BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestling's Mekhi Lewis and Ty Walz travel to New York this weekend for the 2019 Bill Farrell Memorial International Open. The tournament can be streamed live on FloWrestling starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Bill Farrell is the first qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Wrestlers must be the top American medal-winner from their weight class to qualify for the trials April 4-5 in State College, Penn.
Lewis is scheduled to compete in the 74-kilogram weight class. He won fifth place in the division at the 2019 Continental Cup in Russia back in October. Previously, Lewis won gold at the 2018 Junior World Championships.
Walz will compete in the 97-kilogram weight class. Walz is a member of USA Wrestling's freestyle national team. He won bronze at the 2019 Continental Cup and at the 2017 U23 World Championships.
Lewis and Walz will have two more opportunities to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials if they do not meet the requirements this weekend in New York. They can qualify from both the U.S. Open December 20-22 in Fort Worth, Texas and the Last Chance Qualifier in Millersville, Penn. in March.