U23 finals recap: Cassioppi and Trent Hidlay among the five athletes to secure World Team spot

Trent Hidlay after securing his World Team spot. Photo by Sam Janicki 

Five U23 Freestyle spots were claimed after best-of-three series finals in Geneva, Ohio. The other five champions wait for the age-eligible athlete from the 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) in their respective weight classes to accept or yield the spot. The final lineup for the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain (Oct. 17-23) will be determined on Monday, June 27th.

Current 2022 U23 World Team members:
61 kg – Aaron Nagao
70 kg – Yahya Thomas
86 kg – Trent Hidlay
97 kg –Tanner Sloan
125 – Anthony Cassioppi

Best-of-three finals recap:

57 kg

Lock Haven’s Anthony Noto claimed the 57 kg crown after overcoming Oklahoma’s NCAA qualifier Trevor Mastrogiovanni in the series. Mastrogiovanni won the first meeting 7-6 after getting an early 6-0 lead with a single leg and a couple of turns. Noto limited Mastrogiovanni’s scoring abilities in the final two matches, winning 4-0 and 4-2. On his way to the finals, Noto topped two-time NCAA qualifier Jarrett Trombley (NC State) in the quarters (5-2) and Greg Diakomihalis with a 3-3 win by criteria in the semifinals. Both hailing from Western New York, Diakomihalis and Noto are familiar opponents who tally nine New York State titles combined. The 57 kg World Team Spot belongs to Final X Stillwater runner-up, Vito Arujau.

1 - Anthony Noto (Mat Town USA)
2 - Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Cowboy RTC)
3 - Gregory Diakomihalis (Spartan Combat RTC)
4 - Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania RTC)
5 - Caleb Smith (Boone RTC)
6 - Dominic Chavez (Blue Chip WC)
7 - Jarrett Trombley (Wolfpack WC)
8 - Blake West (Northern Illinois RTC)


61 kg

The 61 kg U23 World Team spot was wide open for the two Minnesota finalists, Aaron Nagao and Jake Gilva. A four-point throw to a leg lace landed the technical fall in round one for Nagao, 12-2. Another dominant win in match two, 13-6, made him the first 2022 U23 World Team member of the night. On his way to the finals, Nagao picked off two-time NCAA qualifiers Brody Teske (University of Northern Iowa) and Dylan Shawver (Rutgers).

1 - Aaron Nagao (Gopher WC - RTC)
2 - Jake Gliva (Gopher WC - RTC)
3 - Chance Rich (California)
4 - Julian Tagg (Ohio)
5 - Michael Colaiocco (Pennsylvania RTC)
6 - Dylan Shawver (Skwc-rtc)
7 - Julian Farber (Panther WC-RTC)
8 - Jace Koelzer (Northern Colorado WC

65 kg

Cole Matthews upset NCAA runner-up Ridge Lovett 6-5 and Dylan D’Emilio edged Junior World bronze medalist Beau Bartlett 8-6 to meet in the finals. D’Emilio was winning by criteria in match one until Matthews defended a shot, came behind for two and turned D’Emilio for the 10-6 victory. Matthews, an All-American for Pittsburgh, followed up match one with another decision, 8-4. Yianni Diakomihalis has first dibs on the 65 kg spot based on his qualification for Final X New York. If Diakomihalis defeats Evan Henderson, it is possible he will yield the spot to focus on the Senior World Championships.

1 - Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh WC)
2 - Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio RTC)
3 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska WTC)
4 - Jordan Decatur (Ohio RTC)
5 - Beau Bartlett (Nittany Lion WC)
6 - Joshua Saunders (Spartan Combat RTC)
7 - Kyren Butler (Cavalier WC)
8 - Clay Carlson (Jackrabbit WC)

70 kg

Yahya Thomas, an NCAA qualifier from Northwestern, was the second athlete to write his name on the U23 World Team list tonight after defeating Jonathan Millner, an All-American for App State. Thomas clinched the spot after two straight technical falls in the series. Match one featured three, four-point moves from Thomas in the first period. With this win, Thomas makes his second World Team.

1 - Yahya Thomas (Wildcat WC)
2 - Jonathan Millner (Boone RTC)
3 - Trevor Chumbley (Wildcat WC)
4 - Cobe Siebrecht (Hawkeye WC)
5 - Jacob Butler (Oklahoma RTC)
6 - Drew Roberts (Gopher WC - RTC)
7 - Daniel Manibog (Cowboy RTC)
8 - Edward Scott (Wolfpack WC)

74 kg

It only took Patrick Kennedy (Hawkeye WC) two matches to get the job done against All-American Peyton Hall (Mountaineer WC). In match one, Kennedy scored back-to-back snap down go-behinds for a final score of 8-3. Kennedy pinned Peyton Rob, last year’s World Team member, on his way to the finals. Unfortunately for Kennedy, David Carr has already secured the 74 kg spot after winning his true third match at Final X Stillwater.

1 - Patrick Kennedy (Hawkeye WC)
2 - Peyton Hall (Mountaineer WC)
4 - Peyton Robb (Nebraska WTC)
4 - Bubba Wilson (Nebraska WTC)
5 - Sonny Santiago (Tar HeelC)
6 - Justin McCoy (Cavalier WC)
7 - Joshua Ogunsanya (New York City RTC)
8 - Matt Lee (Nittany Lion WC)

79 kg

Oklahoma State All-American, Dustin Plott, won in two straight matches over Michael O’Malley of Drexel. Plott won match one by decision, 6-2, and match two with an 8-0 sweep. If Carter Starocci is successful in his true third match this Wednesday at Final X New York, Plott will not have priority for the World Team spot.

1 - Dustin Plott (Cowboy RTC)
2 - Michael O'Malley (Pennsylvania RTC)
3 - Brennan Swafford (Hawkeye WC)
4 - Max Maylor (Cliff Keen WC)
5 - Danny Braunagel (Illinois RTC/Illini WC)
6 - Philip Conigliaro (New England RTC)
7 - Edmond Ruth (Pennsylvania)
8 - Justin Phillips (Cavalier WC)

86 kg

Trent Hidlay, the favorite at 86 kg, secured his spot on the World Team with two technical falls over Trent Munoz (Beaver Dam RTC). On his way to the finals, Hidlay had a close one with Michial Foy (Gopher WC - RTC) in the round of 16, barely getting by with a 9-7 win. Hidlay scored four points in the final seconds to overcome Foy’s 6-5 lead. Hidlay, an NCAA All-American and 2019 Junior World Bronze medalist, will look to medal in Spain as this year’s rep. Despite securing his spot, Hidlay still plans on meeting Mark Hall at Final X New York for the true third match.

1 - Trent Hidlay (Wolfpack WC)
2 - Trent Munoz (Beaver Dam RTC)
3 - Abe Assad (Hawkeye WC)
4 - Jonathan Loew (Spartan Combat RTC)
5 - William Feldkamp (Clarion RTC)
6 - Christopher Foca (Spartan Combat RTC)
7 - Jack Jessen (Wildcat WC)
8 - Michial Foy (Gopher WC - RTC)

92 kg

If Jay Aiello wins the true-third match at Final X New York over Isaac Trumble, Jacob Cardenas (Spartan Combat RTC) lands a spot on the U23 World Team. Cardenas defeated Evan Bockman (Brunson UVRTC) in the series tonight, 7-2 and 4-2. Cardenas got on the board early in the deciding match with a double-leg to a turn. Bockman was able to score on two push outs, but it wasn’t enough to stop Cardenas.

1 - Jacob Cardenas (Spartan Combat RTC)
2 - Evan Bockman (Brunson UVRTC)
3 - Andrew Davison (Illinois)
4 - Jack Davis (Lehigh Valley WC)
5 - Austin Cooley (Mountaineer WC)
6 - Nicholas Willham (Indiana RTC)
7 - Robert Striggow (Cliff Keen WC)
8 - Mason McCready (Buffalo Valley RTC)

97 kg

Tanner Sloan (Jackrabbit WC) locked in his World Team spot with a technical fall and decision over Nick Stemmet (California RTC), 10-0 and 10-3. Sloan was up 6-0 at the break then took Stemmet down and turned him for the match one victory. Sloan was the 97 kg Junior World rep in 2019 and the 2019 Pan American gold medalist.

1 - Tanner Sloan (Jackrabbit WC)
2 - Nick Stemmet (California RTC)
3 - Garrett Joles (Gopher WC - RTC)
4 - Tyler Bagoly (Clarion RTC)
5 - Trey Rogers (Blue & Gold WC)
6 - Brandon Hoselton (Buies Creek WC)
7 - Tereus Henry (Kansas)
8 - Eli Daugherty (Buies Creek WC)

125 kg

Anothony Cassioppi is headed to the World Championships after two dominant victories over Zach Elam (Tiger Wrestling Club). The Iowa Hawkeye will look to repeat his success on the World Stage last year where he brought home a gold medal. Elam started match one by bodylocking Cassioppi straight to his back. Cassioppi responded by lacing Elam for the lead and won 11-4. Elam was first to score again in match two, but just as he did before, Cassioppi came back with a takedown and scoring series from a leg lace for the technical fall.

1 - Anthony Cassioppi (Hawkeye WC)
2 - Zach Elam (Tiger Style Wrestling Club)
3 - Tyrie Houghton (Wolfpack WC)
4 - Trent Hillger (Wisconsin RTC)
5 - Lucas Davison (Illinois)
6 - Owen Trephan (Wolfpack WC)
7 - Joshua Heindselman (Oklahoma RTC)
8 -Taye Ghadiali (Buies Creek WC)