The favorites are known for each weight, but who are our 21 best wrestlers for Mens Freestyle? I took some time to sort out and rank the pound for pound best.  It’s a combination of accomplishments, quality wins as well as judgement/eyeball test. Here’s what I came up with.

1. Jordan Burroughs-JB is the best wrestler on the planet. Therefore he is also the best wrestler in our country. I haven’t seen anyone like him.  He's continued to improve as our young bucks continue to nip at his heels.  He's one of the most mentally tough and focused wrestlers I've ever watched.  His ability to seemingly deflect adversity and stay the course baffles me.  

2. Jake Varner-Yes, I know he missed some time, but did you see him at the US Open? He’s back in Gold medal form. Varner made it look easy every step of the way.

3. Tervel Dlagnev-Tervel has been the class of this weight for some time. Tervel is regularly in World level medal matches and has beaten some of the best the World has to offer. His consistency and world performances merit this spot.

4. Kyle Dake-Yes, he’s out. Yes, he’ll be out for some time. Don’t care. He’s a top 5 guy. He’s one of a few guys who’s pushed Burroughs, he’s beaten Taylor, Tsargush, Marable and more.

5. David Taylor-Probably has to be behind Dake based on their history and Dakes win over Tsargush (who Taylor fell to at Universities). No doubt he’s a medal threat and gold medal threat should he find his way on a World Team. He recently dominated world Bronze Hasanov at Beat The Streets.

6. Nick Marable-The only guy to ever beat Jordan Burroughs in senior level competition. The class of 70KG. If you think he should be higher, I wouldn’t necessarily disagree. Having lost to Dake and Taylor, I kept him behind those guys.

7. Brent Metcalf-He’s been in the mix for years. Making at least the Trials finals every year since 2010. World level wins have not evaded him, having knocked off top ranked Kurbanaliev twice now. A combination of bad luck drawing Tushishvili (World and Olympic Bronze) as well as Tagavi (World Champion) in the first round of Worlds when he’s made the team. He’s widening the gap on a very deep weight and was unscored upon at the US Open.

8. Jimmy Kennedy-He keeps getting better and better. He knocked off Coleman Scott at the US Open and avenged a loss against the world class Bogomoev at Beat the Streets.

9. Keith Gavin-Steady as he goes, Gavin just keeps winning. Probably one of the most technical and slick of any guys we have at any weight. Keiths not the ideal size for an 86, and not our most athletic guy either. He makes up for it all with mat savvy and technique.

10. Coleman Scott-The Olympic Bronze medalist is not quite back in World Class form, but he’s darn close. He is improving every time out after his injury last year at the Trials. He could be our most offensive option at 61KG when he’s on.

11. Clayton Foster-Foster really announced himself at the World Cup when he beat World and Olympic Bronze Ehsan Lashgari as well as World champion Ibragim Lashgari. Foster also looked great against Ed Ruth winning their action packed bout late before falling narrowly to Gavin.

12. Andrew Howe-Crazy to think back to 2010 when Andrew Howe was winning the US Open. JB took the crown in 2011 and never gave it back. Howe has been right there with our best guys, and when he’s on he’s a threat to push JB, Dake and Taylor.

13. Kellen Russell- He's cemented himself as the #2 guy at 65KG.  Two wins over Oliver in his career and he continues to improve.  Also has a win by fall over the very credentialed Emeev of Russia. 

14. Jordan Oliver-He’s got so many great wins. At one point he had wins over a number of World medalists including Kurbanaliev. He’s the last American to beat Metcalf, but he really doesn’t compete as much as our other guys at 65. I’d like to see him go on more trips overseas to really hone his craft. I said last year he was the future for us at this weight, but I haven’t seen near the level of development I thought I would upon his graduation from Oklahoma State. He’s still young, so it’s possible he gets it all together and makes the world team and medals.

15. Ed Ruth-I told you eyeball test was a component for these. Yes that’s subjective, but all rankings are. I can validate a lot of my suppositions with Ed by simply referring to his Beat the Streets performance where he teched World 5th Friev with ease. I won’t be at all surprised if he makes the world team at 86.

16. Dom Bradley-He’s the last guy to beat Tervel Dlagnev domestically. Made a huge blunder at the US Open against Dlagnev. Don’t think we’ll see that again, though I do think he’s squarely behind Tervel here. Remember Dom was also a Junior World Champion to boot.

17. Wynn Michalak-Wynn has been doing great for us and was the last American to beat Varner. Though Varner clearly is back on his game, it’s still a notable result, also when you consider he pinned JD Bergman, that puts it all in perspective as well.

18. JD Bergman-JD’s been right there for years, making a few World Teams along the way. You can never count him out. His risk/reward upper body attacks make him a nightmare matchup for many of our guys.

19. Logan Stieber-Junior World Silver, a win over Opan Sat. He may be the definition of a “tweener” at 65, but I think he could grow into it and re-enter the conversation at 65KG.

20. Angel Escobedo-Esco was a few points away from a World medal last year, and had to settle for 5th. Success at the World level separates him ever so slightly from Haze, who has not been able to achieve on the world stage as of yet.

21. Sam Hazewinkel-Haze has been in the mix ever since he made the transition from Greco back to Freestyle. He was dominant in the US Open, but the injury to Angel Escobedo certainly lowers the degree of difficulty for the title win.