Adams, Rix-McElhanney among Greco-Roman finalists at U20 World Team Trials

Photo: U17 World champion Joel Adams hand raise at the 2023 U20 World Team Trials at Spire Academy. (Sam Janicki/sjanickiphoto.com)


GENEVA, Ohio – The best-of-three championship finals are set at the U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials at Spire Academy.


Champions from the 2023 U20 Nationals held in Las Vegas last April automatically earned a place in today’s finals series set for 4 p.m. (CT). A challenge tournament was held this morning to determine the challengers in each weight class.


Headlining the morning session was U17 World champion Joel Adams of Nebraska who won two matches to qualify for the 67 kg finals. Adams won his opener over Brennan Van Hoecke of Florida by 11-2 technical fall. However, he was pushed by No. 2 seed Gunnar Hamre of Combat W.C. School of Wrestling in the challenge tournament finals. Adams squeaked out a 9-7 to keep his hopes of a U20 World Team berth alive.


77 kg finalist Aydin Rix-McElhanney was the only No. 1 seed to qualify for the championships series besides Adams. The Northern Colorado WC product defeated a talented opponent in Adrian Artsisheuskiy of New York in the challenge tournament finals., 5-1.


The U20 World Team Trials can be viewed live on FloWrestling.com with a subscription. Brackets and complete results are available on FloArena.

2023 U20 World Team Trials

At Spire Academy, Geneva, Ohio, June 2-3

U20 Greco-Roman Best-Of-Three Finals Pairings

55 kg – Kenneth Crosby (NMU-National Training Center) vs. Zachary Silvis (Pinnacle WC)

60 kg – Max Black (NMU-National Training Center) vs. Rhett Peak (Cowboy WC)

63 kg – Landon Drury (Betterman Elite Wrestling) vs. Rhett Koenig (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling)

67 kg – Jadon Skellenger (Team Idaho WC) vs. Joel Adams (The Best Wrestler)

72 kg – Richard Fedalen (New York City RTC) vs. Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan WC)

77 kg – Derek Matthews (Northern Colorado WC) vs. Aydin Rix-McElhanney (Northern Colorado WC)

82 kg – Michael Altomer (Curby 3-Style WC) vs. Brayden Gautreau (Northern Exposure WC)

87 kg – Wyatt Voelker (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) vs. Tate Naaktgeboren (Big Game WC)

97 kg – Sawyer Bartelt (Gladiator Wrestling) vs. Jack Darrah (Missouri)

130 kg – Aden Attao (Suples WC) vs. Alex Semenenko (Brown RTC)

U20 Greco-Roman Challenge Tournament Finals Results

55 kg – Zachary Silvis (Pinnacle WC) fall Roberto Estrada (Western Colorado WC), 1:16

60 kg – Rhett Peak (Cowboy WC) dec. Zan Fugitt (Nixa HS), 9-6

63 kg – Rhett Koenig (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling) dec. Colton Parduhn (Interior Grappling Academy), 3-1

67 kg – Joel Adams (The Best Wrestler) dec. Gunnar Hamre (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling), 9-7

72 kg – Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan WC) tech. fall Tyler Antoniak NE (MWC Wrestling Academy), 8-0

77 kg – Aydin Rix-McElhanney (Northern Colorado WC) dec. Adrian Artsisheuskiy (New York), 5-1

82 kg – Brayden Gautreau (Northern Exposure WC) tech. fall Jared Stricker (Minnesota Storm), 9-1

97 kg – Jack Darrah (Missouri) dec. Max Ramberg (Viking RTC), 5-1

130 kg – Alex Semenenko (Brown RTC) dec. Keith Miley (Arkansas RTC), 3-2