James and Merrill Upset Victories Headline Men’s Freestyle Quarterfinals at Senior World Team Trials

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – High school seniors Jayden James and Coby Merrill posted the two biggest upsets in the men’s freestyle quarterfinals at the 2026 Senior World Team Trials at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.

At 74 kg, No. 9-seed James won 10-0 over top-seed Joseph Sealey and earned a semifinal spot. James now faces fifth-seeded Quincy Monday. Monday won a 6-4 decision over Cameron Amine.

Following an upset of Olympian Mason Parris at the U.S. Open, Coby Merrill stayed on the upset track and knocked off No. 2-seeded Hayden Zillmer in a 4-1 contest at 125 kg. He now battles Isaac Trumble in the semifinals.

No. 1-seeded Parris, who notched a 12-second pin in the quarterfinals, faces Daniel Kerkvliet, Jr., in the other semifinal at 125 kg.

2025 World Team member David Carr secured his spot in the second 74 kg semifinal with a takedown in the final seconds against Jarrett Jacques. With the match tied at three and Jacques leading on criteria, Carr’s two points as the time expired notched him the 5-3 victory. Carr’s semifinal foe is 2025 Final X participant Evan Wick.

In the 61 kg quarterfinals, after trailing 4-2, six-seeded Aaron Seidel rattled off 13-straight points against No. 3-seed Austin DeSanto to post a 15-4 technical fall. Seidel’s win sets up a semifinal contest against 2025 World Team member Jax Forrest, who earned a bye into the semifinals.

Nathan Tomasello scored a 9-2 decision against Michael McGee to move on to face top-seeded Benjamin Davino in the second 61 kg semifinal.

At 70 kg, No. 6-seeded Edward Scott scored the lone upset of the bracket with a 10-8 victory over No. 3 Alec Pantaleo. Scott faces Caleb Henson in the semifinals. Henson won 10-4 in the quarterfinals, and Landon Robideau notched a 7-0 win to seal the final semifinals spot. Robideau takes on 2024 Olympian Zain Retherford this evening.

Seedings held at 57 kg with Liam Cronin and Brody Teske posting shutout wins. Teske faces Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee in the semifinals, and Cronin battles Anthony Knox.

A complete list of quarterfinal results and semifinal pairings for the Senior men’s freestyle division can be found below.

The Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament continues this afternoon at 4 p.m. ET with semifinal matches. Championship bouts are slated to take place on Friday.

Live video and archived matches are available through FloWrestling. Brackets and match-by-match results will be available through USA Bracketing.