Team USA Qualifying Schedule: The Meets To Know In 2026
Here’s the 2026 Team USA wrestling qualifying schedule, including the U.S. Open, Senior World Team Trials and Final X.
he road to Team USA looks a little different depending on the style, but for senior-level world team qualification in 2026, three events matter most for freestyle fans: the U.S. Open, the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, and Final X. All three are broadcast on FloWrestling.
- More Information On The US Open Wrestling Championships 2026
- Domestic Men’s Freestyle Rankings
- 2026 US Open Senior Level Wrestling Entries
Each event plays a different role in the process, from setting the field to deciding who earns a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team. For men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers, these events make up the key stops on the road to Team USA.
*For Greco-Roman, the process is different, with the world team determined in Las Vegas rather than at Final X.
Here’s what to know about the meets that will decide Team USA in 2026.
Team USA Qualifying Schedule 2026
- April 21-26, 2026 – U.S. Open Championships
- May 14-15, 2026 – Senior World Team Trials
- June 19, 2026 – Final X
U.S. Open Championships
April 21-26, 2026 – Las Vegas, Nevada
The U.S. Open is the first major stop in the senior world team process. In men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle, champions at each weight advance directly to Final X, making it one of the most important events on the domestic calendar.
U.S. Open champions who earn Final X berths are not entered into the Senior World Team Trials.
Senior World Team Trials
May 14-15, 2026 – Louisville, Kentucky
The next stop for senior freestyle wrestlers is the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. This event is the final qualifying step into Final X for men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle athletes who did not win the U.S. Open.
The Challenge Tournament winner advances to Final X in weights where there is no returning 2025 World medalist already sitting in that Final X spot, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15787159-team-usa-qualifying-schedule-the-meets-to-know-in-2026
Wyoming Wrestling Headed Back to National Duals Invitational
LARAMIE, Wyoming (4/14/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team needed to win the National Duals Invitational lottery back in 2025. This time around, that wasn’t the case. The Cowboys automatically qualified for the 2026 edition of the tournament by way of a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The 2026 National Duals Invitational will once again take place inside the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’ll run from Dec. 12-13.
All participating teams will once again earn $20,000. More prize money is at stake for the first-place team, as $250,000 is on the line. Again, like last year, the top eight teams will gain an additional payout. … at … https://gowyo.com/news/2026/4/14/wrestling-headed-back-to-national-duals-invitational.aspx
Minnesota Headed Back to National Duals Invitational
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota wrestling team has confirmed its participation in the second annual National Duals Invitational, scheduled for December 12-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
The 16-team event will feature a total purse of more than $1.2 million. The top eight teams will all earn payouts, with the winning squad walking away with $250,000. The second- and third-place teams will earn $175,000, while fourth and fifth place are both set to win $100,000. Sixth through eighth place payouts will be: $40,000, $25,000 and $20,000, respectively. All participating teams will receive $20,000 for attending and have the opportunity to compete for $50,000 in takedown bonuses, as well. Automatic entry was awarded to the top 10 teams in the final 2026 NCAA Division I standings, at which Minnesota finished ninth. The remaining spots will be filled by teams drawn from those finishing 11th through 20th in the NCAA rankings. At press time, … more at … https://gophersports.com/news/2026/4/15/wrestling-headed-back-to-national-duals-invitational
And …. The following teams are also committed to the Invitational … Oklahoma State, Missouri, Ohio State, N.C. State, Virginia Tech., Iowa State and Pittsburgh. There ar 7 openings at this time. … at … https://nationaldualsinvitational.com/#teams
April 2026: Transfer Portal Updates (4/14/2026)
The transfer portal has only been open for 14 days, but there has been plenty of activity during the last two weeks. For the most part, wrestlers have needed some time to take visits, so there was a bit of a lag in between wrestlers entering the portal and the announcement of transfer decisions. This weekend, those decisions started to roll in and it will probably be that way for the next few weeks.
Here’s where we stand right now. The first section consists of wrestlers who have announced their transfer locations. The second features notable names in the portal.
Transfers
Brendan McCrone (North Carolina) – 125 lbs: From Ohio State
Ryan Crookham (Iowa) – 133 lbs: From Lehigh
Carter Schmidt (Northern Colorado) – 133 lbs: From Oklahoma
Zan Fugitt (Missouri) – 141 lbs: From Wisconsin
Kade Brown (Ohio State) – 149 lbs: From Pittsburgh
Carson DesRosier (Binghamton) – 149 lbs: From The Citadel
Jayden Scott (Lehigh) – 149 lbs: From North Carolina
Kai Owen (Indiana) – 157 lbs: From Columbia
Kyrell Leavell (Little Rock) – 157 lbs: From The Citadel
RJ Weston (Life) – 157 lbs: From Northern Iowa …. more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/april-2026-transfer-portal-updates-4142026-r100950/
Davidson Names Bassett Assistant Wrestling Coach
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson head wrestling coach Nate Carr, Jr. announced on Thursday that Avery Bassett has been named an assistant coach.
“I’m excited to add Avery Bassett to our coaching staff,” said Carr, who led the Wildcats to their most conference wins and best finish in school history this past season. “He is a high-character individual with elite-level wrestling experience that will add value to the further development of our team. His work ethic and dedication to academics during his college career make him a tremendous addition to our program.”
A 2025 graduate of Lock Haven University, Bassett was a two-time (2025, 2026) NCAA Division I National Qualifier, four-time NWCA Scholar All-American and two-time MAC All-Academic selection for the Bald Eagles.
“I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to join the Davidson wrestling staff and transition from competing as a wrestler to coaching,” Bassett commented. “Wrestling has given me a lot, and I don’t take lightly the responsibility that comes with leading others in the sport. I look forward to making an impact on the athletes at Davidson both on and off the mat.”
Bassett, who competed at 165 pounds as a senior, finished his career with 104 wins, … more at … https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2026/4/9/davidson-names-bassett-assistant-wrestling-coach
Trent Hidlay accepts 92 kg men’s freestyle berth at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management
Reigning World champion Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has accepted his automatic bid to 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, and will battle for the men’s freestyle 92 kg spot on the 2026 U.S. World Team. Final X is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Hidlay was a force at the 2025 World Championships en route to claiming the gold medal at 92kg, which automatically qualified him for Final X. His World final against Russia’s Amanula Gadzhimagomedov was perhaps the most electric match of the event. Hidlay overcame an eight-point, first-period deficit to win his first World title by 13-10 decision.
It was a banner 2025 for Hidlay, who won three international medals on top of his World gold. He finished with a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series before topping the podium at both the Pan American Championships and Budapest Ranking Series. He is off to a nice start in his 2026 title defense with a silver medal performance at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.
Hidlay was a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA finalist for North Carolina State, where he currently trains full-time. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/09/trent-hidlay-accepts-92-kg-men-s-freestyle-berth-at-2026-final-x-presented-by-kerberos-capital-management
Wolfpack Wrestling Signs Upperweights Dailey and Tabor
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling adds two transfers to its roster for the 2026-27 season, as announced by head coach Pat Popolizio on Tuesday. The Wolfpack has signed 184 lbs Jake Dailey from North Carolina and heavyweight Bennett Tabor from Minnesota.
Looking to fill two holes left in the lineup from 2026 graduating seniors Don Cates and Isaac Trumble, Pat Popolizio and his coaching staff have recruited Jake Dailey and Bennett Tabor out of the transfer portal. Dailey, a familiar face from across town, was the North Carolina Tar Heels starter at 184 lbs this past season, while Tabor, a heavyweight, hails from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Both incoming members of the Pack have previous experience qualifying for the NCAA Division I Championships.
Dailey is a Kingston, Pa., native who attended the well-known Wyoming Seminary for his prep career. He has been down the road at North Carolina for the start of his collegiate career, collecting a total record of 28-11 and has only dropped one loss in a dual-match. He spent his freshman campaign (2024-25) competing at 184 lbs but using his redshirt. This past season, his redshirt-freshman campaign (2025-26), Dailey had his official debut in a starting lineup and quickly gained eyes at the national level. Finishing at 19-6 overall, … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/14/wolfpack-wrestling-signs-upperweights-dailey-and-tabor
Huskers Add 2025 NCAA Champion Vincent Robinson
Two-time All-American and 2025 NCAA Champion Vincent Robinson will join the Nebraska wrestling program as a transfer, head coach Mark Manning announced Friday.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Robinson compiled a 45-9 record over two seasons at NC State, qualifying for consecutive NCAA Championships.
Robinson posted a 21-6 record during the 2025-26 season, including a 12-3 mark in dual competition. The redshirt sophomore earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also placed third at the ACC Championships and recorded eight bonus-point wins on the season, including three technical falls and five major decisions. During the 2024-25 season, Robinson captured the NCAA title at 125 pounds, finishing with a 24-3 record and a 9-1 dual mark. He placed second at the ACC Championships and totaled 11 bonus-point victories.
Robinson prepped at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2026/04/17/huskers-add-2025-ncaa-champion-vincent-robinson
Conference Carolinas has 11 programs, 49 athletes recognized on NWCA Scholar-All America awards
MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the recipients of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America and Team Scholar All-America awards this week. Conference Carolinas had individuals from 11 institutions honored as well as two programs in the Team Scholar All-America award.
Newberry College finished fifth in the NCAA Division II Men’s Team Scholar All-America list with a 3.504 GPA and the University of Montevallo was 24th with a GPA of 3.261.
NWCA NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
The NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar Academic program garners the team GPA from the 10 starters a program puts out at it’s respective NCAA Super Regional tournament.
Conference Carolinas had 49 individuals from 11 institutions earn NWCA NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America honors, led by nine from Newberry. The University of Mount Olive and the University of Montevallo followed with seven each while Lander University added six. UNC Pembroke had five while Shorter University had four and Belmont Abbey College and Emmanuel University added three each. … more at … https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2026/4/3/mens-wrestling-conference-carolinas-has-11-programs-49-athletes-recognized-on-nwca-scholar-all-america-awards.aspx
Adjustment in Minimum Body Fat Percentage for Females Highlights High School Wrestling Rules Changes
In an effort to establish a more healthy process for girls involved in high school wrestling, the minimum body fat percentage for females has been raised from 12 to 19 percent, effective with the 2026-27 season.
Revisions to weight-control rules (1-5-1, 1-5-2) were two of 18 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its March 29-31 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were reviewed by the NFHS Rules Review Committee and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
In making this significant change, the committee reviewed information from the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the proud supporter of the NFHS, and had the backing of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
The committee determined that based on peer-reviewed research data, increasing the body fat percentage for high school girls establishes a safer margin for minimal wrestling weight for those girls intent on achieving a lower weight class. “This is a huge victory for girls involved in high school wrestling,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports, sanctioning and student services, and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “Now, girls will not be forced to go through unhealthy weight-loss efforts, and it allows girls to be their natural selves. It definitely will help those girls in the larger weight classes, and it will provide more opportunities for girls to be involved in high school wrestling.”
In another significant change for next year, bleeding has been added to recovery time in Rule 5-28-3. Now, if a contestant is injured or bleeding as a result of an illegal hold/maneuver, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct during the match or the result of a false start (by the opponent) in the neutral position, the wrestler is entitled to two minutes of recovery time.
The committee determined that a bleeding contestant should not have to bleed for five minutes before being declared the winner if injured because of any of the aforementioned situations.
Language was added to the stalling rules in Rule 7-6-3. Beginning next year, when wrestling is stopped for going out of bounds in the neutral position, one of the following calls should be made: stalling by one of the wrestlers for leaving the wrestling areas, stalling by pushing or pulling the opponent out of bounds, stalling by backing out of the wrestling area, or wrestling action is taking place.
The committee noted that by announcing one of these calls when wrestling is stopped, … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/4/16/national-wrestling-coaches-association-adjustment-in-minimum-body-fat-percentage-for-females-highlights-high-school-wrestling-rules-changes.aspx
Trumble Earns NWCA Scholar All-American Distinction
MANHEIM, Pa. – Newly crowned national champion for NC State wrestling, Isaac Trumble, has been named a Scholar All-American honoree by the National Wrestling Coaches Association for his demonstration of excellence in both academics and athletics. Trumble is among the group of 390 scholar-athletes across the nation to be listed, as announced by the NWCA on Wednesday morning.
NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer expressed, “These student-athletes have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence both on the mat and in the classroom. We commend their dedication and the example they set for the sport.”
The postseason academic honor marks the fourth of this distinction in Trumble’s collegiate career, previously earning the honor in 2025, 2022, and 2021. This marks the second season in a row that a member of the Pack became a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American after Kai Orine did it last year. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/2/wrestling-trumble-earns-nwca-scholar-all-american-distinction
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
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