Bill Farrell Men’s FS Preview: Gwiadzowski, Berger, Hall, Macchiavello, Dieringer, Lee headline field
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
You can tell it is an Olympic year. Many of the nation’s best men’s freestyle wrestlers, as well as some tough international athletes, will come together in New York City’s famed New York Athletic Club for the annual Bill Farrell Memorial International, Nov. 17-18.
The men’s freestyle competition is set for Saturday, November 18. Up for grabs are spots in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State in April. The top U.S. placewinner (in the top four) in each weight class who has not already qualified in each weight class will advance to the Challenge Tournament of the Olympic Trials. The tournament will feature only the six Olympic Games weight classes, not the normal 10 World Championships weight classes.
Current Senior National Team members Tyler Berger (74 kg), Michael Macchiavello (97 kg), Mark Hall (86 kg), Alex Dieringer (86 kg) and Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kg) are in the list of registrants.
Gwiazdowski, a two-time World bronze medalist, is already qualified for the Olympic Trials, while the others are not yet qualified. Berger is fresh off his Pan American Games gold medal. Berger and Macchiavello were second in 2023 Final X, but at non-Olympic weights, and are moving up into an Olympic weight class.
The tournament features the return of multiple age-group and NCAA champion Spencer Lee at 57 kg, a past U.S. Open champion who has battled injury. Other talented freestyle wrestlers in the draw include Nico Megaludis (57 kg), Daniel DeShazer (57 kg), Joey Lavallee (74 kg), Evan Wick (86 kg), Trent Hidlay (86 kg), Jordan Wood (125 kg) and a ton of athletes who were stars at the college level. Add in some talented international athletes and you have a great tournament.
For three straight days, we will preview each of the disciplines.
This event will be broadcast live by FloWrestling.
57 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
Michael Beets KY Knights RTC
Brandon Courtney AZ Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Peter Del Gallo ME Maine
Daniel DeShazer KS Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Nathan Desmond PA Pennsylvania
Cooper Flynn TN Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Fabian Gutierrez TN West Point Wrestling Club
Dalton Henderson VA Clinic Wrestling
Spencer Lee IA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Luke Lilledahl MO X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club
Nico Megaludis PA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jacob Moran IN Indiana RTC
Cael Nasdeo PA Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Devan Turner IN Indiana RTC\
Foreign athletes
Christopher Merlo (Canada)
Treye Trotman (Canada)
Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico)
57 kg weight class summary: Everyone is looking at Spencer Lee and if he has returned to his championship form. Past National Teamers Daniel DeShazer and Nico Megaludis make the move down in weight. Cooper Flynn is fresh off the U23 Worlds. Jacob Moran of Puerto Rico is a top foreign entry.
65 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
Austin DeSanto PA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Matthew Kolodzik NJ New York Athletic Club
Kaleb Larkin AZ Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Patricio Lugo FL Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Michael McGee IL Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Jesse Mendez IN Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Christian Monserrat MA New York Athletic Club
Ian Parker VA Virginia
Henry Porter IN Indiana RTC
Yahya Thomas IL Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Tony Tolbert PA New York City RTC
Aden Valencia CA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Foreign Athletes
Matheus da Luz Barreto (Brazil)
Vincent DeMarinis (Canada)
Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
Joshua Finesilver (Israel)Colin Realbuto (Italy)
65 kg weight class summary: There is considerable depth in the U.S. field at 65 kg in this event. Capable of championship runs are Austin DeSanto, Matt Kolodzik, Patricio Lugo, Michael McGee, Ian Parker, Yahya Thomas and Aden Valencia. Two U.S. collegians now with other nations to watch are Joshual Finesilver of Israel and Colin Realbuto of Italy.
74 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
Hassan Ajami MI One On One Wrestling Club
Dan Bechtold PA Steller Trained Wrestling
Jakob Bergeland MN Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Tyler Berger NE Pennsylvania RTC
Jack Chesman IN Florian Techniques Wrestling Club
Jarrett Jacques MO Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Michael Kemerer NY Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Joey Lavallee PA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alex Marinelli IA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Matheson Meade TN Statesmen Wrestling Club
Quincy Monday NJ Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Joseph Sealey PA Pennsylvania
Wyatt Sheets OK Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Joshua Shields AZ Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Isaiah White IL Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Jaison White MA New England Regional Training Center
Foreign Athletes
Daniel Coles (Canada)
Emmanuel Olapade (Canada)
Koen Poirier (Canada)
Connor Quinton (Canada)
Brantley Saar (Canada)
Adam Thomsen (Canada)
Almas Zhumabayev (Kazakhstan)
Bekzat Zhumanaly (Kazakhstan)
Mirzo Khayitov (Uzbekistan)
74 kg weight class summary: Final X finalist Tyler Berger is top name in the field, but will face a number of strong freestylers, including Joey Lavallee and Isaiah White. Former Iowa stars Michael Kemerer and Alex Marinelli are talented, and other top names with strong NCAA careers are Quincy Monday, Jarrett Jacques and Wyatt Sheets. Age-group World champion and high school star Joseph Sealey is a rising talent. There are many foreign entries here, which adds another level of challenge.
86 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
David Bates NY Rivertowns Wrestling Club
John Boyle MA Massachusetts
Marcus Coleman NC Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Alex Dieringer OK Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
John Gunderson WI Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Mark Hall PA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Trent Hidlay NC Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Taylor Lujan IA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Connor Mirasola WI Askren Wrestling Academy
Andrew Morgan NY Navy Wrestling Club
Michael O'Malley NJ Pennsylvania RTC
Nathan Taylor CT Team Tugman Wrestling Club
Owen Webster MN Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Evan Wick CA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Foreign Athletes
Samuel Barmish (Canada)
Andrew Johnson (Canada)
Hunter Lee (Canada)
Callum McNeice (Canada)
Alexander Moore (Canada)
Ahmed Shamiya (Canada)
Matteo Monteiro Furtado (Cape Verde)
Avtandil Knetchadze (Georgia)
Matthew Finesilver (Israel)
Taisei Matsuyuki (Japan)
86 kg weight class summary: With current National Team members Mark Hall and Alex Dieringer in the draw, as well as age-group World medalist Trent Hidlay, U.S. Open champion Taylor Lujan, Olympic Trials placer Evan Wick and others, this will be a battle. Young Connor Mirasola will test himself at a high level. The foreign entry list includes 2018 World silver medalist Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia plus past U.S. college star Matthew Finesilver of Israel.
97 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
Jonathan Aiello VA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Sterling Hecox IL Illinois
Duncan Lee IA Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC
Michael Macchiavello NC Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Cole Mirasola WI Askren Wrestling Academy
Eric Schultz IL Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Morgan Smith WA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Trace Thompson UT Utah
Jacob Warner IA Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Foreign Athletes
Xavier Lauzon (Canada)
Benjamin Honis (Italy)
97 kg weight class summary: Final X finalist Michael Macchiavello and past National Team member and age-group World medalist Jay Aiello are top entries, along with age-group World medalist Jacob Warner and returning Bill Farrell champion Eric Schultz. Ben Honis of Italy, who starred at Cornell, is another title challenger. Watch for young Cole Mirasola as well.
125 kg Men’s Freestyle Entries
Jacob Bullock IN Indiana RTC
Daniel Erekson ID Air Force Regional Training Center
Nick Gwiazdowski NC Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Trent Hillger MI Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Christian Lance MO Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Samuel Schuyler NY Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC
Gary Traub OH Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Caleb Vancura MN Viking RTC
Jordan Wood PA New York Athletic Club
International Athletes
Richard Deschatelets (Canada)
Youssif Hemida (Egypt)
Jonovan Smith (Puerto Rico)
125 kg weight class summary: Two-time World medalist Nick Gwiazdowski brings the deepest resume, and age-group World medalist Jordan Wood is a proven freestyle talent. Known from their NCAA careers are Trent Hilger, Christian Lance, Sam Schuyler and Gary Traub. Youssef Hamida, who won an age-group World medal for the USA, now competes for Egypt. Also watch for Canadian World Team member Richard Deschatelets.