And with the 2019 World Championships being the first qualifier for the Olympics, this is a huge year for Senior-level wrestlers.
The first step of qualifying for the 2019 World Team will take place this weekend at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.
Seven returning freestyle medalists have already landed spots in the Final X.
In the weights without a world medalist, the U.S. Open champion advances directly to the Final X this summer.
In the weights with a world medalist, the U.S. Open champion will be the No. 1 seed in May's World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Champions at the Final X will wrestle for the U.S. at the 2019 World Championships in Kazakhstan.
Here are some of the top storylines to watch at the U.S. Open:
Zain, Nolf and Nickal
They combined for nine NCAA titles, three Hodge Trophy awards and tons of bonus points during their standout careers at Penn State. Expectations are high on the international level for Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal. Retherford already made a Senior world team at 65 kilograms in 2017 and he is a past Cadet world champion. Nolf (70 kilograms) and Nickal (92 kilograms) just finished their college careers, but both wrestlers are capable of landing spots on the 2019 U.S. World Team. Nickal is a past Cadet world team member. They will be three of the most dynamic wrestlers in the field in Las Vegas.
Yianni's return to freestyle
Before Yianni Diakomihalis won two NCAA titles for Cornell, he was winning championships against the best young wrestlers in the world. Yianni won back-to-back Cadet world titles in freestyle, a style he prefers over college folkstyle. Yianni is a matchup nightmare in freestyle with his ability to scramble and put big points on the board with his unique brand of wrestling. He will definitely be in the mix in a stacked weight class at 65 kilograms.
Coon competing in freestyle again
Adam Coon won a Greco-Roman silver medal at the 2018 World Championships, but he hasn't given up on competing in freestyle. Coon is among the freestyle entries at heavyweight, where he is the defending U.S. Open champion. Coon fell to world medalist Nick Gwiazdowski in the Final X last year. Coon is a past Cadet world champion and Junior world bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling.
Thomas Gilman defeated Daton Fix at Final X last year (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The battle at 57 kilograms
This is going to be good -- really good. This weight class is stacked with studs and it will be fun to watch. Thomas Gilman has been the guy here the last two years, placing second and fifth in the world. He will face his share of top challengers, including 2018 Final X runner-up Daton Fix along with past college rival and NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello. Two-time NCAA champion Jesse Delgado and NCAA champion Darian Cruz are also entered as is Cadet world silver medalist Vito Arujau. NCAA All-Americans Zane Richards, Sebastian Rivera and Nick Piccininni are in this class as well.
Green looking for gold
James Green has won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships. His quest for gold continues this season. He has been No. 1 on the U.S. ladder at 70 kilograms since 2015. Among his top challengers will be three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf and veteran Jason Chamberlain. Green beat Chamberlain in the Final X last year.
Don't count out Ringer
Alex Dieringer has had an excellent season in freestyle, placing third at the Yarygin in Russia before winning the Kolov in Bulgaria at 79 kilograms. The past Junior world silver medalist and three-time NCAA champion is a dynamic and powerful wrestler who is already a force on the international level. He continues to make improvement and it will be interesting to see how he faces in Las Vegas.
Redemption for Joey
Joey McKenna won the U.S. Open last year before falling to past world champion Logan Stieber in the Final X at 65 kilograms. McKenna is an accomplished freestyler, having medaled at the Junior World Championships. After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Yianni Diakomihalis in the NCAA finals. McKenna is eager to get back on the mat in Vegas. He and Yianni could meet again at the U.S. Open.
Isaiah Martinez reached Final X last year (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Isaiah looking to break through
Isaiah Martinez bounced back from a loss at the 2018 NCAA finals to win the U.S. Open before falling to Olympic and world champion Jordan Burroughs in the Final X. Martinez has continued to make gains this season at 74 kilograms and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the big tournaments coming up. He's an explosive athlete whose style is suited very well for freestyle.
Frank the Tank
2016 was a huge year for past NCAA champion Frank Molinaro. He not only made a surprising run to land a spot on the Olympic Team. He nearly won a medal before finishing fifth at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Molinaro is back down to 65 kilograms and he is a tough, physical wrestler who is difficult to match up against. He's definitely someone who can make a big splash as we approach another Olympics.
Take a Chance on me
Chance Marsteller's comeback story in college wrestling was impressive to watch. Once considered one of the best young prospects in the country, the past Cadet world team member now turns his focus back to freestyle. Keep an eye on Marsteller as he transitions back to a style he excels at. He could open a few eyes at the U.S. Open.
Not done yet
When you move closer to an Olympic year, you typically see wrestlers return to competition after being away. That group includes 2012 Olympian Jared Frayer, past U.S. Open champion Wynn Michalak and past Cadet world team member Destin McCauley. Frayer was an All-American at Oklahoma, Michalak was an All-American at Central Michigan and McCauley won an NCAA Division II title at Nebraska-Kearney.
Veteran presence
Two-time world team member Tony Ramos has entered the U.S. Open at 61 kilograms. Ramos is a three-time Open champion who has bumped up a weight class after previously competing at 57 kilograms. Past U.S. National Team member Jordan Oliver is among the entries at 65 kilograms. Jason Chamberlain is back at 70 kilograms and looking to repeat as U.S. Open champion. He lost to two-time world medalist James Green at the Final X. Kyven Gadson will be the favorite at 97 kilograms after advancing to the Final X last year. Among the other returning Open placewinners to watch are Ty Walz, Dom Bradley, Alec Pantaleo, Nico Megaludis, Frank Perrelli and Nick Dardanes.
Young gun Carr in the field
Prized Iowa State recruit David Carr didn't spend his redshirt season just sitting on the sidelines. The son of past Olympic bronze medalist Nate Carr not only excelled while competing in open college events, but he wrestled in Senior-level events as well. Carr, a past Cadet world bronze medalist, placed third at the Cerro Pelado event in Cuba this year. He will compete at 70 kilograms at the Open.
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