Kellen Russell of Michigan on way to his second NCAA title at 141 pounds. Russell will drop to 60 kg for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Larry Slater photo

USA Wrestling has announced that the following athletes have been granted a wildcard to compete in men’s freestyle at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22. 

Men’s freestyle
60 kg/132 lbs. – Kellen Russell, High Bridge, N.J. (Cliff Keen WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Ed Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)

Both of the selections won NCAA titles in 2012.

Russell was a two-time NCAA champion for the Univ. of Michigan (2011, 2012) and was a three-time All-American. He was second in the 2008 FILA Junior World Team Trials.

Ruth was a 2012 NCAA champion for Penn State, and was third in the 2011 NCAA Championships.

The committee selected two alternates. The first alternate was Tony Ramos, Carol Stream, Ill. (Hawkeye WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. The second alternate was Tony Nelson, Cambridge, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

There are no more wildcards available in any of the Olympic styles.

Men’s freestyle wrestling had been awarded 10 wildcards for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and announced the first eight of them on March 25. Greco-Roman had been awarded four wildcards, all which were announced on Friday. There are no wildcards available in women’s freestyle wrestling.

The National Coach in each style made a recommendation to a committee, which reviewed, discussed and approved the final selections.

The qualifying process has now been completed for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.

To see the full field of participants,
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