Hancock accepts Final X berth, and will compete for U.S. World Team spot in New York on June 8

2021 World bronze medalist and 2020 Olympian G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)

has officially accepted his 97 kg Greco-Roman berth in Final X

Hancock will battle for a spot on the 2022 U.S. World Team in Final X New York. presented by Tezos, on Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Hancock won a bronze medal at 97 kg at the 2021 World Championships, the first U.S. Greco-Roman medal since 2018. He placed seventh at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Hancock has made four straight U.S. Senior World Teams. He was a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. In 2017, he made three U.S. World Teams (Junior, U23, Senior). A native of Fountain, Colo., Hancock was a Colorado state placewinner for Fountain-Fort Carson High School.

This will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.

There are a variety of ticket options for Final X New York, with prices beginning at $65. Purchase your wrestling-only event tickets on Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B005C8B9CD81033) or Benefit tickets with access to Final X New York and the Benefit celebration (after party) tickets at btsny.org (https://give.btsny.org/event/annual-benefit-2022/e396736), so you don’t miss the first in-person Benefit since 2019. For more information on Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages that also provide the best seats for watching the wrestling, email Fund Development Manager Kerry Doyle at [email protected].

The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling which will compete in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.

The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in each style allows for 2021 Senior World medalists and 2020 Olympic medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Hancock has met this requirement and accepted his qualification.

There are 15 weight classes contested in Final X New York, five in each discipline. The weight classes assigned to the Final X New York are:

  • Men’s freestyle: 65 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg
  • Women’s freestyle: 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 72 kg
  • Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg

The Final X opponent for Hancock will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Coralville, Iowa, May 20-22.

The Beat the Streets Annual Benefit, a fan-favorite, is a major showcase of the best of international wrestling. These competitions have been at iconic locations across New York City.

This will be Hancock’s first appearance in a Beat the Streets Annual Benefit event.

In addition to Final X New York, Final X Stillwater will be held Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University. There will be 15 other weight classes contested in Stillwater.

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for both Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, and Final X New York, presented by Tezos

FINAL X NEW YORK, presented by Tezos

At Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater, Wednesday, June 8

Declared Qualifiers to date

Greco-Roman 97 kg – G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s Freestyle 57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Philadelphia, Pa./Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

G’ANGELO HANCOCK

Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Club: Sunkist Kids

College: Daymar College

Training Center: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center

High School: Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort-Carson)

Born: July 27, 1997

  • 2021 World bronze medalist
  • 2020 Olympian (7th place)
  • Four-time Senior World Team member (2017-19, 2021)
  • 2020 Pan American Championships champion
  • 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist
  • Made two U.S. World Teams in 2018 and 2019 (U23, Senior)
  • Made three U.S. World Teams in 2017 (Junior, U23, Senior)
  • Two-time U.S. Open champion (2017, 2019)
  • Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
  • 2016 Junior World bronze medalist

photo credit: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors