LARAMIE, Wyo. (June 7, 2017) – Three members of Wyoming wrestling team will be in action later this week competing at the Junior World Team Trials. Montorie Bridges, Ben Hornickle and Sam Turner will compete for a chance to represent the United States at the 2017 UWW Junior World Wrestling Championships in Tampere, Finland, this August.
“We’ve continued to work like its midseason right now,” Turner said. “I’ve tried to approach it as a way to get as much of an edge on my opponents as I can. In a way, this will be my first real opportunity to represent the university. I’m excited to make the coaching staff and my teammates proud.”
The Junior World Team Trials will take place on Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., and features the nation’s top 17-20 year old freestyle wrestlers. Among those competing are many of the nation’s top college underclassmen and high school wrestlers. It will mark the second appearance at the trials for Hornickle (66 KG), while Bridges (60 KG) and Turner (66 KG) will compete at the event for the first time.
“Having been there last year,” Hornickle mentioned. “I like to think I have a better idea of what to expect. It helps with the schedule and competition to know what all is going on. It means a lot to be able to wrestle against top level guys. There will be wrestlers in Lincoln that are expected to be on the podium next year. If anything, it will be a great experience, but we all have a very similar goal.”
The action on Friday will begin at 9 a.m. MT with the preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal and consolation rounds. The best-of-three trials finals series will take place Friday evening, beginning at 4 p.m.
“I proved a lot to myself with how I wrestled in Vegas at the UWW Junior Freestyle Championships,” Bridges added. “Being a part of these competitions will help me down the line and is a good staple next year. I am planning to go and do my own thing while competing. We’ve worked hard so I know we are ready to make some noise.”
Every match from the trials will stream live via FloWrestling.com, with a subscription. The link can be found above. The Devaney Center is also hosting the USA Wrestling Freestyle World Team Trials on Saturday.
