U.S. Open U15 Nationals preview & entries: Sanchez lone returning champion, Seven 14U champions are entered

Samuel Sanchez (CA) competing in the 2022 U15 Nationals freestyle finals. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.

Top youth athletes from across the nation will compete in the Olympic styles of freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2023 U15 National Championships at the South Point Hotel and Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

The U15 Nationals in freestyle will be held Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 and the U15 Nationals in Greco-Roman will be held Sunday, April 30. It is one of the major events within the 2023 Pritchard Companies U.S. Open, presented by FloWrestling.

There is just one 2022 U15 National champion registered to compete, Samuel Sanchez of California, who was the 38 kg freestyle national champion last year in Las Vegas. Sanchez also went on to win the U15 Pan American Trials in freestyle in Boys Town, Neb. Sanchez will compete at 41 kg this year.

On other 2022 U15 Pan American Trials champion is in this year’s U15 Nationals, Jesse Boyden of Georgia, who won the 52 kg U15 Pan American Trials in freestyle. This year, Boyden will wrestle at 57 kg in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in Las Vegas.

There are seven 14U National freestyle or Greco-Roman champions who will be wrestling in the U15 Nationals this year in Las Vegas. Two of them won the 14U Triple Crown last year, Travis Cardenas of Arizona at 119 pounds and Drake Morrison of Idaho at 130 pounds. At this year’s U15 Nationals, Cardenas will compete in both styles at 57 kg, while Morrison will wrestle in both styles at 62 kg.

Daniel Green, a 14U double champion last year at 87 pounds, will compete at 48 kg this week in both styles. David Calkins of California, a 14U double champion last year at 187 pounds, is registered in both styles at 87 kg. Zaiyahn Ornelas of Nebraska, a 14U national freestyle champion at 87 pounds, is entered in both styles at 48 kg. Cruzer Dominguez of Nebraska, a 14U national Greco-Roman champion at 77 pounds, is entered in both styles at 41 kg. Gary High of Tennessee, a 14U national Greco-Roman champion at 97 pounds, will go both styles in Las Vegas at 57 kg.

One 2022 12U Triple Crown winner has moved up in age and will compete at the U15 Nationals at 44 kg in both styles, Reece Movahead of Virginia.

This event has been traditionally a competition where talented young athletes break through at the national level in the international styles. With over 600 entries as of April 22, this is one of the larger tournaments as part of the U.S. Open, and could be wide open and entertaining.

U15 Nationals entries (as of April 22, 2023)

2023 U15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Las Vegas, Nev.,

Event Schedule

Friday, April 28
4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Freestyle Preliminaries, Quarterfinals and Consolations

Saturday, April 29
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Freestyle Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
4:00 p.m. – Freestyle Medal Matches

Sunday, April 30
10:00 a.m. – Greco-Roman Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
4:00 p.m. – Greco-Roman Medal Matches

2022 U15 Freestyle National Champions
April 2022
38 - Samuel Sanchez (California)
41 - Grey Burnett (Perrysburg WC)
44 - Ignacio Villasenor (Pomona Elite (PWCC))
48 - Tyler Dekraker (Integrity WC)
52 - Isaiah Jones (Oklahoma)
57 - Thomas Verrette (Black Fox Wrestling Academy)
62 - Joseph Jeter (Standfast WC)
68 - Owen McMullen (Pennsylvania)
75 - Adrien Reyes (California)
85 - Dreshaun Ross (Sebolt Wrestling Academy)

2022 U15 Greco-Roman National Champions
April 2022
38 - Liam Collins (Pinnacle Wrestling Club)
41 - Grey Burnett (Perrysburg Wrestling Club)
44 - Lincoln Sledzianowski (Garage Boyz Wrestling)
48 - Michael Romero (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage)
52 - Declan Koch (Team Nazar Training Center)
57 - Thomas Verrette (Black Fox Wrestling Academy)
62 - Blue Stiffler (Roundtree Wrestling Academy)
68 - Owen Mcmullen (Pennsylvania)
75 - Terrell Mcfarland (Team Pennsylvania)
85 - Dreshaun Ross (Sebolt Wrestling Academy)

2022 U15 Pan American Trials Freestyle Champions
August 2022
38 kg - Samuel Sanchez (CA)
41 kg - Cameron Sontz (NJ)
44 kg - Henry Aslikyan (CA)
48 kg - Michael Romero (CA)
52 kg - Josiah Boyden (GA)
57 kg - Thomas Verrette (CO)
62 kg - Emmitt Sherlock (MD)
68 kg - Mikel David Uyemura (CA)
75 kg - Terrell McFarland (PA)
85 kg - Dreshaun Ross (IA)

2022 U15 Pan American Trials Greco-Roman Champions
August 2022
38 kg- Liam Collins (MN)
41 kg - Jensen Boyd (IN)
44 kg - Henry Aslikyan (CA)
48 kg- Hudson Loges (NE)
52 kg - Josiah Boyden (GA)
57 kg - Thomas Verrette (CO)
62 kg- Nolan Fellers (IA
68 kg - Mikel David Uyemura (CA)
75 kg - Terrell McFarland (PA)
85 kg - Dreshaun Ross (IA)

2022 14U Freestyle champions
June 2022
71 — Corey Brown (MD)
77 — Hudson Chittum (TN)
83 — Liam Collins (MN)
87 — Daniel Green (MT)
92 — Kavin Muyleart (PA)
97 — Zaiyahn Ornelas (NE)
102 — Will Detar (PA)
106 — Dawson Youngblut (IA)
110 — Braylon Reynolds (IN)
114 — Brooklyn Pickett (MD)
119 — Travis Cardenas (AZ)
125 — Noah Bull (UT)
130 — Drake Morrison (ID)
136 — Yandro Soto-Rivera (UST)
149 — Aaron Stewart (IL)
165 — Evan Perez (CO)
187 - David Calkins (CA)
250 - Denarii Mickel (PA)

2022 14U Greco-Roman champions
June 2022
71 — Corey Brown (MD)
77 — Cruzer Dominguez (NE)
83 — Liam Collins (MN)
87 — Daniel Green (MT)
92 — Kavin Muyleart (PA)
97 — Gary High (TN)
102 — Will Detar (PA)
106 — Bruno Cassioppi (IL)
110 — Matthew Orbeta (CA)
114 — Austin Collins (CO)
119 — Travis Cardenas (AZ)
125 — Gage Brady (UT)
130 — Drake Morrison (ID)
136 — Lucas Boe (IN)
149 — Aaron Stewart (IL)
165 — Evan Perez (CO)
187 - David Calkins (CA)
250 - Denarii Mickel (PA)