April 6, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.– (Portions of release courtesy Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling) Penn State University will be the site of one of USA Wrestling's premier events this summer as the new Final X Series comes to Happy Valley. Rec Hall will host part of the event on June 16, 2018, at 6 p.m. The event will determine the 2018 U.S. Senior World Teams in men's and women's freestyle wrestling, featuring the nation's best Olympic-caliber athletes in these disciplines.
The Penn State ticket office has announced pre-sale and sale information for Rec Hall's June 16 event. The presale begins on April 11 at 10:00 a.m. and continues until Sunday, April 15, for the following: Penn State wrestling season ticket holders, current Nittany Lion Club members, individuals on the Penn State wrestling season ticket waiting list and members of the Penn State Wrestling Booster Club. There is an eight ticket limit per account. Group tickets are available in quantities of ten or more and may be purchased at the group rate of $38.00 per ticket by calling 1-800-NITTANY weekdays between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. Presale tickets can be ordered online at http://gopsusports.com/finalx.
Should any tickets remain after the presale; a public sale based on availability will begin on April 16 at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the BJC Ticket Office on Monday through Friday's from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ticket prices are available in three pricing levels: VIP seating for $90.00; reserved seating for $63.00 or $42.00; obstructed seating for $32.00.
The weight classes assigned to the Final X in State College are men's freestyle weight classes (65 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg) and women's freestyle weight classes (62 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg). The first Final X event will be on June 9 in Lincoln, Neb. Final X in State College is the second event in the series. Final X at Lehigh, set for Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., is the third event of the series on June 23.
For Final X in State College, 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.
Athletes must qualify for Final X based upon the approved Trials selection procedures in each style, and 2017 Senior World medalists may advance directly to Final X under certain conditions. Based upon these procedures, the only athlete who would be eligible to advance directly to the Final X event on June 16 would be 2017 World bronze medalist J'den Cox, if he competes at 86 kg. However, Cox is expected to compete at 92 kg this year, and that weight class competes June 23. Therefore, no athlete is expected to advance directly to Final X in State College.
The qualifying events for Final X are the 2018 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 26-28, and the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men's and women's freestyle, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. FloWrestling will provide exclusive live and on-demand coverage of all three Final X events on FloWrestling.com, as well as across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4.
"Final X is an incredible event for wrestling fans, athletes, and the sport itself," FloSports SVP, Global Rights Acquisition Adam Fenn said. "The top American wrestlers will be at their best to compete for a spot on the World Team, and FloWrestling will be beside every mat, capturing the live matches and giving fans the behind-the-scenes footage they can't get anywhere else."
"Rec Hall has an amazing tradition of hosting well-attended and exciting major wrestling events," USA Wrestling National Events Director Pete Isais said. "It is a great venue to showcase our nation's top wrestlers battling for spots on Team USA. Fans will enjoy a first-class event production that will add even more excitement. Don't wait to get your tickets and secure the best seating locations. Final X at State College will be an experience you don't want to miss."
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.