USA Wrestling's Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifying Tournament will be held this weekend in Fairfax, Virginia. What kind of impact can we expect these competitors to have on the Olympic Team Trials themselves, and potentially the Olympic Games? Let's find out!
2024 Last Chance OTT Qualifier
First, let's take a look at who won the last two Olympic Team Trials Last Chance Qualifiers, held in 2016 and 2021 (the 2020 Olympics were postponed by a year due to the stupid coronavirus). ). The 2016 Rio Olympics was also the first time there were only six weight classes per style.
2016 Last Chance Winner
men's freestyle
57: Aube Blanc
65: BJ Futrell
74: Mark Hall
86: Deron Wynn
97: Karen Kleinschmidt
125: Blaze Cavell
women's freestyle
48: Alisha Zappitella
53: Dajan Trader
58: Trinity Griffin
63: Rachel Shannon
69: Laurie Ramos
75: Tanya Kusse
greco roman
59: Justin Laval
66: Marco Lara
75: Alec Ortiz
85: Hayden Zillmer
98: John Lorenz
130: Donny Longendyk
2021 Last Chance Winners
men's freestyle
57: Sean Russell
65: Evan Henderson
74: Chance Marstella
86: Gabe Dean
97: Ben Honis
125: Tanner Hall
women's freestyle
50: Sage Mortimer
53: Melanie Mendoza
57: Xochitl Mota-Pettis
62: Michaela Beck
68: Kennedy Blaze
76: Jackie Catalin
greco roman
60: Travis Rice
67: Lenny Merkin
77: Austin Morrow
87: Alan Vera
97: Braxton Amos
125: Tanner Farmer
Now we can look back at the Olympic Trials and see how everyone fared.
2016 Last Chance Winner
men's freestyle
Round of 16 Eliminations: 57 – Ove Brun, 65 – BJ Futrell, 86 – Deron Wynn, 97 – Blaise Cavell, 97 Callan Kleinschmidt
Quarterfinal Elimination: 74 – Mark Hall
women's freestyle
Round of 16 Eliminations: 48 – Alisha Zappitella, 53 – Dajan Trader, 58 – Trinity Griffin, 63 – Rachel Shannon, 69 – Laurie Ramos, 75 – Tanya Kusse
greco roman
16:59 Round eliminated – Justin Laval
Quarterfinal eliminations: 66 – Marco Lara, 75 – Alec Ortiz, 85 – Hayden Gilmer
Not played: 98 – Jon Lorenz, 130 – Donny Longendyk
2021 Last Chance Winners
men's freestyle
Round of 16 Eliminations: 65 – Evan Henderson, 74 – Chance Marstella
Quarterfinal losses: 57 – Sean Russell, 97 – Ben Honis, 125 – Tanner Hall
Semifinal Elimination: 86 – Gabe Dean
women's freestyle
Round of 16 Eliminations: 50 – Sage Mortimer, 53 – Melanie Mendoza, 62 – Michaela Beck
Semifinal losses: 57 – Xochitl Mota-Pettis, 76 – Jackie Catalin
Best 2 of 3 finals lost: 68 – Kennedy Blades
greco roman
16:67 Round Eliminated – Lenny Mirkin
Quarterfinal eliminations: 60 – Travis Rice, 77 – Austin Morrow, 125 – Tanner Farmer
Semifinal Elimination: 87 – Alan Vera
Best 2 of 3 Finals Lost: 97 – Braxton Amos
As you can see, it is very difficult to win matches at the Olympic Trials. This is not surprising since the quadrennial event attracts all of the best wrestlers in the country and is limited to just six weight classes.
This qualification system already takes into account athletes who have had recent success, so most of the top candidates do not have to compete in the Last Chance Tournament, as you can see from the list of 2024 Olympic Team Trials Qualifiers.
Still, in 2021, two of the Last Chance winners made it to the Olympic Team Trials finals, and several others made it to the Challenge Tournament semifinals. Will one of this year's Last Chance entries make it this far? Will they make the Olympic team? You'll soon find out!
