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Amine and Merrill Post Upsets in Senior Men's Freestyle Quarterfinals; Semifinals Set for Friday evening

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by Tanner Lafever, USA Wrestling

Cameron Amine hand raise following quarterfinal win at 2026 U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada

Cameron Amine hand raise following quarterfinal win at 2026 U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Big upsets and big action were the theme of the opening session for Senior Men’s Freestyle at the 2026 U.S. Open Championships.


In a pair of quarterfinal shockers, 2025 World teamer David Carr (74kg) and 2024 Olympian Mason Parris (125kg) each fell as top seeds.


Carr’s foil was Cameron Amine (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), who led 3-0 at the break and managed to hold off Carr’s late push for the 6-3 victory.


Meanwhile, Parris’ loss may have been an even bigger surprise considering he’d defeated Coby Merrill (New York AC) three times over the past six months – via 10-1, 4-0 and 7-2 decisions.


This time, Merrill – a high school senior – had all the answers, building an early 4-0 lead that he’d extend to an 8-1 final margin.


However, arguably the three most exciting bouts of the session all took place at 65kg.


First, high school phenom Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury WC) used a late takedown to defeat recent NCAA champion Aden Valencia, 11-10. That came after Valencia overcame a 9-4 deficit with a feet-to-back takedown and leg lace with just 0:34 remaining.


On adjacent mats, two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) held off college rival Brock Hardy by 5-4 decision, and Beau Bartlett (NYCRTC/Titan Mercury WC) won a 16-10 shootout over Vitali Arujau – competing up in weight class from 61kg, where he won a World title in 2024.


Bartlett and Bassett will meet next in the semis, while Mendez will face 2025 U.S. Open champion Joseph McKenna.


Among other notable wrestlers to advance, returning World teamers Spencer Lee (57kg) and Jax Forrest (61kg) each cruised to the semis.


Awaiting Forrest, there will be Ben Davino in a rematch of their recent NCAA final at 133 pounds.


The other 61kg semifinal is no slouch either, with U20 World champ Marcus Blaze set to challenge past Senior World Teamer Seth Gross.


Other Senior World team veterans who punched their semifinal tickets were James Green (74kg), Chance Marstellar (79kg), Kyle Dake (86kg), Hayden Zillmer (97kg) and Wyatt Hendrickson (125kg).


And a pair of returning U.S. Open champions also advanced – Luke Lilledahl (57kg) and Evan Wick (79kg).


Senior Men’s Freestyle action resumes shortly at 4:00 p.m. PT – featuring semifinals and consolations.


The 2026 U.S. Open Championships are broadcast live on FloWrestling.


Brackets, mat assignments and other information are available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U.S. Open Championships 

At Las Vegas, Nevada, April 24 


Reference Links 

Semifinal Matchups
57 kg

Spencer Lee (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Anthony Knox (Scarlet Knight WC)

Liam Cronin (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Luke Lilledahl (NLWC/TMWC)


61 kg

Jax Forrest (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Benjamin Davino (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Marcus Blaze (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Seth Gross (Titan Mercury WC)


65 kg

Joseph McKenna (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jesse Mendez (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Beau Bartlett (NYCRTC/Titan Mercury WC)


70 kg

Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Ridge Lovett (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Tyler Kasak (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Caleb Henson (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC)

74 kg

Cameron Amine (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. James Green (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Quincy Monday (NJRTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Kannon Webster (New York AC/IRTC)

79 kg

Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Patrick Kennedy (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Muhamed McBryde (WVRTC)

86 kg

Kyle Dake (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Rocco Welsh (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Parker Keckeisen (PWC RTC)

92 kg

Joshua Barr (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Michael Macchiavello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Dustin Plott (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Dillon Bechtold (Buffalo Valley RTC)

97 kg

Stephen Buchanan (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Justin Rademacher (Beaver Dam RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

Jonathan Aiello (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Hayden Zillmer (Gopher RTC/Titan Mercury WC)


125 kg

Coby Merrill (New York AC) vs. Demetrius Thomas (New York AC)

Daniel Kerkvliet Jr (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC/WCAP)

Quarterfinal Results
57 kg

Spencer Lee (Hawkeye WC/ Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Ezekiel Witt (Bison WC), 10-0 (0:54)

Anthony Knox (Scarlet Knight WC) F. Brody Teske (PWC RTC), 3:23

Liam Cronin (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Austin Assad (Seasons Freestyle Club), 7-4

Luke Lilledahl (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Antonio Mills (Roundtree Wrestling Academy), 3-1

61 kg

Benjamin Davino (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Austin DeSanto (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), 3-0

Marcus Blaze (NLWC/TMWC) T.F. Michael McGee (Arizona/New York AC), 10-0 (5:00)

Jax Forrest (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Kyle Burwick (Bison WC), 10-0 (2:14)

Seth Gross (Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Nathan Tomasello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC), 11-5

65 kg

Joseph McKenna (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Pierson Manville (SOUTHWEST WC), 8-5

Jesse Mendez (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Brock Hardy (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-4

Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) Dec. Aden Valencia (California RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 11-10

Beau Bartlett (NYCRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Vitali Arujau (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 16-10

70 kg

Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Jaxon Joy (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 9-3

Ridge Lovett (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Ian Parker (PWC/Titan Mercury WC), 8-3

Caleb Henson (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort High School Wrestling), 7-3

Tyler Kasak (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Edward Scott (Brunson UVRTC/Titan Mercury WC), 7-6

74 kg

Cameron Amine (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. David Carr (Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 6-3

James Green (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Will Lewan (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC), 11-0 (2:31)

Quincy Monday (NJRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Terrell Barraclough (Brunson UVRTC/Titan Mercury WC), 4-3

Kannon Webster (New York AC/IRTC) Dec. Jarrett Jacques (Tiger Style WC), 4-1

79 kg

Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury WC) T.F. James Rowley (Boilermaker RTC), 12-0 (1:08)

Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC) Dec. William Henckel (NLWC/TMWC), 5-4

Patrick Kennedy (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Bernie Truax (Having Fun), 10-0 (3:18)

Muhamed McBryde (WVRTC) Dec. Dean Hamiti Jr (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 4-1

86 kg

Kyle Dake (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Cade DeVos (Jackrabbit WC), 3-0

Parker Keckeisen (PWC RTC) T.F. Colton Hawks (SOUTHWEST WC), 11-0 (3:12)

Rocco Welsh (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Mekhi Lewis (NJRTC/ Titan Mercury WC), 5-1

Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Marcus Coleman (Titan Mercury WC), 6-3

92 kg

Michael Macchiavello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Cody Merrill (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 2-1

Joshua Barr (NLWC/TMWC) T.F. Seth Shumate (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 14-4 (5:21)

Dillon Bechtold (Buffalo Valley RTC) Dec. Jacob Cardenas (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC), 3-1

Dustin Plott (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Garavous Kouekabakilaho (Viking WC), 12-1 (3:52)

97 kg

Stephen Buchanan (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) F. Sonny Sasso (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC), 2:02

Justin Rademacher (Beaver Dam RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Zane Lanham (Arkansas RTC), 7-4

Hayden Zillmer (Gopher RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Nick Stemmet (California RTC), 9-2

Jonathan Aiello (Ohio RTC/ Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Connor Mirasola (NLWC/TMWC), 6-2

125 kg

Coby Merrill (New York AC) Dec. Mason Parris (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC), 8-1

Demetrius Thomas (New York AC) Dec. Jaron Smith (Unaff), 9-0

Daniel Kerkvliet Jr (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC), 7-0

Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC/WCAP) T.F. Anthony Cassioppi (Titan Mercury WC), 12-2 (2:18)