The IRTC Guide to the World Team Trials

WHAT:  World Team Trials

WHEN:  Saturday, May 21 - Sunday, May 22

WHERE:  Xtream Arena, Coralville, Iowa

WHEN X 2:  All Freestyle and Greco weights start on Saturday, May 21 at 10 am. Semifinals for Zane Richards and Isaiah Martinez would start that same Saturday afternoon at 4:30 pm. IRTC Greco wrestlers have their semifinals on Sunday starting at 10:30 am. Best two of three championship matches start that same Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm for Freestyle and Greco. 

TV/STREAMING:  Flowrestling 

MAX NOWRY

Nowry is the #1 seed at 55kg in Greco. He has to be the most consistent performer for Team USA's Greco squad. Nowry has won three Pan Am Championships and placed fifth in the 2019 World Championships, losing to the Silver Medalist by one point. That's on top of University and Military world championships. 

The IRTC athlete is currently ranked #11 in the world, even though he didn't wrestle in the most recent Continental championships (Pan Ams) because of security concerns raised by his active duty Army status. He will be a heavy favorite to make it to Final X and win the world team spot. 

ZANE RICHARDS

Zane is seeded #3 at 57kg. Unlike 55kg in Greco, there is a world medalist already waiting in Final X for the winner of this tournament. That would be Thomas Gilman. Therefore, Richards will need to win this tournament to be able to wrestle for the world team spot next month. 

His most dangerous opponent looks to be seeded #2 in Vitali Arujau. The IRTC wrestler is no stranger to these tense matches, as he made it to the third-place match at the Olympic Trials. This will be a two-day event for him, as there will be a best of three finals to determine who goes to Final X. So, Zane will want to keep on top of his cut. 

KAMAL BEY

Kamal is still only 24 years old and is the #3 seed at 77kg in Greco. Because of an uncalled leg foul in his last tournament, he'll have two tough matches instead of one. But because there is no world medalist at this weight, Bey will only have to beat one of them in this tournament to reach the finals and earn a trip to Final X. 

The IRTC athlete is known for his explosive style and his results. He's a past Junior World Champion, as well as both a US Open and US National Champion at the Senior level. The #1 seed at the WTT is RaVaughn Perkins, while the #2 is Jesse Porter. Kamal will need to beat Porter, who, coincidentally, was the fellow doing the leg fouling during their last match. 

ISAIAH MARTINEZ

IMAR is the #6 seed at 79kg in Freestyle. He, of course, is an Emeritus member of the IRTC, and since folks are interested in his doings, let's talk about his upcoming WTT. First off, IMAR's reward for wrestling in the US Open and getting injured was he had to win the Last Chance Qualifier just this past week. 

His reward for that is the #6 seed Alex Dieringer. In the first round! The winner of that match will have the Taylor Lujan/Vincenzo Joseph winner in the semifinals. Then, that winner would face either McFadden, Starocci or Marstellar in the finals. 

Then, you would have Jordan Burroughs in Final X. In Nebraska. 

TANNER FARMER

The #2 seed at 130kg in Greco is IRTC athlete Tanner Farmer. Since there was no world medalist at this weight, he only needs to reach the finals of the WTT to reach the best of three at Final X. 

The #3 seed is West Cathcart, who may be injured, as he wasn't listed on the IRTC press release as going to the WTT. One of those two will be heavily favored to make it to Final X. The only two world-ranked 130kg Greco wrestlers from the United States are Farmer and the #1 seed Cohlton Schultz. 

U23 AND U20

The IRTC will have much to do between WTTs and Final X, including getting the young'uns ready for battle in Ohio:

DONATIONS

Here's where you can donate to the IRTC. Just yesterday I found a hand-written letter from an IRTC athlete in my mailbox thanking me for my donations. I'm not a whale--I'm the littlest minnow--so it was nice to read that letter. 

They'll also send you a cool shirt! 

Photo credits: (top to bottom) IRTC, Daily Herald, theguillotine.com, UWW, USAW, Tanner Farmer Twitter, IRTC, and Beat the Streets