The U23 World Team Trials in Akron, Ohio, are going to be an absolute riot. Approximately 688 wrestlers are registered for the men's freestyle tournament as of Thursday evening. Six-hundred and eighty-eight!

Of that cavalcade of combatants, 120 have signed up for 70kg. Wait, seriously? Yes, for real, for real. One-hundred and twenty. The largest weight class in the U23 MFS portion of the event. Rubber City has never seen the likes of this kind of mat mayhem before.

WATCH U23 WORLD TEAM TRIALS LIVE ON FLO

Where: Akron, Ohio | When: June 2-3

Let's start with Hayden Hidlay. Besides looking like he was carved out of marble, the Mifflin County, PA, native has been winning nearly everything in sight. 

After a solid if not spectacular 2016-17 redshirt season for North Carolina State at 157 pounds, the Wolfpacker took fourth at the 2017 U.S. Open at 74kg in men's freestyle. A couple months later, Hidlay finished second at the 2017 Junior World Team Trials, losing to Iowa's Alex Marinelli in the finals. 

Next spring, Hidlay would level up in folkstyle, finishing second to Jason Nolf at the 2018 NCAAs. Shortly after that, it was another runner-up finish, this time at the 2018 U.S. Open to Final X participant Jason Chamberlain. Most recently Hidlay lost to Rio Olympian Frank Molinaro in the finals of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.

Folks, it’s time for Hidlay to win himself a dang national tournament. 

Watch Hidlay beat NCAA finalist Joey Lavallee of Missouri at the 2017 Reno Tournament of Champions:

Don't expect a cakewalk for Hidlay, though. Ryan Deakin will have a thing or two to say about Hidlay's championship aspirations. The Northwestern rising sophomore and his condor-like arm span may cause problems for Hidlay and his underhook-dependent offense. Deakin also has a Junior world silver medal to his name from 2017 at 66kg, so he's got plenty of high-level freestyle experience. 

There is also a pair of two-time All-Americans standing in Hidlay's path: Nebraska’s Tyler Berger and Princeton’s Matt Kolodzik are both registered for action in Akron. Berger was fifth and third in 2017 and 2018, respectively, both at 157 pounds. Kolodzik was seventh and third at the same two NCAA National Championships that Berger medaled in, but Kolo's first was at 141 pounds and his most recent All-American honor was at 149.  

So it's not going to be easy, but this is still Hidlay's tournament to lose.

Watch Hidlay take out four-time NCAA All-American Dylan Ness at the 2018 Challenge tournament:

But what else? 

Well, Oklahoma State's All-American Boo Lewallen is scheduled to make an appearance in Akron. This will be a particularly enlightening tournament for Cowboys fans, as they will return more All-American-caliber wrestlers to the room this fall than they have starting spots. Lewallen and the rest of the Oklahoma State squad are in a continuous dogfight with their teammates to earn a spot in the vaunted Cowboys lineup.   

And one mustn't overlook Ohio State's Ke-Shawn Hayes. The Buckeye by way of Missouri will also be up at 70kg, or 154 pounds. Does this portend a move up to 157 pounds as Micah Jordan slides back down to 149, as has been rumored? Much will be gleaned as wrestlers try out new weights during this NCAA offseason.

How about some more names to watch? Sure let's do it!

OK, deep breath... there's Appalachian State's NCAA qualifier Matt Zovistoski, Duke's three-time qualifier Mitch Finesilver, Campbell's qualifier Josh Heil, Clarion's qualifier Taylor Ortz, Michigan's qualifier Malik Amine, Michigan State's starter Jake Tucker, Minnesota's three-time qualifier Steve Bleise, Nebraska's 149-pound starter Colin Purinton, Northwestern 149-pound starter Shayne Oster, Arizona State qualifier Josh Maruca, Virginia Tech starter Ryan Blees, Maryland's two-time NCAA qualifier Baby J Bannister, Cornell's starter Freddy Stroker, Northern Colorado's starter Jimmy Fate, Wisconsin's two-time national qualifier Cole Martin, Stanford All-American Paul Fox, Fresno State starter Greg Gaxiola, and finally, Old Dominion's qualifier Larry Early. 

Who did we miss? I'm sure lots. As mentioned, there are going to be a metric shedload (scientific term) of 70kg entries. Holla at us with your favs!

Then tune in this weekend as we bring you top-to-bottom coverage of America's best 23-and-under male freestylers. See you then!