Numerous National Team members and age-group World medalists make up the men's freestyle field at Senior Nationals

Photo of Vito Arujau at the 2019 Junior World Championships courtesy of United World Wrestling/ Martin Gabor.

USA Wrestling will host its first major Senior-level event in months as the 2020 Senior Nationals are set for Oct. 9-11 in Coralville, Iowa.

Below is a preview of the men’s freestyle competition, which will take place Oct. 10-11. All the action will be streamed live on FloWrestling. Tickets are also still available HERE.

PRE-SEEDS

57 kg/125 lbs.
31 athletes

This weight class features two age-group World medalists, a National Team member and age-group Pan American medal winners.

Leading the way for the World medalists is 2016 Cadet World silver medalist and 2019 Junior World silver medalist Vito Arujau.  A redshirt sophomore for Cornell, Arujau is a 2019 NCAA All-American.

Joining Arujau as a World medalist in the field is 2018 Cadet World champion Matthew Ramos, a 19-year-old who is competing in his first Senior-level tournament.

Another notable World Team member competing is Jack Mueller, a fifth-place finisher at the 2018 U23 World Championships. Mueller was also a 2019 NCAA runner-up.

Current National Team member and 2017 NCAA champion Darian Cruz has entered the tournament at 57 kg. His last major tournament was the 2020 Pan American Championships in March, where he won bronze. Cruz also recently competed at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club dual last month, and had a close match with 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman.

In addition to Ramos, other youngsters registered are Cadet and Junior World Team member Dylan Ragusin and U15 Pan Am champion Dominick Serrano.

Senior-level veterans Shelton Mack, Frank Perrelli and Zane Richards are also expected to compete.

65 kg/143 lbs.
46 athletes

One of the biggest weight classes, 65 kg is loaded with talent for this weekend, featuring age-group World medalists Sean Fausz, Mitch McKee and Joey McKenna.

Fausz and McKee are World silver medalists, winning at the 2018 U23 Worlds and 2017 Junior Worlds, respectively, while McKenna earned a bronze medal at the 2017 U23 Worlds.

Past age-group World Team members Jaydin Eierman (2019 U23), Austin Gomez (2013 Cadet), Earl Hall (2012 Junior), Ethan Lizak (2013 Junior), Andy Simmons (2003 Junior) and Yahya Thomas (2019 Junior) are registered to compete.

There are a few college stars to look out for, including two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State Dean Heil, three-time All-American for Princeton Matthew Kolodzik and two-time All-Americans Evan Henderson (North Carolina), Luke Pletcher (Ohio State) and Chad Red (Nebraksa).

Other notable entrants include Jaden Abas, Andrew Alirez, Nick Dardanes, Kevon Davenport, Kanen Storr and Carter Young.

74 kg/163 lbs.
49 athletes

Leading this weight is Senior Nationals reigning champion Logan Massa, who holds the No. 1 seed. Massa, an All-American for Michigan, dominated his way to a USA Wrestling national title in December with a perfect 5-0 record.

The weight also features Junior World medalists in David Carr, a 2019 Junior World champion, and Ryan Deakin, a 2019 Junior World silver medalist. As the Nos. 5 and 4 seeds, respectively, we might see the two go head-to-head in the quarterfinals.

Other names to watch out for are U.S. Open placers Evan Wick and Anthony Valencia as well as NCAA runners-up Hayden Hidlay and Joey Lavallee.

86 kg/189 lbs.
34 athletes

This weight is filled with college stars like two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean, 2019 NCAA champion Drew Foster, NCAA runner-up Max Dean and multiple-time All-Americans such as Nate Jackson, David McFadden and more.

In addition to their college achievements, several of those athletes have international success. Gabe Dean is a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist, while Max Dean and McFadden have earned spots on U.S. U23 World Teams.

Also registered is 2019 Junior World bronze medalist Trent Hidlay, who had a standout college debut last season as an ACC finalist and top-five seed for the NCAA Championships.

Other names to look out for include Brett Pfarr, Taylor Lujan and Taylor Venz.

97 kg/213 lbs.
21 athletes

Highlighting the 97 kg entrant list is 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle Snyder. In addition to his World and Olympic gold medals, Snyder has a World silver from the 2018 Worlds and a bronze medal from the 2019 Worlds.

This will mark Snyder’s first tournament appearance since the 2020 Pan American Championships in March, where he won gold.

Current National Team members at 97 kg, Kyven Gadson and Ty Walz are also registered for the event. Gadson owns a silver from the 2018 Pan American Championships and Walz earned a bronze at the 2017 U23 World Championships.

Other World medalists competing this weekend is 2018 U23 World silver medalist Kollin Moore, 2019 Junior World silver medalist Lucas Davison and 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Gavin Hoffman. Also look out for 2019 Junior Pan Am silver medalist Jakob Woodley.

125 kg/275 lbs.
24 athletes

There is a lot of talent at heavyweight, making this title up for grabs.

Holding the top seed is multiple-time National Team member Dom Bradley, who won the 2019 Senior Nationals in December. A 2009 Junior World champion, Bradley brings a wealth of experience into this weekend’s competition.

Behind him in the seedings are four age-group World medalists, including No. 2 Mason Parris, a 2019 Junior World champion, No. 3 Youssif Hemida, a 2018 U23 World silver medalist, No. 7 Jordan Wood, a 2014 Cadet World runner-up and No. 10 Zach Elam, a 2018 Junior World silver medalist.

Other athletes in the field that have represented the U.S. at a World Championships are David Tate Orndorff and Tanner Hall.

Also keep an eye on Trent Hillger, Danny Chaid and Derek White.