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32 wrestlers in 16 weights win World Team Trials Challenge Tournament semifinals and advance to Final X
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kamal Bey action image by Justin Hoch.
CORALVILLE, Iowa – The first group of wrestlers who have earned a spot in Final X were determined during the morning session of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Xteam Arena this morning.
Winners of the semifinals in 16 weight classes punched their tickets to either Final X Stillwater on June 3 or Final X New York on June 8. Included were nine Greco-Roman weight classes, four women’s weight classes and three men’s freestyle weight classes.
Among the Greco-Roman athletes who qualified for Final X are past Olympians Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Jesse Thielke (63 kg), Alejandro Sancho (67 kg) and Ben Provisor (82 kg).
Past World Team members in Greco-Roman advancing to Final X were Hafizov, Thielke, Provisor, Max Nowry (55 kg), Dalton Roberts (60 kg), Sammy Jones (63 kg), Patrick Smith (72 kg), Kamal Bey (77 kg), Alan Vera (87 kg) and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg).
Bey, a past Junior World champion and Senior World Team member, is competing at his highest level in a number of years.
In men’s freestyle, past World Team members advancing to Final X were Yianni Diakomihalis (65 kg), Zain Retherford (70 kg) and Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kg). Gwiadowski is a two-time World bronze medalist.
One of the most exciting weight classes was at 70 kg, where Retherford defeated 2022 U.S. Open champion Alec Pantaleo, 5-2. On the other side, 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion Jordan Oliver stopped Ryan Deakin, 7-4.
In women’s freestyle, none of the eight wrestlers who qualified for Final X have made a previous Senior World Team. Of those advancing to Final X, past U.S. Open champions include Felicity Taylor (53 kg), Dominique Parrish (53 kg), Abigail Nette (59 kg), Skylar Grote (72 kg) and Dymond Guilford (76 kg).
Amit Elor, a 2021 U17 World champion and U21 World champion, competing in her first year at the Senior level, qualified for Final X at 72 kg.
The other 14 weight classes will have a best-of-three series on Sunday night. Only the winner of tonight’s series advance to Final X, where they will face a 2021 World medalist who had already qualified for Final X.
Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, is set for Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University. It will be held alongside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend, which is happening at the Hall of Fame facility next door, June 3-4.
Final X New York. presented by Tezos, is set for Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.
The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three of the Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.The winner of each Final X Championship Series will represent the Team USA at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.
WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
At Coralville, Iowa, May 21
Greco-Roman semifinals results
55 kg
Max Nowry (Army (WCAP) pin Drew West (Illinois), 1:30
Brady Koontz (ORTC/TMWC) pin Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP), 2:00
Nowry and Koontz qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP) tech. fall Drew West IL (Illinois), 9-0 1:31
60 kg
Dalton Roberts Army (WCAP) pin Randon Miranda (Rise RTC), 2:40
Ildar Hafizov (Army (WCAP) pin Dylan Koontz (ORTC/TMWC), 1:54
Roberts and Hafizov qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Randon Miranda (Rise RTC) dec. Max Black (Colorado), 5-3
63 kg
Sammy Jones (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall David Stepanian (New York Athletic Club), 9-0. 1:51
Jesse Thielke (Army WCAP) tech fall Aidan Nutter (New York Athletic Club), 8-0, 0:40
Jones and Thielke qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (West Coast Greco RTC) tech. fall Aidan Nutter (New York Athletic Club), 9-0 5:33
67 kg
Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) dec. Peyton Omania (New York Athletic Club), 5-1
Alston Nutter (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Lenny Merkin (New York Athletic Club), 16-5, 2:47
Sancho and Nutter qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Peyton Omania (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Lenny Merkin (New York Athletic Club), 10-2 1:20
72 kg
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Jamel Johnson (Marines), 8-0, 3:55
Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Michael Hooker (Army (WCAP), 15-4, 0:58
Smith and Peak qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Noah Wachsmuth (COBRA ALL-STARS / Cobra Wrestling Systems LLC) dec. Jamel Johnson (Marines), 10-4
77 kg
Britton Holmes (Army WCAP) dec. Ravaughn Perkins (New York Athletic Club), 4-3
Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) dec. Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club), 6-3
Holmes and Bey qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Payton Jacobson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club), 3-2
82 kg
Ben Provisor (New York Athletic Club) dec. Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm), 3-1
Spencer Woods (Army WCAP) pin Tyler Cunningham (MWC Wrestling Academy), 3:29
Provisor and Woods qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Tommy Brackett (Tennessee) dec. Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm), 2-1
87 kg
Alan Vera (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Christian Dulaney (Minnesota Storm), 10-0, 1:10
Timothy Young (Illinois) pin George Sikes (New York Athletic Club), 6:00
Vera and Young qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Christian Dulaney (Minnesota Storm) dec. Tyler Hannah (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling), 12-8
130 kg
Cohlton Schultz CO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin David Tate Orndorff (TMWC), 5:28
Tanner Farmer (New York Athletic Club) pin West Cathcart (New York Athletic Club), 1:47
Schultz and Farmer qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - David Tate Orndorff (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec. Courtney Freeman NC (Marines),
Women’s freestyle semifinal results
53 kg
Felicity Taylor (Bearcat RTC) pin Haley Franich (Air Force RTC), 0:51
Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids) dec. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids), 6-0
Taylor and Parrish qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin Haley Franich (Air Force Regional Training Center), 0:39
59 kg
Lexie Basham (Spartan Mat Club) dec. Nanea Estrella (TMWC), 5-3
Abigail Nette (Army WCAP) dec. Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-1
Basham and Nette qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Nanea Estrella (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 11-0 3:52
72 kg
Skylar Grote (NYAC/Beaver Dam RTC) tech. fall Marilyn Garcia (California), 10-0, 1:26
Amit Elor (NYC RTC/TMWC) tech. fall Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 12-2, 3:35
Grote and Elor qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Marilyn Garcia (California) dec. Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 3-2
76 kg
Dymond Guilford (USOP/TMWC) tech. fall Victoria Francis (HWC/TMWC), 10-0, 3:55
Yelena Makoyed (CARD/TMWC) tech. fall Olivia Robinson (Peninsula Wrestling Club), 10-0, 2:55
Guilford and Makoyed qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Precious Bell (VICT/TMWC) tech. fall Tristan Kelly (Army (WCAP)), 12-2 3:20
Men’s freestyle semifinal results
65 kg
Evan Henderson (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Nick Lee (NLWC/TMWC), 12-11
Yianni Diakomihalis (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC), 10-0, 1:01
Henderson and Diakomihalis qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Joseph Mckenna (PRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Ian Parker (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 11-0 4:15
70 kg
Zain Retherford (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/TMWC), 5-2
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC), 7-4
Retherford and Oliver qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Tyler Berger (CAL/TMWC) dec. Sam Sasso (ORTC/TMWC), 9-5
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 3-1
Nick Gwiazdowski (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Anthony Cassioppi (HWC/TMWC), 10-0, 2:08
Zillmer and Gwiazdowski qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ty Walz (SERT/TMWC), 2-2
CORALVILLE, Iowa – The first group of wrestlers who have earned a spot in Final X were determined during the morning session of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Xteam Arena this morning.
Winners of the semifinals in 16 weight classes punched their tickets to either Final X Stillwater on June 3 or Final X New York on June 8. Included were nine Greco-Roman weight classes, four women’s weight classes and three men’s freestyle weight classes.
Among the Greco-Roman athletes who qualified for Final X are past Olympians Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Jesse Thielke (63 kg), Alejandro Sancho (67 kg) and Ben Provisor (82 kg).
Past World Team members in Greco-Roman advancing to Final X were Hafizov, Thielke, Provisor, Max Nowry (55 kg), Dalton Roberts (60 kg), Sammy Jones (63 kg), Patrick Smith (72 kg), Kamal Bey (77 kg), Alan Vera (87 kg) and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg).
Bey, a past Junior World champion and Senior World Team member, is competing at his highest level in a number of years.
In men’s freestyle, past World Team members advancing to Final X were Yianni Diakomihalis (65 kg), Zain Retherford (70 kg) and Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kg). Gwiadowski is a two-time World bronze medalist.
One of the most exciting weight classes was at 70 kg, where Retherford defeated 2022 U.S. Open champion Alec Pantaleo, 5-2. On the other side, 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion Jordan Oliver stopped Ryan Deakin, 7-4.
In women’s freestyle, none of the eight wrestlers who qualified for Final X have made a previous Senior World Team. Of those advancing to Final X, past U.S. Open champions include Felicity Taylor (53 kg), Dominique Parrish (53 kg), Abigail Nette (59 kg), Skylar Grote (72 kg) and Dymond Guilford (76 kg).
Amit Elor, a 2021 U17 World champion and U21 World champion, competing in her first year at the Senior level, qualified for Final X at 72 kg.
The other 14 weight classes will have a best-of-three series on Sunday night. Only the winner of tonight’s series advance to Final X, where they will face a 2021 World medalist who had already qualified for Final X.
Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, is set for Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University. It will be held alongside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend, which is happening at the Hall of Fame facility next door, June 3-4.
Final X New York. presented by Tezos, is set for Wednesday, June 8 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This will serve as the 12th Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help Beat the Streets New York raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City.
The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three of the Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.The winner of each Final X Championship Series will represent the Team USA at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.
WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
At Coralville, Iowa, May 21
Greco-Roman semifinals results
55 kg
Max Nowry (Army (WCAP) pin Drew West (Illinois), 1:30
Brady Koontz (ORTC/TMWC) pin Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP), 2:00
Nowry and Koontz qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP) tech. fall Drew West IL (Illinois), 9-0 1:31
60 kg
Dalton Roberts Army (WCAP) pin Randon Miranda (Rise RTC), 2:40
Ildar Hafizov (Army (WCAP) pin Dylan Koontz (ORTC/TMWC), 1:54
Roberts and Hafizov qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Randon Miranda (Rise RTC) dec. Max Black (Colorado), 5-3
63 kg
Sammy Jones (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall David Stepanian (New York Athletic Club), 9-0. 1:51
Jesse Thielke (Army WCAP) tech fall Aidan Nutter (New York Athletic Club), 8-0, 0:40
Jones and Thielke qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (West Coast Greco RTC) tech. fall Aidan Nutter (New York Athletic Club), 9-0 5:33
67 kg
Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) dec. Peyton Omania (New York Athletic Club), 5-1
Alston Nutter (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Lenny Merkin (New York Athletic Club), 16-5, 2:47
Sancho and Nutter qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Peyton Omania (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Lenny Merkin (New York Athletic Club), 10-2 1:20
72 kg
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Jamel Johnson (Marines), 8-0, 3:55
Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Michael Hooker (Army (WCAP), 15-4, 0:58
Smith and Peak qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Noah Wachsmuth (COBRA ALL-STARS / Cobra Wrestling Systems LLC) dec. Jamel Johnson (Marines), 10-4
77 kg
Britton Holmes (Army WCAP) dec. Ravaughn Perkins (New York Athletic Club), 4-3
Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) dec. Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club), 6-3
Holmes and Bey qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Payton Jacobson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club), 3-2
82 kg
Ben Provisor (New York Athletic Club) dec. Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm), 3-1
Spencer Woods (Army WCAP) pin Tyler Cunningham (MWC Wrestling Academy), 3:29
Provisor and Woods qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Tommy Brackett (Tennessee) dec. Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm), 2-1
87 kg
Alan Vera (New York Athletic Club) tech. fall Christian Dulaney (Minnesota Storm), 10-0, 1:10
Timothy Young (Illinois) pin George Sikes (New York Athletic Club), 6:00
Vera and Young qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Christian Dulaney (Minnesota Storm) dec. Tyler Hannah (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling), 12-8
130 kg
Cohlton Schultz CO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin David Tate Orndorff (TMWC), 5:28
Tanner Farmer (New York Athletic Club) pin West Cathcart (New York Athletic Club), 1:47
Schultz and Farmer qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - David Tate Orndorff (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec. Courtney Freeman NC (Marines),
Women’s freestyle semifinal results
53 kg
Felicity Taylor (Bearcat RTC) pin Haley Franich (Air Force RTC), 0:51
Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids) dec. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids), 6-0
Taylor and Parrish qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin Haley Franich (Air Force Regional Training Center), 0:39
59 kg
Lexie Basham (Spartan Mat Club) dec. Nanea Estrella (TMWC), 5-3
Abigail Nette (Army WCAP) dec. Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-1
Basham and Nette qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Nanea Estrella (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 11-0 3:52
72 kg
Skylar Grote (NYAC/Beaver Dam RTC) tech. fall Marilyn Garcia (California), 10-0, 1:26
Amit Elor (NYC RTC/TMWC) tech. fall Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 12-2, 3:35
Grote and Elor qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Marilyn Garcia (California) dec. Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 3-2
76 kg
Dymond Guilford (USOP/TMWC) tech. fall Victoria Francis (HWC/TMWC), 10-0, 3:55
Yelena Makoyed (CARD/TMWC) tech. fall Olivia Robinson (Peninsula Wrestling Club), 10-0, 2:55
Guilford and Makoyed qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Precious Bell (VICT/TMWC) tech. fall Tristan Kelly (Army (WCAP)), 12-2 3:20
Men’s freestyle semifinal results
65 kg
Evan Henderson (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Nick Lee (NLWC/TMWC), 12-11
Yianni Diakomihalis (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC), 10-0, 1:01
Henderson and Diakomihalis qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Joseph Mckenna (PRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Ian Parker (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 11-0 4:15
70 kg
Zain Retherford (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/TMWC), 5-2
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC), 7-4
Retherford and Oliver qualify for Final X Stillwater
3rd - Tyler Berger (CAL/TMWC) dec. Sam Sasso (ORTC/TMWC), 9-5
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 3-1
Nick Gwiazdowski (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Anthony Cassioppi (HWC/TMWC), 10-0, 2:08
Zillmer and Gwiazdowski qualify for Final X New York
3rd - Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ty Walz (SERT/TMWC), 2-2