Jacobson, Young, Rau, Coon win Greco-Roman titles at Bill Farrell Memorial in New York

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The United States had a strong finish in Greco-Roman at the Bill Farrell Memorial International at the New York Athletic Club on Friday night, winning four of the six gold medals.

Individual champions for the United States were Payton Jacobson (77 kg), Timothy Young (87 kg), Joe Rau (97 kg) and 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon (130 kg).

Spots in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State in April were decided. The top U.S. placewinner (in the top four) in each weight class who had not already qualified in each weight class has advanced to the Challenge Tournament of the Olympic Trials.

Jacobson was dominant in his pummel, forcing two passivity calls against Minto Maeda of Japan on the way to a 2-0 decision. It was Jacobson’s first Senior level international title. With his win, Jacobson punched his ticket to the Olympic Trials.

Young defeated his U.S. Army teammate Ryan Epps, 6-2 in the finals. Young was able to score from his feet and led throughout the bout. Young also secured an Olympic Trials berth with the victory.

Rau earned a forfeit win in the finals over Kevin Mejia Castillo of Honduras, who had defeated Rau at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Coon was dominant in an 8-0 technical fall over Courtney Freeman in the finals, 8-0, getting a takedown and three gut wrench turns.

Rau and Coon had already qualified for the Olympic Trials, meaning the next placing American punched their ticket to State College. At 97 kg, that was George Sikes IV, who placed fourth. At 130 kg, runner-up Freeman earned the Olympic Team Trials berth. The other Olympic Trials qualifiers were 60 kg runner-up Randon Miranda and 67 kg runner-up Justus Scott.

International champions were Yernar Fidakhmetov of Kazakhstan (60 kg) and Ryoma Hojo of Japan (67 kg).

BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL

At New York, N.Y., November 17

Greco-Roman results

60 kg

Gold - Yernar Fidakhmetov (Kazakhstan) dec. Randon Miranda (USA), 5-3

Bronze – Yernur Fidakhmetov (Kazakhstan) pin Max Black (USA), 1:25

67 kg

Gold - Ryoma Hojo (Japan) dec. Justus Scott (USA), 4-0

Bronze – Robert Perez III dec. Hunter Lewis (USA), 4-2

77 kg

Gold - Payton Jacobson (USA) dec. Minto Maeda (Japan), 2-0

Bronze – Abunassyr Omirzak (Kazakhstan) dec. Tyler Cunningham (USA), 6-3

87 kg

Gold - Timothy Young (USA) dec. Ryan Epps (USA), 6-2

Bronze – Andrew Berreyesa (USA) pin Aliaksandr Kikiniou (USA), 4:29

97 kg

Gold - Joe Rau (USA) by forfeit Kevin Mejia Castillo (Honduras)

Bronze – Sergo Gogisvanidze (Georgia) dec. George Sikes IV (USA), 4-1

130 kg

Gold - Adam Coon (USA) tech fall Courtney Freeman (USA), 8-0

Bronze – Donny Longendyke (USA) tech fall Aden Attao (USA), 8-0

Qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Penn State in April

60 kg – Randon Miranda

67 kg – Justus Scott

72 kg – Payton Jacobson

87 kg – Timothy Young

97 kg – George Sikes IV

130 kg – Courtney Freeman