Originally Posted by ISU2008

Here's what I found:

http://www.themat.com/index.php?page...rticleID=16575

Six of the seven freestyle champions from the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas earned berths directly into the U.S. World Team Trials best-of-3 final series by virtue of meeting the following criteria established by USA Wrestling:

? Junior World medalist within the current Olympic quadrennium
? University World medalist within the current Olympic quadrennium

? Top 10 from the World Championship within the current Olympic quadrennium
? Multiple Senior-level World Team member

So who is the unlucky US champ that has to go to the mini-tournament?
Those qualifications are so broad it is penalizing the newcomer who won rather than rewarding only the most accomplished wrestlers.