I know Wyatt has a broader timeline given his true goals are the Olympics but does anyone know if he is planning to participate in the US open this month? I’ve seen Hamiti and Plott listed. Haven’t seen Amine or Wyatt. Also, since I’m relatively new to following wrestling, have our current wrestlers historically participated in the freestyle season? Seeing Lilledahl and a couple other PSU guys in Pan Am right now and also the open.
Hendrickson US Open
- Thread starter HopkinsPoke
- Start date
Hendrickson qualifies for world team trials challenge tournament with his ncaa win (top 3 auto qualify). I assume with the arm issue that rest is the better route for right now.
If you’re unfamiliar, it basically goes US open then WTT challenge, then Final X.
US open champ goes straight to Final X where they face either 1) the medalist from last years Olympics (only guys whose medaled last year were Lee, Brooks, Dake, Vito, and Coach DT) or 2) the winner from WTT challenge tournament.
To participate in WTT challenge tournament you have to have basically been on last years freestyle team, been a medalist at last years u23/u20 worlds, placed top 3 at ncaas, placed top 7 at this years US open. Couple other qualifying events are out there too though. Most of the big names you’d recognize have qualifying criteria somehow.
Just to expound on this and why we will see certain guys versus others, here are the weights that you must win the US Open as it sits to have a shot at Final X
57kg - winner gets Lee (Silver Olympics 2024)
61kg - winner gets Vito (Bronze Worlds 2024)
74kg - winner gets Dake (Bronze Olympics 2024)
86kg - winner gets Brooks (Bronze Olympics 2024)
Weights where winner of US open will face winner of challenge tournament.
65kg
70kg
79kg
92kg (assume DT will not take his Final X spot)
97kg
125kg
57kg - winner gets Lee (Silver Olympics 2024)
61kg - winner gets Vito (Bronze Worlds 2024)
74kg - winner gets Dake (Bronze Olympics 2024)
86kg - winner gets Brooks (Bronze Olympics 2024)
Weights where winner of US open will face winner of challenge tournament.
65kg
70kg
79kg
92kg (assume DT will not take his Final X spot)
97kg
125kg
Thanks for explaining! I've been confused on how this all works. So does the WTT challenge tournament only happen for weights where there's not a guy who auto qualifies for Final X (and accepts the spot)?
Like if Mason Parris had medaled last year (and accepted his Final X spot), Wyatt would be forced to go to the US Open to qualify because there would be no WTT challenge tournament for 125kg. Is that right?
Yes and the wrestlers who qualify for automatic spot at final X have to notify by April 14 so we will know in a few days. I expect everyone but DT tho.
Gotcha, thanks for clarifying! You think Dake accepts the 74 spot? Seems most people expect him to go up to 79 or 86.
I hadn’t thought of that or heard anything. If he goes up he does not get the auto birth I believe. He would qualify for challenge tournament though instead of having to go through US open probably.
I think Wyatt can win it. DJ is dangerous at 79kg. Even against Dake. Be slow, calculated and put Dake on the clock. Who knows?