The 2018 World Team Trials challenge tournament is just two weekends away in Rochester, MN. After two days of wrestling on May 19-20, the field will be set for Final X.

WATCH 2018 WORLD TEAM TRIALS LIVE ON FLO
When: May 19-20 | Where: Rochester, MN

For three years now, the 70kg weight class has been in the more than capable hands of James Green. At last year’s World Championships in Paris, Green earned his second world medal, affording him the right to sit until Final X in Lincoln, NE, on June 9.

Many probably expected 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro to win the U.S. Open and get the bye to the Trials finals, but he fell short in Las Vegas two weeks ago. Now up a weight, he was a finalist at 65kg last year, losing in three matches to Zain Retherford. Since then, his only competition was at the Ivan Yarygin in Russia in January, where he won a bronze medal.

The expansion to 10 weights, as well as the increased visibility and importance of America's age level pipeline, has produced a situation in which more and more college guys are not only entering the Open but also placing and qualifying for the Trials. Those guys will factor heavily into the outcome in Rochester.

WTT Previews: 57kg | 61kg | 65kg

In Final X: James Green

In Trials Finals: Jason Chamberlain

WTT Qualifiers

Commentary: Jason Chamberlain sits in the World Team Trials finals for the first time in his career after winning last month’s U.S. Open. His key victory came in the semifinals when he took out Frank Molinaro 4-2. Chamberlain beat Molinaro two matches to none to take the 2012 University spot, then fell four times in a row to the Gorilla Hulk before beating him in Vegas.

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Since Molinaro only lost to Chamberlain, he should be the top seed in Rochester. The 2012 Olympian seemed to suffer an apparent knee injury against Chamberlain and did not wrestle back after that. Hopefully the 2016 Olympian, and all the competitors, are at full strength for the Trials for the right to wrestle James Green in Final X.

Hayden Hidlay has been on a steady rise the last several years, progressing from a Fargo champ to blue-chip recruit to stud redshirt to NCAA finalist. He can now add Open finalist to that resume after taking out Chase Pami in the quarters and Alec Pantaleo in the semis.

At NCAAs, Pantaleo picked up the first takedown against Hidlay and then proceeded to give up 10 unanswered, including a throw. But in Vegas, they traded takedowns, with the 2016 junior world team member able to finish clean on two occasions. Pantaleo’s performances against Dylan Ness are indicative of his improvement. At last year’s Trials, the two-time All-American for Michigan lost to Ness 9-6, but then beat him 11-1 and 8-2 at the Open.

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Outside of his first match against one Matt Collum, Ness only had one four-point move in the rest of his matches. While this version of Ness doesn’t have to rely on big moves to win, he also is not quite on the level of the finalists.

Ryan Deakin continues to improve. Now a first-year senior, Deakin teched his college compatriots Matt Kolodzik and Steve Bleise and also had a lead on Frank Molinaro four minutes into the match. A surprise junior world finalist last year, Deakin is a problem in freestyle and appears to have found an ideal weight.

The most veteran wrestler in the whole field is a question mark for the Trials. Kellen Russell, a two-time NCAA titlist and 2013 Open champ, won the Dave Schultz in November. Another two-time NCAA champ in Jason Nolf is a question mark, though the difference is, Nolf still has a year of college left, whereas Russell's career could be nearing its end.

Kyle Ruschell looked solid at the Farrell and was on the first 70kg national team when the weight was introduced in 2014. Last year's Pan Am champ at 74kg is huge for the weight and might be the biggest issue for both the seeding committee and whoever gets him as the bad draw early on at the challenge tournament.

The NCAA stars are going to Minnesota, and they're bringing hell with them. Deakin and Pantaleo can score off leg attacks on anyone, but it's Hidlay who has separated himself. Unfortunately for NC State fans, the Wolfpack youngster needs a little more seasoning before he can run with Molinaro.

Nomad's Picks

1) Frank Molinaro 2) Hayden Hidlay 3) Alec Pantaleo 4) Ryan Deakin

Trials Finals: Molinaro over Chamberlain, two matches to none.