Every wrestler circles the Olympic Team Trials as their main goal in their four-year cycle. Without winning at the Trials, the wrestler can’t earn the sport’s ultimate prize: an Olympic gold medal. 

Now, the four-year wait is nearly over. Wrestlers will battle in Iowa City's Carver Hawkeye Arena on April 9 and 10 for the right to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in Rio. 

Note: Some of the trial winners will have to earn the spot for the U.S. at the Last Chance Qualifiers in Mongolia or Turkey later this spring.

The Field 59kg (130 lbs)

Spenser Mango (2015 USA World Team member)
Jesse Thielke (Past Cadet or Junior World medalist from 2012-2014)
Cade Olivas (Past Cadet or Junior World medalist from 2012-2014)
Ildar Hafizov (Bill Farrell highest medalist)
Nikko Triggas (Vantaa Cup silver medal)
Jermaine Hodge (Haavisto Cup bronze medalist)
Ryan Mango (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 3rd)
Sam Jones (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Max Nowry (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 5th)
Dmitry Ryabchinsky (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 7th)
Justin LaValle (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
2. Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
3. Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC)
4. Nikko Triggas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
5. Ryan Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
6. Sam Jones, Folsom, La. (NYAC/NMU)
7. Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
8. Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

The Favorites

Spenser Mango has had 59kg or the corresponding weight class on lockdown since the 2008 Olympic Games. He is still in search of his first world medal, and has come up just short several times. At the 2015 Pan-American Games, he defeated Ismael Borrero Molina of Cuba. Just two months later, Borrero Molina got revenge on Mango and used the win to springboard his run to a world title. Mango took a rare loss to an American at the Vantaa Cup when he lost to Ildar Hafizov 2-2 by criteria.

Ildar Hafizov joins Mango as a former Olympian in the field. However, Hafizov has not represented the United States at the world level. He was an Olympian for Uzbekistan back in 2008. Hafizov was set up to wrestle Mango a second time this season at U.S. Senior Nationals, but the teammates chose not to wrestle each other. Hafizov represented the United States at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier in Frisco, Texas. He fell short of qualifying the weight class when he dropped a 15-13 bout to Canadian Steve Takahashi. Will we get to see the battle of former Olympians for the spot this year?

The Dark Horses

Jesse Thielke has a world bronze medal in the junior age group. He has been on a senior-level world team back in 2013 at 60kg. This season, Thielke has wrestled mostly at 66kg, and has represented himself well at the higher weight. He earned third place at the U.S. Senior Nationals in December up at the next weight class. At his lone competition down at 59kg this season, Thielke brought home a bronze medal from the Golden Grand Prix. Now, he poses a serious threat to the seeds.

Nikko Triggas has two silver medals from this season at the Vantaa Cup and Arvo Haavisto Cup. Hafizov defeated him in the final of the Vantaa Cup, but Triggas has been a threat at this weight class for a long time. Will this be Triggas’ year?

Early Match To Watch

Nikko Triggas vs Ryan Mango, Quarterfinal

Triggas didn’t show up at any major domestic events this year, so he will be a refreshing addition to the weight class that saw almost every other seeded wrestler compete at Bill Farrell and U.S. Senior Nationals.

The Pick

Spenser Mango over Ildar Hafizov, two matches to one

[polldaddy poll="9377723"]

The Field 66kg (145 lbs)

Bryce Saddoris (2015 USA World Team member)
Ellis Coleman (Bill Farrell highest medalist)
Brian Graham (Vantaa Cup bronze medal)
Patrick Smith (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 2nd)
Christopher Gonzalez (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Alejandro Sancho (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 5th)
Devin Scott (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 6th)
RaVaughn Perkins (Dave Schultz highest medalist)
Michael Hooker (Interservice champion)
Marco Lara (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Bryce Saddoris, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
2. Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
3. RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (New York AC)
4. Patrick Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm),
5. Christopher Gonzalez, Bolingbrook, Ill. (NYAC/NMU)
6. Brian Graham, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
7. Alejandro Sancho, Miami, Fla. (NYAC/NMU)
8. Devin Scott, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

The Favorites

Bryce Saddoris made a great run at the 2015 World Championships. A major facial injury played a big role in his last loss in Las Vegas. His competition this season has been up at 71kg, but he will be ready to wrestle in Iowa City.

Ellis Coleman rose to fame in the wrestling world when he executed his flying squirrel in the 2011 Junior World Championships. He followed that up by making the 2012 Olympic Team. Now, he's back from injury and well-positioned to make his second Olympic Team.

The Dark Horse

RaVaughn Perkins defeated Bryce Saddoris for the 2014 World Team spot at 66kg. He never got to compete at the world championships because he tested positive for a banned substance. Perkins got back on track this year with a title at the Dave Schultz Memorial.

Early Match To Watch

Ellis Coleman vs Alejandro Sancho, Quarterfinal

Sancho wrestled Bryce Saddoris in the WTT final last year. This season, he has not enjoyed that type of success and has fallen to the No. 7 seed. He is a dangerous wrestler to be seeded that low.

The Pick

Ellis Coleman over Bryce Saddoris, two matches to one

[polldaddy poll="9377726"]

The Field 75kg (165 lbs)

Andy Bisek (2015 USA World Team member) ***
Justin Lester (2015 USA World Team member)
Jon Jay Chavez (Past Cadet or Junior World medalist from 2012-2014)
Mason Manville (Past Cadet or Junior World medalist from 2012-2014)
Kendrick Sanders (Bill Farrell highest medalist)
Taylor Walsh (Vantaa Cup bronze medal)
Cheney Haight (Haavisto Cup silver medalist)
Geordan Speiller (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 1st)
Tarrence Williams (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Corey Hope (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 5th)
Jacob Fisher (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 6th)
Barrett Stanghill (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 7th)
Dillon Cowan (Dave Schultz highest medalist)
Alec Ortiz (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
2. Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets)
3. Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (New York AC/NMU-OTS)
4. Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
5. Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
6. Tarrence Williams, Portland, Ore. (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC)
7. Jacob Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
8. Corey Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC)

The Favorite

Andy Bisek has won back-to-back bronze medals at the deepest weight class in the world, regardless of style. He is a heavy favorite to be the guy at this weight. His bronze medal affords him the luxury of waiting in the best-of-three series.

The Dark Horses

Geordan Speiller had a breakout U.S. Senior Nationals appearance as he beat Cowan, Lester, and Haight to win the title. He has the skills to beat anyone in the field, including Bisek, but I just can’t see him putting all of the wins together in a row.

Kendrick Sanders knocked off Lester in the Bill Farrell final in November. This is a departure from past results and could be a sign of a breakthrough from Sanders.

Justin Lester matches Bisek with two world bronze medals. The only difference is Bisek has done it the past two years, while Lester won his in 2006 and 2007. Lester is really caught between Olympic weight classes as he competes at 71kg in non-Olympic years.

Early Match To Watch

Justin Lester vs Jacob Fisher, Quarterfinal

The Pick

Andy Bisek over Kendrick Sanders, two matches to zero

[polldaddy poll="9377733"]

Olympic Team Trials Schedule

Saturday, April 9
Men’s freestyle (65 kg and 125 kg)
Women’s freestyle (58 kg, 63 kg and 69 kg)
Greco-Roman (59 kg, 66 kg, 85 kg and 98 kg)
8:00 a.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Preliminaries through Challenge Tournament finals
5:00 p.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Best two of three Championship Series

Sunday, April 10
Men’s freestyle (57 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
Women’s freestyle (48 kg, 53 kg, 75 kg)
Greco-Roman (75 kg and 130 kg)
8:00 a.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Preliminaries through Challenge Tournament finals
5:00 p.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Best two of three Championship Series.