Final X Spots on the line: Men's freestyle best-of-three finals set

Jason Nolf scoring on the edge of the mat. Photo by Justin Hoch.

The Senior Men’s freestyle best-of-three finals are set at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. The winners of tomorrow’s matches will compete for a World Team spot later this summer at Final X.
At 57 kg we will see Thomas Gilman squaring off with Darian Cruz. Gilman defeated Frank Perelli in the semifinals, 10-0, and Cruz defeated Jack Mueller, 7-5. In 2017, Darian Cruz won an NCAA title, defeating Gilman (who was the No.1 seed) in the semifinals. The winner will face 2019 U.S. Open Champion, Daton Fix in Final X.
61 kg will feature Tyler Graff and Cody Brewer. Brewer earned a spot in the best-of-three finals by winning the 2019 U.S. Open over Nico Megaludis. Graff defeated Megaludis in the Challenge Tournament finals, 6-4, for the opportunity to face Brewer. Sitting in Final X is returning World bronze medalist, Joe Colon.
Zain Retherford and Jordan Oliver will meet in the 65 kg finals. The pair have wrestled several times, and Retherford has yet to beat Oliver. In the semifinals Oliver defeated Dom Demas 6-2, and in a 2017 World Team finals rematch, Retherford defeated Frank Molinaro again, 6-1. Sitting in Final X is Yianni Diakomihalis. Diakomihalis defeated both Retherford and Molinaro at the Open.
Several weeks ago Anthony Ashnault and James Green wrestled an exhibition bout at Beat the Streets Grapple in the Garden, with Green coming away the victor. Tomorrow, they will wrestle again but this time with Final X on the line. Open champion Ryan Deakin waits in Final X.
Jason Nolf and Isaiah Martinez will renew their college rivalry in the 74 kg finals. Nolf placed third at the Open at 70 kg and bumped up to 74 kg for the Challenge Tournament. He defeated Logan Massa in the Challenge Tournament finals, 7-2, to make it to the best-of-three finals. Martinez won the Open at 74 kg to earn the direct bye to the best-of-three. The legendary Jordan Burroughs waits in Final X.
In a rematch of last year’s best-of-three finals, Zahid Valencia will face off with Alex Dieringer. In 2018, Valencia defeated Dieringer in two-straight matches. Dieringer won the Open to get the bye to the best-of-three finals. Valencia did not compete in the Open, and defeated college rival Mark Hall 5-0 in the Challenge Tournament finals. Returning World champion Kyle Dake sits in Final X.
Challenge Tournament champion Nick Heflin will have an Open finals rematch with Pat Downey at 86 kg. Downey defeated Heflin 10-4. To reach Downey, Heflin downed Sammy Brooks, 9-6 in the Challenge Tournament Finals. Returning World Champion David Taylor is already in Final X.
Michael Macchiavello will take on Open champion Bo Nickal in the 92 kg best-of-three finals. Macchiavello defeated No. 2 on the National Team, Hayden Zillmer in the Challenge Tournament finals, 3-0. At the Open, Nickal defeated Macchiavello in the semifinals, 14-4. Sitting in Final X is 2019 World Champion, J’den Cox.
Ty Walz won the Challenge Tournament at 97 kg, defeating Kevin Beazley in the finals, 11-4. He will face Open champion Kyven Gadson in the best-of-three finals. Kyle Snyder waits in Final X.
Gable Steveson avenged a loss from last year’s Challenge Tournament Trials finals to Tony Nelson, 5-1. Nelson defeated Steveson, 5-4 at the 2018 Tournament. Steveson will face Open Champion, Adam Coon in the best-of-three finals. Coon won by technical fall over Steveson at the 2018 Open. Two-time World bronze medalist, Nick Gwiazdowski sits in Final X.
Best-of-three finals
57 kg- Thomas Gilman vs. Darian Cruz
61 kg- Tyler Graff vs. Cody Brewer
65 kg- Zain Retherford vs. Jordan Oliver
70 kg- James Green vs. Anthony Ashnault
74 kg- Jason Nolf vs. Isaiah Martinez
79 kg- Zahid Valencia vs. Alex Dieringer
86 kg- Nick Heflin vs. Pat Downey
92 kg- Michael Macchiavello vs.Bo Nickal

97 kg- Ty Walz vs. Kyven Gadson
125 kg- Gable Steveson vs. Adam Coon
Challenge Tournaments finals results
61 kg
Tyler Graff (TMWC/NJRTC) dec Nico Megaludis (TMWC/PWC) 6-4
74 kg
Jason Nolf (NLWC) dec Logan Massa (CKWC) 7-2
79 kg
Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids) dec Mark Hall (NLWC) 5-0
86 kg
Nick Heflin (TMWC/OKRTC) dec Sammy Brooks (HWC) 9-6
92 kg
Michael Macchiavello (TMWC/Wolfpack WC) dec Hayden Zilmer (MN Storm) 3-0
97 kg
Ty Walz (TMWC/SERTC) dec Kevin Beazley (NYAC) 11-4
125 kg
Gable Steveson (MNRTC) dec Tony Nelson (MN Storm) 5-1
Semifinals Results
57 kg
Thomas Gilman (TMWC/HWC) TF Frank Perrelli (TMWC/LVAC) 10-0
Darian Cruz (LVAC) dec Jack Mueller (TMWC/CWC) 7-5
61 kg
Nico Megaludis (TMWC/PWC) TF Tony Ramos (Sunkist Kids) 11-1
Tyler Graff (TMWC/NJRTC) dec Joey Palmer (Unattached) 4-0
65 kg
Zain Retherford (NLWC) dec Frank Molinaro (TMWC/OKRTC) 6-1
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) dec.Dom Demas (TMWC/OKRTC) 6-2 
70 kg
James Green (Sunkist Kids) TF Brandon Sorenson (TMWC/HWC) 10-0
Anthony Ashnault (SKWC) dec Jason Chamberlain (TMWC/Valley RTC) 2-1
74 kg
Logan Massa (CKWC) dec Tommy Gantt (TMWC/Wolfpack WC) 5-4
Jason Nolf (NLWC) dec Anthony Valencia (Sunkist Kids) 7-0
79 kg
Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids) TF Geno Morelli (NLWC) 10-0
Mark Hall (NLWC) dec Nick Becker (BRTC) 6-4
86 kg
Nick Heflin (TMWC/OKRTC) dec Myles Martin (TMWC/ORTC) 4-1
Sammy Brooks (HWC) dec Brett Pfarr (MN STORM) 5-3
92 kg
Hayden Zilmer (MN Storm) vs. Kollin Moore (TMWC/ORTC) 12-10
Michael Macchiavello (TMWC/Wolfpack WC) dec Tim Dudley (NWTC) 5-3
97 kg
Kevin Beazley (NYAC) dec Ben Honis (TMWC/FLWC) 8-8
Ty Walz (TMWC/SERTC) dec Daniel Chaid (CRTC) 12-8
125 kg
Anthony Nelson (MN Storm) dec Derek White (TMWC/CRTC) 3-0
Gable Steveson (MNRTC) dec Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) 7-3