Wild-Card Selection

There will be a maximum of five total athletes in men’s freestyle allowed into the 2013 World Team Trials through the Wild-Card process. The National Coach will take petitions for Wild-Cards up until four calendar days after the World Team Trials Qualifier in Waterloo, Iowa. The National Coach will recommend individuals based on competitive readiness for the 2013 World Team Trials, injury or illness, and the ability to be competitive at the World Team Trials to a three person committee. The committee will then either approve or deny each Wild-Card petitioner individually. The committee will consist of an athlete representative and two members appointed by USA Wrestling.

Those individuals interested in petitioning into the World Team Trials need to submit your request to Candice Kasischke at candicek@usawrestling.org. This can be done at any time but no later than May 15.  

Athletes should also know the following

Athletes are requested in their petition to give their name, weight class, major accomplishments, wins against nationally ranked opponents, the reason why they should be considered and why they have not yet qualified.

"In my mind, we should really be narrowing down to those that we believe can make the World Team and those that can win medals. That’s it. I don’t see the World Trials as a development tournament but more as a test of who is the best guy for the job in Budapest," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

Athletes in all three styles can still qualify for the World Team Team Trials by competing in the Northern Plains Senior Regional Championships in Waterloo, Iowa, May 9-11. The winner will earn a spot in the field in Stillwater.

"I’ve told many of our young wrestlers that they shouldn’t rely on the wildcard process but ensure they qualify by going to the last qualifier in Iowa. That’s the best way to make sure you wrestle in Stillwater," said Jones.