CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Current Illinois wrestler Isaiah Martinez and former Illini Jimmy Kennedy will compete for a spot on the USA World team this Friday, November 11 at the Bill Farrell International Open in the 70kg men's freestyle division. Those who advance will compete as part of Team USA at the Non-Olympic Weight Wrestling World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, December 10-11.
Martinez enters the competition after compiling a 67-1 record through his first two collegiate seasons. After becoming the first freshman to go undefeated since 1999, the Lemore, California native won his second Big Ten and NCAA titles at 157 pounds, while leading the nation in technical falls. Now a redshirt junior, Martinez is expected to move up to 165 pounds where he will seek to become the first Illini to win a NCAA title at two different weight classes.
A three-time All-American while at Illinois, Kennedy enters the Billy Farrell competition after competing at Olympic Trials last April, finishing fourth. A native of Ingleside, Illinois, Kennedy placed third at the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials and 10th at 2014 World Championships. This is Kennedy's third year as a member of Team USA, currently ranking No. 3 at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Held in New York City, the Bill Farrell International Open will begin at 9 a.m. central time on Friday, November 11 with the preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and consolation rounds. The Men's Freestyle medal matches will take place from 5:30-7pm in a best-of-three format. A live stream of the event will be provided through subscription at flowrestling.com.
70kg Men's Freestle:
Dylan Alton (West Point Wrestling Club)
Jason Chamberlain (NWTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Mitch Finesilver (Blue Blood WC)
Tommy Gantt (Wolfpack WC)
**James Green (NWTC/Titan Mercury WC) - bye into the finals
Adam Hall (Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Hayden Hidlay (Wolfpack WC)
Jimmy Kennedy (Cliff Keen WC/NYAC)
Nazar Kulchytskyy (Titan Mercury WC)
Kevin LeValley (Buffalo Valley RTC)
Isaiah Martinez (IRTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids)
Chase Pami (Pennsylvania RTC/Sunkist Kids)
Kellen Russell (Cliff Keen WC/NYAC)
Markus Scheidel (New York City RTC/TMWC)
Alexander Steen (The Open Mat)
Jason Welch (Chicago RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Robert Zyko (NYAC)
