U23 World Team Trials Men's Freestyle preview

2018 U23 World silver medalist, Youssif Hemida will look to make his second World Team.

The U23 Men’s Freestyle World Team Trials will take place this weekend in Akron, Ohio. The winners will represent Team USA at the 2019 U23 Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, October 28-30. U23 World Champions will automatically qualify for the Olympic Team Trials in April, 2020.

It should be noted that several wrestlers competing in Final X for a Senior World Team spot will have the opportunity to challenge for a U23 World Team spot if they desire. These wrestlers include Daton Fix at 57 kg, Yianni Diakomihalis at 65 kg, Ryan Deakin at 70 kg, Bo Nickal at 92 kg, and Gable Steveson at 125 kg.

U23 MFS 57 kg

2018 World Team member: Jack Mueller

Three 2019 NCAA qualifiers are currently registered to compete at 57 kg, including American’s Gage Curry, Stanford’s Gabe Townsell, and Army’s Trey Chalifoux. Incoming University of Pennsylvania recruit Michael Colaiocco, and high profile redshirts, Aaron Cashman of Iowa and Cevion Severado of Missouri are also in the field.

U23 MFS 61 kg

2018 World Team member: Sean Fausz

61 kg features a bevy of NCAA qualifiers including, 2019 round-of-12 finisher, Micky Phillippi and 2018 round-of-12 finisher, Taylor LaMont. Other 2019 qualifiers in the bracket include Lock Haven’s DJ Fehlman, Campbell’s Noah Gosner, Michigan’s Drew Mattin and Cornell’s Chas Tucker.

U23 MFS 65 kg

2018 World Team member: Colton McCrystal

65 kg is headlined by three-returning All-Americans, Missouri’s Jaydin Eierman, Oklahoma’s Dom Demas, and Ohio State’s Luke Pletcher. Eierman (Titan Mercury), who has already announced his intention to take an Olympic redshirt this season, was No. 3 on the National Team in 2018. Demas (OKRTC) represented Team USA on the 2018 Junior World Team. Another veteran freestyler, Michigan’s Kanen Storr is also in the brackets.

U23 MFS 70 kg

2018 World Team member: Hayden Hidlay

Former Junior World Team member and three-time Michigan All-American, Alec Pantaleo will be competing at 70 kg. He will be challenged by Princeton’s rising senior, three-time All-American, Matthew Kolodzik.

U23 MFS 74 kg

2018 World Team member: Alex Smythe

2018 70 kg Junior World bronze medalist, Brady Berge is registered at 74 kg. This is a significant bump from 149 pounds, where he competed for Penn State this season. Also making the jump from 149 pounds is University of Pennsylvania’s round-of-12 finisher, Anthony Artalona. They will be poised to contend with Logan Massa, a 2017 All-American at 165 pounds for Michigan. Massa placed second behind Jason Nolf at the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament earlier this May.

U23 MFS 79 kg

2018 World Team member: David McFadden

There are eight NCAA qualifiers wrestling in the 79 kg division. All though none of them are All-Americans, Army’s returning senior, Ben Harvey is the most credentialed, twice reaching the round-of-twelve. Ohio State’s returning redshirt sophomore, Ethan Smith had the second highest-finish, making the round-of-16.

U23 MFS 86 kg

2018 World Team member: Myles Martin

Returning 184 pound NCAA finalist Max Dean of Cornell and Minnesota’s eighth place finisher at 174, Devin Skatzka are the two All-Americans in the 86 kg bracket. Round-of-twelve finishers, Nino Bonnaccorsi of Pittsburgh and Lou Deprez of Binghamton should provide stiff competition. Michigan State’s Junior Greco-Roman World Team member, Cameron Caffey is also in the bracket.

U23 MFS 92 kg

2018 World Team member: Christian Brunner

Last year’s U23 World Team representative, Purdue’s Christian Brunner is entered in the 92 kg bracket. Brunner actually finished fourth in the tournament, but after Michael Macchiavello, the tournament champion, was ruled ineligible due to age restrictions and the second and third place finishers declined, he was the next man up. NCAA qualifiers, Drew Phipps of Bucknell and Jakob Woodley of Oklahoma are also in the field

U23 MFS 97 kg

2018 World Team member: Kollin Moore

Cornell’s eighth place All-American, Ben Honis took second at the 2019 U.S. Open and proved he has a serious freestyle skillset. NCAA qualifiers Jay Aiello, of Virginia, and Chase Singletary of Ohio State will be looking to challenge Honis for the World Team spot. It is noteworthy that Singletary competed at heavyweight for the Buckeyes this year. Junior World Team Trials runner-up, Sam Schuyler of Buffalo is another competitor to watch for.

U23 MFS 125 kg

2018 World Team Member: Youssif Hemida

Maryland graduate, 2018 U23 World silver medalist, Youssif Hemida returns to defend his World Team spot. He will face steep competition from a highly credentialed field including Cadet World Champion, and two-time finalist, Daniel Kerkvliet. Currently finishing up high school, Kerkvliet will be a freshman at Ohio State next season. Another registered heavyweight with international credentials is All-American, Jordan Wood. The Lehigh wrestler holds a 2014 Cadet silver medal.

All of the U23 action will be available on Flowrestling.

Complete freestyle schedule:

Saturday, June 1st

U23 (Men) FS & UWW Cadet FS Medical Check/Weigh-ins (Scratch Weight)
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
(See Weigh-in Procedures - Athletes competing in both styles must weigh in for both styles, no weight allowance will be given.)

Mat Officials Clinic
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Session 1: Freestyle:
U23 (Men) FS & UWW Cadet FS Preliminaries and Consolations
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Session 2: Freestyle:
UWW Cadet FS Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, and Consolations
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

U23 (Men) FS Preliminaries and Consolations
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Sunday, June 2nd

U23 (Men) FS & UWW Cadet FS  (Scratch Weight) 
Medical Check/Weigh-ins
7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
(See Weigh-in Procedures - Athletes competing in both styles must weigh in for both styles, no weight allowance will be given.)

College Coaches Meeting
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Session 3: Freestyle:
UWW Cadet FS  Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

U23 (Men) FS & UWW Cadet FS  Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM