2018 Junior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Finals Preview

Notable results

• Nick Farro upset second seeded Josh Saunders in the opening round at 61 kg. Saunders took third at the U.S. Open.
• Two cadet world champions lost their opening matches. At 65 kg, Jarod Verkleeren waspinned by Sammy Sasso, and at 70 kg, Will Lewan fell 5-3 to Brayton Lee.
• In a battle of cadet bronze medalists, David Carr earned revenge over Jacori Teemer 8-1. Teemer had teched Carr in the third place match at the U.S. Open.
• Gable Steveson is competing at both the junior and senior level.

Challenge Tournament Finals Preview

57: Malik Heinselman vs. Paul Bianchi

This is a rematch of the U.S. Open semi-final where Heinselman defeated Bianchi 10-0. Bianchi would come back to take third. To reach the finals, Heinselman won a 13-12 barnburner against open seventh placer, Rayvon Foley. Bianchi earned a 10-0 technical fall over open eighth placer, Gage Curry.

61: Jordan Decatur vs. Vitali Arujau

This is also a U.S. Open semi-final rematch, where Decatur defeated Arujau 10-0. Decatur won his semi-final, 10-0 over McGwire Midkiff, who placed fifth at the open. Arujau defeated Nick Farro 11-1 in the semi-finals. Farro upset the second seed Josh Saunders 9-7. in the opening round. Saunders bested Arujau for third at the open, 10-8.

65: Nick Lee vs. Andrew Alirez

Nick Lee took out U.S. Open finalist, Max Murin, 9-4 in the semi-finals. Alirez, who took third at the open, won his first three matches by technical fall without surrendering a point.

70: Brady Berge vs. David Carr

Berge finished runner-up at the U.S. Open while Carr took fourth. Carr avenged a technical fall loss to cadet world bronze medalist, Jacori Teemer, from the third place match at the open in the semi-finals with an 8-1 win. Berge defeated Brayton Lee 6-1 in the semi-final. In the previous round Lee had knocked off cadet world champion, Will Lewan.

74: Mekhi Lewis vs. Alex Marinelli

Lewis, who took fifth at the open, defeated cadet world bronze medalist, Travis Wittlake in the semi-finals 6-1. Marinelli, who did not compete in the open, defeated Kaleb Romero, who took fourth at the open, 16-3.

79: Michael Labriola vs. Ethan Smith

Labriola was the U.S. Open runner-up, while Smith took 8^th. In the semi-finals, Labriola defeated Trent Hilday, who took sixth at the open, 7-0. Smith defeated open third placer, Beau Breske, 14-7.

86: Nino Bonaccorsi vs. Kordell Norfleet

Bonaccorsi was runner-up at the U.S. Open while Norfleet medical forfeited out of the third place match. Bonaccorsi won 10-0 over Owen Webster in the semi-finals. Norfleet won his semi-final 11-2 over Jelani Embree, who placed third at the open.

92 kg: John Borst vs. Jake Woodley

This is a rematch of the U.S. Open semi-final which Borst won 3-2. Woodley would come back to take third while Borst finished runner-up.

97 kg: Zach Elam vs. Quinn Miller

Elam was the U.S. Open runner-up, while Quinn Miller took third, winning six straight matches after dropping his opening bout. Elam defeated U.S. Open sixth placer, Jake Boyd 5-2, in the semi-finals. Miller pinned Hunter DeJong in the semis-finals. DeJong placed fifth at the open.

125 Kg: Gable Steveson vs. Anthony Cassioppi

Both Steveson and Cassioppi made it to the finals without being scored on. Steveson, who took fourth at the senior level at the U.S. Open, teched junior level open third placer, Trent Hillger, 13-0 in the semi-finals. Cassioppi, who did not compete in the open, teched open runner-up, Brandon Metz, 11-0 in his semi-final.