , Mich. (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor , Mich. (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member –
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
96 kg/211.5 pounds
’11 World Medalist in Trials Finals – Jake Varner, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Challenge Tournament qualifiers
’11 World Team Trials second place – Chad Hanke, Dayton , Ore. (NWRTC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Dustin Kilgore, Berea , Ohio (Golden Pride WC)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Kurt Angle, Pittsburgh , Pa.
Past U.S. World Team member – J. D. Bergman, Columbus , Ohio (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jake Varner, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Wildcard selection, if applicable –
120 kg/264.5 pounds
’11 World Team Trials Champion – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus , Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
’11 World Team Trials second place – Steve Mocco, Bethlehem , Pa. (New York AC)
’11 World Team Trials, true third place – Dom Bradley, Blue Springs , Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
*Sunkist International highest U.S. in top 4 –
*New York AC International highest U.S. in top 4 –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier runner-up –
’11 Olympic Trials Qualifier third place –
*Dave Schultz highest U.S. in top 6 –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Steve Mocco, Bethlehem , Pa. (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus , Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard , Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Les Sigman, State College , Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
* For Sunkist, NYAC and Schultz events, this is the highest previously non-qualified U.S. athlete within the specified placement range.
2012 GRECO-ROMAN U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS
55 kg/121 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. World Team member –
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
60 kg/132 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs , Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. World Team member – Joe Warren, Monument, Colo. (New York AC)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
66 kg/145.5 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs , Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. World Team member – Faruk Sahin , Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
74 kg/163 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Jacob Deitchler, Ramsey , Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jake Fisher, Colorado Springs , Colo. (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
84 kg/185 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Cheney Haight, Boise , Idaho (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jake Clark, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Past U.S. World Team member – Chas Betts , Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Past U.S. World Team member – Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
96 kg/211.5 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Justin Ruiz, Meridian , Idaho (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – R.C. Johnson , Colorado Springs , Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
120 kg/264.5 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
’11 Interservice champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Rulon Gardner, Logan , Utah (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member –
Wildcard selection, if applicable -
** Pan Am/North American events from July 1, 2011 through Olympic Trials date
*** Approved international event within one year of Olympic Trials date
2012 WOMEN’S FREESTYLE U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS
48 kg/105.5 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 48 kg, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
’12 WCWA 48 kg No. 1 American –
’12 WCWA 48 kg No. 2 American –
’12 WCWA non-Olympic weight No. 1 American –
’12 University Nationals 48 kg champion –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Mary Kelly, Marquette , Mich. (New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Gator WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Jessica Medina , Colorado Springs , Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 55 kg, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
’12 WCWA 55 kg No. 1 American –
’12 WCWA 55 kg No. 2 American –
’12 WCWA non-Olympic weight No. 1 American –
’12 University Nationals 55 kg champion –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Helen Maroulis, Rockville , Md. ( New York AC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 pounds
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg Champion –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, second place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, third place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, fourth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, fifth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, sixth place –
Dec. ’11 U.S. Open 63 kg, seventh place –
**FILA Pan Am/North American Sr. event champion –
***International tour medalist in Europe –
***International tour medalist in Asia –
***International tour medalist in Cuba –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 1 non-qualified –
’12 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier No. 2 non-qualified –
’12 WCWA 63 kg No. 1 American –
’12 WCWA 63 kg No. 2 American –
’12 WCWA non-Olympic weight No. 1 American –
’12 University Nationals 63 kg champion –
Past U.S. Olympic Team member –
Past U.S. World Team member – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs , Colo. (Gator WC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Kristie Davis, Yukon, Okla. (Gator WC/OCU)
Past U.S. World Team member – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs , Colo. ( New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 pounds
’11 World Medalist in Trials Finals – Ali Bernard, New Ulm , Minn. (Gator WC)
Challenge Tournament qualifiers
