Former Cyclone Wrestlers Qualify for U.S. Olympic Team Trials

AMES, Iowa - Four former Iowa State wrestlers were among the first 65 athletes who have qualified to compete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22. The qualifiers were announced Thursday by USA Wrestling.

The qualification process for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials has begun, based upon the qualifying procedures approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee for wrestling.

Former Cyclone national champion and 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner automatically qualified for the Championship Finals Series. Varner qualified for the 96 kg (185 pounds) weight class.

Three other Iowa State alums received automatic qualification for the 2012 men's freestyle U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Both Travis and Trent Paulson, past U.S. World team members, qualified for the 74 kg (163 pounds) weight class. 2011 World Team Trials Champion Cael Sanderson qualified for the 84 kg (185 pounds) class.

Each of the three Olympic styles of wrestling will have a different qualification process, as proposed by their individual Sports Committees, presented by USA Wrestling and approved by the USOC.

Athletes who have already qualified include the following:
- Past U.S. World and Olympic Team members in all three styles
- The top three placewinners at the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials in men's freestyle wrestling.

The list of past U.S. World and Olympic Team members includes wrestlers who have indicated that they may try out for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

Based upon the approved qualification process, three athletes have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the Championship Finals Series at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, by virtue of winning a medal at an Olympic weight class at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

The approved Olympic Team Selection Criteria for each style can be read at:
http://www.themat.com/usawrestling.org/nationalteams.php?page=team_criteria

The next scheduled event which will provide the opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling is the Sunkist Kids International Open in Mesa, Ariz., October 29-30.

This year, there will not be a U.S. Open for men's freestyle. Instead, there will be a Men's Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier held in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 3 in Las Vegas, Nev., held alongside the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational. Three athletes in each weight class will qualify for Iowa City.

In addition to listing the athletes by weight class, USA Wrestling will also produce a list of qualifiers based upon their college affiliation, either as a current or past student-athlete, current coach or involvement with a Regional Training Center.

USA Wrestling will continue to update and publish the list of athletes who have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.

Iowa State University Athletics

Former Cyclone Wrestlers Qualify for U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Related Videos

Sponsors