2019 U15 Greco-Roman World Team earn their spots at UWW U15 Nationals.

UWW U15 Nationals Champions posing with their hardware. Photo by Greg Kaup

As the Greco-Roman portion of the inaugural UWW U15 Nationals draws to a close, ten young men are set to represent Team USA on the world stage this June in Budapest, Hungary, at the U15 World Championships.

At 38 kg, Aden Valencia teched his way through the tournament including two 8-0 decisions in the best-of-three finals over Elias Navida. Valencia is already a 2017 Folkstyle Nationals champion and a 2018 USAW Folkstyle Nationals 14U champion.

At 41 kg, Paul Kelly took out the top seed in his opening match 7-2. He followed it up 10-2 technical fall in the semifinals, and dominated his best best-of-three finals with a pin and a 14-3 technical fall over Caleb Thoennes.

Top seeded Zachary Silvis rolled to the finals at 44 kg with a pin and two technical falls. In the best-of-three series he defeated Kael Lauridesen 7-4 and by fall. Silvis is a 2018 14u Greco Nationals Champion.

Joel Adams emerged victorious as the No. 2 seed at 48 kg. On his way to the finals he had a pin, a technical fall, and a 6-2 decision. After dropping the first match in best-of-three series 8-0 to Elijah Paulson, he battled back with an 8-0 win of his own followed by a 7-0 victory.

While Ethan Stiles 52 kg opening round 2-0 win might not have drawn much attention, the Izzy Style wrestler picked up more momentum every round. He won his quarterfinal match 6-0 and his semifinal match 8-0. In the best-of-three series he defeated Q'veli Quintanilla 9-0 and 8-0. Stiles did not allow a point to be scored on him the entire tournament.

While Stiles was a worthy candidate for the outstanding wrestler award, the honors were claimed by his teammate at 57 kg Jayden Colon. Colon earned back-to-back technical falls to make the best-of-three series where he then defeated 2018 Greco Nationals and 2018 Freestyle Nationals 14U champion Brock Bobzien 11-0 and 13-4.

Another incredibly dominant wrestler was Jaden Skellenger. Skellenger made the best-of-three series by advancing through the bracket with two pins and a technical fall. He defeated Jack Jones in two decisive matches, 8-0 and 8-0 to claim his spot on the team.

At 68 kg, Tyler Antoniak was another one of the big surprises of the tournament. Antoniak advanced to the finals with a pin, a technical fall, and a 12-10 semifinal decision. He swept the best-of-three series over Thor Michaelson 6-6 and 8-0.

2018 14U National Champion top-seeded Gavin Nelson took care of business winning back-to-back 9-0 matches to make the finals at 75 kg. He then bested Bradley Gillum two matches to zero, winning 9-2 and 8-6.

The 85 kg weight class only had three competitors, and Andrew Blackburn-Forst was already in the best-of-three finals without wrestling a match. His challenger, Nathan Wemstrong took the first bout my fall, but Blackburn-Forst won the second with a fall of his own. In the third match Blackburn-Forst won by a 10-0 technical fall.

Finals Results

38 kg

Aden Valencia (AWA) over Elias Navida (Poway Elite) 2-0 (8-0, 8-0)

41 kg

Paul Kelley (Sunkist Kids) over Claeb Thoennes (Pinnacle) 2-0 (Fall, 13-4)

44 kg

Zachary Silvis (Pinnacle) over Kael Lauridesin (NE Boyz) 2-0 (7-4, Fall)

48 kg

Joel Adams (Legends of Gold) over Elijah Paulson (Pinnacle) 2-1 (0-8, 8-0, 7-0)

52 kg

Ethan Stiles (Izzy Style) over Q'veli Quintanilla (INWTC) 2-0 (9-0, 8-0)

57 kg

Jayden Colon (Izzy Style) over Brock Bobzien (Poway Elite) 2-0 (11-0, 13-4)

62 kg

Jadon Skellenger (Suples) over Jack Jones (LVWC) 2-0 (8-0, 8-0)

68 kg

Tyler Antoniak (MWC) over Thor Michaelson (NWWC) 2-0 (6-6, 8-0)

75 kg

Gavin Nelson (Pinnacle) over Bradley Gillum (Hurricane WC) 2-0 (9-2, 8-6)

85 kg

Andrew Blackburn-Forst (Colt Wrestling) over Nathan Wemstrong (Izzy Style) 1-2 (Fall, Fall, 10-0)

Medal Match Results

34-38 kg

Third

 Luke Lilledahl Saint Charles, MO (Bull Trained/XTreme RTC) VPO1 Mason Mills Saint Michael, MN (PINnacle), 6-2

Fifth

Alex Diederich MN (PINnacle) VPO1 Sloan Johannsen Watertown, SD (Legends of Gold), 8-2

Seventh

Haakon Peterson Hollandale, WI (CWCTF) VSU Jesse Loges Blair, NE (MWC Wrestling Academy), 8-0 1:06

41 kg

Third

Ayson Rice Sioux Falls, SD (Legends of Gold) VFA Zan Fugitt Nixa, MO (Nixa), 10-8 3:15

Fifth

Kolby Warren Saint Charles, MO (Unattached) VSU Jameson Garcia Bloomingdale, IL (Gomez Wrestling), 9-0 0:19

Seventh

Miguel Torrez Granger, WA (Team Takedown) VPO1 Joshua Vazquez Aurora, IL (Izzy Style), 11-10

44 kg

Third

Alexander Marre Bloomingdale, IL (Izzy Style) VSU1 Cael Hughes Stillwater, OK (OKRTC), 11-2 2:59

Fifth

Cael Keck Kansas City, MO (Greater Heights Wrestling) VPO Dj Gillett Wilsonville, OR (Orange Crush Wrestling Club), 4-0

Seventh

Teegan Vasquez Creston, MT (Kalispell Wrestling Club) VFA Trason Oehme Brandon, SD (Legends of Gold), 8-6 3:22

48 kg

Third

Greyson Clark Kaukauna, WI (CWCTF) VSU1 Dylan Gilcher West Bloomfield Township, MI (Team Donahoe), 12-4 3:36

Fifth

Shelton Chastain Oklahoma City, OK (OKRTC) VSU Cael Kahle WI (Ringers WC), 10-0 2:52

Seventh

Mitchell Neiner Port Orchard, WA (NWWC) VPO1 Joseph Fernau St. Charles, IL (Izzy Style), 4-1

52 kg

Third

Pierson Manville MN (PINnacle) VFA Jaxon Bearden Herriman, UT (Utah), 2-0 0:20

Fifth

Cole Brooks Collinsville, OK (OKRTC) VFA Lane Gilbert Sullivan, IN (Mauer Coughlin Wrestling Club), 4-0 0:13

Seventh

Jermiah Zuniga Buena, WA (Team Takedown) VPO1 Nicholas Fox New Haven, IA (IAWC), 11-10

57 kg

Third

Payton Brooks Rigby, ID (JET Wrestling) VSU Henry Amborn Waterford, WI (CWCTF), 8-0 0:59

Fifth

Garrett Lyons Pleasant Hill, MO (Champions Wrestling Club) VPO1 Sawyer Bartelt Miami, FL (Gladiator Wrestling), 4-2

Seventh

Carter Ban Anoka, MN (PINnacle) VSU Chase Short Cameron, MO (Greater Heights Wrestling), 8-0 0:25

62 kg

Third

Joe Gonzalez Chuluota, FL (Florida Jets) VPO1 George Trujillo Mabton, WA (Team Takedown), 7-5

Fifth

Braden Stauffenberg Plano, IL (Izzy Style) VIN Chapman Mckown Norman, OK (Dark Horse wrestling Club), 6-3 1:15

Seventh

Noah Tolentino Poway, CA (Poway Elite) VPO1 Mateo De la pena Federal Way, WA (Team Takedown), 18-12

68 Kg

Third

Ryder Rogotzke Woodbury, MN (East Ridge) VFA John Purdy Tennyson, IN (Mauer Coughlin Wrestling Club), 4-2 1:15

Fifth

Nick Nelson Blue Earth, MN (Brotherhood) VIN Daryan Berber Rigby, ID (JET Wrestling)

Seventh

Landen Shurtleff Santaquin, UT (Utah) VFA Eli Sallis Elk Run Heights, IA (IAWC), 4-2 1:14

75 kg

Third

Enzo Morlacci PA (Young Guns) VSU Antony Tuttle North Saint Paul, MN (PINnacle), 10-0 1:51

Fifth

Drake Buchanan Greenwood, IN (Center Grove Wrestling Club) VFA Alexander Morris Papillion, NE (MWC Wrestling Academy), 6-2 1:27

Seventh

Max Ramberg Baldwin, WI (PINnacle) VPO1 Jacob Hansen Hudson, WI (PINnacle), 5-2

85 kg

Third

Gabe Edwards (MWC)