USA Wrestling Trials Seeds & Picks for 86kg
The USA Wrestling Olympic Trials are in less than 24 hours, and I have analyzed the seeds and am giving my picks for the 86kg weight class. This weight has the most competitors out of the entire Men’s Freestyle bracket.
The Story
I alluded to it in the opening, but not only does this 86kg bracket have the most competitors, but it also has 4 individuals from one club. The Nittany Lion WC has the number one seed David Taylor and two of the NCAA wrestling champions from this year. Can’t forget Bo Nickal who is an electric factory and a big move threat at all times.
Nickal is the six seed which kind of bums me out. He and Myles Martin won’t be on the same side of the bracket, so they most likely won’t meet. They split in the NCAAs but rewatching those matches nowadays gives me goosebumps looking at the crowd.
Feels disrespectful to Zahid Valencia for getting to him so late, but the two seed is an insane wrestler himself. He has defeated Myles Martin before and I think is the biggest threat to the ‘Magic Man’ Taylor.
Dark Horses
Gabe Dean is one of my favorite wrestlers, coming from Cornell he gives New Yorkers like myself a great college team to root for. He recently came back from a three-year competitive break. That combined with his side of the bracket put him in this category.
Best Matches to Watch
That Dean v Martin (what an all-time name matchup) will be a must-watch round of 8 bout. If the seeds don’t change and we don’t run into any logistical issues, this is it at 86kg.
Prediction
It is so hard for me to go against David Taylor in any capacity. He started the modern era of Penn State’s dominance and the new age of college wrestling fans. That tradition still continues today, and guys like him and Nickal help the guys still in college. It will most likely end up being Taylor over Valencia.
86kg Seeds via TeamUSA.org
1. David Taylor (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
2. Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids)
3. Pat Downey (Unattached)
4. Myles Martin (Ohio RTC/TMWC)
5. Gabe Dean (Spartan Combat RTC/TMWC)
6. Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
7. Nate Jackson (New Jersey RTC/NYAC)
8. Sam Brooks (Hawkeye WC/NYAC)
9. Brett Pfarr (Gopher WC RTC)
10. Aaron Brooks (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
11. Carter Starocci (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
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