On Sunday, USA Wrestling announced five wildcards for the 2010 World Team Trials. The tournament, which determines the country’s representatives at the 2010 FILA World Championships, will take place in Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 11 and 12.

Headlining the wildcard selections are two champions from the 2010 NCAA wrestling championships. Brent Metcalf, who won the 149-pound weight class, will compete in the 66 kg division. Max Askren, the little brother of Bellator competitor Ben Askren, will wrestle in the 84 kg division three months after winning an NCAA title at 184 pounds.

Metcalf recently defeated former NCAA finalist and 2010 freestyle University National champion Bubba Jenkins at the Beat The Streets charity event (see below).

The three other wildcard invites are Mark McKnight (55 kg), Corey Jantzen (66 kg) and Kirk Smith (84 kg). McKnight was one match away from automatically qualifying, but finished secoond at the 2010 Northeast Regionals. Jantzen, who wrestles for Harvard, was a member of the 2010 U.S. World Cup team. While wrestling this past season for Boise State, Smith was undefeated before losing to Askren in the NCAA finals.

Wrestlers can qualify for the World Team Trials by placing in the top seven at the U.S. Open as well winning several other tournaments including the Sunkist Kids and Dave Shultz Memorial. For a complete list of qualifiers check out themat.com.

Brent Metcalf vs. Bubba Jenkins

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