Final X: Rutgers competitors' biographies

Two-Time World bronze medalist, Nick Gwiazdowski will be competing for the 125 kg World Team spot at Final X: Rutgers.

 

Final X, the last step in the Senior World Team Trials process, will take place Saturday, June 8, at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in Piscataway, N.J. There are five Greco-Roman, five women’s freestyle, and three men’s freestyle matches scheduled to take place.

 

Next Saturday, June 15, the remaining weight classes will be settled at Final X: Lincoln.

 

The winners of these best-of three-series will represent Team USA at the World Champions in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, this September.

 

Returning men’s freestyle World champions, Kyle Dake (79 kg), and David Taylor (86 kg) were originally slated for this event, but due to injuries will not be able to compete. Dake has requested a wrestle-off with his opponent, Alex Dieringer at a later date. Taylor did not request a wrestle-off, and will look to be back for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials.

 

The event is live on FloWrestling.

 

Session One – 12:00 noon

 

Bout 1: Men’s Greco-Roman 87 kg

 

Joe Rau, Chicago, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC)

College: Elmhurst    High School: Chicago, Ill. (St. Patrick)    Born: March 17, 1991

• 2014 World Team member
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials champion
• 2016 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
• Second at 2017 U.S. Open
• Second at 2016 Grand Prix Zagreb Open (Croatia)
• 2014 University Nationals champion
• 10th at 2014 University World Championships
• 2013 NCAA DIII champion and three-time All-American
• 2009 Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion

 

Ben Provisor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)

College: Northern Michigan    High School: Stevens Point, Wis.    Born: June 26, 1990

• 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team member
• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• 2017 Pan American champion
• Three-time U.S. Open champion (2011, 2013, 2018)
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2011 Pan American Games
• Third in 2019 U.S. Open
• Three-time Junior World Team member (2008-10)
• Two-time Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2014 Bill Farrell International champion
• 2013 New York AC International champion
• Second in 2011 and 2014 U.S. World Team Trials

 

Bout 2: Women’s Freestyle 72 kg

 

Alyvia Fiske, Napa, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)

College: Simon Fraser    High School: Napa, Calif. (Vintage)    Born: September 29, 1999                        

• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Fourth in 2018 U.S. Open
• 2018 UWW Junior World Team member

• Third in 2017 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• 2017 Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion
• Second in 2018 SFU International (Canada)
• Third in 2019 WCWA Nationals for Simon Fraser
• 2017 California state high school champion

 

Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)

College: Lindenwood    High School: Litchfield, Ill.    Born: April 24, 1994

• 2017 World Team member
• 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion
• Second in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third in 2014 Junior World Championships
• Two-time University Nationals champion (2015, 2016)
• Second in 2016 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Second in 2017 Grand Prix of Spain
• Two-time WCWA national champion for Lindenwood (2015, 2016)

 

Bout 3: Men’s Greco-Roman 82 kg

 

Kendrick Sanders, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC)

College: Northern Michigan, Purdue    High School: Homestead, Fla. (South Dade)    Born: Aug. 18, 1990

• 2014 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
• Second in 2013 U.S. Open
• Two-time Dave Schultz Memorial International champion (2012, 2014)
• Two-time Bill Farrell International champion (2014-15)
• 2012 University Nationals champion
• Third in 2015 and 2017 U.S. Open
• 2009 Junior Nationals champion

 

John Stefanowicz, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

High School: Fawn Grove, Pa. (Kennard-Dale)    Born: September 20, 1991

• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2017 U.S. World Team Trials
• Fifth in 2019 U.S. Open
• Sixth at 2018 U.S. Open
• Two-time Armed Forces Greco-Roman champion (2018, 2019)
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Fifth in 2014 and 2018 U.S. Open
• Second in 2017 Armed Forces Championships in Greco-Roman
• Second in 2012 University Nationals
• Ninth in 2017 CISM Military World Championships

 

Bout 4: Men’s Greco-Roman 55 kg

 

Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan    High School: Wheeling, Ill.    Born: March 16, 1990

• 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• Second in 2018 World Team Trials
• 2012 Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• 2012 University World champion
• Six-time Armed Forces champion (four in freestyle, two in Greco-Roman)
• 2013 Pan American champion
• Four-time National Team member (2^nd in 2018, 3rd in 2017, 3rd in 2013, 2nd in 2012)
• 10^th in 2015 CISM World Championships

 

Brady Koontz, Plover, Wis. (Ohio Regional Training Center)

College: Ohio State    High School: Stevens Point, Wis. (Stevens Point Area)    Born: July 24, 1998

• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2018 Junior World Greco-Roman team
• 2018 Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2015 Cadet World Team
• 2015 Cadet World Team Trials champion
• Second at 2017 Junior Greco-Roman Nationals
• Five-time Fargo All-American

 

Bout 5: Men’s Greco-Roman 67 kg

 

Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan    High School: Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest)    Born: August 16, 1991

• Three-time World Team member (2013, 2017, 2018)
• 2012 Olympian
• Five-time U.S. Open champion (2013, 2016-2019)
• Two-time Junior World bronze medalist (2010, 2011)
• Two-time World Team Trials runner-up (2013, 2014)
• Second in 2019 Pan American Championships
• Third in 2010 Pan American Championships

 

Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

College: UNC-Greensboro    High School: Winston-Salem, N.C. (North Forsyth)    Born: June 9, 1991

• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third in 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Third in 2012 University World Championships
• 2012 New York AC International champion
• Fourth in 2013 U.S. Open
• Third in 2013 Pan American Championships
• Three-time Armed Forces Greco-Roman silver medalist (2015, 2016, 2019)
• Ninth in 2019 CISM Military Worlds

 

Bout 6: Women’s Freestyle 57 kg

 

Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)

College: Grays Harbor CC, Oklahoma City    High School: Choctaw, Okla.    Born: November 19, 1996

• 2017 World bronze medalist
• Second in 2018 Final X
• 2017 World Team Trials champion
• 2015 Junior World bronze medalist
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2017 Pan American Championships champion
• 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2017 University Nationals champion
• Second in 2017 U.S. Open
• Three-time UWW Junior Nationals champion (2014-16)
• 2016 WCWA national champion for Oklahoma City
• Four-time USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle National champion

 

Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan    High School: Marquette, Mich.    Born: May 9, 1993

• 2014 and 2018 U.S. World Team member
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2018 Final X runner-up
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• Second in 2014, 2015 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Third in 2018 U.S. Open
• Fourth in 2017 CISM Military World Championships
• Three-time UWW Junior World Team member (2011-2013)
• Third in 2012 and 2013 World Team Wrestle-off
• Fifth in 2010 Youth Olympic Games
• 2009 Junior Nationals champion

 

Session Two – 6:00 p.m.

 

Bout 1: Women’s Freestyle 65 kg

 

Forrest Molinari, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)

College: King Univ., Missouri Baptist    High School: Benicia, Calif.    Born: Sept. 4, 1995

• Fifth at 2018 World Championships
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second at 2018 U.S. Open
• 2017 and 2018 U23 World Team Trials champion
• 2018 Pan American Championships champion
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial champion
• Third in 2017 U.S. Open
• Third at 2017 Pan American Championships
• 2015 Junior World Team member
• Fourth in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2016 WCWA national champion for King Univ.
• Three-time WCWA All-American

 

Maya Nelson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)

College: University of the Cumberlands    High School: Denver, Colo. (Denver East)    Born: September 20, 1997

• 2017 Junior World champion
• 2016 Junior World bronze medalist
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2017 and 2019 U.S. Open
• 2017 and 2019 U23 World Team member
• 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Two-time Junior World Team member (2016, 2017)
• 2017 U.S. Senior National Team member
• 2014 Cadet Pan American champion
• Four-time Fargo champion

 

Bout 2: Men’s Greco-Roman 77 kg

 

Kamal Bey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

College: Daymar College    High School: Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forrest), Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek)    Born: January 3, 1998

• Seventh in 2018 World Championships
• 2017 Junior World champion
• Four-time U.S. Open champion (2016-19)
• 2018 World Team Trials champion
• 2017 World Team Trials runner-up
• Fifth in 2018 Junior World Championships
• Three-time Junior World Team member
• 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial champion
• 2016 Bill Farrell International champion
• Second in 2019 Pan American Championships
• 2014 Illinois state high school champion

 

Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

College: Minnesota    High School: Chaska, Minn.    Born: Dec. 19, 1990

• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• Three-time Pan American champion (2015, 16, 17)
• 2014 University World silver medalist
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• Two-time U.S. World Team Trials runner-up (2014-15)
• Five-time U.S. Open runner-up (2014-16, 2018-19)
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2009 Minnesota state high school runner-up

 

Bout 3: Women’s Freestyle 68 kg

 

Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC)

College: Wayland Baptist Univ.    High School: Katy, Texas (Morton Ranch)    Born: Oct. 11, 1992

• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion
• 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion
• 2016 and 2018 U.S. Open champion
• Three-time Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion in Russia (2017-19)
• First American athlete to win three Yarygin golds
• Second in 2015 World Team Trials
• Second in 2017 U.S. Open
• Third in 2016 Olympic Test Event (Brazil)
• 2015 University Nationals champion
• 2014 and 2017 WCWA Nationals champion for Wayland Baptist
• Two-time Texas state high school champion

 

Alexandria Glaude, West Sacaremento, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)

College: McKendree    High School: Sacramento, Calif. (Christian Brothers)    Born: April 30, 1997

• Third in 2018 U23 World Championships
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third at 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
• Third at 2018 U.S. Open
• Fourth in 2017 U.S. Open
• Second in 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International
• Third in 2017 U23 World Team Trials
• Ninth in 2017 Junior World Championships
• Fifth in 2017 U.S. World Team Trials
• Second in 2017 University Nationals
• 2019 WCWA champion and two-time All-American for McKendree

 

Bout 4: Women’s Freestyle 50 kg

 

Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan    High School: Puyallup, Wash.    Born: May 6, 1988

• Three-time U.S. World Team member (2011, 2014, 2015)
• Six-time U.S. Open champion (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• 2015 Pan American Games champion
• 2007 Junior World champion
• Second in 2014 CISM Military World Championships
• 2018 Pan American Championships champion
• Second in 2010 and 2012 Pan American Championships
• Second in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2015 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Second in 2013 and 2017 World Team Trials

 

Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)

College: Simon Fraser    High School: Huntington, Beach, Calif. (Marina)    Born: June 24, 1991

• Fifth in 2013 World Championships
• 2009 and 2010 Junior World champion
• 2015 and 2017 U.S. Open champion
• 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2013-15 World Team Trials
• Second in 2012-14, 2018 U.S. Open
• 2015 and 2016 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2017 Pan American Championships champion
• Fifth in 2008 and 2011 Junior World Championships
• 2015 Klippan Lady Open champion (Sweden)
• 2012-13 University Nationals champion
• Four-time WCWA college nationals champion

 

Bout 5: Men’s Freestyle 125 kg

 

Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)

College: North Carolina State, Binghamton    High School: Duanesburg, N.Y.    Born: December 30, 1992           

• 2017 and 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 and 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• 2016 Bill Farrell International Champion
• Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2017)
• Third in 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)
• Two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State
• Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman
• Two-time New York state high school champion

 

Gable Steveson, Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota RTC)

College: Minnesota    High School: Apple Valley, Minn.    Born: May 31, 2000

• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2017 Junior World champion
• 2015 and 2016 Cadet World champion
• 2018 Junior World Team member
• Fourth in 2018 U.S. Open
• Third at 2019 NCAA Championships for Minnesota as freshman
• Four-time Minnesota state high school champion
• 2015 Cadet Nationals champion

 

Bout 6: Men’s Freestyle 65 kg

 

Yianni Diakomihalis, Rochester, N.Y. (TMWC/Finger Lakes RTC)

College: Cornell    High School: Rochester, N.Y. (Hilton)    Born: April 11, 1999

• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• Two-time Cadet World champion (2015, 2016)
• Third in 2016 and 2017 UWW Junior Nationals
• 2018 and 2019 NCAA champion for Cornell
• Four-time New York state champion

 

Zain Retherford, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)

College: Penn State    High School: Benton, Pa.    Born: May 21, 1995

• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2019 U.S. Open
• Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2012 Cadet World champion
• 2017 Grand Prix of Spain champion
• Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, as nation’s top college wrestler (2017-18)
• Three-time NCAA champion for Penn State (2016-18)
• Four-time NCAA All-American (2014, 2016-18)
• Three-time Big Ten champion (2016-18)

 

Bout 7: Men’s Freestyle 92 kg

 

J’den Cox (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/OTC)

College: Missouri    High School: Columbia, Mo. (Hickman)    Born: March 3, 1995

• 2018 World champion
• 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist
• 2017 World bronze medalist
• 2016 World Olympic Games Qualifier champion (Mongolia)
• 2018 U.S. Open champion
• 2016 Grand Prix of Germany bronze medalist
• Three-time NCAA champion for Missouri (2014, 2016-17)
• Four-time NCAA All-American
• Four-time Mid-American Conference champion (2014-17)
• Four-time Missouri state high school champion

 

Bo Nickal, Allen, Texas (Nittany Lion WC)

College: Penn State    High School: Allen, Texas    Born: January 14, 1996

• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Fourth in 2017 U.S. Open
• Second in 2016 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• Fifth in 2013 Cadet World Championships
• Three-time NCAA champion for Penn State
• 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as nation’s top college wrestler

 

Men’s freestyle 86 kg

 

Pat Downey, Cranbury, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC/NJRTC)

College: Iowa State, Iowa Central CC    High School: Glen Burnie, Md. (North County)    Born: August 7, 1992

• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
• 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2012 Junior World silver medalist
• Fifth at 2017 U.S. Open
• Seventh in 2018 U.S. Open
• 2012 UWW Junior Nationals champion
• 2011 Junior Nationals champion
• Fifth at 2016 NCAA Championships for Iowa State
• 2015 NCJAA National champion for Iowa Central CC

 

Note: 2018 World champion David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) withdrew from Final X: Rutgers due to an injury. He was scheduled to wrestle Pat Downey at Final X: Rutgers.