Shawn Bunch and Reece Humphrey battle for position in the U.S. World Team Trials at 60 kg in Oklahoma City, Okla. on June 10. They will compete in Ukraine with the World Team berth at stake. Larry Slater photo

The 2011 U.S. World Team member in men’s freestyle at 60 kg/132 lbs. will be determined based upon results from the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International in Kiev, Ukraine, July 24.

The two U.S. wrestlers who will be competing in the event with World Team berth at stake are Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) and Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC). The athletes will weigh in on Saturday, July 23 and compete on Sunday, July 24.

Humphrey defeated Bunch in the final series at the U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, Okla. on June 10, two matches to one. Humphrey also defeated Bunch in the finals of the 2011 U.S. Open in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 9. Both train together at the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus.

In order for Bunch to make the U.S. World Team, he will have to win a medal at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial and place higher in the standings than Humphrey. 

If both wrestlers win a bronze medal, Humphrey makes the team. If Bunch places second and Humphrey places third, but both of them lose to the same opponent, then Humphrey makes the team.

Bunch qualifies for this opportunity under new U.S. freestyle criteria which recognizes international performances. Bunch won the Medved International in Belarus to meet this criteria. 

There were five international events that were identified this year that if a U.S. freestyle wrestler won a gold medal, he would have the opportunity for the additional international competition if he did not win the World Team Trials. Bunch was the only athlete to win one of these specific events.

“The wrestle-off is only one indicator of how to make the United States wrestling team. Another way we have instituted is the body of work in international competition,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “The American goal is simple. It is not to make the team; it is to win Olympic and World medals. We not only reward the wrestle-off; we also reward success in international competitions.”

Jones said that wrestlers within the U.S. men’s freestyle community support the new criteria and the reason it was established.

“This is what the athletes want. They realize that international competition is what we are measured by. They don’t have to just focus on beating each other. They also have to focus on beating the best in the world. This system is created this way for that reason,” said Jones.

Other U.S. wrestlers will be entered in this event in Ukraine competing at different weight divisions. The final U.S. rosters for this event and other international competitions will be announced at a later date.