Bouzakis, Kouekabakilaho Keep Repeat Hopes Alive, Among Men’s Freestyle Quarterfinalists at U23 Nationals

May 30, 2026, 9:38 PM EDT

by David Gerhart, USA Wrestling

Nic Bouzakis competing at the 2026 U23 National & U20 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio

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GENEVA, Ohio – The quarterfinals of the U23 men’s freestyle division are set as day two of the 2026 U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials wrapped up on Saturday night at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.

Defending champions Nic Bouzakis (61 kg) and Garavous Kouekabakilaho (97 kg) both advanced to the quarterfinals with dominant performances. Bouzakis recorded two technical falls and a decision in his first three matches. Kouekabakilaho won his first two matches 12-1 and 10-0.

Bouzakis now faces Garret Rinken, and Kouekabakilah faces Thomas Dineen.

The only other defending champion in the field was 2025 U23 World Team member Daniel Herrara, who was pinned in the round of 16 at 125 kg by age-group World medalist Jimmy Mullen.

Two additional age-group World medalists join Mullen in the quarterfinals at 125 kg: 2025 U20 World bronze medalist Connor Mirasola and 2022 U17 World champion Koy Hopke. Hopke, who is on the same side of the bracket as Mullen, shutout each of his three opponents thus far and logged just 3:34 of mat time. Mirasola had a trio of 10-0 tech falls to start the tournament.

The quarterfinals in the 125 kg bracket features Mirasola battling Carter Neves, Jimmy Mullen taking on Carter Blough and Hopke facing Bradley Hill. The final quarterfinal in the bracket has Spencer Lanosga against Vincent Mueller.

Two-time age-group World medalist Bennett Berge teched his way to the 86 kg quarterfinals and only went into the second period in one of his matches. In the quarterfinals, Berge squares off against Aidan Brenot.

The final two age-group World medalists in the quarterfinals are Matthew Singleton at 79 kg and Camden McDanel at 97 kg. The pair powered through their respective brackets with technical fall victories. Singleton has outscored his opposition 43-3 across four bouts. McDanel won 10-0 and 14-3 in his two contests on Saturday.

McDanel moves on to face Justin Griffith in the quarterfinals. Singleton takes on Collin Carrigan.

At 79 kg, NCAA All-American M.J. Gaitan took out 2025 U20 World silver medalist William Henckel with a pin 2:39 into the match.

Other quarterfinal matches to watch on Sunday include 2026 NCAA All-American Nicco Ruiz against 2025 NCAA All-American Ethan Stiles at 74 kg. At 57 kg, two-time NCAA All-American Troy Spratley takes on 2024 U23 World Team member Max Gallagher.

A list of all quarterfinal matches is available below.

Action at the U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials wraps up on Sunday with the conclusion of the U23 men’s freestyle tournament. Competition resumes at 10 a.m. on Sunday with the start of the quarterfinals.

Live video of the U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials is available on FloWrestling. Brackets and match-by-match results will be available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials

At Geneva, Ohio, May 30

Quick Links

U23 Nationals Men’s Freestyle Results

Quarterfinal Matchups

57 kg

Mack Mauger (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) vs. Keyan Hernandez (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)

Matthew Marlow (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) vs. Blake Beissel (Minnesota - RTC)

Joey Cruz (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Tyler Chappell (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club)

Max Gallagher (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Troy Spratley (Cowboy RTC)

61 kg

Nic Bouzakis (Ohio RTC/ TMWC) vs. Garret Rinken (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)

Jace Hedeman (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) vs. Deven Casey (Pennsylvania RTC)

Layne Kleimann (Brunson UVRTC) vs. Geronimo Rivera (Brunson UVRTC)

Massey Odiotti (Wildcat Wrestling Club) vs. Spencer Barnhart (Pennsylvania RTC)

65 kg

Noah Tolentino (Beaver Dam Wrestling Regional Training Center) vs. Smokey McClure (Brunson UVRTC)

Briar Priest (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) vs. Nathan Taylor (Pennsylvania RTC)

Derrick Cardinal (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) vs. Drew Heethuis (NJRTC)

Maximus Brady (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) vs. Drew Gorman (SERTC- TMWC)

70 kg

Jordan Williams (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) vs. Nathan Lucier (Bearcat Wrestling Club)

Gavin Drexler (Bison Wrestling Club) vs. Wynton Denkins (Cavalier Wrestling Club)

Kaden Keiser (Boone RTC) vs. Brandt Harer (Skwc)

Nick Sanko (New York) vs. Maddox Shaw (Ohio RTC/ TMWC)

74 kg

Casey Swiderski (Cowboy RTC) vs. Ryan Lawler (Buffalo Valley RTC)

Nicco Ruiz (Southwest Wrestling Club) vs. Ethan Stiles (Ohio RTC/ TMWC)

Noah Nininger (SERTC- TMWC) vs. Ryder Downey (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)

Cross Wasilewski (Pennsylvania RTC) vs. Paul Ognissanti (Pennsylvania RTC)

79 kg

Manuel (M.J.) Gaitan (Cyclone Regional Training Center) vs. Gunner Filipowicz (West Point Wrestling Club)

Maximus Norman (Bears RTC) vs. Daschle Lamer (Beaver Dam Wrestling Regional Training Center)

Brett Smith (Northern Illinois RTC) vs. Tyler Lillard (Indiana RTC)

Collin Carrigan (Tar Heel Wrestling Club) vs. Matthew Singleton (Wolfpack RTC)

86 kg

Bennett Berge (Cowboy RTC) vs. Aidan Brenot (Southwest Wrestling Club)

Tomas Brooker (Boone RTC) vs. Ian Bush (West Virginia Regional Training Center)

Brandon Carr (Diplomat Wrestling Club) vs. Charles Petit (Viking RTC)

Landon Jones (Regional Training Center South) vs. Brock Fettig (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club)

92 kg

Hayden Walters (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) vs. Mason Ellis (NLWC/TMWC)

Patrick Brophy (Wolfpack RTC) vs. Dillon Bechtold (Buffalo Valley Regional Training Center)

Oscar Williams (DMV RTC) vs. Gabe Sollars (Indiana RTC)

Nick Nosler (Southern Illinois Regional Training Center) vs. Harvey Ludington (Hawkeye Wrestling Club)

97 kg

Camden McDanel (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) vs. Justin Griffith (Dragon Wrestling Club)

Carson Floyd (Cyclone Regional Training Center) vs. Mateo Casillas (C4L WC)

Jackson Mankowski (CA RTC) vs. Adam Haselius (New York City RTC)

Garavous Kouekabakilaho (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) vs. Thomas Dineen (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club)

125 kg

Connor Mirasola (NLWC/TMWC) vs. Carter Neves (Ohio)

Spencer Lanosga (Navy Wrestling Club) vs. Vincent Mueller (New York City RTC)

Jimmy Mullen (SERTC- TMWC) vs. Carter Blough (Laker Wrestling Club)

Bradley Hill (Oklahoma Regional Training Center) vs. Koy Hopke (Minnesota - RTC)