The U.S. Olympic team is coming into shape.Penn State University hosted the Olympic Trials this weekend, with dozens of athletes vying for just 18 spots available on Team USA.The state of Maryland will be well represented at the highest level.Hagerstown native Aaron Brooks put together a major upset, beating the reigning gold medalist and fellow Nittany Lion David Taylor.Brooks defeated Taylor 4-1, marking Taylor’s first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. The Penn State wrestlers shared a moment of respect after the match.Video above: Olympic athletes share stories of perseverance, strengthHelen Mouralis, of Rockville, is also a reigning gold medalist. She will return to the Olympic Games after beating Jacarra Winchester 6-0. She notched a takedown just seconds into the match, and the points piled up from there.Kyle Snyder, of Woodbine, will also make the trip to Paris this summer. He didn’t give up a single point in his championship series against Isaac Trumble. Snyder won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be his third time qualifying for Team U.S.A.”It’s different. The first time you do it, you’re real happy, and now it’s almost an expectation of myself. And then, the real fun starts when you make the team, and you’re competing for world Olympic medals, so I’m looking forward to training this summer and getting into that,” Snyder said.A total of 18 wrestlers made the U.S. wrestling squad, but only 13 of those wrestlers qualified directly for Paris. The other five will head to Istanbul for a world qualification tournament in May in order to make the final roster.There are just over three months remaining until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The opening ceremony takes place on July 26.
The U.S. Olympic team is coming into shape.
Penn State University hosted the Olympic Trials this weekend, with dozens of athletes vying for just 18 spots available on Team USA.
The state of Maryland will be well represented at the highest level.
Hagerstown native Aaron Brooks put together a major upset, beating the reigning gold medalist and fellow Nittany Lion David Taylor.
Brooks defeated Taylor 4-1, marking Taylor’s first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. The Penn State wrestlers shared a moment of respect after the match.
Video above: Olympic athletes share stories of perseverance, strength
Helen Mouralis, of Rockville, is also a reigning gold medalist. She will return to the Olympic Games after beating Jacarra Winchester 6-0. She notched a takedown just seconds into the match, and the points piled up from there.
Kyle Snyder, of Woodbine, will also make the trip to Paris this summer. He didn’t give up a single point in his championship series against Isaac Trumble. Snyder won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be his third time qualifying for Team U.S.A.
“It’s different. The first time you do it, you’re real happy, and now it’s almost an expectation of myself. And then, the real fun starts when you make the team, and you’re competing for world Olympic medals, so I’m looking forward to training this summer and getting into that,” Snyder said.
A total of 18 wrestlers made the U.S. wrestling squad, but only 13 of those wrestlers qualified directly for Paris. The other five will head to Istanbul for a world qualification tournament in May in order to make the final roster.
There are just over three months remaining until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The opening ceremony takes place on July 26.
