Jordan Burroughs (left) and Chance Marsteller at Final X NYC in 2022 (Photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)It's almost here! We're only a few days away from the best domestic event of the year during the freestyle and Greco-Roman season, Final X. For the first time since it was established in 2018, will all three styles be held at the same location on one day. Saturday's winners will go on to Belgrade, Serbia in September to represent the United States at the 2023 World Championships.
We'll start off our three previews by looking at the Senior men's freestyle matchups. As has been the case for the last eight years or so, we have the potential to have an incredible team. The 2022 squad came home with medals in eight of ten weight classes and all of those medalists return (though two will wrestle head-to-head) along with some very capable challengers. However things shake out at 61 and 92 kgs, we will have a first-time representative at those weights, but any of the possible winners should fare well at the World Championships.
Before we get ahead of ourselves and look at Belgrade, we have a preview of the action in the ten weight classes, with information about each wrestler and their previous head-to-head matchups, if any.
57 kg - Thomas Gilman vs. Zane Richards
We're getting things started with a battle between two grizzled veterans, both of whom come from the high school Class of 2012. Thomas Gilman's silver medal at the 2022 World Championships allowed him to wait in Final X. That marked the third consecutive World/Olympic tournament with hardware for Gilman and the fourth overall. So far this year, Gilman has won the Pan-American Championships and taken eighth at the Dan Kolov/Nikola Petrov.
Richards seemed like an unlikely candidate for Final X, but that's why they wrestle the matches. A solid showing at the World Cup and a 2022 title at the Bill Farrell led to Richards grabbing the top seed at the 2023 US Open. There he downed Jakob Camacho in the semis and shocked Nick Suriano for the title. Richards secured a takedown with under :30 seconds remaining in the bout to tie the contest at three, but go ahead on criteria.
These two last met at the 2020(1) Olympic Trials when Gilman teched Richards in the quarterfinals. It's difficult to make sense of that match because both have improved significantly since that point. Richards, in particular, which is something that we haven't become accustomed to seeing at the Senior level recently. Typically, the world team contenders are great right out of college (or before).
The full article can be found on InterMat's Rokfin Page.
