Four Greco-Roman athletes to represent U.S. at Valamar Cup in Croatia
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Rhett Peak in action at the 2025 U23 Nationals in Geneva, Ohio.
The U.S. is sending a talented group of four Greco-Roman athletes to the 2025 Valamar Cup being held in Poreč, Croatia, this Saturday.
2025 Senior National Team member Duncan Nelson (67 kg) will compete alongside three 2025 U23 World Team members—Kenneth Crosby (55 kg), Rhett Peak (60 kg) and Aydin Rix McElhinney (77 kg)—for Team USA.
Nelson finished in third place at the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open to cement his National Team status. He was a champion at the 2024 Last Chance Olympic Team Trials qualifier and competed at the 2024 Olympic Trials in State College, Pa.
Rix McElhinney is fresh off a gold medal from the 2025 Junior Pan American Games held in Asuncion, Paraguay, in August. He is one of the up-and-coming Greco-Roman prospects for the U.S. with a U20 World Championships appearance already under his belt, plus an eighth-place finish at the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open on his ledger.
Both Crosby and Peak also placed at the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open, Crosby eighth and Peak seventh. Crosby was runner-up at the 2024 Senior World Team Trials. Peak earned a bronze at the 2024 Bill Farrell Memorial International.
The Valamar Cup is set for a 10 a.m. local time start at Zatika Hall. For those looking to watch in real time, Poreč, Croatia, is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. The medal matches will take place at 7 p.m.
A live stream of the event can be found on the wrestlePorec YouTube channel. Results will be reported by USA Wrestling on TheMat.com as they become available.
10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds
4 p.m. – Repechage
7 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Medal Matches
55 kg – Kenneth Crosby (Colorado Springs, Colo./NMU-National Training Center)
60 kg – Rhett Peak (Tulsa, Okla./New York AC)
67 kg – Duncan Nelson (Lombard, Ill./Air Force WCAP)
77 kg – Aydin Rix McElhinney (South Berwick, Maine/Northern Colorado WC)
Official – Dwayne Henry
Medical – Brooke Nania
