Lincoln to Host USA Wrestling World Team Trials

The 2017 U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials and UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials will be held June 9-10 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, USA Wrestling announced on Wednesday.

“We are honored to be the host site for the 2017 U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials,” Nebraska Head Coach Mark Manning, who also served as a U.S. Olympic Team coach during the 2016 Rio Games, said. “Fans will be able to see local stars, four-time World and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs and World medalist James Green, plus others like Olympic champion Kyle Snyder and World champion Logan Stieber. This is tremendous for our fan base and the entire wrestling community. Lincoln is very convenient to get to for wrestling fans. The Lincoln Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has done a tremendous job organizing what will be a first-class competition.”

Among the star athletes expected to compete at the U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials are Husker grads Jordan Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic champion and three-time World champion, and James Green, a 2015 World bronze medalist, both who train full-time in Lincoln with the Nebraska Wrestling Regional Training Center. Another top Husker star, TJ Dudley, is also expected to try out for the World Team. Husker wrestlers Chad Red, Beau Breske, Eric Schultz and others are expected to compete at the UWW Junior World Team Trials, along with stars from other major Division I wrestling programs and top high school programs.

The UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials, set for Friday, June 9, will feature the best 17-20 year-old men’s freestyle wrestlers in the nation, including talented college underclassmen and high school wrestlers from across the nation. The winners of the eight weight classes will earn sports on the U.S. Junior World Team, which will compete in the UWW Junior World Wrestling Championships in Tampere, Finland, Aug. 1-6, 2017.

The U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials, set for Saturday, June 10, will feature as many as 90 athletes who must qualify for the event. The winners of the eight weight classes will earn a spot on the U.S. World Team, which will compete in the World Wrestling Championships in Paris, France, Aug. 21-26, 2017.

“The Senior and UWW Junior World Team Trials will feature great competition,” Manning said. “The renovated Devaney Center is where the Huskers wrestle and play volleyball, and is a great venue for wrestling. There are big scoreboards and the facility is first-class in all ways. The accommodations will be great for both the fans and for the wrestlers.”

Tickets are now on sale for both events through Huskers.com/tickets. The U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials tickets are $30 for general admission and $50 for VIP seating. There are group discounts for 10 or more tickets for $20 each. At the UWW Junior World Team Trials, general admission tickets are $20, with group discounts for 10 or more tickets for $10 each.

The local organizing committee includes the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau partnering with University of Nebraska facilities to host the event.

USA Wrestling has hosted some of its major age-group national competitions in Lincoln in the past. The UWW Junior National Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman were hosted in Lincoln in 2000, 2001 and 2004. The Cadet National Championships in both styles were hosted there in 1995.

UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials
Friday, June 9
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Challenge Tournament (Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals, and Finals)

5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Best of Three Championships Series: Match #1, Match #2 and Match #3 (if needed), plus third-place matches

UWW U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials
Saturday, June 10
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Challenge Tournament (Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals, and Finals)

6 p.m.-8 p.m.: Best of Three Championships Series: Match #1, Match #2 and Match #3 (if needed), plus true second place matches from Challenge Tournament.

Presentation of the 2017 USA World Championship Team at conclusion of Finals