2017 U.S. Open Wrestling ChampionshipsApr 10, 2017 by Wrestling Nomad
Ben Darmstadt Wants To Make Both Junior World Teams
Ben Darmstadt Wants To Make Both Junior World Teams
Ben Darmstadt is trying to become the first person since Adam Coon to make junior world teams in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
Ben Darmstadt has big ambitions for the end of this month. He has entered in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman junior 96kg divisions for the Open in Vegas.
The last weekend in April is a huge one for USA Wrestling, with three different World Team Trials and two Opens. Darmstadt is planning to compete in the junior Greco world team trials on Thursday, April 27th, and then try to get a bye into June's junior freestyle WTT Finals over the course of the following two days. Registration is publicly available on FloArena.
Darmstadt was one of the most highly sought after big men from the class of 2016. He was 38th on the final senior big board, and went on to win Fargo junior 195 in freestyle later in the summer.
That Darmstadt entered the freestyle division is not terribly surprising, however, he has limited experience in Greco. But that small sample size is rather impressive. He had wins at Junior Duals over 2015 cadet world team member Wyatt Koelling and 2016 cadet world teamer Brandon Whitman.
At last year's Junior Freestyle Open, Darmstadt went 1-2 at 84kg, with both losses coming to Illinois wrestlers in Emery Parker and Xavier Montalvo. But with a whole season of training at the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club and up a weight, will Darmstadt now be a contender this year?
He likely won't have to deal with either of last year's junior world team members in his bracket. Kollin Moore won't be in attendance on the freestyle side, while G'Angelo Hancock will be competing in the senior Greco trials at 98kg. Because Hancock was on last year's junior team and also won Senior Nationals back in December, he can delay a final wrestle-off, which will take place at the Cadet/University nationals the first weekend in June.
Darmstadt's top game has made him one of the more exciting freshman prospects for next year's NCAA season, but it remains to be seen how it translates to freestyle and Greco at this level.
Adam Coon was the last person to make both junior world teams, when he took home bronze medals in both styles from the 2014 world championships in Croatia.
The last weekend in April is a huge one for USA Wrestling, with three different World Team Trials and two Opens. Darmstadt is planning to compete in the junior Greco world team trials on Thursday, April 27th, and then try to get a bye into June's junior freestyle WTT Finals over the course of the following two days. Registration is publicly available on FloArena.
Darmstadt was one of the most highly sought after big men from the class of 2016. He was 38th on the final senior big board, and went on to win Fargo junior 195 in freestyle later in the summer.
That Darmstadt entered the freestyle division is not terribly surprising, however, he has limited experience in Greco. But that small sample size is rather impressive. He had wins at Junior Duals over 2015 cadet world team member Wyatt Koelling and 2016 cadet world teamer Brandon Whitman.
At last year's Junior Freestyle Open, Darmstadt went 1-2 at 84kg, with both losses coming to Illinois wrestlers in Emery Parker and Xavier Montalvo. But with a whole season of training at the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club and up a weight, will Darmstadt now be a contender this year?
He likely won't have to deal with either of last year's junior world team members in his bracket. Kollin Moore won't be in attendance on the freestyle side, while G'Angelo Hancock will be competing in the senior Greco trials at 98kg. Because Hancock was on last year's junior team and also won Senior Nationals back in December, he can delay a final wrestle-off, which will take place at the Cadet/University nationals the first weekend in June.
Darmstadt's top game has made him one of the more exciting freshman prospects for next year's NCAA season, but it remains to be seen how it translates to freestyle and Greco at this level.
Adam Coon was the last person to make both junior world teams, when he took home bronze medals in both styles from the 2014 world championships in Croatia.
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