This past weekend the United States World Team Trials for wrestling took place in Council bluffs, Iowa. Both of the Olympic styles, Freestyle and Greco-Roman, were represented.

The winners will get the opportunity to represent their country in the 2009 World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark. A victory there would mean the first World Championships victory for the United States since Bill Zadick and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto conqueror Joe Warren accomplished the feat in 2006.

The style of the trials tournament is a bit interesting. First, there is a Challengers Tournament and the winners of that tournament get a shot at the US Nationals Champion (which is normally determined only a few months prior) in a best of three match showdown. The format leads to many upsets and first time victors.

A few members of last year’s Olympic team chose to not compete such as gold medalist Henry Cejudo or Daniel Cormier. The ones that chose to compete were not very fortunate, as only two, Spenser Mango and Dremiel Byers, were able to make the World Team.

With the success of Joe Warren and Muhammed Lawal, it would not  be much of a stretch if one of these wrestlers turned out to be the next wrestling convert to impress the MMA world.  The results of the finals are below.  For the full brackets, check out TheMat.com

Freestyle

55 kg/121 lbs.
Danny Felix defeated Nick Simmons, 2 matches to 1
Felix dec. Simmons 0-1, 2-0, 1-0
Simmons dec. Felix, 1-1, 2-0
Felix dec. Simmons, 2-1, 1-0

60 kg/132 lbs.
Shawn Bunch defeated Mike Zadick, 2 matches to 0
Bunch dec. Zadick, 3-0, 1-3, 2-1
Bunch dec. Zadick, 3-0, 0-2, 1-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Trent Paulson defeated Jared Frayer, 2 matches to 0
Paulson dec. Frayer, 1-0, 0-3, 2-2
Paulson dec. Frayer, 2-0, 1-0

74 kg/163 lbs.
Dustin Schlatter defeated Travis Paulson, 2 matches to 0
Schlatter dec. Paulson, 1-0, 1-0
Schlatter dec. Pauslon, 1-0, 1-0

84 kg/185 lbs.
Jake Herbert defeated Bryce Hasseman, 2 matches to 1
Herbert dec. Hasseman 0-1, 3-2, 1-0
Hasseman dec. Herbert, 0-1,1-0, 3-1
Herbert dec. Hasseman, 1-0, 1-1

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Jake Varner defeated Andy Hrovat, 2 matches to 0
Varner dec. Hrovat, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
Varner dec. Hrovat, 0-1, 2-0, 1-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tervel Dlagnev defeated Steve Mocco, 2 matches to 1
Dlagnev dec. Mocco, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
Mocco dec. Dlagnev, 0-3, 3-0, 2-2
Dlagnev dec. Mocco, 3-0, 1-1

Greco-Roman

55 kg/121 lbs.
Spenser Mango defeated Lindsey Durlacher, 2 matches to 0
Mango dec. Durlacher, 3-0, 5-0
Mango dec. Durlacher, 2-0, 3-0

60 kg/132 lbs.
Jeremiah Davis defeated Glenn Garrison, 2 matches to 0
Davis dec. Garrison, 2-0, 0-1, 2-0
Davis dec. Garrison, 4-0, 5-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Faruk Sahin defeated Mark Rial, 2 matches to 0
Sahin dec. Rial, 2-0, 1-0
Sahin dec. Rial, 1-0, 5-0

74 kg/163 lbs.
Harry Lester defeated Jess Hargrave, 2 matches to 0
Lester dec. Hargrave, 4-4, 1-0, 1-0
Lester pinned Hargrave, 3-0, 0:29

84 kg/185 lbs.
Chas Betts defeated T.C. Dantzler, 2 matches to 1
Betts dec. Dantzler, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
Dantzler dec. Betts, 2-0, 2-1
Betts dec. Dantzler, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
R.C. Johnson defeated Peter Gounaridis, 2 matches to 0
Johnson dec. Gounaridis, 1-0, 1-0
Johnson dec. Gounaridis, 4-3, 1-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers defeated Brandon Rupp, 2 matches to 0
Byers dec. Rupp, 2-0, 1-0
Byers dec. Rupp, 1-0, 2-0

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