We are just five days away from the 2017 World Team Trials in Lincoln, Nebraska. Today's preview will cover 70kg, with former Cornhusker star James Green sitting in the finals.

Green, a 2015 world bronze medalist at this weight, has the most separation points and will be the top seed at the world championships if he can win the spot this Saturday. But to get to Paris, there are a few guys capable of challenging him in the best-of-three finals.

Trials Previews: 57kg | 61kg | 65kg

The four-time All American continues to evolve and try to expand his repertoire, something he went over in his interview after Beat the Streets. Green is starting to be able to attack both legs with his single, as well as his trusty double leg. He has one of the best transitions to a leglace of any wrestler in this country. Being in his own training and living environment should also be a huge advantage for Green.

Make sure you tune in at 9:00 am central time on Saturday June 10th. Complete brackets will be on FloArena, and you can watch every match LIVE on Flo.

The Qualifiers

Jason Nolf, Titan Mercury/Nittany Lion WC
Jimmy Kennedy, NYAC
Nazar Kulchytskyy, Titan Mercury
Chase Pami, Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC
Alec Pantaleo, Cliff Keen WC
Jason Chamberlain,Titan Mercury /Valley RTC
Tommy Gantt, Titan Mercury /Wolfpack WC
Dylan Ness, Minnesota Storm

Commentary: With Jimmy Kennedy heading up to 70kg, he will likely be the one seed in the challenge tournament. As recently as the 2014 world championships, the former All American for Illinois was down at 61kg. Since then, he has spent almost all of his time at 65kg, except for the non-Olympic weight world team trials at the Bill Farrell Memorial in November.

Kennedy was on the 2012 World University team, and runner-up at the trials in 2013. He was third at the trials again in 2015 at 65kg, and then third at the 70kg trials in New York. Few domestic middleweights have been so consistent these past five years, in part because of his proficiency from a seatbelt whizzer position.

His case for top seed rests on a 5-4 win over Nazar Kulchytskyy in the quarterfinals there. Kulchytskyy is having his best year on the senior level to date, and made the final of the U.S. Open against Green. He was a part of Titan Mercury's title team at the World Clubs Cup, as well as getting a gold medal at the Cerro Pelado in Cuba in February.



It's hard to forget that Kulchytskyy had Green down 6-0 in the first period of the 2015 trials, the same year Green went on to win a bronze medal. But that was a different Green, and two years later the four-time All American beat Nazar 4-1 in the Open finals. Kulchytskyy is training in Wisconsin at the Badger RTC with Kyle Ruschell, who lost to Green 8-4 in the challenge tourney finals in 2014.

Chase Pami had an incredible run on the backside at the Open. After losing his first match to Tommy Gantt 7-5, Pami won seven in a row in the consolation bracket to finish third. He didn't get a chance to wrestle Kulchytskyy, but he did beat fourth placer Jason Nolf and fifth placer Alec Pantaelo, giving him a great shot at being the three seed in Lincoln this weekend.



Nolf is perhaps the most intriguing prospect at this weight. No other wrestler in the 70kg field has as much NCAA success as Nolf, and he had placings of third and second at the junior level up at 74kg. The rising junior for Penn State will have some adjustments to make on his shot finishes, but if he cleans up his leg attacks, it will likely also help his par terre if he can transition into a leglace more smoothly and quickly.

Coming off of University Nationals, there were juicy college matchups all over the place in Akron. That will continue in the first round this weekend, as Alec Pantaleo should match up with Nolf in the quarterfinals. Pantaleo was on the junior world team last year at 66kg and still has a ton of room to grow in freestyle. He looked massive for this weight in April and is very difficult to score on from neutral, but he tends to give up gut wrenches on bottom. Should be a fun Big Ten battle between the Nittany Lion and Michigan Wolverine.

The likely six seed will be Jason Chamberlain, who came in to Vegas as the No. 2 seed. He was fourth at the Farrell and runner-up at the Schultz, and appears to have made the full time transition up from 65kg. He's had about six weeks to work with Valley RTC coach Stephen Abas, and Fresno State fans will look to see if their new assistant coach will be able to pick up his offense a little.

Looking at the 2/7 matchup, it should be Tommy Gantt taking on Kulchytskyy. Gantt helped the Wolfpack Wrestling Club finish in second among RTCs at the Open, and is hoping to make his first national team in his first full year on the senior level. The 1/8 could also be very interesting between Kennedy and last chance qualifier champ Dylan Ness. Mr. Gator Bacon is still figuring out his style on the senior level, but it seems to closely resemble what he did at Minnesota.

Projected 70kg Seeds

James Green - bye to finals

1. Jimmy Kennedy
   
2. Nazar Kulchytskyy
   
3. Chase Pami
   
4. Jason Nolf
   
5. Alec Pantaleo
   
6. Jason Chamberlain
   
7. Tommy Gantt
   
8. Dylan Ness
   

There are a few weights where there seems to be some separation between the national team guys and the rest of the qualifiers, and 70kg is one of those weights. Green may not necessarily blow out his finals opponent, but he should sweep in two matches.

Kennedy is the best athlete in just about every bracket he enters, and that should be no different this weekend. The upperbody offense and pace Kulchytskyy usually uses to beat opponents should be negated by Kennedy's strength and positioning. The former Illini is very effective off counters and should be able to capitalize on at least one re-attack opportunity.

We saw in November that Green doesn't have to let it rip every match. He can sit back and pick his spots, which is exactly how he can beat Kennedy. While Jimmy should be able to get a takedown in one or both matches, Green's ability to hold center should give him a few extra shot clock points, and his lace should make up for any difference Kennedy will be able to overcome.

Nomad's Picks

1. James Green
   
2. Jimmy Kennedy
   
3. Nazar Kulchytskyy