Freestyle WTT Challenge Tournament previews at 61 kg men and 53 kg women
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Competition portraits of Nahshon Garrett from the 2018 U.S. Open and Haley Augello from the 2017 World Championships by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
Tuesday, we provide previews in men’s freestyle at 61 kg and women’s freestyle at 53 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 61 kg
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Joe Colon advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. Even if somebody either moves up from 57 kg or down from 65 kg, this weight class should be considered a big toss-up, with a number of athletes capable of emerging from the field.
The U.S. Open runner-up is Nahshon Garrett, who has been second in the U.S. Open the last two seasons. He and Colon put on a massive offensive display, with 33 points put up on the board. Garrett, an NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Cornell, does not have a wealth of freestyle experience, but his high-octane style is exciting and fun to watch.
Fighting back for third place was another NCAA champion and four-time All-American, Nico Megaludis from Penn State, who has competed in the past in freestyle down at 57 kg. Megaludis lost a 5-2 match to Colon in the quarterfinals, then won four straight times to get the bronze in Las Vegas. Megaludis has been expanding his freestyle experience with foreign tours in recent years.
Taking fourth at the U.S. Open was one of the favorites, Tyler Graff, whose losses in Las Vegas came at the hands of Garrett and Megaludis. Of those competing in Rochester, this former Wisconsin NCAA runner-up has by far the most international experience. Graff was a 2017 Pan American champion, was third in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials, and won the Dave Schultz Memorial twice. He is very capable of making the finals and fighting for the spot in Final X.
Brandon Wright made his name known last year in freestyle, by placing second at the U.S. Open at 61 kg and third at the World Team Trials. Wright reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open, then dropped a bout to Graff in the consolation semifinals. Wright was a star at NAIA power Grand View.
2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross of South Dakota State finished sixth at the Open. He was a past Junior World Team member, and continues to advance his freestyle. Gross lost a wild 18-13 semifinal to Garrett in Vegas, then took injury defaults down to sixth place.
Finishing seventh at the Open to earn his spot in Rochester was veteran Darrius Little, who has made great strides in recent seasons. Also qualifying for this field was former Oklahoma State star Jon Morrison, who won the Bill Farrell International in March, with wins over Graff and Gross along the way. In Vegas, Morrison lost a one-point match to Gross, then did not compete in the consolation rounds.
One thing fans can expect at this weight class is some active wrestling and many points being scored. While Garrett comes in with an edge based upon his effort in Vegas, it is fair to say that everybody in the bracket feels like they have what it takes to win this tournament.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champion Joe Colon of the Titan Mercury WC for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2018 NCAA champion – Seth Gross, Apple Valley, Minn. (South Dakota State)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial champion – Jon Morrison, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/MWC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Nahshon Garrett, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Nico Megaludis, Murrysville, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Brandon Wright, Indianapolis, Ind. (New York AC/Indiana WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Darrius Little, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC/LVWC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 53 kg
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Sarah Hildebrandt advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. The finals in Las Vegas featured two high-powered stars, Hildebrandt, who was a 2016 World Team member, and Haley Augello, a 2016 Olympian and 2017 World Team member. Hildebrandt is new to 53 kg this year, and was able to beat Augello 6-1.
Augello clearly has more experience than the rest of the field in Rochester. A Cadet World champion and past Junior World Team member coming through the age-group program, Augello added two WCWA titles while at King and has been a proven winner at every level. She had not wrestled during the winter, healing up some injuries, but feels strong heading into the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Taking third at the U.S. Open was Cody Pfau, a multiple U.S. age-group World Team member who usually competes at 50 kg, and is very much expected to return to her normal weight in Rochester. Fourth place at the U.S. Open went to Dajan Treder, who competed for Jamestown in college and was second in the 2016 U.S. Open. Treder also was second at the U23 World Team Trials last fall, and has an edge in experience over some of the entries.
The other U.S. Open placewinner who advanced to Rochester was Gabrielle Weyhrich, a 2018 WCWA runner-up at McKendree. Weyhrich took the last qualifying spot in Vegas by taking fifth at the Open. She was second at the 2017 University Nationals and sixth at the 2017 U.S. Open, which shows the improvements she has made in the McKendree room.
Also making the field here was 2018 U23 World Team Trials champion Charlotte Fowler, who is a multiple All-American at Campbellsville University. Fowler placed eighth at the U.S. Open. She had perhaps her best national-level showing at the U23 Trials, where she showed a toughness and intensity that made the difference.
The other qualifier is veteran Arelys Valles, who was eighth at the WCWA Nationals at 101 pounds for the University of the Cumberlands this year. Since winning the Bill Farrell Memorial in March, which qualified her for Rochester, Valles took the head coaching position for the women’s team at Brewton-Parker, a new opportunity in her career. One more athlete could join the field for Rochester, as the 2018 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion, which will be crowned at the Women’s Nationals in Texas this weekend, will also be eligible.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champion Sarah Hildebrandt of the New York AC for the World Team spot.
Women’s Freestyle 53 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2017 Senior World Team member – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC)
2018 U23 National champion – Charlotte Fowler, Katy, Texas (Campbellsville)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial champion – Arelys Valles, Clewiston, Fla. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Dajan Treder, Great Falls, Montana (Unattached)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Gabrielle Weyhrich, Lebanon, Ill. (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member –
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Sarah Hildebrandt (New York AC)
For 10 straight days, TheMat.com will post two previews each day for the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20. One of the previews will be in men’s freestyle, with the other in women’s freestyle.
This is a closed tournament, in which the athletes in the field must have qualified, based upon approved Team Selection Procedures in each style. The winners of each of the 20 weight classes advance to one of the three Final X series events in June.
In weight classes in which there was a 2017 World medalist, the 2018 U.S. Open champion advances directly to the best-of-three Championships Series in Rochester. In the weight classes without a 2017 World medalist, the U.S. Open champion has advanced directly to Final X and nobody sits out to the finals series in Rochester.
Tuesday, we provide previews in men’s freestyle at 61 kg and women’s freestyle at 53 kg.
MEN’S FREESTYLE 61 kg
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Joe Colon advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. Even if somebody either moves up from 57 kg or down from 65 kg, this weight class should be considered a big toss-up, with a number of athletes capable of emerging from the field.
The U.S. Open runner-up is Nahshon Garrett, who has been second in the U.S. Open the last two seasons. He and Colon put on a massive offensive display, with 33 points put up on the board. Garrett, an NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Cornell, does not have a wealth of freestyle experience, but his high-octane style is exciting and fun to watch.
Fighting back for third place was another NCAA champion and four-time All-American, Nico Megaludis from Penn State, who has competed in the past in freestyle down at 57 kg. Megaludis lost a 5-2 match to Colon in the quarterfinals, then won four straight times to get the bronze in Las Vegas. Megaludis has been expanding his freestyle experience with foreign tours in recent years.
Taking fourth at the U.S. Open was one of the favorites, Tyler Graff, whose losses in Las Vegas came at the hands of Garrett and Megaludis. Of those competing in Rochester, this former Wisconsin NCAA runner-up has by far the most international experience. Graff was a 2017 Pan American champion, was third in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials, and won the Dave Schultz Memorial twice. He is very capable of making the finals and fighting for the spot in Final X.
Brandon Wright made his name known last year in freestyle, by placing second at the U.S. Open at 61 kg and third at the World Team Trials. Wright reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open, then dropped a bout to Graff in the consolation semifinals. Wright was a star at NAIA power Grand View.
2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross of South Dakota State finished sixth at the Open. He was a past Junior World Team member, and continues to advance his freestyle. Gross lost a wild 18-13 semifinal to Garrett in Vegas, then took injury defaults down to sixth place.
Finishing seventh at the Open to earn his spot in Rochester was veteran Darrius Little, who has made great strides in recent seasons. Also qualifying for this field was former Oklahoma State star Jon Morrison, who won the Bill Farrell International in March, with wins over Graff and Gross along the way. In Vegas, Morrison lost a one-point match to Gross, then did not compete in the consolation rounds.
One thing fans can expect at this weight class is some active wrestling and many points being scored. While Garrett comes in with an edge based upon his effort in Vegas, it is fair to say that everybody in the bracket feels like they have what it takes to win this tournament.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champion Joe Colon of the Titan Mercury WC for the World Team spot.
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2018 NCAA champion – Seth Gross, Apple Valley, Minn. (South Dakota State)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial champion – Jon Morrison, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/MWC)
2018 U.S. Open runner-up – Nahshon Garrett, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
2018 U.S. Open third place – Nico Megaludis, Murrysville, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Tyler Graff, Blacksburg, Va. (Titan Mercury WC)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Brandon Wright, Indianapolis, Ind. (New York AC/Indiana WC)
2018 U.S. Open seventh place - Darrius Little, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC/LVWC)
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE 53 kg
As a weight class without a World medalist, U.S. Open champion Sarah Hildebrandt advanced directly to Final X, and nobody gets to sit out in Rochester. The finals in Las Vegas featured two high-powered stars, Hildebrandt, who was a 2016 World Team member, and Haley Augello, a 2016 Olympian and 2017 World Team member. Hildebrandt is new to 53 kg this year, and was able to beat Augello 6-1.
Augello clearly has more experience than the rest of the field in Rochester. A Cadet World champion and past Junior World Team member coming through the age-group program, Augello added two WCWA titles while at King and has been a proven winner at every level. She had not wrestled during the winter, healing up some injuries, but feels strong heading into the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Taking third at the U.S. Open was Cody Pfau, a multiple U.S. age-group World Team member who usually competes at 50 kg, and is very much expected to return to her normal weight in Rochester. Fourth place at the U.S. Open went to Dajan Treder, who competed for Jamestown in college and was second in the 2016 U.S. Open. Treder also was second at the U23 World Team Trials last fall, and has an edge in experience over some of the entries.
The other U.S. Open placewinner who advanced to Rochester was Gabrielle Weyhrich, a 2018 WCWA runner-up at McKendree. Weyhrich took the last qualifying spot in Vegas by taking fifth at the Open. She was second at the 2017 University Nationals and sixth at the 2017 U.S. Open, which shows the improvements she has made in the McKendree room.
Also making the field here was 2018 U23 World Team Trials champion Charlotte Fowler, who is a multiple All-American at Campbellsville University. Fowler placed eighth at the U.S. Open. She had perhaps her best national-level showing at the U23 Trials, where she showed a toughness and intensity that made the difference.
The other qualifier is veteran Arelys Valles, who was eighth at the WCWA Nationals at 101 pounds for the University of the Cumberlands this year. Since winning the Bill Farrell Memorial in March, which qualified her for Rochester, Valles took the head coaching position for the women’s team at Brewton-Parker, a new opportunity in her career. One more athlete could join the field for Rochester, as the 2018 UWW Junior World Team Trials champion, which will be crowned at the Women’s Nationals in Texas this weekend, will also be eligible.
The winner of this weight advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champion Sarah Hildebrandt of the New York AC for the World Team spot.
Women’s Freestyle 53 kg
Challenge Tournament entries
2017 Senior World Team member – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC)
2018 U23 National champion – Charlotte Fowler, Katy, Texas (Campbellsville)
2018 Bill Farrell Memorial champion – Arelys Valles, Clewiston, Fla. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
2018 U.S. Open fourth place – Dajan Treder, Great Falls, Montana (Unattached)
2018 U.S. Open fifth place – Gabrielle Weyhrich, Lebanon, Ill. (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club)
2018 UWW Junior World Team member –
Note: Winner in Rochester advances to Final X at Lehigh on June 23, to face U.S. Open champ Sarah Hildebrandt (New York AC)
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