U.S. Open first of three phases to make World Teams
By Mike Finn
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The 2014 U.S. Open Senior Wrestling championships began this morning (April 18) in the Las Vegas Convention Center and this should also be considered the first of three phases for men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers to qualify for the FILA World Championships, which will be held in Tashkent, Uzebekistan, Sept. 8-14.
Click here for procedures on making the World Teams in the three styles
Basically, the winner of the six Olympic — out of eight weights in the three styles (men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman) that will take place for two days in Las Vegas — will automatically qualify for a spot in the best 2-of-3 finals at Phase I of the World Team Trials that will either take place in Madison, Wisc. (May 31-June) or Daytona Beach, Fla. (June 13-14). The only exception will be in Greco where a U.S. Open champion must have placed in the top 5 of past World/Olympic tournaments over the past three years.
The Olympic weight classes (in kilos) for each style are:
Men’s Freestyle: 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, 125
Greco-Roman: 59, 66, 75, 85, 98, 130
Women’s Freestyle: 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 75
Meanwhile, there will also be a Phase II of the World Team Trials — most likely in Fargo, N.D., during the Junior and Cadet Nationals — where the remaining two non-Olympic weight classes in each style — 61 and 70 in men’s freestyle, 71 and 80 in Greco and 55 and 60 in women’s freestyle — will be determined. Wrestlers who competed in the Olympic weights, but did not earn a spot on the World Team, will have an opportunity to wrestle in the Phase II element. This is the concept that began a few years ago with U.S. Women’s freestyle, which have had both Olympic and non-Olympic weight classes.