2014 World Team Trials

Burroughs/Taylor Headlines World Team Trials

Burroughs/Taylor Headlines World Team Trials

May 26, 2014 by Nickolas Velliquette
Burroughs/Taylor Headlines World Team Trials


The p4p #1 wrestler in the world, the defending Olympic Champion at 96kg, a 57kg Tony Ramos, an on fire Brent Metcalf, Penn State's duo of Taylor/Ruth and perhaps the best set of young talent we've ever seen. Coming at you LIVE on Flowrestling this weekend, May 30th - June 1st, this year's Senior FS and Junior FS/GR World Team Trials has got it all.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE US WORLD TEAM TRIALS LIVE

The US Open Champs
By winning the US Open, these wrestlers will sit until the conclusion of Saturday and Sunday's Challenge tournaments before facing the weight class winner in a best two out of three series for the US World Team spot: 57kg - Sam Hazewinkel, 65kg - Brent Metcalf, 74kg - Jordan Burroughs, 86kg - Keith Gavin, 97kg - Jake Varner, 125kg - Tervel Dlagnev

TAYLOR VS. BURROUGHS
The Taylor/Burroughs match is absolutely the biggest story/draw at this year's Trials. It's a fun match up to chew over, especially after their '14 US Open final , which spawned an in-stadium standing ovation and had many viewers wondering which wrestler left the match with momentum in their series. Taylor surely had Burroughs on the ropes in April and his Beat the Streets performance was nothing short of spectacular BUT Jordan Burroughs is the one who got his hand raised in that US Open final and his BTS performance may be even more impressive.  Taylor's upside is limitless, but Burroughs is already an all time great; how could you possibly bet against an all time great in his prime? Ahh, if only Kyle Dake was at Trials...

Here's the best part about the whole Taylor/Burroughs showdown: we may get to see it happen not once, not twice, but perhaps even three times if the Magic Man can pull one out of his hat against JB on Sunday night. 

THEIR HISTORY: Burroughs/Taylor I (US Open '13) | Burroughs/Taylor II (US Open '14)

Young Bucks on the Wing: Pico/Retherford 2, Nickal/Gabe Dean, IMar/Valencia 2
Kyle Snyder, Aaron Pico, Bo Nickal: Junior World Champ, Cadet World Champ, Junior FS World Beater. Snyder has proven he's clearly on another level at this point and shouldn't be tested much this weekend, but Pico and Nickal will surely have their hands full: expect Pico v Retherford part 2 and a Bo Nickal v Gabe Dean match. Oh we can also look forward to IMAR v Valencia pt. 2...do yourself a favor and relive part one here.  It's going to be exciting seeing a few of the best high schoolers in recent memory mix it up with those currently making an impact on the college scene. 

Others to watch out for at FILA Juniors: Nathan Tomasello, Joey McKenna, Zane Richards, Logan Massa and Adam Coon -who is trying to make the FILA Jr Freestyle and Greco World Teams AND the University World Team.  HE'S TRYING TO WRESTLE AT 3 DIFFERENT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.  

Brentcalf and Ramos
Brent Metcalf has clearly demonstrated his US dominance this freestyle season.  He's had more international success than any other US 65kg'er, and he had absolutely no problems dismantling a '14 US Open field that featured: Kellen Russell, Jordan Oliver, Logan Stieber, Reece Humphrey, Frank Molinaro, etc. Of note: Oliver is 1-1 against Metcalf lifetime but 0-2 vs Russell;  Russell is 0-2 vs Metcalf.  Tony Ramos is making the drop in weight from 133lbs to 57kg (125lbs).  It's going to be very exciting watching him try to best Haze, Escobedo, Hochstrasser and Sanders -something many, myself included, think he can do...eventually.

Contenders and Question Marks: Oliver, Ruth, Bradley

Jordan Oliver is the last American to have beaten Metcalf.  No one else has come close. Can he somehow get by Russell and then muster up enough energy to give Brentcalf fits in a best two out of three?  

Ruth.  Freaking love Ruth. How could you not?  After just a couple post-collegiate freestyle competitions, Ruth has clearly placed himself as a top 3 American at 86kg.  He sets himself up for a memorable rematch with Clayton Foster and will look to take that World Team crown from Gavin. Is it time for a changing of the guard at 86? 

Just as Oliver is the last American to have beaten Brent Metcalf, Dom Bradley is the last American to have beaten Tervel Dlagnev.  But you wouldn't have been able to tell that by the way their US Open match went.  Will we see the same Bradley at Trials or will we see the 2013 US Open Bradley that can hang with any wrestler in the world? 



In Conclusion: Are you really going to miss seeing THIS live if when it happens again?!