From: Steve Lomangino [email protected] Subject: Wrestling: Gwiazdowski accepts berth at Final X at Lehigh Date: April 18, 2018 at 4:27 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; From USA Wrestling: For immediate release, April 18, 2018 Gwiazdowski accepts Final X berth, and will compete for U.S. World Team in Bethlehem, Pa., on June 23 2017 World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC) has officially accepted his berth in Final X. He will battle for a spot on the 2018 U.S. World Team in men’s freestyle at Final X at Lehigh on Saturday, June 23. The event will be hosted at Stabler Arena on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., starting at 7 p.m. EST with exclusive live and on-demand coverage on FloWrestling, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4. In his first Senior World Championships appearance, Gwiazdowski on a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France. He was a 2017 U.S. Open champion. Gwiazdowski was a two- time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State. As a freshman, he was an NCAA All- American for Binghamton. He won his NCAA titles for the Wolfpack in 2014 and 2015. He was a two- time New York state champion for Duanesburg High School. To order tickets, go to the tickets tab on the official Final X website at: www.FinalX.tv The Final X series will determine the 2018 U.S. Senior World Teams in men’s and women’s freestyle wrestling, and is held in three different locations and dates in June. The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in men’s and women’s freestyle allow for 2017 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Gwiazdowski has met this requirement and accepted his qualification. In Bethlehem, the top two men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers in each of six weight classes will compete in a best-of-three series, with winners earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team to compete at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 20-28, 2018. The weight classes assigned to the Final X event in Bethlehem are: Men's freestyle weight classes (61 kg, 92 kg, 125 kg) Women's freestyle weight classes (50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg) The Final X opponent for Gwiazdowski will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men’s and women’s freestyle, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. For Final X at Lehigh, ticket prices, which include a convenience fee, are available in three pricing levels: · VIP seating (on floor and at lower level) for $97.00 · Reserved seating for $71.00 · General Admission seating for $44.50 VIP seating is limited and includes preferred seating, a commemorative fight card, an exclusive credential, and a Final X seat cushion. For groups of 10 or more, please call Ticket Services at 610- 758-6611. In addition to Final X at Lehigh, the Final X series includes Final X at Lincoln on June 9 and Final X in State College on June 16. USA Wrestling and FloWrestling will announce each of the athletes in Final X as they qualify. Final X is an exciting new partnership between USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, and FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content. FINAL X AT LEHIGH At Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., Saturday, June 23 Qualifiers to date Men’s 125 kg – Nick Gwiazdowski (Titan Mercury WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Other weight classes will be men’s freestyle at 61 kg, 92 kg and women's freestyle at 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg NICK GWIAZDOWSKI Residence: Raleigh, N.C. Club: Titan Mercury WC College: North Carolina State, Binghamton High School: Duanesburg (N.Y.) Born: Dec. 30, 1992 Weight class: 125 kg/275 lbs. · Third in 2017 World Championships · 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion · 2017 U.S. Open champion · 2016 Bill Farrell International Champion · Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2017) · Two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State · Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman · Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman -- Steve Lomangino Director of Sports Communications - Lehigh University Athletics [email protected] 610-758-3174.