12 Senior National Team berths determined at True-Third Place Matches prior to Final X

The final 12 members of the 2025-26 Senior National Team berths in men’s and women’s freestyle were determined in True Third-Place matches, held prior to Final X at the Prudential Center.

There were five men’s freestyle matches and four women’s freestyle matches contested, with three women’s freestyle berths determined by forfeit. These matches determined the No. 3 spot on the national team, which provides financial support in terms of a stipend, plus training and competition opportunities.

Men’s Freestyle summaries

At 57 kg, former Nebraska star Liam Cronin secured a 10-3 victory over Stanford’s Nico Provo, 10-3. Cronin led 1-0 at the break on a step out, then hit a four-point takedown in the second period to take a lead that he never relinquished.

At 65 kg, high school star Marcus Blaze defeated Brock Hardy, a star at Nebraska, 8-2 for the victory. Blaze led 4-0 at the break on three step outs and a shot clock point, then scored two second-period takedowns.

Ian Parker hit a big four-point move and followed with another takedown for a 6-0 lead at the break over Bryce Andonian at 70 kg. In the second period, Andonian rallied for two takedowns and gave up a step out, giving the bout to Parker, 7-4. Parker was a star at Iowa State, with Andonian at Virginia Tech..

Jarrett Jacques earned the National Team berth at 74 kg with a tight 6-3 win over Joey Blaze. With Blaze up 2-1 leading into the closing moments, Jacquez was able score four points in the final 16 seconds, and added one point on a failed challenge.

At 86 kg, in a rematch of the 2025 NCAA finals, five-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci from Penn State defeated 2024 NCAA champion and 2025 runner-up Parker Keckeisen, 4-3. Starocci scored his four points in the first period on a takedown, a step out and a shot clock point. Keckeisen scored three second-period step outs but could not close the gap.

Women’s Freestyle summaries

At 59 kg, Aurora University star Alexis Janiak scored a 4-4 criteria decision over Xochitl Mota-Pettis. Both wrestlers scored two takedowns, but Janiak’s takedown with 58 seconds left was the final score, giving her the criteria.

In a dominant effort, Alara Boyd scored three takedowns and two turns for a 10-0 technical fall in the first period over SaVannah Cosme. Boyd was a star at McKendree and North Central, and Cosme is a student at Arizona State.

At 68 kg. Life University star Latifah McBryde got her offense untracked in 15-2 technical fall over former Menlo star Solin Piearcy. McBryde led 8-0 at the break, and ran off seven more points in the second period.

Kaylynn Albrecht earned the 72 kg National Team berth with a 6-4 win over Skylar Grote. In a tight match that went down to the end, with Grote leading on criteria, Albrecht scored on a step out in the final seconds for a 5-4 win. A Grote challenge was denied, giving the additional point to Albrecht.

Senior Women’s National National Team berths went to Kendra Ryan (50 kg), Sydney Petzinger (53 kg) and Jennifer Page (65 kg) by forfeit, when their opponents chose not to compete.

Final X started promptly at 2:00 p.m. ET, with the first match of the best-of-three Championship Series in each weight class. There will nine men’s freestyle matches and nine women’s freestyle matches during the session on the two raised platforms in the Prudential Center.

All of the matches are being broadcast live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/3Fr6q8K

NATIONAL TEAM TRUE THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

(winner qualifies for the 2025-26 Senior National Team)

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg – Liam Cronin (Lincoln, Neb./Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Nico Provo (Stratford, Conn./California RTC)., 10-3

65 kg – Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brock Hardy (Brigham City, Utah/Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC), 8-2

70 kg – Ian Parker (Charlottesville, Va./Cavalier WC) dec. Bryce Andonian (Kirtland, Ohio/Southeast RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 7-4

74 kg – Jarrett Jacques (Columbia, Mo./Tiger Style WC) dec. Joseph Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Boilermaker RTC), 6-3

86 kg – Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Parker Keckeisen (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Panther WC-RTC), 4-3

Women’s Freestyle

59 kg – Alexis Janiak (Plainfield, Ill./Titan Mercury WC) dec. Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Humble, Texas/Rise RTC), 4-4

62 kg – Alara Boyd (Muncie, Ind./Cardinal WC) tech fall SaVannah Cosme (Denver, Colo./Atreus WC), 10-0

68 kg – Latifah McBryde (Buffalo, N.Y./Life) tech. fall Solin Piearcy (San Jose, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), 15-2

72 kg – Kaylynn Albrecht (Fort Worth, Texas/USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Skylar Grote (Newton, N.J./USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC), 6-4

Women’s freestyle matches not held

50 kg – Kendra Ryan (Naperville, Ill./Cardinal WC) won by forfeit over Anaya Falcon (Yorba Linda, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)

53 kg – Sydney Petzinger (Parsippany, N.J./Cardinal WC) won by forfeit over Sage Mortimer (Allendale, Mich./Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Jennifer Page (Bellefonte, Pa./Titan Mercury WC) won by forfeit over Bella Mir (Las Vegas, Nev./Cardinal WC)