Final X will determine the 2018 U.S. Senior World Teams in men's and women's freestyle. FloWrestling will provide exclusive coverage of all three Final X events. The two other Final X events will be held on June 9 and June 23, with sites and date to be announced at later dates.
"Final X will be the ultimate test for the nation's top freestyle wrestlers," FloSports co-founder and CEO Martin Floreani said. "Final X is not just an event series but a status. Only the best American wrestlers of our generation make it to Final X, and those that become Final X have the opportunity to represent the USA."
"We are excited to take this new and exciting property to one of the heartbeats of wrestling, State College, Pa.," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. "We are confident this promotion will provide a platform to raise the relevancy of wrestling. We look forward to working with Cael Sanderson and the entire Nittany Lion wrestling community on what promises to be a fantastic presentation of wrestling,"
At State College, the top two men's and women's freestyle wrestlers in each of six weight classes will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 20-28, 2018.
The weight classes assigned to the Final X event at State College are:
â— Men's freestyle weight classes (65 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg)
â— Women's freestyle weight classes (62 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg)
The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in both styles allow for 2017 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X under certain conditions. In men's freestyle, the 2017 World medalist would have to compete in the same weight class as at the 2017 Worlds. In women's freestyle, the World medalist would have to compete in a specific weight class set by the Team Selection procedures.
Based upon these procedures, the only athlete who would be eligible to advance directly to the Final X event June 16 would be 2017 World bronze medalist J'den Cox, if he competes at 86 kg. However, Cox is expected to compete at 92 kg this year, and that weight class competes June 23.
In weight classes which do not have a 2017 World medalist who qualifies for Final X directly, the winner of the 2018 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 26-28, will advance to Final X. The Final X field will be finalized at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men's and women's freestyle, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. Both the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament will air live and on-demand only on FloWrestling.
State College has hosted numerous major wrestling events in the past, including USA Wrestling's University National Championships in 1990 and 1991. Penn State hosted the NCAA Division I Championships five times, in 1930, 1938, 1953, 1968 and 1999. The Nittany Lions also hosted the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in 1998 and 2009.
Information on ordering tickets for the Final X event in State College will be announced shortly. To access live and on-demand coverage of Final X, users must sign up to become a monthly or annual PRO subscriber on FloWrestling. Either subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network. Watch the events across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku or Apple TV 4.
For more information, visit FloWrestling.com or TheMat.com.
About FloSports
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders and governing bodies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header are Basketball, MMA, Football, Wrestling, Track, Gymnastics and more.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 232,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.
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