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For the first time since 1999, the US Open is being split up. This weekend, we will get to see the women and greco stars, similar to last December's Olympic Trials qualifier. Make sure to catch all the action starting Friday, December 17th at 9 a.m. pacific time. As usual, every mat will be LIVE on FloWrestling and matches will be archived on FloArena.

Right now, let's take a brief look at all eight weights. As a reminder, the top seven athletes in each weight will qualify for the 2017 World Team Trials (if they haven't already qualified). Those Trials will be April 27-29 next year. Additionally, the champs here at the six Olympic weights will be given the top seed for those April Trials, so let's examine the favorites for each weight.

59kg

At first blush, it would seem like this field is devoid of star power. In reality, it is just the typical start of a new four year Olympic quad full of up-and-comers ready to make a name for themselves on the senior level.

But when you take a second look, a name pops up that makes you do a double take. That's right, Dennis Hall. The 1995 world champ and 1996 Olympic silver medalist is making his return to the mat this weekend. Some of his potential opponents weren't even alive when Hall won his first world medal in 1994, a bronze in Tampere, Finland.

As the stars of the last quad retire or move on to coaching, guys who were on junior world teams during that same time are looking to make big impressions on the senior level. Hayden Tuma made the Bill Farrell Finals after being on the 66kg junior world team last year, while Dalton Roberts, Randon Miranda, Tirso Lara and Isaiah Varona are all now fully ensconced on the senior circuit.

Among those still in action are Ryan Mango, who was third at the Olympic Trials, and Sam Jones, who we just saw at the World Clubs Cup. Mango was limited at the Farrell by a left ankle sprain. Moving over to Greco, for this tournament at least, is four-time All American Zach Sanders, normally a 57kg freestyler.

66kg

This weight likely has the most firepower, headlined by 2012 Olympian Ellis Coleman and two-time world team trials finalist Alejandro Sancho. Also in this field is Dmitry Ryabchinskiy, coming up from 59kg, and recent junior world team members Jamal DeArmond and Travis Rice. Folkstyle fans will be excited to see Jayson Ness in the mix, fresh off a third place finish at non-Olympic world team trials at 61kg in men's freestyle.

Sancho vs Coleman in New York


Sancho and Coleman is the anticipated final, a series which Sancho has claimed the past two times they have met. Sancho won 6-4 in the 66kg third place bout at Olympic Trials, and then won 8-0 at the 71kg world team trials last month. Beyond those wins, Coleman had to medically default out of the tournament and may not be 100% yet for this weekend.

DeArmond is still finding his way on the senior level. No one questions his talent or potential, but he has yet to put together the full tournament many in the Greco community feel is in him. Rice appears to still be growing into his new 66kg frame and will have to shake some rust off. His three matches in Finland last month were his first since University nationals.

While people may know DeArmond and Rice due to their junior world credentials, Jessy Williams has been trending upward. He beat Rice at University, where he wound up second, and was third at the Bill Farell, placing ahead of DeArmond.

71kg

An expectedly small bracket with barely a month having passed since world team trials, Pat Smith will once again be the favorite to win this weight. The Minnesota Storm stalwart went 3-3 overseas between the Golden Grand Prix and Greco Clubs Cup.

The race for second comes down to a few names: Anthonie Linares, Cody Pack and Bradley Dolezal. Seeding will be paramount at this weight to determine who gets Smith in the semis. Pack has made the full commitment to greco and is living at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Linares is hoping to improve upon second place finishes at the last chance OTT qualifier and University nationals.

75kg

Will we get to see a passing of the torch in Vegas? Kamal Bey didn't even qualify for Olympic trials, but he seems to be the clear heir apparent at 75kg. With Andy Bisek's competitive future in doubt now that he is the NMU coach and Geordan Speiller MIA for the time being, Kendrick Sanders is considered the top dog.

Bey bounced back well on the second day of the Clubs Cup, going 2-2 to even his record to .500 on the weekend. His biggest weakness at the moment is he sometimes let matches get away from him, such as being thrown right away in the Farrell final or his first match at Clubs Cup, which he lost 12-10.

Bey's epic Farrell final


Sanders is vulnerable, too. He lost in the semis at both Olympic Trials and 80kg Trials. Meanwhile, Bey is in fighting shape after so much competition and has the full support of the coaching staff now that they have unleashed him onto the world.

80kg

Surprisingly far more full than 71kg, we'll get to see the last two runners-up from WTT in Jon Anderson and Courtney Myers, as well as both third placers in Jon Jay Chavez and Cheney Haight.

Anderson has been having his greatest run of success since moving up into the 80/85kg range, but hasn't been able to break through and compete at worlds. He won the Pan Am Games last July and has thrice been a WTT silver medalist.

Myers tends to fade in and out of the public consciousness as he mainly seems to compete domestically at the Open, Trials and Dave Schultz. But when he does compete, the results are often best for the fans, as he'll be involved in 15-20 point matches.

Chavez falls into the category of former junior world teamers being forced to hold their own at the senior level. He lost to Haight on the front side in New York, but ended up third over University champ Barrett Stanghill. Keep an eye on Haight to see if he is fatigued from t rips overseas to the GGP and Clubs Cup, or if the experience leaves him loose for nationals.

85kg

The return to the mat of Olympian Ben Provisor. Based on the pre-entries, no one will challenge him. Provisor is too strong, has too much pace and too many tricks in par terre for the field.

However, the giant killer Lucas Sheridan is waiting in the wings. If anyone can upset Provisor, it is the headlock specialist Sheridan. Aside from that though, Provisor should moonwalk through this weight.

98kg

The ascension of G'Angelo Hancock continues. He did not give up a point at the Farrell and then went out and beat an Olympic bronze medalist at the Greco Clubs Cup.

It is unfortunate we won't get to see Hancock test himself against Caylor Williams and Josef Rau, the clear top two at 98kg domestically. They each teched Hancock last year, but that was before winning a junior world bronze and his victory over Ildem Cenk.

If Hancock keeps winning like this, he might just blow by those two when it comes time for the 2017 trials. Two freestylers wrestling this weekend are Micah Burak and Enock Francois, though both may struggle with the transition against full time Greco guys.

130kg

The heaviest weight gets the lightest field, but a very fun question mark entry in Tony Nelson. With the splitting of the Greco and Freestyle Opens this year, it appears most members of the Minnesota Storm are throwing their hat in the ring for the classic style.

Nelson won the Farrell in freestyle but has not done much Greco lately. It is a thin field outside of perennial national team member Toby Erickson, and Eric Fader was just at Clubs Cup so he is in full competition mode.

The two-time NCAA champ may not get a favorable seed due to his lack of Greco credentials, so he may be forced to go though guys like Erickson and Fader just to make the finals. While no one questions Nelson's overall wrestling talent, he is going to need to completely change his normal game plan and try to overwhelm people physically this weekend.