The eight toughest weight classes at U23 World Team Trials this weekend
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
NCAA champ Myles Martin, competing at the 2017 University Nationals, will face a tough field at the U23 World Team Trials in Rochester, Minn. this weekend. Photo by Sam Janicki.
Online registration closes tonight for the U23 World Team Trials, set for Rochester, Minn., Oct. 7-8. Based upon the athletes who have already signed up, and those who expected to compete based upon information from coaches, clubs/RTCs and athletes, there should be some strong World Team candidates in each weight class. However, some weights are stacking up to be more challenging that others.
Based upon entries and expected participants through Wednesday morning, we give our best shot at what the most competitive weight classes will be in Rochester. Registration does not end until late tonight, plus there should be some walkups, so this could change slightly at the last minute. There should be some can’t miss matches for sure. You will be able to enjoy the action live on TrackWrestling.
8th Toughest Weight Class - Greco-Roman 85 kg
Barrett Stanghill, who hit the national scene at Northern Michigan, was third at the 2017 U.S. Open and fourth in the World Team Trials. He won the 2015 University Nationals and was second at the 2014 UWW Junior World Team Trials. Richard Carlson, a 2014 Junior World Team member, was second at the 2017 University Nationals. A young star making a run is Wyatt Koelling, who made two age-group World Teams in three years. In 2017, he competed at the UWW Junior World Championships and in 2015, he wrestled in the UWW Cadet World Championships. Former Iowa All-American Alex Meyer, who won the 2017 University Nationals title at 80 kg in freestyle will give Greco a go. One of the others in the hunt will be Austin Chaon of NMU-OTS, who was third in the 2016 Junior World Team Trials.
Already registered
Wyatt Koelling, Missouri RTC, 2017 Junior WTT champ
Barrett Stanghill, Minn. Storm, 4th World Team Trials
Richard Carlson, Minn. Storm, 2014 Junior World Team, 2nd in 2017 University Nationals
Austin Chaon, NMU, 3rd 2016 Junior WTT
George Sikes, NMU
Jason Grimes, DCAC
Trey Hardy, Florida Jets/NMU
Gregory Kleinsmith, NMU
Matt Reed, Tiger WC
Richard Robertson, BRTC
Vaughan Monreal-Berner, USMC
Expected to enter
Alex Meyer, HWC, 2016 University Nationals FS champ
7th Toughest Weight Class - Women’s 55 kg
This weight class does not have many entries yet, but there are at least four heavy-hitters who could step up and earn the spot on the U23 World Team. Leading off is National Team member Dominique Parrish, who was third at the 2017 World Team Trials, second at the 2017 University Nationals, and was a 2017 WCWA National runner-up for Simon Fraser. There are three other 2017 World Team Trials qualifiers who should be right in the mix. Another WCWA runner-up, Megan Black of McKendree, was a 2017 University Nationals champion. Hanna Grisewood of King, a three-time WCWA All-American, has a bit more Senior experience than the others. The young buck is Ronna Heaton, a Cadet World champion and Cadet World runner-up who was on the 2017 UWW Junior World Team. Heaton is just starting her college career at Grays Harbor CC. The rest of the field will have to step up if they wish to make it into the semifinals with this group of known young stars.
Already Registered
Dominique Parrish, SFU, No. 3 on National Team, 2nd WCWA
Megan Black, King, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Hanna Grisewood, King, WTT qualifier, 3rd WCWA
Ronna Heaton, Sunkist/Grays Harbor, WTT qualifier, 2x Cadet World medalist, 1st Junior WTT
Makayla Welch, Minnesota Storm, 3rd in 2017 Girls Junior Folkstyle
Expected to enter
M. Mendoza, Aires WC
Daniela Flores, Aires WC
6th Toughest Weight Class – Greco-Roman 59 kg
This weight class features a Senior National Team member, Hayden Tuma, who was third in the 2017 Greco-Roman World Team Trials and was the 2017 U.S. Senior Open champion. Tuma competed on two Junior World Teams and two Cadet World Teams, but has not yet registered. Even without Tuma, this weight would have some great young talent. There are two Northern Michigan OTS wrestlers registered who were Senior World Team Trials qualifiers last year, with age-group World Team experience. Dalton Roberts competed on the 2015 and 2016 Junior World Teams, won the 2017 University Nationals and was fifth in the 2017 Senior World Team Trials. Randon Miranda competed on the 2017 UWW Junior World Team and was third at the University Nationals. Another NMU athlete who is not yet registered is Andrew Ibarra, seventh in the 2017 Senior World Team Trials and fifth at the UWW Junior World Team Trials. Ty Pelot was a 2017 University Nationals runner-up competing at 63 kg. Dalton Young was a 2017 Junior Nationals champion and is starting his college career at Stanford.
Already registered
Dalton Roberts, NYAC/NMU. WTT qualifier, 2017 University champ, 2x Junior World Team
Randon Miranda, NYAC/NMU, WTT qualifier
Ty Pelot, X-Factor Elite, 2017 University 63KG 2nd place
Dalton Young, Stanford unattached, 2017 Junior Nationals champion
Kyndall Rutz, NMU
Jon Massey, NMU
Erik Spence, NMU
Louis Hernandez, OTC
Taylor Zippe, USMC
Expected to enter
Hayden Tuma, No. 3 on National Team, 4x Age-Group World Teamer
Andrew Ibarra, NMU, WTT qualifier
Patrick Ramirez, NMU
5th Toughest Weight Class - Men’s Freestyle 97 kg
This weight class has two 2017 Senior World Team Trials qualifiers, Nikko Reyes, who was fourth at the 2017 U.S. Senior Open and Ty Walz, who was fifth at the 2017 U.S. Open. Reyes was second at the 2016 University Nationals, losing the finals series two matches to one to NCAA champ Kyven Gadson. Reyes wrestled for Illinois and Northern Colorado, and with the Valley RTC. Walz was third in the 2016 University Nationals, right behind Reyes. Walz made his name as an All-American heavyweight for Virginia Tech and is continuing his career at 213 pounds. An intriguing prospect is four-time NCAA Div. III nationals champion Riley Lefever of Wabash College, who was fifth in the 2016 University Nationals and is now training at Penn State with the Nittany Lion WC. Another young challenger is Danny Chaid, a 2017 University Nationals runner-up, who is now at North Carolina.
Already Registered
Nikko Reyes, Valley RTC, WTT qualifier, 2nd 2016 University Nationals
Ty Walz, SE RTC, WTT qualifier, 4th 2017 NCAA
Riley Lefever, Nittany Lion, 4th 2016 University, 4x D-III national champion
Danny Chaid, Tarheel WC, 17 University runner-up
Morgan Smith, Burnaby Mountain WC/SFU
Joshua Murphy, Drexel/PRTC
Johnathen Dennis, Viking WC
Tanner Orndorff, Utah Valley RTC
4th Toughest Weight Class – Women’s Freestyle 69 kg
This weight class is led off by a Senior National Team member, Niauni Hill of Lindenwood-Belleville, who was third at the 2017 Senior World Team Trials and was second in the WCWA Nationals. There are four other 2017 Senior World Team Trials qualifiers who are registered at this weight. Forrest Molinari, a 2016 WCWA nationals champion for King, is healthy again. She was fourth in the 2016 Olympic Trials, fifth in the 2017 World Team Trials, and competed on the 2015 Junior World Team. Rachel Watters, who competes at Oklahoma City, competed in the 2015 and 2017 Junior World Championships, with a fifth place in the World back in 2015. WCWA runner-up Jessi Kee of King was also a World Team Trials qualifier, as was Andrea Sennett of McKendree. Add in 2015 Cadet World bronze medalist Kayla Marano, a 2016 Junior Nationals champion and now a freshman at Emmanuel. WCWA College All-Americans Jasmine Bailey and Yvonne Galindo add depth to this field.
Already registered
Niauni Hill, No. 3 on National Team, 2nd WCWA
Forrest Molinari, TMWC, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Jessi Kee, NYAC/King, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Rachel Watters, Aires WC/NYAC, WTT qualifier, 2x Junior World Team
Andrea Sennett, Bearcat WC, WTT qualifier
Kayla Marano, Lions WC, Cadet World medalist, 5th 2016 Junior WTT
Jasmine Bailey, Bearcat WC, 5th WCWA
Leslie Alaniz, Lindenwood
Ophelia Lara, Lions WC
Expected to register
Shamera McTier, Viking WC
K. Glenn, Aires WC
Yvonne Galindo, Aires WC
R. Torres, Aires WC
3rd Toughest Weight Class – Men’s Freestyle 65 kg
This weight class is tough because it is has a lot of talent and is hard to predict. 2014 Junior World silver medalist Joey McKenna, who was a 2016 NCAA All-American for Stanford, has transferred to Ohio State and is preparing with a tough room of top Senior freestylers. McKenna has won Senior level medals in freestyle. Jaydin Eierman of Missouri qualified for the 2017 Senior World Team Trials, and had a great All-American year as a freshman for Mizzou last year. In 2015, Brock Zacherl of Clarion won the UWW Junior World Team Trials, but lost to Joey McKenna in a Special Wrestle-off for the Junior World Team. Zacherl was third in the 2017 University Nationals. Winning a gold at the 2017 University Nationals was Robbie Mathers, who was also eighth in the 2015 U.S. Senior Open. A potential entry is former Cadet World Team member Dalton Brady. Nebraska’s Colton McCrystal, who has been a University freestyle All-American, adds another tough athlete to the mix, along with Campbell’s NCAA qualifier Josh Heil.
Already registered
Joey McKenna, LVWC/TMWC, 2014 Junior World silver medalist
Jaydin Eierman, Missouri RTC, WTT qualifier, 5th 2017 NCAA
Robbie Mathers, Sunkist, 17 University champ
Brock Zacherl, Clarion RTC, 17 University third, 15 Junior WTT champ
Colton McCrystal, Nebraska RTC/Sunkist Kids, 7th in 2016 University Nationals
Devin Tortorice, Whitewater WC
Josh Heil, Buies Creek RTC
Logan Smith, Mat Savvy WC
Dylan Thurston, IRTC
Matt Findlay, Utah Valley RTC
Expected to enter
Dalton Brady, Sunkist, 2011 Cadet World Team member
2nd Toughest Weight Class – Men’s Freestyle 86 kg
2016 NCAA champion Myles Martin of Ohio State, a 2017 University Nationals champion, is among the big-name freestyle stars expected in Rochester. Martin competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, has attended Senior Olympic and World Team training camps, and had a strong age-group freestyle career. He will have a tough road to make this team. 2017 NCAA runner-up Brett Pfarr of Minnesota is dropping in weight to 86 kg according to online registration. Pfarr was sixth at this weight class way back in the 2015 University Nationals. Graduated Iowa star Sammy Brooks, who was fourth at the NCAA last year, is starting his post-college career. Brooks was second in the 2016 University Nationals. Nathan Jackson, an NCAA All-American for Indiana, and a past University freestyle placer, adds some punch to the weight class. Jaron Smith of Maryland, third in the 2017 UWW Junior World Team Trials is a tough draw, as is Jacob Raschka, now at Missouri, who had a strong age-group career.
Already registered
Myles Martin, 2016 OTT qualifier, 17 University champ, 2016 NCAA champ
Brett Pfarr, Minnesota Storm, 2017 NCAA runner-up
Sammy Brooks, NYAC/HWC, 4th 2017 NCAAs, 2nd 2016 University
Nathan Jackson, NYAC, Princeton WC, 7th in 2016 University Nats
Jacob Raschka, Missouri RTC, 3rd in 2016 UWW Cadet Nationals
Jaron Smith, Terrapin WC, 3rd 17 Junior WTT
Richard Robertson, BRTC
Garrett Lineberger, MD unattached
Wyatt Koelling, Missouri RTC
David Willoughby, NB Elite
Faris Karaborni, Minnesota Storm
Expected to enter
Collin Carr, Minnesota Gopher WC
Toughest Weight Class – Women’s Freestyle 63 kg
Initially, when 2017 Senior World Team member and two-time WCWA national champion Mallory Velte announced that she was trying out for the U23 Team, this weight was looking like a replay of the 2017 World Team Trials. Velte has reportedly decided not to go to U23 Trials, but the tough field that she was going to face is still highly competitive. It is led by 2017 Junior World champion Maya Nelson, who is on the Senior National team after placing third at the Senior World Team Trials. Nelson was also a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. Another 2016 Junior World bronze medalist up at 67 kg is college star Alexis Porter of McKendree. Porter is a past University Nationals champion, and has three age-group World appearances, two as a Junior and one as a Cadet. Not yet registered by an instant top challenger if she enters is past Cadet World champion and Senior U.S. Open champion Teshya Alo. Other Senior World Team Trials qualifiers who could be wrestling are Desiree Zavala, Katerina Lobsinger and Maggie Douma. Zavala, third in the 2017 WCWA Nationals for Southern Oregon, is now with Grays Harbor, and was fourth at the University Nationals last year. Lobsinger, with Army WCAP, was fifth in the 2014 Cadet World Championships. Douma was a 2016 WCWA runner-up for Oklahoma City. Add in Brenda Reyna, who was eighth in the 2016 Junior World Championships and was a 2016 Junior Nationals champion. This weight class should have some great battles, starting as early as the quarterfinals.
Already entered
Maya Nelson, Sunkist, No. 3 on National Team, 2017 Junior World champion
Alexis Porter, NYAC/McKendree, WTT qualifier, 2016 Junior World bronze
Desiree Zavala, Choker WC/Grays Harbor, WTT qualifier, 3rd Junior WTT at 67 kg, 3rd WCWA
Katerina Lobsinger, Army WCAP, WTT qualifier
Brenda Reyna, NYAC/McKendree, 2016 Junior World Team, 2016 Junior Nationals champion
Anna Poyner, Viking WC
Melissa Jacobs, Minnesota Storm
Andrea Altamira, Lindenwood
Mariya Gaither, Lindenwood
Crystal Zamarripa, Mo. Baptist WC
Sarah Bollinger, Mo. Baptist WC
Expected to enter
Teshya Alo, Titan Mercury WC, Cadet World champion, 2nd 17 Junior WTT, U.S. Open champion
Maggie Douma, Aires WC, WTT qualifier
Online registration closes tonight for the U23 World Team Trials, set for Rochester, Minn., Oct. 7-8. Based upon the athletes who have already signed up, and those who expected to compete based upon information from coaches, clubs/RTCs and athletes, there should be some strong World Team candidates in each weight class. However, some weights are stacking up to be more challenging that others.
Based upon entries and expected participants through Wednesday morning, we give our best shot at what the most competitive weight classes will be in Rochester. Registration does not end until late tonight, plus there should be some walkups, so this could change slightly at the last minute. There should be some can’t miss matches for sure. You will be able to enjoy the action live on TrackWrestling.
8th Toughest Weight Class - Greco-Roman 85 kg
Barrett Stanghill, who hit the national scene at Northern Michigan, was third at the 2017 U.S. Open and fourth in the World Team Trials. He won the 2015 University Nationals and was second at the 2014 UWW Junior World Team Trials. Richard Carlson, a 2014 Junior World Team member, was second at the 2017 University Nationals. A young star making a run is Wyatt Koelling, who made two age-group World Teams in three years. In 2017, he competed at the UWW Junior World Championships and in 2015, he wrestled in the UWW Cadet World Championships. Former Iowa All-American Alex Meyer, who won the 2017 University Nationals title at 80 kg in freestyle will give Greco a go. One of the others in the hunt will be Austin Chaon of NMU-OTS, who was third in the 2016 Junior World Team Trials.
Already registered
Wyatt Koelling, Missouri RTC, 2017 Junior WTT champ
Barrett Stanghill, Minn. Storm, 4th World Team Trials
Richard Carlson, Minn. Storm, 2014 Junior World Team, 2nd in 2017 University Nationals
Austin Chaon, NMU, 3rd 2016 Junior WTT
George Sikes, NMU
Jason Grimes, DCAC
Trey Hardy, Florida Jets/NMU
Gregory Kleinsmith, NMU
Matt Reed, Tiger WC
Richard Robertson, BRTC
Vaughan Monreal-Berner, USMC
Expected to enter
Alex Meyer, HWC, 2016 University Nationals FS champ
7th Toughest Weight Class - Women’s 55 kg
This weight class does not have many entries yet, but there are at least four heavy-hitters who could step up and earn the spot on the U23 World Team. Leading off is National Team member Dominique Parrish, who was third at the 2017 World Team Trials, second at the 2017 University Nationals, and was a 2017 WCWA National runner-up for Simon Fraser. There are three other 2017 World Team Trials qualifiers who should be right in the mix. Another WCWA runner-up, Megan Black of McKendree, was a 2017 University Nationals champion. Hanna Grisewood of King, a three-time WCWA All-American, has a bit more Senior experience than the others. The young buck is Ronna Heaton, a Cadet World champion and Cadet World runner-up who was on the 2017 UWW Junior World Team. Heaton is just starting her college career at Grays Harbor CC. The rest of the field will have to step up if they wish to make it into the semifinals with this group of known young stars.
Already Registered
Dominique Parrish, SFU, No. 3 on National Team, 2nd WCWA
Megan Black, King, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Hanna Grisewood, King, WTT qualifier, 3rd WCWA
Ronna Heaton, Sunkist/Grays Harbor, WTT qualifier, 2x Cadet World medalist, 1st Junior WTT
Makayla Welch, Minnesota Storm, 3rd in 2017 Girls Junior Folkstyle
Expected to enter
M. Mendoza, Aires WC
Daniela Flores, Aires WC
6th Toughest Weight Class – Greco-Roman 59 kg
This weight class features a Senior National Team member, Hayden Tuma, who was third in the 2017 Greco-Roman World Team Trials and was the 2017 U.S. Senior Open champion. Tuma competed on two Junior World Teams and two Cadet World Teams, but has not yet registered. Even without Tuma, this weight would have some great young talent. There are two Northern Michigan OTS wrestlers registered who were Senior World Team Trials qualifiers last year, with age-group World Team experience. Dalton Roberts competed on the 2015 and 2016 Junior World Teams, won the 2017 University Nationals and was fifth in the 2017 Senior World Team Trials. Randon Miranda competed on the 2017 UWW Junior World Team and was third at the University Nationals. Another NMU athlete who is not yet registered is Andrew Ibarra, seventh in the 2017 Senior World Team Trials and fifth at the UWW Junior World Team Trials. Ty Pelot was a 2017 University Nationals runner-up competing at 63 kg. Dalton Young was a 2017 Junior Nationals champion and is starting his college career at Stanford.
Already registered
Dalton Roberts, NYAC/NMU. WTT qualifier, 2017 University champ, 2x Junior World Team
Randon Miranda, NYAC/NMU, WTT qualifier
Ty Pelot, X-Factor Elite, 2017 University 63KG 2nd place
Dalton Young, Stanford unattached, 2017 Junior Nationals champion
Kyndall Rutz, NMU
Jon Massey, NMU
Erik Spence, NMU
Louis Hernandez, OTC
Taylor Zippe, USMC
Expected to enter
Hayden Tuma, No. 3 on National Team, 4x Age-Group World Teamer
Andrew Ibarra, NMU, WTT qualifier
Patrick Ramirez, NMU
5th Toughest Weight Class - Men’s Freestyle 97 kg
This weight class has two 2017 Senior World Team Trials qualifiers, Nikko Reyes, who was fourth at the 2017 U.S. Senior Open and Ty Walz, who was fifth at the 2017 U.S. Open. Reyes was second at the 2016 University Nationals, losing the finals series two matches to one to NCAA champ Kyven Gadson. Reyes wrestled for Illinois and Northern Colorado, and with the Valley RTC. Walz was third in the 2016 University Nationals, right behind Reyes. Walz made his name as an All-American heavyweight for Virginia Tech and is continuing his career at 213 pounds. An intriguing prospect is four-time NCAA Div. III nationals champion Riley Lefever of Wabash College, who was fifth in the 2016 University Nationals and is now training at Penn State with the Nittany Lion WC. Another young challenger is Danny Chaid, a 2017 University Nationals runner-up, who is now at North Carolina.
Already Registered
Nikko Reyes, Valley RTC, WTT qualifier, 2nd 2016 University Nationals
Ty Walz, SE RTC, WTT qualifier, 4th 2017 NCAA
Riley Lefever, Nittany Lion, 4th 2016 University, 4x D-III national champion
Danny Chaid, Tarheel WC, 17 University runner-up
Morgan Smith, Burnaby Mountain WC/SFU
Joshua Murphy, Drexel/PRTC
Johnathen Dennis, Viking WC
Tanner Orndorff, Utah Valley RTC
4th Toughest Weight Class – Women’s Freestyle 69 kg
This weight class is led off by a Senior National Team member, Niauni Hill of Lindenwood-Belleville, who was third at the 2017 Senior World Team Trials and was second in the WCWA Nationals. There are four other 2017 Senior World Team Trials qualifiers who are registered at this weight. Forrest Molinari, a 2016 WCWA nationals champion for King, is healthy again. She was fourth in the 2016 Olympic Trials, fifth in the 2017 World Team Trials, and competed on the 2015 Junior World Team. Rachel Watters, who competes at Oklahoma City, competed in the 2015 and 2017 Junior World Championships, with a fifth place in the World back in 2015. WCWA runner-up Jessi Kee of King was also a World Team Trials qualifier, as was Andrea Sennett of McKendree. Add in 2015 Cadet World bronze medalist Kayla Marano, a 2016 Junior Nationals champion and now a freshman at Emmanuel. WCWA College All-Americans Jasmine Bailey and Yvonne Galindo add depth to this field.
Already registered
Niauni Hill, No. 3 on National Team, 2nd WCWA
Forrest Molinari, TMWC, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Jessi Kee, NYAC/King, WTT qualifier, 2nd WCWA
Rachel Watters, Aires WC/NYAC, WTT qualifier, 2x Junior World Team
Andrea Sennett, Bearcat WC, WTT qualifier
Kayla Marano, Lions WC, Cadet World medalist, 5th 2016 Junior WTT
Jasmine Bailey, Bearcat WC, 5th WCWA
Leslie Alaniz, Lindenwood
Ophelia Lara, Lions WC
Expected to register
Shamera McTier, Viking WC
K. Glenn, Aires WC
Yvonne Galindo, Aires WC
R. Torres, Aires WC
3rd Toughest Weight Class – Men’s Freestyle 65 kg
This weight class is tough because it is has a lot of talent and is hard to predict. 2014 Junior World silver medalist Joey McKenna, who was a 2016 NCAA All-American for Stanford, has transferred to Ohio State and is preparing with a tough room of top Senior freestylers. McKenna has won Senior level medals in freestyle. Jaydin Eierman of Missouri qualified for the 2017 Senior World Team Trials, and had a great All-American year as a freshman for Mizzou last year. In 2015, Brock Zacherl of Clarion won the UWW Junior World Team Trials, but lost to Joey McKenna in a Special Wrestle-off for the Junior World Team. Zacherl was third in the 2017 University Nationals. Winning a gold at the 2017 University Nationals was Robbie Mathers, who was also eighth in the 2015 U.S. Senior Open. A potential entry is former Cadet World Team member Dalton Brady. Nebraska’s Colton McCrystal, who has been a University freestyle All-American, adds another tough athlete to the mix, along with Campbell’s NCAA qualifier Josh Heil.
Already registered
Joey McKenna, LVWC/TMWC, 2014 Junior World silver medalist
Jaydin Eierman, Missouri RTC, WTT qualifier, 5th 2017 NCAA
Robbie Mathers, Sunkist, 17 University champ
Brock Zacherl, Clarion RTC, 17 University third, 15 Junior WTT champ
Colton McCrystal, Nebraska RTC/Sunkist Kids, 7th in 2016 University Nationals
Devin Tortorice, Whitewater WC
Josh Heil, Buies Creek RTC
Logan Smith, Mat Savvy WC
Dylan Thurston, IRTC
Matt Findlay, Utah Valley RTC
Expected to enter
Dalton Brady, Sunkist, 2011 Cadet World Team member
2nd Toughest Weight Class – Men’s Freestyle 86 kg
2016 NCAA champion Myles Martin of Ohio State, a 2017 University Nationals champion, is among the big-name freestyle stars expected in Rochester. Martin competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials, has attended Senior Olympic and World Team training camps, and had a strong age-group freestyle career. He will have a tough road to make this team. 2017 NCAA runner-up Brett Pfarr of Minnesota is dropping in weight to 86 kg according to online registration. Pfarr was sixth at this weight class way back in the 2015 University Nationals. Graduated Iowa star Sammy Brooks, who was fourth at the NCAA last year, is starting his post-college career. Brooks was second in the 2016 University Nationals. Nathan Jackson, an NCAA All-American for Indiana, and a past University freestyle placer, adds some punch to the weight class. Jaron Smith of Maryland, third in the 2017 UWW Junior World Team Trials is a tough draw, as is Jacob Raschka, now at Missouri, who had a strong age-group career.
Already registered
Myles Martin, 2016 OTT qualifier, 17 University champ, 2016 NCAA champ
Brett Pfarr, Minnesota Storm, 2017 NCAA runner-up
Sammy Brooks, NYAC/HWC, 4th 2017 NCAAs, 2nd 2016 University
Nathan Jackson, NYAC, Princeton WC, 7th in 2016 University Nats
Jacob Raschka, Missouri RTC, 3rd in 2016 UWW Cadet Nationals
Jaron Smith, Terrapin WC, 3rd 17 Junior WTT
Richard Robertson, BRTC
Garrett Lineberger, MD unattached
Wyatt Koelling, Missouri RTC
David Willoughby, NB Elite
Faris Karaborni, Minnesota Storm
Expected to enter
Collin Carr, Minnesota Gopher WC
Toughest Weight Class – Women’s Freestyle 63 kg
Initially, when 2017 Senior World Team member and two-time WCWA national champion Mallory Velte announced that she was trying out for the U23 Team, this weight was looking like a replay of the 2017 World Team Trials. Velte has reportedly decided not to go to U23 Trials, but the tough field that she was going to face is still highly competitive. It is led by 2017 Junior World champion Maya Nelson, who is on the Senior National team after placing third at the Senior World Team Trials. Nelson was also a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. Another 2016 Junior World bronze medalist up at 67 kg is college star Alexis Porter of McKendree. Porter is a past University Nationals champion, and has three age-group World appearances, two as a Junior and one as a Cadet. Not yet registered by an instant top challenger if she enters is past Cadet World champion and Senior U.S. Open champion Teshya Alo. Other Senior World Team Trials qualifiers who could be wrestling are Desiree Zavala, Katerina Lobsinger and Maggie Douma. Zavala, third in the 2017 WCWA Nationals for Southern Oregon, is now with Grays Harbor, and was fourth at the University Nationals last year. Lobsinger, with Army WCAP, was fifth in the 2014 Cadet World Championships. Douma was a 2016 WCWA runner-up for Oklahoma City. Add in Brenda Reyna, who was eighth in the 2016 Junior World Championships and was a 2016 Junior Nationals champion. This weight class should have some great battles, starting as early as the quarterfinals.
Already entered
Maya Nelson, Sunkist, No. 3 on National Team, 2017 Junior World champion
Alexis Porter, NYAC/McKendree, WTT qualifier, 2016 Junior World bronze
Desiree Zavala, Choker WC/Grays Harbor, WTT qualifier, 3rd Junior WTT at 67 kg, 3rd WCWA
Katerina Lobsinger, Army WCAP, WTT qualifier
Brenda Reyna, NYAC/McKendree, 2016 Junior World Team, 2016 Junior Nationals champion
Anna Poyner, Viking WC
Melissa Jacobs, Minnesota Storm
Andrea Altamira, Lindenwood
Mariya Gaither, Lindenwood
Crystal Zamarripa, Mo. Baptist WC
Sarah Bollinger, Mo. Baptist WC
Expected to enter
Teshya Alo, Titan Mercury WC, Cadet World champion, 2nd 17 Junior WTT, U.S. Open champion
Maggie Douma, Aires WC, WTT qualifier
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