Gross, McKenna, Berger, Hall, Dieringer, Moore among men’s freestyle stars entered at Senior Nationals this weekend
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Over 125 of the top men’s freestyle wrestlers in the nation will compete this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas at the 2023 Senior Nationals, the largest U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifier of the season. The top five finishers in each of the six Olympic weight classes earn a berth to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials next April.
Only three of the entries have already qualified for the Olympic Trials (Spencer Lee, Seth Gross, Christian Lance). So far, 39 men’s freestyle wrestlers have punched their ticket for Penn State.
There are five current Freestyle National Team members entered: Joey McKenna, Tyler Berger, Mark Hall, Alex Dieringer and Kollin Moore.
We will look at each weight class separately, with a summary of the top challengers and a list of the current entries.
57 kg preview
There is a lot of star power at 57 kg, although no current National Team members are entered. Three-time NCAA champion and multiple age-group World champion Spencer Lee is entered, even though he is already qualified for the Olympic Trials by winning the Bill Farrell last month. Past National Team members Nico Megaludis and Daniel DeShazer are among the top title contenders, both who have competed at 61 kg in the past. Lee beat Megaludis in the Bill Farrell finals. Two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, a U.S. Open runner-up last year, was fourth on the Senior National Team ladder last year. U17 World champion and U20 World silver medalist Luke Lilledahl was a strong third at the Bill Farrell International. 2023 U23 World Team member Cooper Flynn and Brandon Courtney both placed in the top six at the Bill Farrell International. A veteran challenger is Joshua Rodriguez, a 2022 U.S. Open runner-up and 2019 Pan American champion. Others to watch are Liam Cronan, Cael Nasdeo and Devan Turner
57 kg entries
Michael Beets, KY, Knights RTC
Lee Celestino, TX, Cowboy/Cowgirl Wrestling Club
Brandon Courtney, AZ, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Liam Cronin, NE, Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Peter Del Gallo, ME, South Side Wrestling Club
Daniel DeShazer, KS, Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Cooper Flynn, TN, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Benyamin Kamali, MI, Olivet Wrestling Club
Spencer Lee, IA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Luke Lilledahl, MO, X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club
Jakob Lyons, OK, Oklahoma
Nico Megaludis, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Cael Nasdeo, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Joshua Rodriguez, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
William Sprouse, CA, Central Valley High School Wrestling
Nick Suriano, NJ, New Jersey
Devan Turner, IN, Indiana RTC
65 kg preview
Joey McKenna, currently No. 3 at 65 kg on the National Team and a 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up, comes in as the favorite in a very deep weight class. McKenna has as much international success, including age-group World medals, as anybody in the entire tournament, regardless of weight class. Seth Gross, who was fifth in the 2022 Senior World Championships at 61 kg and a past NCAA champion, is the only previous World Team member who is registered for men’s freestyle in Fort Worth. Gross has already qualified for the Olympic Trials. Alec Pantaleo, a 2022 U.S. Open champion at 70 kg, and No. 4 on the National Team ladder at 70 kg, is another top title hopeful. Anthony Ashnault, a past NCAA champion, Senior National Team member and Pan American champion, is capable of a strong run. 2023 NCAA champion and past U.S. Open champion Andrew Alirez is a proven freestyle talent. There is a ton of talent in the field, meaning that there will be some amazing matches early in the tournament. Beau Bartlett, who lost to 2023 World Team member Nick Lee on the way to fourth place at the U.S. Open last year, is among the top young talents. Winning medals at the Bill Farrell were runner-up Matthew Kolodzic and third-place Austin DeSanto. The rest of the field includes considerable talent who have the experience to earn a spot in the Olympic Trials such as Jaydin Eierman, Dean Heil, Patricio Lugo, Michael McGee, Ian Parker, Luke Pletcher, Michael McGee and Aden Valencia.
65 kg entries
Aden Valencia, CA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Andrew Alirez, CO, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Anthony Ashnault, NJ, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jawid Azimi, TX, Paradigm Wrestling
Beau Bartlett, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Chase Daudelin, NY, New York
Austin DeSanto, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jaydin Eierman, MO, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Seth Gross, MN, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Dean Heil, OK, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Nathaniel Johnson, AZ, Arizona
Tyler Kasak, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Matthew Kolodzik, NJ, New York Athletic Club
Timothy Levine, CA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Patricio Lugo, FL, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Grant Martsolf, IN, Indiana
Aydin Matanane, OK, Oklahoma
Chandler Mazur, CO, Cornerstone Wrestling Club
Michael McGee, IL, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Joseph McKenna, NJ, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Christian Monserrat, MA, New York Athletic Club
Alec Pantaleo, MI, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Ian Parker, VA, Cavalier Wrestling Club
Luke Pletcher, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Henry Porter, IN, Indiana RTC
74 kg preview
2023 Pan American Games champion Tyler Berger, who is No. 2 on the Senior National Team at 70 kg, is the only current National Team member registered for Senior Nationals at 74 kg. Berger won the U.S. Open and was second in Final X last year, and has considerable international experience. This weight class has considerable young stars who are currently breaking through on the Senior level in men’s freestyle. Three of the top four from the recent Bill Farrell Memorial are registered to compete, runner-up Alex Marinelli, third-place Quincy Monday and fourth-place Jarrett Jacques. All had considerable college achievements, but are now adding to their Senior resumes. Marinelli and Monday had wins over Berger at the Bill Farrell. Joey Lavallee, a 2021 U.S. Open runner-up, was fourth on the National Team ladder in 2022. Doug Zapf, who was fifth at the 2023 U23 World Championships, is among the young stars. 2022 U17 World champion Joseph Sealey made a nice run at the Bill Farrell in his first major Senior event. U20 National champion Alec Facundo is another capable up-and-comer. Yahya Thomas, a 2019 U20 World Team member, moves up to 74 kg for the Senior Nationals. Others with the ability to qualify for the Olympic Trials are veteran Joshua Fields, plus Isaiah White and Wyatt Sheets.
74 kg entries
Hassan Ajami, MI, Michigan
Terrell Barraclough, UT, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Garrett Bass, OH, Green Machine Wrestling Club
Tyler Berger, NE, Pennsylvania RTC
Gabe Blough, KS, Spire Wrestling Club
Jack Chesman, IN, Florian Techniques Wrestling Club
Alex Facundo, MI, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Shane Gantz, WI, Ranger Wrestling Club
Jarrett Jacques, MO, Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Quentin LaCour, TX, Rise RTC
Joey Lavallee, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alex Marinelli, IA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Quincy Monday, NJ, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jeremiah Moody, IA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Drayden Morton, MN, West Coast Regional Training Center
Brandon Murray, NJ, Dubuque RTC
Elroy Perkin, CA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alec Robeson, TX, Dubuque RTC
Joseph Sealey, PA, Pennsylvania
Wyatt Sheets, OK, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Joshua Shields, AZ, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Michael Tantillo, TX, Warrior Trained Wrestling
Yahya Thomas, IL, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Dellton Warren, TX, Rise Wrestling
Isaiah White, IL, Indiana RTC
Jaison White, MA, New England Regional Training Center
Doug Zapf, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
86 kg preview
There are a pair of current National Team members registered at 86 kg, Mark Hall, who is at No. 3 at 86 kg, and Alex Dieringer, who is at No. 3 at 79 kg. Hall, a multiple age-group World champion, was a 2022 U.S. Open champion and recently won a silver medal at the 2023 Pan American Games. Dieringer, who was second at the Bill Farrell Memorial last month, was a 2019 U.S. Open champion. Dieringer won three NCAA titles and Hall was also an NCAA champion in college. David McFadden, a 2022 U.S. Open champion and fourth on the National Team ladder at 79 kg, is another top title contender. Cameron Caffey won a 2022 U.S. Open title in freestyle, and also excels in Greco-Roman. Morgan McIntosh is fresh off winning a gold medal at the CISM Military World Championships. 2022 NCAA champion Max Dean has thrown his hat in the ring in Senior freestyle. Marcus Coleman, a 2022 U.S. Open runner-up, and Taylor Lujan, a three-time U.S. Open placewinner, are among the emerging talents. Evan Wick, who has placed in the U.S. Open at both 74 kg and 79 kg, has moved up for his Olympic run at 86 kg. Bernie Truax, a 2020 U20 National champion and three-time NCAA All-American, and Connor Mirasola, a 2023 Junior Nationals champion, are among the others to watch.
86 kg entries
Aarif Asif, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Donovon Ball, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Cameron Caffey, IL, Michigan Wrestling Club
Jason Carter, NJ, MontCo Wrestling Club
Marcus Coleman, NC, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Maxwell Dean, MI, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alex Dieringer, OK, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jared Fekete, MI, Marines
Javian Garrett, TX, Rise RTC
Alex Graff, FL, Florida
John Gunderson, WI, Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Mark Hall, PA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alex Hamm, FL, Florida
Taylor Lujan, IA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
David McFadden, VA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Morgan McIntosh, PA, Army (WCAP)
Connor Mirasola, WI, Askren Wrestling Academy
Andrew Morgan, NY, Navy Wrestling Club
Michael O'Malley, NJ, Pennsylvania RTC
Dylan Roth, IN, Indiana
Chase Sophus, TX, Rise RTC
Bernie Truax, CA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Martin Verhaeghe, KS, Tiger Den Wrestling Club
Owen Webster, MN, Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Evan Wick, CA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
97 kg preview
Current National Team member Kollin Moore, who is No. 3 at 92 kg, is the only current National Team member in this weight class. Moore was second in the 2020 Olympic Team Trials at 97 kg, and is a past age-group World medalist. Past Senior National Team members Nate Jackson and Jay Aiello are among the other top title contenders. Jackson was second in Final X in 2022 at 92 kg, and was a 2021 Pan American champion. Aiello was a 2021 U23 World bronze medalist. Jacob Warner, a past age-group World medalist, had a strong showing at the Bill Farrell Memorial by placing second. Eric Schultz, a 2022 Bill Farrell Memorial champion, was fourth in the 2023 U.S. Open. Tony Cassioppi, who was a 2021 U23 World champion at 125 kg, is making the drop to 97 kg for the first time after a career as a dominant heavyweight. Timothy Dudley, who has placed in the U.S. Open for seven straight years, is a veteran talent. Others to watch include Lou Deprez, Cole Mirasola and Morgan Smith.
97 kg entries
Jonathan Aiello, VA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Anthony Cassioppi,, IL, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Austin Craig, WA , 10 Year Active Athlete List
Eulogio Rosino, Dalmeida, NE, Nebraska
Lou DePrez, NY, Bearcat Wrestling Club
Timothy Dudley, SC, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Eric Gamble, PA, Pennsylvania
Rodsean Graham, IL, Illinois
Sterling Hecox, IL, Illinois
Tyrie Houghton, NC, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Nathan Jackson, NJ, New York Athletic Club
Kallen Kleinschmidt, MT, Montana
Cole Mirasola, WI, Askren Wrestling Academy
Kollin Moore, OH, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
DeAndre Nunn, IL, Chicago Wrestling Club
Eric Schultz, IL, Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Morgan Smith, WA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
SirQuinces Stewart, TX, Future Champs of Texas/Southside Wrestling Club
Jacob Warner, IA, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Gary Traub, OH, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
125 kg preview
Dom Bradley, a past U.S. Open champion and National Team member, has the most achievements among the entries at 125 kg. Bradley, a U20 World champion all the way back in 2009, is fourth on the Senior National Team ladder and most recently won a 2023 Pan American Championships title. Greg Kerkvliet, a 2017 U17 World champion and 2023 NCAA runner-up, takes time from the college season to pursue a Senior Nationals title. Christian Lance qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials by placing second at the Bill Farrell Memorial, but enters seeking a national title. Demetrius Thomas, who has placed at the U.S. Open the last two years, is another title contender. Moving up from the college ranks are Sam Schuyler and Gary “Gas Tank” Traub, who placed third and fourth respectively at the Bill Farrell Memorial. Trent Hillger, who was fourth in the 2020 U.S. Open, was a three-time college All-American. Daniel Erekson, second in the 2011 U.S. Open at 96 kg, will also be in the running.
125 kg entries
Dominique Bradley, MO, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Jacob Bullock, IN, Indiana RTC
Daniel Erekson, ID, Air Force Regional Training Center
Trent Hillger, MI, Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Malik Jones, FL, Florida
Daniel Kerkvliet, PA, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Christian Lance, MO, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Duncan Lee, IA, Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC
Dino Saracco Jr, CO, All American Wrestling Academy
Samuel Schuyler, NY, Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC
Demertius Thomas, MO, Pittsburgh Wrestling Club