World Team Trials preview in freestyle at 65 kg

By Craig Sesker USA Wrestling

Brent Metcalf is ready for a breakthrough.

The two-time World Team member is ready to win a World medal this season for the United States.

Metcalf looks well on his way after shutting out all four of his opponents en route to winning the U.S. Open freestyle title at 65 kg/143 lbs. He outscored his four Open foes a combined 39-0.

Metcalf’s U.S. Open victory clinched him a spot in the final-round series for the U.S. World Team Trials, set for May 31-June 1 in Madison, Wis. He will face the winner of the Challenge Tournament in the best-of-3 match finals.

Champions at the Trials advance to September’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Metcalf also went 5-0 at the World Cup this year and is coming off an 11-8 win over World No. 1 Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia at the Beat the Streets Dual in New York City.

Metcalf is in a strong weight class with plenty of firepower.

Two-time NCAA champion Kellen Russell was second to Metcalf at the 2013 Trials and 2014 Open.

Past Junior World medalists Logan Stieber and Jordan Oliver also can’t be counted out. Stieber will look to win his fourth NCAA title next season and Oliver has beaten a number of top foreign opponents, including Kubanaliev.

Past NCAA champion Frank Molinaro has turned in a strong season. He was fourth at the Open.

Two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey took fifth at the Open while wrestling up a weight class.

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