U23 World Team Trials preview
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by Ellen Paddock, USA Wrestling
The 2022 World Team Trials U23 champions will be crowned at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio following two days full of fiercely competitive matches and exciting, best-of-three series finals matches between the nation’s best young athletes. This event features wrestlers born between 1999-2004. Unlike the U20 World Team selection criteria, winning the U23 World Team Trials does not guarantee a spot on the World Team. The highest ranked, age eligible, athlete from the 2022 Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team: Final X winner, Final X runner-up or 3rd overall senior athlete via the 2022 Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Trials can opt to take the spot. If one of these athletes does not accept the position before Monday, June 27, the winner this weekend locks in their spot on the 2022 U23 World Team and will have the opportunity to compete at the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain (Oct. 17-23).
Freestyle bouts
Between Greg Diakomihalis and Anthony Noto who are both from New York, Trevor Mastrogiovanni of New Jersey and Ryan Miller of Pennsylvania, it will be an east coast showdown at 57 kg. Cornell’s Diakomihalis and Lock Haven’s Noto boast an impressive nine New York State titles combined. The two are familiar opponents, if they meet this weekend, it will be a rematch of the 2019 Eastern States finals where Diakomihalis won 5-2. Oklahoma State’s Mastrogiovanni is another top dog in the weight. He took 3rd at the Big12 Championships and went 1-2 in the NCAA tournament.
There are multiple NCAA qualifiers and NCAA All-Americans in the mix at 61 kg. Michael Colaiocco, from New Jersey, was an All-American for Penn in 2020. He is joined by fellow New Jersey native, Chris Cannon, the 2021 Junior World Team member and two-time NCAA All-American from Northwestern. Most recently, Cannon finished 7th at the NCAA tournament. Brody Teske is another dangerous competitor here. Teske is a two-time NCAA qualifier for the University of Northern Iowa. Rounding out a few of the top contenders, is Dylan Shawver, an NCAA qualifier for Rutgers.
After his standout performance at the 2022 NCAA tournament, which made him a fan-favorite, Ridge Lovett leads the charge at 65kg. The NCAA runner-up will look to make his first U23 World Team. Lovett will have to out-wrestle fellow NCAA All-American, Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh Wrestling Club and 2021 Junior World bronze medalist Beau Bartlett of Penn State.
Doug Zapf of Penn is a talented freestyle grappler. After taking 3rd at the U.S. Open it is certain that Zapf is a frontrunner at 70 kg. Jonathan Millner, a two-time All-American for Appalachian State is another top contender along with Edward Scott (NC State NCAA qualifier) and Willie McDougald (Oklahoma NCAA qualifier) who are also on the radar.
74 kg may feature two NCAA Tournament rematches. Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla defeated Julian Ramirez in the round of 12 in the 165-pound weight class. The two may meet again along with All-Americans Peyton Robb of Nebraska and Jacori Teemer of Arizona State. Teemer and Robb left it all out on the mat in the wrestlebacks of NCAAs, with Robb coming away with the victory.
NCAA qualifier and 2019 Junior Freestyle Pan American champion, Danny Braunagel Illinois Regional Training Center, is among the top wrestlers vying for the spot at 79 kg. EIWA Champion from Harvard, Phillip Conigliaro, reached the round of 12 at the 2022 NCAA Tournament and is another wrestler to watch. Nick Incontrera of Pennsylvania RTC and Drexel’s standout Michael O'Malley, an NCAA qualifier will also look to make some noise this weekend.
All eyes will be on NC State’s Trent Hidlay at 86 kg. Hidlay is fresh off a 3rd place finish at the the Senior World Team Trials that took place in Iowa where he topped former national champion Drew Foster 6-2. It won’t be a clear road for Hidlay, though. Two Cornell University starters have the potential to stand in his way- NCAA All-American, Jonathan Loew and Chis Foca, both of Spartan Combat RTC, along with three-time NCAA qualifier Zachary Braunagel of Illinois.
NC State’s Isaac Trumble is on a roll when it comes to freestyle competition. He was the Runner-up at both the 2022 U.S. Open and 2022 World Team Trials. On top of that, he is an NCAA qualifier. Trumble could be challenged by some of the other top talent in the weight class including Andrew Davison of Northwestern and Cole Urbas of Penn, another NCAA qualifier.
Cade Lautt comes from the Tar Heel Wrestling Club and is a top contender in the 97 kg weight class. This is one of the smaller brackets of the tournament. Ben Stemmet of Charleston Regional Training Center could also make a run at this weight.
At 125 kg, 2021 U23 World Champion Tony Cassioppi is favored to win, and rightfully so. Each time we see this Iowa Hawkeye, he is stronger, faster and more refined. The list of accolades goes on for Cassioppi, he is a 2017 and 2018 Pan American Champion in both styles, two-time NCAA All-American (3rd and 7th) and was ranked as high at No.3 nationally. Northwestern’s Lucas Davison is another top contender. Davidson shares All-American status with Cassioppi after taking 6th place at the NCAA Tournament.
Greco-Roman bouts
At 55 kg, Camden Russell of MWC Wrestling academy leads the charge as a five-time Greco-Roman All-American and Fargo National Champion. For 60 kg Max Black, of NMU-National Training Center, is a frontrunner. Black placed 2nd at the 2022 Senior U.S. Open and 1st at the 2022 UWW Junior Nationals. NCAA qualifier Jace Koelzer of Northern Colorado Wrestling Club and Phillip Moomey of the Spartan Combat RTC are other wrestlers to watch at 60 kg.
Cal Poly’s Joey Cape of Central Coast RTC and King Sandoval of Bandits Wrestling Club are top contenders at 63 kg. Sandoval placed 3rd at the 2021 World Team Trials and 4th at the 2021 Senior Greco-Roman Nationals. At 67 kg Chayse LaJoie of the California Regional Training Center competed on the 2021 Junior Greco-Roman World Team and will look to repeat that accomplishment up at the U23 age division.
At 72 kg, Dominic Damon (NMU-National Training Center), Peter Ogunsanya (West Point Wrestling Club) and Brody Olsen (Minnesota Storm) are among the most accomplished wrestlers registered at the weight. Damon took bronze at the 2021 Junior Pan American championships, was a 2021 Junior World Team member and 2018 Cadet World Team member. Ogunsanya is a national qualifier for Army West Point and made the finals of the senior U.S. Open this spring. Olson placed fourth at the U.S. Open.
Grand View’s Jack Ervien II (Viking Wrestling Club) and Terrance Parks (New York) are among several other skilled Greco-Roman wrestlers at 77 kg. Among the notable registrants at 82 kg is James Burks (MWC Wrestling Academy) and Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC). Burks took home the gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships and was a 2018 Cadet Greco-Roman World Team member. Hendricks was a 2017 Cadet World Team member and a dual champion in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2016 Cadet Pan American Championships.
87 kg is led by Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club). The 2022 Senior Pan American Champion has been on two previous world teams at the U23 and Junior levels. Joey Braunagel (Illinois Regional Training Center), Timothy Eubanks (NMU-National Training Center) and Nick Stemment (California Regional Training Center) round out the Greco-Roman field at 97 kg. Bowen McConville and Spencer Trenary, both of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club, are the top guys fighting for the title at 130 kg.
Event Schedule:
Friday, June 3rd
Session 1: Greco-Roman:
U20 GR World Team Trials - Challenge Tournament - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
10:00 AM - 2:15 PM
U23 GR Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
10:00 AM - 2:15 PM
Session 2: Greco-Roman:
U20 GR World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Consolations, All Medal Matches, and FINAL WTT Best 2 out of 3 finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
U23 GR - All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 4th
Session 1: Freestyle
U20 FS World Team Trials - Challenge Tournament - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
U23 (Men) FS Preliminaries and Consolations
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Session 2: Freestyle:
U20 FS World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Consolations, All Medal Matches, and FINAL WTT Best 2 out of 3 finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
U23 (Men) FS Preliminaries and Consolations
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, June 5th
Session 3: Freestyle:
U23 (Men) FS Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
2021 U23 Freestyle World Team
57: Pat Glory
61: Chris Cannon
65: Dom Demas
70: Brock Mauller
74: Peyton Robb
79: Michael Labriola
86: Myles Wilson
92: Nino Bonaccorsi
97: Jay Aiello
125: Anthony Cassioppi
2021 U23 Greco-Roman World Team
55: Taylor LaMont
60: Dylan Gregerson
63: David Stepanian
67: Alston Nutter
72: Benji Peak
77: Britton Holmes
82: Tommy Brackett
87: Spencer Woods
97: Nicholas Boykin
130: Brandon Metz
The action will be streamed live on FloWrestling
For more details on this event visit USA Wrestling Events
Freestyle bouts
Between Greg Diakomihalis and Anthony Noto who are both from New York, Trevor Mastrogiovanni of New Jersey and Ryan Miller of Pennsylvania, it will be an east coast showdown at 57 kg. Cornell’s Diakomihalis and Lock Haven’s Noto boast an impressive nine New York State titles combined. The two are familiar opponents, if they meet this weekend, it will be a rematch of the 2019 Eastern States finals where Diakomihalis won 5-2. Oklahoma State’s Mastrogiovanni is another top dog in the weight. He took 3rd at the Big12 Championships and went 1-2 in the NCAA tournament.
There are multiple NCAA qualifiers and NCAA All-Americans in the mix at 61 kg. Michael Colaiocco, from New Jersey, was an All-American for Penn in 2020. He is joined by fellow New Jersey native, Chris Cannon, the 2021 Junior World Team member and two-time NCAA All-American from Northwestern. Most recently, Cannon finished 7th at the NCAA tournament. Brody Teske is another dangerous competitor here. Teske is a two-time NCAA qualifier for the University of Northern Iowa. Rounding out a few of the top contenders, is Dylan Shawver, an NCAA qualifier for Rutgers.
After his standout performance at the 2022 NCAA tournament, which made him a fan-favorite, Ridge Lovett leads the charge at 65kg. The NCAA runner-up will look to make his first U23 World Team. Lovett will have to out-wrestle fellow NCAA All-American, Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh Wrestling Club and 2021 Junior World bronze medalist Beau Bartlett of Penn State.
Doug Zapf of Penn is a talented freestyle grappler. After taking 3rd at the U.S. Open it is certain that Zapf is a frontrunner at 70 kg. Jonathan Millner, a two-time All-American for Appalachian State is another top contender along with Edward Scott (NC State NCAA qualifier) and Willie McDougald (Oklahoma NCAA qualifier) who are also on the radar.
74 kg may feature two NCAA Tournament rematches. Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla defeated Julian Ramirez in the round of 12 in the 165-pound weight class. The two may meet again along with All-Americans Peyton Robb of Nebraska and Jacori Teemer of Arizona State. Teemer and Robb left it all out on the mat in the wrestlebacks of NCAAs, with Robb coming away with the victory.
NCAA qualifier and 2019 Junior Freestyle Pan American champion, Danny Braunagel Illinois Regional Training Center, is among the top wrestlers vying for the spot at 79 kg. EIWA Champion from Harvard, Phillip Conigliaro, reached the round of 12 at the 2022 NCAA Tournament and is another wrestler to watch. Nick Incontrera of Pennsylvania RTC and Drexel’s standout Michael O'Malley, an NCAA qualifier will also look to make some noise this weekend.
All eyes will be on NC State’s Trent Hidlay at 86 kg. Hidlay is fresh off a 3rd place finish at the the Senior World Team Trials that took place in Iowa where he topped former national champion Drew Foster 6-2. It won’t be a clear road for Hidlay, though. Two Cornell University starters have the potential to stand in his way- NCAA All-American, Jonathan Loew and Chis Foca, both of Spartan Combat RTC, along with three-time NCAA qualifier Zachary Braunagel of Illinois.
NC State’s Isaac Trumble is on a roll when it comes to freestyle competition. He was the Runner-up at both the 2022 U.S. Open and 2022 World Team Trials. On top of that, he is an NCAA qualifier. Trumble could be challenged by some of the other top talent in the weight class including Andrew Davison of Northwestern and Cole Urbas of Penn, another NCAA qualifier.
Cade Lautt comes from the Tar Heel Wrestling Club and is a top contender in the 97 kg weight class. This is one of the smaller brackets of the tournament. Ben Stemmet of Charleston Regional Training Center could also make a run at this weight.
At 125 kg, 2021 U23 World Champion Tony Cassioppi is favored to win, and rightfully so. Each time we see this Iowa Hawkeye, he is stronger, faster and more refined. The list of accolades goes on for Cassioppi, he is a 2017 and 2018 Pan American Champion in both styles, two-time NCAA All-American (3rd and 7th) and was ranked as high at No.3 nationally. Northwestern’s Lucas Davison is another top contender. Davidson shares All-American status with Cassioppi after taking 6th place at the NCAA Tournament.
Greco-Roman bouts
At 55 kg, Camden Russell of MWC Wrestling academy leads the charge as a five-time Greco-Roman All-American and Fargo National Champion. For 60 kg Max Black, of NMU-National Training Center, is a frontrunner. Black placed 2nd at the 2022 Senior U.S. Open and 1st at the 2022 UWW Junior Nationals. NCAA qualifier Jace Koelzer of Northern Colorado Wrestling Club and Phillip Moomey of the Spartan Combat RTC are other wrestlers to watch at 60 kg.
Cal Poly’s Joey Cape of Central Coast RTC and King Sandoval of Bandits Wrestling Club are top contenders at 63 kg. Sandoval placed 3rd at the 2021 World Team Trials and 4th at the 2021 Senior Greco-Roman Nationals. At 67 kg Chayse LaJoie of the California Regional Training Center competed on the 2021 Junior Greco-Roman World Team and will look to repeat that accomplishment up at the U23 age division.
At 72 kg, Dominic Damon (NMU-National Training Center), Peter Ogunsanya (West Point Wrestling Club) and Brody Olsen (Minnesota Storm) are among the most accomplished wrestlers registered at the weight. Damon took bronze at the 2021 Junior Pan American championships, was a 2021 Junior World Team member and 2018 Cadet World Team member. Ogunsanya is a national qualifier for Army West Point and made the finals of the senior U.S. Open this spring. Olson placed fourth at the U.S. Open.
Grand View’s Jack Ervien II (Viking Wrestling Club) and Terrance Parks (New York) are among several other skilled Greco-Roman wrestlers at 77 kg. Among the notable registrants at 82 kg is James Burks (MWC Wrestling Academy) and Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC). Burks took home the gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships and was a 2018 Cadet Greco-Roman World Team member. Hendricks was a 2017 Cadet World Team member and a dual champion in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2016 Cadet Pan American Championships.
87 kg is led by Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club). The 2022 Senior Pan American Champion has been on two previous world teams at the U23 and Junior levels. Joey Braunagel (Illinois Regional Training Center), Timothy Eubanks (NMU-National Training Center) and Nick Stemment (California Regional Training Center) round out the Greco-Roman field at 97 kg. Bowen McConville and Spencer Trenary, both of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club, are the top guys fighting for the title at 130 kg.
Event Schedule:
Friday, June 3rd
Session 1: Greco-Roman:
U20 GR World Team Trials - Challenge Tournament - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
10:00 AM - 2:15 PM
U23 GR Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
10:00 AM - 2:15 PM
Session 2: Greco-Roman:
U20 GR World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Consolations, All Medal Matches, and FINAL WTT Best 2 out of 3 finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
U23 GR - All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 4th
Session 1: Freestyle
U20 FS World Team Trials - Challenge Tournament - Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals & Consolations
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
U23 (Men) FS Preliminaries and Consolations
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Session 2: Freestyle:
U20 FS World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Consolations, All Medal Matches, and FINAL WTT Best 2 out of 3 finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM
U23 (Men) FS Preliminaries and Consolations
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, June 5th
Session 3: Freestyle:
U23 (Men) FS Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
2021 U23 Freestyle World Team
57: Pat Glory
61: Chris Cannon
65: Dom Demas
70: Brock Mauller
74: Peyton Robb
79: Michael Labriola
86: Myles Wilson
92: Nino Bonaccorsi
97: Jay Aiello
125: Anthony Cassioppi
2021 U23 Greco-Roman World Team
55: Taylor LaMont
60: Dylan Gregerson
63: David Stepanian
67: Alston Nutter
72: Benji Peak
77: Britton Holmes
82: Tommy Brackett
87: Spencer Woods
97: Nicholas Boykin
130: Brandon Metz
The action will be streamed live on FloWrestling
For more details on this event visit USA Wrestling Events
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