U.S. Open Senior Freestyle Preview: Olympic champion Steveson returning; World champion Cox moving up

Photo: 2020 Olympic champion Gable Steveson will make his return to freestyle wrestling competition at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. (Tony Rotundo/WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

 

The U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle Open field is shaping up to be a banger at the 2023 Pritchard Company U.S. Open, presented by FloWrestling. The winner in each weight class qualifies for Final X in Newark, N.J., June 10, and guarantees themselves at least the No. 2 position on the 2023-24 Men’s Freestyle Senior National Team.

With the Olympic year just around the corner, athletes are now making strategic moves in anticipation for Paris 2024. Fans in Las Vegas can expect to see top stars returning to the fold, several key contenders shuffling weight classes, and unexpected Cinderella runs that will shape who represents the U.S. at the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, this fall.  

 

The talk of the wrestling town of late has been the surprise return of 2020 Olympic Champion Gable Steveson. He will throw his name in the ring in a deep 125 kg field that includes two-time World medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, plus the reigning Dan Hodge Trophy winner and Junior World champion Mason Parris, among others.

 

Two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox is moving up to challenge for the 97 kg spot. This has created quite a logjam of emerging contenders moving to 92 kg, a weight class which Cox has owned since 2018.

 

Another chapter in the longstanding rivalry between past NCAA champions and age-group World medalists Zahid Valencia and Mark Hall is likely to be recorded at 86 kg.

 

Newly minted NCAA champion and two-time age-group World medalist Vitali Arujau will look to continue his hot streak, challenging 2022 U.S. World Team member Seth Gross and a wildly deep 61 kg division.

 

Not to mention, three-time age-group World champion and three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee is set to enter the 57 kg field. It’ll be Lee’s first outing since the NCAAs, where he fell just short of joining the four-timer club, and his first major freestyle competition since a gold medal run at the 2019 Senior Nationals.

The Senior men’s freestyle tournament will take place April 27-28 at South Point Arena. Action will begin at 10 a.m. (PT) both days. Semifinals are scheduled for 6 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, and finals are set for 6 p.m. on Friday.

 

Single day and all session ticket options are available to purchase online through the South Point Box Office. Those unable to attend the event can stream every match from Las Vegas live on FloWrestling.com.

 

The updated entry lists for each weight class as of April 20 are provided below. More high-level athletes are expected to enter the field in Las Vegas over the coming days, most notable of which are Jason Nolf, Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

 

57 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 3 Zane Richards

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Matthew Ramos; 2^nd – Anthony Molton; 3^rd – Jakob Camacho; 4^th – Gregory Diakomihalis; 5^th – Caleb Smith; 6^th – Aden Reeves; 7^th – Gabriel Townsell; 8^th – Noah Cortez

Top contenders

The long-awaited return of Lee to freestyle competition headlines the storylines at 57 kg. His last Senior level tournament came at the 2019 Senior Nationals where he picked up quality wins over the likes of Nathan Tomasello and Vitali Arujau, all in dominant fashion. If Lee picks up where he left off, he will be hard to beat in Las Vegas. Two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, NCAA champion Patrick Glory and U.S. National Team member Zane Richards round out the list of top contenders who could challenge Lee for the title. The 57 kg champion will advance to face Thomas Gilman Final X.

57 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Jakob	Camacho	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Jakob	Lyons	Oklahoma
Nick	Suriano	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Yevier	Lopez	Florida
Juan	Diaz	California
Zane	Richards	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Patrick	Glory	New Jersey RTC
Ryan	Miller	Pennsylvania RTC
Caleb	Smith	North Carolina
Cooper	Flynn	Southeast Regional Training Center, Inc
Benjamin	Monn	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Francisco	Barrera	The Factory Wrestling Club
Landen	Fischer	Wolves Wrestling Club
Fabian	Gutierrez	Cane Nation Wrestling Club
Michael	Tortorice	Knights RTC
Koy	Caldwell	Utah
Sheldon	Seymour	Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club
Stevo	Poulin	Northern Colorado Wrestling Club
Brandon	Meredith	Jackrabbit Wrestling Club
Dalton	Henderson	Davis Wrestling Enterprises, LLC
Devane	Dodgens	Morris Fitness Wrestling Club
Eathon	Rider	Shafter Youth Wrestling
Darrion	Harris	California
Anthony	Romero	New York
Spencer	Lee	Hawkeye Wrestling Club
Patrick	Jones	Wellington High School Wrestling
Hayden	Narruhn	Oregon
Mitchell	Lofstedt	Oregon
Peter	Del Gallo	Maine

 

61 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 1 Seth Gross, No. 2 (at 57 kg) Vitali Arujau, No. 3 Daniel DeShazer

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Nico Megaludis; 2^nd – Joshua Rodriguez; 3^rd – Jesse Mendez; 4^th – Daniel DeShazer; 5^th – Tyler Graff; 6^th – Seth Gross; 7^th – Josh Kramer; 8^th – Cullan Schriever

Top contenders

61 kg has developed into one the deepest weight classes fans will see in Las Vegas. Gross is the reigning No. 1 here, but he will have to navigate a mine field of credentialed competitors to secure a Final X berth. Current U.S. National Team members Arujau and Daniel DeShazer, 2018 World bronze medalist Joe Colon, past U.S. Open champions Nico Megaludis and Cody Brewer, 2018 Final X champion Nahshon Garrett, and two-time U.S. National Team member Nathan Tomasello are the proven, upper echelon of this bracket. The 61 kg champion will advance to Final X and will await the winner of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.

61 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Aden	Valencia	California Regional Training Center (CA RTC)
Daniel	DeShazer	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
John	Hernandez	Kentucky
Jeffrey	Phillips	Florida
Seth	Gross	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Cael	Skewes	Utah
Nathan	Tomasello	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Nahshon	Garrett	Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club
Shelton	Mack	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Vitali	Arujau	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Michael	Colaiocco	Pennsylvania RTC
Devan	Turner	Beaver Dam Wrestling Regional Training Center
Cristian	Chavez	Norse Wrestling Club
Hunter	Sparks	Roseburg High School Wrestling
Cole	French	Bulls Wrestling Club
Nico	Provo	Connecticut
Andrew	Fallon	Massachusetts
Nico	Megaludis	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Austin	DeSanto	Hawkeye Wrestling Club
John	Babineau	Viking RTC
Jack	Huffman	Viking RTC
Cody	Brewer	Southeast Regional Training Center, Inc
Joe	Colon	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Ryan	Crookham	Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club
Carson	Taylor	Viking Wrestling Club (IA)
Julian	Farber	Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Sidney	Flores	Air Force Regional Training Center
Taylor	Summers	Western Colorado Wrestling Club
Collin	Metzgar	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club
Jayden	Carson	Arkansas Regional Training Center
Hunter	Leake	West Coast Regional Training Center
Christian	Kirchner	Maryland
Cade	Hornback	Illinois
Kurtis	Phipps	Buffalo Valley Regional Training Center
Evan	Winder	Missouri
Cullan	Schriever	Iowa

65 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 2 Evan Henderson, No. 3 Joseph McKenna

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Kendric Maple; 2^nd – Matthew Kolodzik; 3^rd – Ian Parker; 4^th – Luke Pletcher; 5^th – Patricio Lugo; 6^th – Evan Henderson; 7^th – Dean Heil; 8^th – Cole Matthews

Top contenders

The most consistent performer in the current 65 kg field has been Joseph McKenna, who is No. 3 on the U.S. ladder. He has won three international medals already in 2023, is a two-time Pan American champion, and has won World medals at the Junior and U23 levels. Final X runner-up Evan Henderson ascended to No. 2 in the U.S. last year with a remarkable World Team Trials run. Past Pan-American and NCAA champion Anthony Ashnault, U.S. Open finalist Matthew Kolodzik, and NCAA finalist and 2017 Cadet World teamer Ridge Lovett have the potential to break through. In total, five of last year’s U.S. Open All-Americans are back in 2023. The 65 kg champion will advance to face Yianni Diakomihalis in Final X.

65 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Timothy	Nevarez	Yuba Sutter Combat Wrestling Club
Alecsander	Freeman	Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club
Jake	Spellman	Crusader Wrestling Club
Hayden	Bates	COWA
Michael	Clemmensen	Colony Elite
Wyatt	Cooley	Missouri
Matthew	Kolodzik	New York Athletic Club
Ian	Parker	West Point Wrestling Club
Jason	Miranda	California
Ridge	Lovett	Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Danny	Khoundet	Stallions Wrestling Club
Evan	Henderson	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Joseph	McKenna	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Luke	Pletcher	Pittsburgh Wrestling Club
Joshua	Saunders	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Luciano	Arroyo	California Regional Training Center (CA RTC)
CJ	Composto	Pennsylvania RTC
Grant	Martsolf	Indiana
Anthony	Ashnault	New York City RTC
Tyler	Hunt	Navy Wrestling Club
Luke	Lucerne	Navy Wrestling Club
Joshua	Koderhandt	Navy Wrestling Club
Wyatt	Turnquist	Wolves Wrestling Club
Cole	Matthews	Pittsburgh Wrestling Club
Paul	Bianchi	Arkansas Regional Training Center
Daniel	DeRosier	Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club
Patricio	Lugo	Hawkeye Wrestling Club
Ryan	Fleck	Fitz Wrestling Academy
Johnny	Robles	California
Brandon	Wright	Indiana
Kade	Sammons	Minnesota
Trent	Lytle	Norse Wrestling Club
Kyle	Rowan	Ohio
Connor	Thorpe	Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Fernando	Soto-Cruz	Oregon
Khalid	Brinkley	Georgia
Trenton	Donahue	Pennsylvania
Elerenzo	Roberson	Colorado
Raul	Jimenez	California
Hunter	Pfantz	Mustang Wrestling Club
Scout	Nash	Idaho
Cayden	Rooks	Indiana RTC
Caleb	Vallotton	Foothill High School Wrestling
Jackie	Gold	New York
Jack	Finnegan	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club
Denim	Torgerson	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club

 

70 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 3 Tyler Berger

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Alec Pantaleo; 2^nd – Jordan Oliver; 3^rd – Doug Zapf; 4^th – Michael Blockhus; 5^th – Sam Sasso; 6^th – Tyler Berger; 7^th – Dayne Morton; 8^th – Brock Mauller

Top contenders

2021 Pan-American champion and defending U.S. Open Alec Pantaleo is back to defend his title in Las Vegas. Current U.S. National Team member Tyler Berger, a Bill Farrell Memorial International champion, is top challenger to Pantaleo. Also in the running will be past U.S. Open champion Hayden Hidlay, two-time NCAA finalist Sam Sasso and 2019 Junior World Team member Yahya Thomas. The 70 kg champion will advance to face Zain Retherford in Final X.

70 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
David	Simons	California
Azim	Azimy	California
Austin	Almaguer	Washington
Johnathon	Viveros	Central Valley RTC
Luke	Ahrberg	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Edward	Scott	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Hayden	Hidlay	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Garrett	Bass	Green Machine Wrestling Club
Tyler	Berger	Nebraska
Christian	Monserrat	New England Regional Training Center
Dayne	Morton	Wolves Wrestling Club
Cody	Welker	Team Nazar Training Center
Cody	Bond	Boone RTC
Dallas	Evans	Florida
Jarrett	Jacques	Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Alec	Pantaleo	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Doug	Zapf	Pennsylvania RTC
Yahya	Thomas	Wildcat Wrestling Club
Tariq	Wilson	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Caleb	Henson	Southeast Regional Training Center, Inc
Cameron	Harrell	Maryland
Aristotle	Rockwell	Oregon
Hans	Rockwell	Oregon
Nick	Stampoulos	Bulls Wrestling Club
Ty	Raines	Bulls Wrestling Club
Kaleb	Burgess	New York
Fidel	Mayora	Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
Robert	Adams	AJ Wrestling Club
Brandon	Lucero	Colorado Springs Freestyle and Greco
Jaden	Abas	California
Luke	Mechler	Cowboy RTC
Daniel	Manibog	Cowboy RTC
Teague	Travis	Cowboy RTC
Sam	Sasso	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Julian	Flores	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Israel	Casarez	Viking Wrestling Club (IA)
Jacob	Butler	Oklahoma Regional Training Center
Michael	Blockhus	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Jakob	Bergeland	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Drew	Roberts	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Cael	Rahnavardi	Immortal Athletics WC
Jarod	Verkleeren	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Jaxon	Morlan	Utah
Christopher	Kelly	California
Zane	Stoddard	San Francisco Wrestling Club
Moses	Espinoza-Owens	Sanderson Wrestling Academy
Seonghun	Chung	Oregon
McCoy	Pace	New York City RTC
Nick	Melendez	California
Drew	Hobbs	Ohio
Tarik	Adkins	NB Elite Wrestling Club
Anthony	Ulaszek	Bear Cave Wrestling Club

 

74 kg
Current National Team members entered: None

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Jason Nolf; 2^nd – Joshua Shields; 3^rd – Collin Purinton; 4^th – Peter Pappas; 5^th – Andrew Cerniglia; 6^th – Thomas Gantt 7^th – Joshua Ogunsanya; 8^th – Evan Delong

 

Top contenders

U.S. National Team members Jason Nolf and David Carr have yet to enter the Las Vegas field, leaving the 74 kg door wide open for a new talent to emerge. It’s easy to picture Junior World champion and two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole making the leap to challenge for the Senior World Team spot. Two-time NCAA champion and U.S. Open finalist Vincenzo Joseph is another top candidate for gold. The 74 kg champion will advance to face Kyle Dake in Final X.

74 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Gabe	Blough	Damaged Ear Wrestling Club
Javin	Allen	California
Joshua	Shields	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Collin	Purinton	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Vincenzo	Joseph	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Charles	Darracott	California Regional Training Center (CA RTC)
Zarik	Anderson	Iowa
Elroy	Perkin	West Coast Regional Training Center
Chaz	Hallmark	West Coast Regional Training Center
Keegan	O'Toole	Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Joey	Lavallee	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Julian	Ramirez	Spartan Combat RTC
Thomas	Gantt	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Andrew	Cerniglia	Navy Wrestling Club
Andrew	Dickson	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Peter	Pappas	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Loranzo	Rajaonarivelo	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Hunter	Shaut	Bulls Wrestling Club
Brian	Vutianitis	Vision Wrestling Club
Luka	Wick	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Trever	Devestern	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Kaleb	Young	Hawkeye Wrestling Club
Kolbi	Caffey	Carbondale Wrestling Club
Tyler	Wagener	Viking RTC
Brendan	Kiernan	Massachusetts
Bryce	Hepner	Ohio
Vincent	Cramer	La Grande Mat Club
Cael	Carlson	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Joey	Mora	California
Evan	Yant	Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Ty	Chittum	Virginia
Tallin	Johnson	Mustang Wrestling Club
Derek	Gilcher	Indiana RTC
Zachary	Rowe	West Coast Regional Training Center
Matthew	Lackman	Steller Trained Wrestling
Marcus	Petite	Bulls Wrestling Club
Abdul	Meskienyar	Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club
Marcus	Espinoza-Owens	Sanderson Wrestling Academy
James	Bowers	Oregon
Elijah	Cleary	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Samuel	Balderston	All-Phase Wrestling Club
Ethan	Contreras	Oregon
Taro	Harmon	Nighthawks SD WC
Varney	Doreen	Oregon

 

79 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 2 Chance Marsteller

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – David McFadden; 2^nd – Vincenzo Joseph; 3^rd – Alex Dieringer; 4^th – Taylor Lujan; 5^th – Chance Marsteller; 6^th – Brayden Thompson; 7^th – Evan Wick; 8^th – Isaiah Martinez

Top contenders

Final X runner-up Chance Marsteller has cemented himself as a clear frontrunner at 79 kg after earning two bronze medals in international competition this year and stealing a match from Jordan Burroughs last summer. He will have to stave off six-time U.S. National Team member and Junior World silver medalist Alex Dieringer, and defending U.S. Open champion David McFadden, to get another shot at Burroughs. U.S. National Team member Carter Starocci has yet to enter the field. Proven college standouts Michael Kemerer, Michael Labriola and Alex Marinelli could also make some noise here. The 79 kg champion will advance to face Burroughs in Final X.

79 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Mitch	Willett	Oregon
Isaiah	Sellers	Icon Wrestling Club
Stephen	Liebler	New York
Muhamed	McBryde	New York Athletic Club
Aarif	Asif	Pennsylvania
Michael	Labriola	Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Max	Rohskopf	Gold Rush Wrestling
Jamal	Morris	Florida
Isaiah	White	Indiana RTC
Alex	Dieringer	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Taylor	Lujan	Panther Wrestling Club RTC
David	McFadden	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Michael	Kemerer	Spartan Combat RTC
Chance	Marsteller	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Devin	Skatzka	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Roger Paul	Pierce	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Sean	Houston	Backyard Bullies Wrestling Club
Jay	Nivison	Bulls Wrestling Club
Paul	Schon	Mad Cow Wrestling Club
Casey	Randles	Viking Wrestling Club (IA)
Alex	Marinelli	Hawkeye Wrestling Club
Marcos	Gamez	Firebaugh High School Wrestling
Devan	Hendricks	Knights RTC
Joey	Hancock	Kansas
Carson	Kharchla	Ohio
Hunter	Mullin	Western Colorado Wrestling Club
Josiah	Green	David Douglas Mat Club
Justin	Head	Iowa
Brandon	Lalla	Iowa
Donnell	Washington	Indiana RTC
Jaison	White	New England Regional Training Center
Jahmon	Spiller	Solid Tech Wrestling Club
Bilal	Bailey	Harvey Twisters WC
Nelson	Brands	Hawkeye Wrestling Club

 

86 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 2 Zahid Valencia, No. 3 Mark Hall

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Mark Hall; 2^nd – Marcus Coleman; 3^rd – Nick Reenan; 4^th – Caden Steffen; 5^th – Owen Webster; 6^th – Caleb Hopkins; 7^th – Julien Broderson; 8^th – Timonthy Young

Top contenders

At present, it is a two-horse race for the 86 kg title in Las Vegas between Valencia and Hall. However, U23 World silver medalist Trent Hidlay, who is a four-time NCAA All-American, will have his say in the matter. The wild card will be whether three-time NCAA champion Aaron Brooks enters the fold as expected. Brooks has a strong freestyle track record with a Cadet World title and Junior World silver medal to his name. The 86 kg champion will advance to face David Taylor in Final X.

86 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Owen	Webster	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Hunter	Gonzalez	California
Trent	Hidlay	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Dylan	Fishback	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Helton	Vandenbush	Askren Wrestling Academy
Zahid	Valencia	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Kyle	Homet	Pennsylvania
Malachi	Karibo	Kansas
Sean	Harman	Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Mark	Hall	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Maximus	Hale	Pennsylvania RTC
David	Key	Navy Wrestling Club
Adeshola	Logunleko	New York Athletic Club
Mikey	Squires	New Jersey RTC
Nathan	Haas	California
Kyle	Summers	Missouri
Kyle	Knudtson	Oregon
Connor	Collins	Wisconsin
Sam	Kruger	South Dakota
Cade	Mueller	Waconia Wrestling Club
Leonardo	Tarantino	New England Regional Training Center
Rowan	Morgan	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Hadyn	Danals	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Hudson	Stewart	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Jason	Bynarowicz	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club
Tanner	Baumgartner	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club
Armando	Sandoval	Team SoCal Wrestling Club
Martin	Verhaeghe	Kansas
Lucas	Hodges	Mustang Wrestling Club
Dustin	Plott	Cowboy RTC
Julian	Gonzalez	Arizona
Dwight	Gardner	Florida

 

92 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 2 Nathan Jackson, No. 2 (at 97 kg) Kollin Moore, No. 3 Jonathan Aiello, No. 3 (at 97 kg) Michael Macchiavello

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Cameron Caffey; 2^nd – Isaac Trumble; 3^rd – Max Shaw; 4^th – Michael Battista; 5^th – Christopher Smith; 6^th – Jacob Koser; 7^th – Levi Hopkins; 8^th – Rodsean Graham

 

Top contenders

One of the more competitive weight classes will be 92 kg as four current U.S. National Team members are in the bracket. 2021 Pan American champion Nathan Jackson could be marked the favorite here after taking a match from Cox at last year’s Final X. 2021 U23 World bronze medalist Jonathan Aiello holds the No. 3 spot at 92 kg. Junior and U23 World medalist Kollin Moore and defending U.S. Open champion Michael Macchiavello are making the drop from 97 kg and are immediate title threats. 2021 Junior World champion Rocky Elam, Bill Farrell Memorial International champion Eric Schultz, and three-time NCAA All-American Morgan McIntosh all have potential for deep runs. The 92 kg champion will advance to Final X and will await the winner of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.

92 kg entries (as of April 19)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Isaac	Trumble	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Ricardo	Cortez Aviles	Washington
Eric	Schultz	Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Nathan	Jackson	New York Athletic Club
Silas	Allred	Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
Rocky	Elam	Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Jonathan	Aiello	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Andrew	Morgan	Spartan Combat RTC
Kollin	Moore	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Michael	Macchiavello	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Jacob	Cardenas	Spartan Combat RTC
Jake	Lucas	Pennsylvania
Tyler	Kocak	Patriot Elite Wrestling Club
Morgan	McIntosh	Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Jackson	Kinsella	Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club
Nick	Stemmet	Illinois
Jack	Clemmensen	California
Zachary	Peterson	Viking RTC
Kyle	Haas	Cowboy Wrestling Club
John	Gunderson	Panther Wrestling Club RTC
Michael	Battista	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Krystian	Kinsey	Cavalier Wrestling Club
Braden	Baumgartner	Team Vision Quest Colorado
Trillyon	Filsaime	Florida
Travis	Pol	Pirate Wrestling Club
David	Willoughby	Texas RTC
Riley	Crook	Sarbacker Wrestling Academy
Jay	Smith	Oregon
Shane	Hansen	The Grappling Group

 

97 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 1 (at 92 kg) J’den Cox

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Michael Macchiavello; 2^nd – Josef Rau; 3^rd – Jonathan Aiello; 4^th – Timothy Dudley; 5^th – Samuel Mitchell; 6^th – Ethan Laird; 7^th – Duncan Lee; 8^th – Marco Retano

 

Top contenders

With most top contenders at 97 kg dropping to 92 kg, this bracket clearly belongs to the veteran Cox. The highest returning U.S. Open place winner from last year is Timothy Dudley, who was a NCAA finalist in 2016 and is the most likely to challenge Cox in Las Vegas. Samuel Mitchell, Duncan Lee and Marco Retano round out the list of returning U.S. Open All-Americans in the field. 2022 U20 World champion Ben Keuter is a young talent to keep an eye on. The 97 kg champion will advance to face Kyle Snyder in Final X.

97 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Nick	Williams	North Valley RTC
David	Remer	Nevada
Timothy	Dudley	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
J'den	Cox	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Morgan	Smith	Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club
Malik	McDonald	Golden Pride Wrestling Club
Samuel	Mitchell	Bulls Wrestling Club
Darien	Kaufmann	Stampede Wrestling Club
Ben	Kueter	Iowa
Marco	Retano	La Grande Mat Club
Anthony	Mancini	San Francisco Wrestling Club
Eric	Gamble	Pennsylvania
Kash	Anderson	Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club
Darius	Mynar	Burg Training Center
Duncan	Lee	Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC
Eulogio	Dalmeida	Nebraska

 

125 kg
Current National Team members entered: No. 2 Nick Gwiazdowski, No. 3 Dominique Bradley

2022 U.S. Open All-Americans: 1^st – Hayden Zillmer; 2^nd – Dominique Bradley; 3^rd – Ty Walz; 4^th – Demertius Thomas; 5^th – Lucas Davison; 6^th – Christian Lance; 7^th – Jordan Wood 8^th – Samuel Schuyler

Top contenders

If Steveson returns close to his Olympic-winning form, he is going to be hard to top. Gwiazdowski and Parris certainly have the chops to give Steveson a run for his money. The highly credentialed veteran Dominique Bradley, who is No. 3 on the U.S. ladder and a past U.S. Open champion, will also be one to watch. Reigning U.S. World Team member Hayden Zillmer has not entered the field but will be an immediate threat should he do so. The 125 kg champion will advance to Final X and will await the winner of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.

125 kg entries (as of April 20)

First Name	Last Name	Team
Jacob	Haynes	Ohio
Owen	Trephan	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Darrian	Hoobery	Idaho
Dominique	Bradley	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Christian	Lance	Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Jordan	Wood	Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club
Demertius	Thomas	Pittsburgh Wrestling Club
Zach	Elam	Tiger Style Wrestling Club
Mason	Parris	Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
Derek	White	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Nick	Gwiazdowski	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Daniel	Erekson	Ryuko Training Center
Ty	Walz	Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Tyrie	Houghton	Wolfpack Wrestling Club
Grady	Griess	Navy Wrestling Club
Lee	Herrington	Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club
Crew	Howard	Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club
Malcolm	Allen	Viking RTC
Shawn	Streck	Cowboy Wrestling Club
Garrett	Joles	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Sammy	Deseriere	Western Colorado Wrestling Club
Wyatt	Hendrickson	Air Force Regional Training Center
Cullen	Quick	Wisconsin
Kyle	LaFritz	PEAK Wrestling Club
Jacob	Bullock	Indiana RTC
Gable	Steveson	Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC
Gabriel	Jacobs	Florida
Darrell	Mason	Harvey Twisters WC
Peter	Ming	California