Star-studded quarterfinals set for U23 Freestyle World Team Trials in Akron

AKRON, Ohio – The U23 Freestyle World Team Trials commenced Saturday morning in Akron, Ohio. In a field including 26 All-Americans, five past World Team members and two World medalists, a total of 701 athletes were registered to compete and took to the mats to battle for the 10 open spots on the U23 World Team.

57 kg: 2017 All-American Jack Mueller advanced to the quarterfinals after a total of three technical falls in his 2:30 spent on the mat. He’ll face his UVA teammate and training partner Louie Hayes, who advanced to the quarterfinals off of two technical falls and a decision. Travis Piotrowski powered his way through the bottom half of the bracket with two technical falls in a total of 1:46, followed a fall early in the second period to advance to the quarterfinals.

61 kg: After a technical fall to start his day, 2017 All-American Nick Piccininni came back from an eight-point deficit in the round of 32 before claiming another victory by criteria on his road to the quarterfinals. He’ll face 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Vitali Arujau, who racked up four first-period technical falls on the day. Past World Team member and Penn State commit Roman Bravo-Young posted three technical falls on the day to secure his spot in the quarterfinals, where he’ll face Sean Fausz.

65 kg: 2017 Junior World silver medalist Mitch Mckee posted an impressive two technical falls in les than 1:30, followed by a first-period fall to land himself in the quarterfinals. Two-time All-American Kaid Brock advanced to the quarterfinals off of three technical falls, two of which he solidified within the first period. Two-time All-American Kevin Jack accumulated three technical falls on his way to the quarterfinals, where he will face 2018 All-American Luke Pletcher. Pletcher also has three technical falls under his belt so far this tournament.

70 kg: In the densest bracket at this year’s U23 trials, 129 athletes were narrowed down to just eight quarterfinalists. 2018 All-American Hayden Hidlay cruised through the top of the bracket, picking up four technical falls. He’ll face Mitch Finesilver, who racked up two technical falls and a victory over 2017 All-American Paul Fox. 2017 Junior World silver medalist Ryan Deakin reached the quarterfinals after three technical falls and a decision. 2017 All-American and runner-up at last year’s U23 Trials Tyler Berger went perfect on day one, posting four technical falls without allowing any of his opponents to score against him.

74kg: 2018 All-American Evan Wick dominated the top half of the bracket with four technical falls sending him cruising into the quarterfinals. 2018 All-American Josh Shields posted two technical falls in under two minutes and 15 second less than 2:15 and a decision to send him into the quarterfinals, where he will be faced with a bloodround rematch against John Van Brill. Shields defeated Van Brill at the 2018 NCAA Championships to claim his first All-American honors.

79kg: Three-time All-American Daniel Lewis and Jordan Kutler, a 2018 All-American, both posted four technical falls on their roads to the quarterfinals. Two-time All-American Joe Smith outscored his opponents 45-1, claiming four technical falls to secure his seat in the quarters. Two-time All-American David McFadden also advanced to the quarterfinals after a technical fall and two victories by decision.

86kg: 2016 NCAA Champion, three-time All-American and 2017 U23 Trials runner-up Myles Martin cruised to the quarters on his three first-period technical falls. Two-time All-American and past Cadet World Team member Chandler Rogers posted two technical falls without allowing any of his opponents to score on him, followed by a first-period fall that sent him into the quarterfinals. 2018 All-American Taylor Venz also secured his spot in the finals after his two technical falls and first-period fall. 2018 All-American Maxwell Dean, coached by his brother and two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean, will be featured in the quarterfinals after his three technical falls and fall.

92kg: 2018 NCAA Champion Michael Macchiavello dominated the top half of his bracket, outscoring his opponents 18-1 between his two technical falls and first-period fall. Hunter Ritter made his way through the bottom half of the bracket with a technical fall, fall and victory by decision to be featured in the quarterfinals.

97kg: Junior World bronze medalist and two-time All-American Kollin Moore advanced to the quarterfinals after 10-0 and 17-6 technical falls. On the opposite end of bracket, 2018 All-American Kyle Conel also made his way to the finals via two technical falls, totaling four minutes and 41 seconds on the mat.

125kg: 2018 All-American Youssif Hemida will be featured in the quarters after a victory by decision and technical fall. 2018 All-American Michael Hughes also advanced to the quarterfinals off of his two technical falls and victory by decision. He’ll face Conan Jennings, who reached the quarterfinals by way of fall, technical fall and injury default.

U23 action continues Sunday, starting with the quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. ET live on FloWrestling.

2018 UWW CADET AND U23 WORLD TEAM TRIALS

at Akron, Ohio, June 1-3

U23 freestyle

Semifinals pairings

57kg
Jack Mueller (CWC) vs. Louie Hayes (CWC)
Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh Valley WC) vs. Alex Mackall (Cyclone WC)
Austin Assad (MRTC) vs. Rayvon Foley (MSU)
Travis Piotrowski (IRTC) vs. Skyler Petry (GWC)

61kg
Vitali Arujau (FLWCP) vs. Joseph Nelson (BWC)
Jens Lantz (Wisconsin) vs. Nick Piccininni (CRTC/TMWC)
Roman Bravo-Young (SWC) vs. Sean Fausz (WWC)
Chas Tucker (Cornell) vs. Steven Lee (DWC)

65kg
Mitch Mckee (GWC) vs. Jaime Hernandez (THWC)
Brock Zacherl (Clarion) vs. Kaid Brock (CRTC/TMWC)
Kevin Jack (WWC) vs. Luke Pletcher (tOSU)
Colton McCrystal vs. Dominick Demas (OKRTC)

70kg
Hayden Hidlay (WWC) vs. Mitch Finesilver (BBWC)
Pat Lugo (Iowa) vs. Alfred Bannister (TWC)
Tyler Berger (Nebraska) vs. Ke-Shawn Hayes (tOSU)
Josh Reyes (Orange Crush WC) vs. Ryan Deakin (NU)

74kg
Evan Wick (Wisconsin) vs. Austin Kraisser (CU)
John Van Brill (NJRTC) vs. Josh Shields (Sunkist)
Alex Smythe (Bulls WC) vs. Dayton Racer (UVRTC)
Kennedy Monday (THWC) vs. Kaleb Young (Iowa)

79kg
Jordan Kutler (Lehigh Valley WC) vs. Cole Walter (Lehigh Valley WC)
Connor Flynn (MWRTC) vs. Daniel Lewis (MWRTC)
Joe Smith (CRTC/TMWC) vs. Kimball Bastian (UVRTC)
Dylan Lydy (BRTC) vs. David McFadden (SERTC-VT)

86kg
Myles Martin (tOSU) vs. Cash Wilcke (Iowa)
Max Dean (Cornell) vs. Evan Hansen (VWC)
Chandler Rogers (CRTC/TMWC) vs. Garrett Lineberger (Unattached)
Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) vs. Taylor Venz (Nebraska)

92kg
Michael Macchiavello (WWC) vs. Greg Bulsak (Clarion)
Eric Schultz (Nebraska) vs. Christian Brunner (BRTC)
Jakob Woodley (OKRTC) vs. Anthone Perrine (Bulldog WC)
Tyler Bagoly (Clarion) vs. Hunter Ritter (Wisconsin)

97kg
Kollin Moore (tOSU) vs. Ben Honis (Cornell)
Chase O Connor (GWC) vs. Malik McDonald (WWC)
John Borst (SERTC-VT) vs. Kevin Snyder (tOSU)
Brandon Reed (BRWC) vs. Kyle Conel (GPWC)

125kg
David Jensen (Nebraska) vs. David Orndorff (UVRTC)
Matt Stencel (CWC) vs. Christian Colucci (NJRTC)
Yossif Hemida (TWC) vs. Matthew Voss (PEWC)
Conan Jennings (NU) vs. Michael Hughes (B&G)