OLYMPIC TRIALS/WRESTLING
What: Competition in 18 weight classes — six for men's freestyle, six for women's freestyle and six for Greco-Roman — to determine the roster for this summer's Rio Olympics.
When: Saturday and Sunday
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City
The schedule: Preliminary matches will run from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day, with finals from 6-9 p.m. Saturday's competition includes four weight classes in Greco-Roman (59 kilograms, 66kg, 85 kg and 98kg), two in men's freestyle (65 kg and 125kg) and three in women's freestyle (58kg, 63kg, 69kg). Sunday's schedule includes two classes in Greco-Roman (75kg and 130kg), four in men's freestyle (57kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg) and three in women's freestyle (48kg, 53kg, 75kg).
TV: NBCSN, 6 p.m. Saturday (live) and approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday (tape-delayed, following NHL coverage).
The Minnesota contingent: A total of 22 wrestlers with Minnesota ties—most of whom train with the Minnesota Storm club in the Twin Cities—will compete at the trials. Greco-Roman competitors Andy Bisek of Chaska (75kg), Jordan Holm of Golden Valley (85kg) and Joe Rau of Minneapolis (98kg) all are seeded No. 1 at their weights. Bisek will advance directly to Sunday's best-of-three finals after winning a bronze medal at last year's world championships.
Other Minneapolis residents in the Greco-Roman field are John Wechter (98kg), Brian Graham (66kg), Jake Fisher (75kg), Pat Smith (66kg), Devin Scott (66kg), Alec Ortiz (75kg) and Pat Carey (98kg). The field also includes South St. Paul native Jake Clark (85kg), Parker Betts of St. Michael (130kg), Justin LaValle of Apple Valley (59kg), Donny Longendyke of Vadnais Heights (130kg), Hayden Zillmer of Crosby (85kg), Mason Manville of Apple Valley (75kg) and Sam Stoll of Kasson ( 130kg).
The men's freestyle field includes Apple Valley senior Mark Hall (74kg), a six-time state champ; Matt Meuleners of Norwood Young America (125kg); and three former Gophers living and training in Minneapolis: Jayson Ness (65kg), Scott Schiller (97kg) and Tony Nelson (125kg).
What's next: The U.S. has qualified only nine of 18 weights for the Rio Olympics, with two qualifiers remaining. The trials champions in three Greco-Roman classes (59kg, 66kg and 130kg), two in men's freestyle (65kg and 86kg) and four in women's freestyle (48kg, 53kg, 58kg and 69kg) must wrestle at the next Olympic qualifier, April 22-24 in Mongolia, to try to earn berths at the Summer Games. Those who fall short have one last chance at the final qualifier, May 6-8 in Istanbul.
RACHEL BLOUNT
