2018 UWW Cadet and U23 World Team Trial Qualifier

Cadet World Team Trials: Confidence Picks

Willie's fearless prognostications presented by Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans for this weekend's Cadet World Team Trials.

May 30, 2018 by Willie Saylor

Cadet World Team Trials: Confidence Picks

As you can tell, we're just a tad bit excited about this weekend's Cadet World Team Trials.

I wrote a preview and Nomad couldn't contain himself so he double down with profiles on 55kg and 80kg.

Maybe it's because USA is so loaded with young talent. Maybe it's because, for the last four years, our Cadet Team brought home a team medal. Whatever the case, Saturday can't get here soon enough.

In the meantime, I've been thinking of some things history, or my gut (no fat jokes please), tell me we're sure to see. So I give you, my

Confidence Picks presented by Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans

5. Bryce Andonian Will Put The Country on Notice

He's been on fire. 65kg is loaded, but his stock is soaring and the word out of his camp is glowing.

4. The Alex Facundo Era is Here

I was (proudly) his first and biggest cheerleader. But this will be the first of several times we can write that Alex Facundo makes a World Team.

3. Half a dozen Fargo All Americans Won't Place at 80kg

Ok, that's not such a prediction as it is math. But it's flat out staggering. I dare you to find another high school bracket with such credentials. (If you do, hit me up @WillieAtFlo).

2. Some Matches Will Be Legendary

Daton Fix over Nick Suriano (2014). Daton Fix over Spencer Lee (2015). Bo Nickal over Mark Hall (2013). Zain Retherford over Anthony Ashnault (2012).

These are matches we went back and watched over and over again. It's impossible to predict what matches will manifest into that level of lore, but one or two most certainly will.

1. For the fifth straight year, our Cadet team will bring home a medal.

For two, very different reasons. 1) We have talent. Look, Kerkvliet is the defending World Champ. Josh Saunders beat a Cadet Medalist (Vito Arajau) last month. 80kg is a meatgrinder. Skinner, Howard, and Tagg all made the team last year. And while there is no guarantee that they all make the team this year, whoever should beat them has to be darn good. I won't go as far as predicting Gold, but we'll get a team medal.