Men’s Freestyle Finals set for last day of UWW U15 Nationals

Aden Valencia is one of four wrestlers who will look to win a freestyle title after winning in Greco-Roman yesterday. Photo by: Greg Kaup

Four wrestlers will attempt to claim titles in both styles and make the U15 Greco-Roman and Men’s Freestyle World Teams tomorrow afternoon at the Papillion Landing Field House just outside of Omaha, Nebraska. After two days of thrilling action, Sunday’s finals should be a must-see event.

At 38 kg Aden Valencia is the first wrestler who will be trying to double-up tomorrow. He won the Greco-Roman title by teching his way through the tournament. Today was more of the same, with Valencia earning 10-0, 11-0, and 15-5 victories. His opponent Luke Lilledahl has not allowed a point to be scored on him winning 10-0, 10-0, 2-0. Liledahl placed third in the Greco-Roman tournament.

The next wrestler trying to earn back-to-back titles is Paul Kelly at 41 kg. Kelley won his first two matches of the tournament 9-6 and 11-0. In the finals he will be facing Tyler Wells. Wells has rolled through the tournament with a 13-0 technical fall in his opening match followed by a 7-1 decision and another 12-4 technical fall. Wells did not wrestle Greco-Roman

At 44 kg there will be a battle between Kael Lauridsen and Alex Marre. After a tough 7-6 opening match, Lauridsen found his groove, scoring two technical falls, 10-0 and 12-1. Marre’s first three matches were 11-0, 10-0, and 11-1 technical falls with his semifinals win coming by a score of 10-6. Lauridsen placed second in Greco-Roman while Marre took third. The pair were on opposite sides of the bracket and did not wrestle.

48 kg will feature Weston Dalton squaring off against Greyson Clark. Dalton’s matches have been a 3-2 decision, an 11-1 technical fall, a fall, and a 4-2 decision. Clark advanced to the finals with a fall, a 10-0 technical fall and a 6-2 decision. Clark placed third in Greco-Roman while Dalton did not compete.

At 52 kg Ethan Stiles is the third wrestler who will try to win both tournaments. He did not allow a point to be scored on him on his run to a Greco-Roman title. In freestyle, Stiles has gone 10-0, 12-1, 15-4, 10-4. He will be competing against Lane Gilbert. Gilbert has won his matches with scores of 12-0, 13-2, 17-14 and 11-4. Gilbert finished sixth in Greco-Roman, falling to Stiles in the semi-finals 8-0.

Francisco Ayala and Aiden Riggins will wrestle in the 57 kg final. Ayala has won his matches with scores of 12-2, 11-0, 10-0, and 6-2. Riggins has won, 12-2 10-0, 10-8, and by fall to advance through the tournament. Neither wrestler competed in Greco-Roman.

Wrestling at 62 kg, Antrell Taylor has been the most dominant wrestler in the tournament, not allowing a point against him while earning 10-0, 11-0 and 10-0 technical falls. His opponent Jordan Cullors opened his tournament with back-to-back falls, followed by 8-1 and 6-6 decisions. Both of these wrestlers opted to only compete in freestyle.

68 kg will be a matchup between Josh Barr and James Rowley. Barr won his opening match with a 10-0 technical fall before earning a hard-fought, 10-8 decision in the semifinals. Rowley’s first match was a 10-7 decision, followed by 16-6 and 15-5 technical falls. Neither competed in Greco-Roman.

75 kg will be a rematch of the Greco-Roman semifinals between Bradley Gillum and Antony Tuttle. Gillum defeated Tuttle 4-0 and took second while Tuttle placed fourth. Gillum won his only match of the day 8-5. Tuttle won his two matches 8-6 and 12-1.

The final weight class, 85 kg, will feature the final wrestler trying to win both Greco-Roman and Freestyle titles, Andrew Blackburn-Forst. In the finals he will have a rematch against Nathan Wemstrong, who he defeated two-matches-to-one to claim the Greco-Roman title. Both wrestlers have only had one match in freestyle, with Blackburn-Forst winning by fall, and Wemstrong winning 12-6.

Finals matches

34-38 kg

Aden Valencia vs. Luke Lilledahl

41 kg

Tyler Wells vs. Paul Kelly

44 kg

Kael Lauridsen vs. Alexander Marre

52 kg

Ethan Stiles vs. Lane Gilbert

57 kg

Francisco Ayala vs. Aiden Riggins

62 kg

Antrell Taylor vs. Jordan Cullors

68 kg

Joshua Barr vs. James Rowley

75 kg

Bradley Gillum vs. Anthony Tuttle

85 kg

Nathan Wemstrong vs. Andrew Blackburn-Forst

Semifinal results

34-38kg

Aden Valencia Morgan Hill, CA (AWA) VSU1 Alex Diederich MN (PINnacle), 15-5 2:55

Luke Lilledahl Saint Charles, MO (Bull Trained/XTreme RTC) VPO Grigor Cholakyan Burbank, CA (ISU), 2-0

41 kg

Tyler Wells Princeton, MN (PINnacle) VSU1 Ayson Rice Sioux Falls, SD (Legends of Gold), 12-4 4:00

Paul Kelly Chandler, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) VFA Jameson Garcia Bloomingdale, IL (Gomez Wrestling), 11-0 3:29

44kg

Kael Lauridsen Omaha, NE (NE Boyz) VSU1 Cael Keck Kansas City, MO (Greater Heights Wrestling), 12-1 1:47

Alexander Marre Bloomingdale, IL (Izzy Style) VPO1 Dj Gillett Wilsonville, OR (Orange Crush Wrestling Club), 10-6

48kg

Weston Dalton Pueblo West, CO (Unattached) VPO1 Mitchell Neiner Port Orchard, WA (NWWC), 4-2

Greyson Clark Kaukauna, WI (Askren Wrestling Academy) VPO1 Drayden Morton Winthrop, MN (MN Elite), 6-2

52 kg

Ethan Stiles IL (Izzy Style) VPO1 Levi Haines Arendtsville, PA (M2 / BVRTC),

Lane Gilbert Sullivan, IN (Mauer Coughlin Wrestling Club) VPO1 Garrett Funk Waterloo, IA (IAWC), 11-4

57 kg

Francisco Ayala Ellensburg, WA (Victory Wrestling-Central WA) VPO1 Markell Rivera Glendale, AZ (Grindhouse Wrestling Club), 6-3

Aiden Riggins Janesville, IA (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) VFA Ryan Schepers VLG OF 4 SSNS, MO (Eierman Elite), 15-5 3:42

62kg

Antrell Taylor NE (MWC Wrestling Academy) VSU Riggin Boger Altamont, UT (Altamont), 10-0 0:44

Jordan Cullors Tulsa, OK (OKRTC) VPO1 Noah Tolentino Poway, CA (Poway Elite), 6-6

68 kg

Joshua Barr Flushing, MI (Team Donahoe) VPO1 Thor Michaelson Bremerton, WA (NWWC), 12-10

James Rowley Corvallis, OR (Orange Crush Wrestling Club) VSU1 Ryder Rogotzke Woodbury, MN (East Ridge), 15-5 3:05

75 kg

Bradley Gillum DeKalb, IL (Hurricane WC) VPO1 Gavin Nelson Inver Grove Heights, MN (PINnacle), 8-5

Antony Tuttle North Saint Paul, MN (PINnacle) VSU1 Drake Buchanan Greenwood, IN (Center Grove Wrestling Club), 12-1 3:58

85 kg

Nathan Wemstrom Buffalo Grove, IL (Izzy Style) VPO1 Max Ramberg Baldwin, WI (PINnacle), 12-6

Andrew Blackburn-Forst Homer Glen, IL (Colt Wrestling) VFA Gabe Edwards Omaha, NE (MWC Wrestling Academy), 12-4 2:13