If the World Team Trials were like Game of Thrones, Kyle Snyder would be King Kyle, first of his name. The refrain by a litany of Ohio State fans would be, "long may he reign."
 
Quite simply, Snyder is at the peak right now in America. The cream rises to the top, and he was the only men's freestyler on Team USA to win both a 2015 world title and 2016 Olympic gold medal.

Trials Previews: 57kg | 61kg | 65kg | 70kg | 74kg | 86kg
 
We already know where Snyder will be in the bracket if he does as expected and wins the weight this weekend. What we don't know is where Abdulrashid Sadulaev will be now that he is bumping up to 97kg.

We will be in Lincoln, Nebraska covering both the senior and junior world team trials. Juniors kick off at 10am central on Friday, June 9th. Seniors begin at 10am central on Saturday, June 10th. Brackets will be on FloArena and every match will be LIVE on Flo. On to the full preview.

The Qualifiers

Kyle Snyder, Titan Mercury
Dustin Kilgore, Sunkist Kids
Kyven Gadson, Sunkist Kids
Micah Burak, Titan Mercury
Nathan Burak, Titan Mercury
Nikko Reyes, Valley RTC
Ty Walz, Titan Mercury
Kallen Kleinschmidt, NYAC
Matt Williams, Road Runner
Hayden Zillmer, Minnesota Storm
Blaize Cabell, Valley RTC
 
Commentary: No one will forget that Kyven Gadson pinned Snyder in the 2015 NCAA finals. But this is a different style and a different Snyder. After winning the U.S. Open, and previously teching Dustin Kilgore, Gadson will be top seed heading into the challenge tournament.
 
Kilgore is looking to make his fifth national team with a top three finish this weekend. He is a two-time Pan Am champ with a 2014 world university silver on his resume and at this point is a veteran of the weight. Re-watch his epic semi from the Dave Schultz against JT Felix below.


 
Micah Burak made the Open finals against Gadson, and was beaten by Kilgore at last year's Olympic trials, firmly slotting him into the three seed. Micah's brother Nathan should be the four seed and, like Gadson, has a folkstyle win over Snyder from the Buckeye's freshman year. Nathan spent the majority of this season competing overseas.
 
An interesting addition to the field is Nikko Reyes, who was fourth at the Open despite coming in unseeded. A 2016 University Nationals finalist, Reyes also has a fourth place finish from 2014 junior trials. He will be joined here by his Valley RTC teammate Blaize Cabell, the winner of the last chance qualifier.
 
A fun dark horse is former Virginia Tech heavyweight Ty Walz, who is absolutely massive for the weight and still improving his freestyle chops. All three of his wins in Vegas were by tech, though he will be seeded behind Kallen Kleinschmidt due to an 8-5 quarterfinal loss. Kleinschmidt did not have to go through the last chance qualifier this year after winning it last year for the Olympic trials.


 
Coming through the last chance qualifier at 125kg is Blaize Cabell, but who is dropping down to 97kg for Lincoln. Cabell will be seeded behind Matt Williams after being knocked out of the Open by the former CSUB star 6-4 on the consolation side.
 
Just like Joe Rau at 86kg, Hayden Zillmer spent the past few years doing Greco, but threw his hat in the ring and won the last chance qualifier. Zillmer was third at the Olympic trials and second this year at WTT in Greco.

Projected 97kg Seeds

Kyle Snyder - bye to finals

1. ​​Kyven Gadson
   
2. Dustin Kilgore
   
3. Micah Burak
   
4. Nathan Burak
   
5. Nikko Reyes
   
6. Kallen Kleinschmidt
   
7. Ty Walz
   
8. Matt Williams
   
9. Hayden Zillmer
   
10. Blaize Cabell
    

Prediction: Snyder was installed as a massive favorite in our betting odds article to continue holding down the spot at light heavyweight. With no Jake Varner or JD Bergman in the field, there is perhaps no bigger gap at these trials between the man sitting in the finals and the field at his weight.

The Ohio State junior is rapidly approaching Burroughs-like status. This will be the third straight year that he gets a bye to the finals, and counting his junior finishes from 2013 and 2014, has four straight world level medals. These finals could be a good opportunity for the Maryland native to work on his par terre or try different set ups for his leg attacks.



On episode 6 of the JoeFlo and Bader show, Snyder indicated he wanted to wrestle Gadson in the finals. Between that and the rapid progression of the former Cyclone star, I'm sold on Gadson making his first world team.

The lack of Kilgore at the Open has me worried about where he'll be for the trials, which means we could see Burak-on-Burak crime to make the national team. I'm going with older brother Micah.

Nomad's Picks

1. ​Kyle Snyder, Titan Mercury
   
2. Kyven Gadson, Sunkist Kids
   
3. Micah Burak, Titan Mercury