By David Gerhart
USA Wrestling

Four-time World champion and Olympic champion Kyle Snyder (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) has accepted his automatic bid to 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, and will compete for the men’s freestyle 97 kg spot on the 2026 U.S. World Team. Final X is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

Snyder won his fourth World title in Zagreb, Croatia, last year, tying National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member John Smith in second-place all-time for men’s freestyle World titles won by an American, two shy of Jordan Burroughs’ record six World gold medals. Snyder's 2025 World title automatically qualified him for Final X. 

Throughout the 2025 season, Snyder finished with medals in each of his three international events. The 2016 Olympic champion won gold at the Senior World Championships and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Snyder also collected bronze at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Albania. 

Snyder won three NCAA titles at Ohio State and finished as a four-time NCAA All-American. In his career, Snyder has won two Olympic medals (one gold, one silver) and eight World medals (four gold, two silver, two bronze). He is also a two-time U20 World medalist (gold, bronze). 

What’s at stake at Final X?   

Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. Senior World Team in two-of-three international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative for the 2026 Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain. 

Who will Snyder face at Final X?  

The Final X opponent for Snyder will be determined on April 25 at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada. The men’s freestyle 97 kg champion from the U.S. Open will advance to face Snyder in a best-of-three series at Final X. 

Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit 

Final X will serve as the 2026 Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit, its 16th to date. These unique electrifying events help BTSNY raise critical funds each year to support local youth wrestling programs, which empower young people in New York City. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after-party takes place at the conclusion of Final X. 

Snyder holds an 8-1 record in previous BTSNY Annual Benefit events. He earned exhibition wins over international foes Javier Cortina Lacerra of Cuba in 2015, Koki Yamamoto of Japan in 2017, Reineris Salas Perez of Cuba in 2018 and Nishan Randhawa of Canada in 2019. His lone international loss came in 2014, his first BTSNY event appearance, to Khadjimurat Gatsalov of Russia. Snyder has also swept two Final X series tied into BTSNY events, defeating J’den Cox by forfeit in 2023 and Hayden Zillmer 8-2, 8-0 in 2025.                                                                                                                                                        

Get Tickets 

BTSNY Annual Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages, which include access to premier seating at Final X, plus the exclusive after-party, are currently available at btsny.org. For more information on ticket packages, email BTSNY Executive Director Bob Seidel at bseidel@btsny.org. Donations and BTSNY Annual Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages directly help BTSNY make a lifelong impact on New York City youth in need. 

Event-only tickets for Final X without access to the BTSNY after-party celebration are available on Ticketmaster. 

Event Schedule 

12:30 p.m. (ET) – U.S. National Team true-third matches

2 p.m. (ET) – Session one (Round one)

5 p.m. (ET) – Session two (Rounds two and three, if necessary)

Match order for each session will be provided at a later date 

How To Watch 

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcast partner for Final X. Fans can watch the event live or on-demand at FloWrestling.com. Online results for Final X will be available on USA Bracketing. 

For more information about Final X, please visit TheMat.com. 

2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, Qualifiers (As of April 10, 2026) 

June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey  

Men’s Freestyle 

65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Kyle Snyder (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) 

Women’s Freestyle 

57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Scottsdale, Ariz./Titan Mercury WC)

68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

76 kg – Kylie Welker (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC)