All eight weight classes in both the men’s freestyle and the women’s freestyle divisions will be up for grabs at the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials, set for the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., June 13-14.

This is a change for the women’s freestyle competition, which originally planned to host four weight classes in Madison and four at another location and date. The change to include all eight women’s weight classes in Madison was approved this week by the Women’s Sports Committee and USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee.

The champions in all 16 weight classes contested in Madison will qualify to represent the United States at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 7-12.

The nation’s top Olympic-caliber wrestlers must qualify to compete in the U.S. World Team Trials. Among those who are expected in the field are 2012 Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner in men’s freestyle, and 2012 Olympic bronze medalists Coleman Scott in men’s freestyle and Clarissa Chun in women’s freestyle. Past World champions expected to wrestle include Burroughs and Chun, plus women freestyle World champions Adeline Gray, Elena Pirozhkova and Iris Smith.

In addition, the UWW Junior World Team Trials, featuring men’s freestyle only, will be held at the Alliant Energy Center on June 12, featuring the nation’s best 17-20 year old wrestlers. These include many of the nation’s top young college and high school stars. Winners will qualify to compete in men’s freestyle at the UWW Junior World Championships in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, August 11-16. The Greco-Roman UWW Junior World Team Trials will be in Las Vegas in May alongside the U.S. Open.

There is expected to be a strong local contingent of athletes in the field. Top Senior stars who are with the Wisconsin Regional Training Center include Kyle Ruschell, Nazar Kulchytskyy and Connor Medbery. Former stars from the University of Wisconsin who are expected to qualify are NCAA champion Andrew Howe and NCAA runner-up Tyler Graff. Two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe, who is from Tomahawk, Wis., is among the top stars in women’s freestyle.

There should be other Wisconsin-based wrestlers in the UWW Junior competition, including 2014 UWW Junior Nationals champion Ricky Robertson from the University of Wisconsin.

This is the second straight year that the U.S. World Team Trials are being held in Madison. The Wisconsin Regional Training Center is the local host, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation and the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association.

“We will have the complete Senior men’s and women’s freestyle tournaments on raised mats the entire time, giving all spectators a great view of the action. This year, the event is being held after the school year is over, which will allow even more people to attend,” said Event Director Mitch Hull.

Fans who wish to have the best seat locations are encourage to order their tickets right away. There are only 900 reserved seats available.

Tickets are currently available at Ticketmaster.com. To find the U.S. World Team Trials ticket ordering location on Ticketmaster.com, search for the “Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center.”

For team/club group discounts, contact the Madison Ticket Agency at 608-267-3995. There are half-price General Admission tickets available for groups of 10 or more.

U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS
UWW JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Madison, Wis., June 12-14

Friday, June 12

9:00 a.m. – UWW Junior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament (Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals)

2:00 p.m. – UWW Junior World Team Trials Final Trials: Best of 3 Series (Match #1, Match #2 and Match #3 -if needed, plus 3rd Place and True 2nd Challenge Tournament)

Saturday, June 13
Senior Men's Freestyle: 57 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg and 125 kg
Senior Women's Freestyle: 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 75 kg

10:00 a.m. - Session I - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

5:00 p.m. - Session II - Final World Team Trials – Best of 3 Series (Rd # 1, Rd # 2 and Rd # 3 - if Needed, True Second Place Matches from Challenge Tournament)

Sunday, June 14
Senior Men's Freestyle: 61 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, and 97 kg
Senior Women's Freestyle: 48 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg and 69 kg

10:00 a.m. - Session I - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

5:00 p.m. - Session II - Final World Team Trials – Best of 3 Series (Rd # 1, Rd # 2 and Rd # 3 - if Needed, True Second Place Matches from Challenge Tournament)