Eggum named Outstanding Wrestler, Sanchez repeats as champion at U15 Freestyle Nationals

Grayson Eggum of Minnesota competing in the 2023 U15 Nationals in freestyle. Photo by Larry Slater.


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Many of the nation’s top young wrestlers showed off their skills at the U15 National Freestyle Championships at the South Point Arena on Saturday.


Claiming the Outstanding Wrestler Award was Grayson Eggum of Minnesota, who secured a 12-1 technical fall over Austin Bickerman of Ohio in the championship finals at 48 kg. Both finalists at this weight class were unseeded.


Earning a repeat U15 Nationals title was Samuel Sanchez of California, the champion at 41 kg. Sanchez scored an 11-8 victory over tough Brayden Wenrich of Pennsylvania in the finals round.

Travis Cardenas of Arizona, a 14U Nationals champion in freestyle last summer, earned a U15 National title with a 12-7 win over Ashton Besmer of California.


There were only two technical falls in the finals, one by Eggum and the second by Brenden Jordan Agcaoili of Nevada at 62 kg, who stopped Quinten Cassiday of Michigan in the 62 kg finals, 12-2. Agcaolio came into the event without being seeded.


There were champions from nine different states, as many of the brackets were blown up in regards to seeding. Not a single No. 1 seed was able to finish with a title.


The top eight placewinners from each weight class qualify for the 2023 U15 Pan American Team Trials set for Colorado Springs, Colo. in August.

2023 U15 Freestyle Nationals

Las Vegas, Nev. — April 29


38 kg

1st — Cohen Reer OH (Burnett trained) dec. Chase Karenbauer PA (Bad Karma Wrestling Club), 6-4

3rd — Carson Miles AZ (Grindhouse Wrestling Club) dec. Wyatt Stauffer PA (Pennsylvania), 9-7

5th — Jeremy Carver IN (Contenders Wrestling Academy) tech fall Brand'n Edstrom ID (Team Idaho Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:44

7th — Lucas Forman NV (Nevada Elite Wrestling) fall Rowdy Angst MO (Victory Wrestling), 10-4 2:41


41 kg:

1st — Samuel Sanchez CA (California) dec. Brayden Wenrich PA (Pennsylvania), 11-8

3rd — Jojo Burke NJ (New Jersey) dec. Loc Webber OH (Beast Mode Wrestling), 13-4

5th — Keegan Bassett PA (Young Guns Wrestling Club) dec. Sean Kenny NJ (New Jersey), 5-4

7th — Max Dinges PA (M2 Training Center) tech fall Tristan Pino CO (Betterman Elite Wrestling), 10-0 0:58


44 kg

1st — Brandon Bickerton OH (Seasons Freestyle Club) dec. Nico Desalvo IA (Immortal Athletics WC), 5-2

3rd — Calvin Rathjen IA (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) dec. Jensen Boyd IN (CIA Wrestling), 9-9

5th — Arseni Kikiniou CA (Poway Wrestling) tech fall Aaron Meza CA (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage), 10-0 3:02

7th — Carter Shin VA (Integrity Wrestling Club) dec. Ben Ziola NE (MWC Wrestling Academy), 15-6


48 kg

1st — Grayson Eggum MN (MN Elite Wrestling Club) tech fall Austin Bickerton OH (Seasons Freestyle Club), 12-1 1:14

3rd — Zaiyahn Ornelas NE (Team Zapas Wrestling Club) fall Izayiah Chavez TX (Best Trained Wrestling), 10-0 3:02

5th — Alexander Pierce IA (Big Game Wrestling Club) injury default Michael Batista NJ (New Jersey)

7th — Reef Dillard PA (Steller Trained Wrestling) dec. Daniel Green MT (Billings Wrestling Club), 9-0


52 kg

1st — Dale Gant III MI (Michigan) dec. Grayson Fuchs MI (Perrysburg Wrestling Club), 4-2

3rd — Dawson Youngblut IA (Immortal Athletics WC) tech fall Will Detar PA (Lancaster Alliance Wrestling), 10-0 1:20

5th — Carson Neubert WI (Team Nazar Training Center) VFO Czar Quintanilla WA (Inland Northwest Wrestling Training Center), 0-0

7th — Konner Larkin AZ (Thorobred Wrestling Club) tech fall Colin Strayer IN (Region Wrestling Academy), 10-0 1:19


57 kg

1st — Travis Cardenas AZ (Grindhouse Wrestling Club) dec. Ashton Besmer CA (Dethrone Wrestling Club), 12-7

3rd — Braylon Reynolds IN (Red Cobra Wrestling Academy) tech fall Stephen Myers WV (West Virginia), 12-2 1:25

5th — Josiah Boyden GA (Backyard Bullies Wrestling Club) dec. Gavin Rangel OR (Newberg High School Wrestling), 9-7

7th — Legend Ellis OK (Threestyle Wrestling Of Oklahoma) dec. Roman Stewart MO (Victory Wrestling), 5-3


62 kg

1st — Brenden Jorden Agcaoili NV (Gold Rush Wrestling) tech fall Quinten Cassiday MI (Michigan), 12-2 3:19

3rd — Maximus Dhabolt IA (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) no contest Ethan Christoffer IA (Immortal Athletics WC), 4-0

5th — Asher Bacon PA (X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club) dec. Angelo Vargo IN (Midwest Xtreme Wrestling), 5-3

7th — Malachi Puckett TN (Tennessee) dec. Maximus Fortier WV (Quest School Of Wrestling), 9-7


68 kg

1st — Mario Hutcherson PA (Young Guns Wrestling Club) dec. Cooper Rowe MN (Pinnacle Wrestling Club), 8-3

3rd — Victor Marksjenkins MD (Punisher Wrestling Club, Inc.) tech fall Zack Aquila OH (Arsenal Wrestling Club), 13-2 1:48

5th Gabriel Logan NJ (Apex Wrestling Academy) tech fall Zane Gerlach AK (Avalanche Wrestling Association), 12-1 3:11

7th — Steel Meyers TX (Best Trained Wrestling) tech fall Duane Leslie ID (Team Idaho Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:53


75 kg

1st — Broedy Collins Hendricks IA (Team Valley Wrestling Club) dec. Isai Fernandez CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC), 13-9

3rd — Liam Crook WI (Kaukauna High School Wrestling) tech fall Tanner Hodgins NJ (New Jersey), 12-2 3:25

5th — Eli Esguerra OH (Ohio) injury default Daniel Patrick OR (Mat Sense Wrestling)

7th — Nicholas Singer PA (Lion's Den Wrestling Club) dec. Jake Rheaume GA (Level Up Wrestling Center), 8-7


85 kg

1st — Maximus Konopka CT (Connecticut) dec. Brayden Koester IA (Big Game Wrestling Club), 11-2

3rd — David Calkins CA (Delta Wrestling Club) fall Isaac Ward MO (MO West Championship Wrestling Club), 10-4 2:38

5th — Danny Zmorowski OH (Arsenal Wrestling Club) injury default Owen Burling WI (Askren Wrestling Academy)

7th — Ryan Schneider CT (South Side Wrestling Club) tech fall Gage Runnels AK (Interior Grappling Academy), 11-0 2:15


Outstanding wrestler: Grayson Eggum of Minnesota Elite Wrestling