2025 Senior US Open

Y

Yankeefan33

Well-known member
The first step in making the 2025 World Team starts a little over a week from today with the US Open. A bit of a different format for men's freestyle this year:

- All ten weights will compete at the US Open. The winner of all ten weights will get a spot at Final X
- At 57kg (Spencer Lee) and 61kg (Vito Arujau), there is no World Team trials. If you want to make a world team, you must wrestle next weekend at those two weights.
- At the other eight weights, the Open winner will face the winner of the World Team Trials at Final X. You have to qualify for the World Team trials, but you do not for the Open.

Lee and Vito are the only two wrestlers with byes to Final X. Dake (74kg) and Taylor (92kg) are either moving up in weight or not competing and will forfeit their spot at Final X. I'll copy Flowrestling's list of notable names in the post below this.
 
 

Notable Men's Freestyle Contenders​

57 kg​

  • Brandon Courtney
  • Caleb Smith
  • Beric Jordan
  • Liam Cronin
  • Brendan McCrone
  • Sheldon Seymour
  • Daniel DeShazer
  • Nico Provo

61 kg​

  • Marcus Blaze
  • Daton Fix
  • Nahshon Garrett
  • Austin DeSanto
  • Nic Bouzakis
  • Ben Davino
  • Nathan Tomasello
  • Nico Megaludis

65 kg​

  • Jesse Mendez
  • Joey McKenna
  • Real Woods
  • Josh Koderhandt
  • Aden Valencia

70 kg​

  • James Green
  • Yianni Diakomihalis
  • Alec Pantaleo
  • Will Lewan
  • Bryce Andonian
  • Yahya Thomas
  • Brayton Lee
  • Kaleb Larkin
  • Jackson Arrington
  • Doug Zapf

74 kg​

  • David Carr
  • Jarrett Jacques
  • Quincy Monday
  • Peyton Hall
  • Terrell Barraclough
  • Ed Scott

79 kg​

  • DJ Hamiti
  • David McFadden
  • Carson Kharchla
  • Evan Wick
  • Kennedy Monday

86 kg​

  • Zahid Valencia
  • Parker Keckeisen
  • Chance Marsteller
  • Dustin Plott
  • Rocco Welsh
  • Brayden Thompson

92 kg​

  • Trent Hidlay
  • Aeoden Sinclair
  • Eric Schultz
  • Mike Macchiavello
  • Cam Caffey
  • Seth Shumate

97 kg​

  • Jay Aiello
  • Gary Traub
  • Gavin Hoffman

125 kg​

  • Hayden Zillmer
  • Nick Feldman
  • Jordan Wood
  • Christian Lance
  • Trent Hillger
I bolded names with an Ohio tie. This also isn't a full list, just the wrestlers that Flo named as notable. 61kg an obvious standout, 70kg also an interesting weight to me.
 
Last edited:
Yankeefan33 said:

Notable Men's Freestyle Contenders​

  • 125 kg
  • Hayden Zillmer
  • Nick Feldman
  • Jordan Wood
  • Christian Lance
  • Trent Hillger
I bolded names with an Ohio tie. This also isn't a full list, just the wrestlers that Flo named as notable. 61kg an obvious standout, 70kg also an interesting weight to me.
Click to expand...
Did you miss the Feldman connection to Ohio through OSU - or did I miss that he went into the portal? Anything is possible from day-to-day.
 
So I go to the Flowrestling site to find out where the US Open is being held because I am thinking of going to it. After reading 3 articles on the Open, not a single one mentioned where it is being held. What are the considered basics of journalism again? What, When, Where, Who, and Why?? Found the answer at USA wrestling - Las Vegas. Never been there. But I have learned to hate air travel after doing a lot of it for over 30 years - so ruled that out.
 
OCEagle said:
So I go to the Flowrestling site to find out where the US Open is being held because I am thinking of going to it. After reading 3 articles on the Open, not a single one mentioned where it is being held. What are the considered basics of journalism again? What, When, Where, Who, and Why?? Found the answer at USA wrestling - Las Vegas. Never been there. But I have learned to hate air travel after doing a lot of it for over 30 years - so ruled that out.
Click to expand...
Mens freestyle world team trials are actually in Louisville in May- that will be worth the trip for sure, and much closer than Vegas
 
Yankeefan33 said:

Notable Men's Freestyle Contenders​

57 kg​

  • Brandon Courtney
  • Caleb Smith
  • Beric Jordan
  • Liam Cronin
  • Brendan McCrone
  • Sheldon Seymour
  • Daniel DeShazer
  • Nico Provo

61 kg​

  • Marcus Blaze
  • Daton Fix
  • Nahshon Garrett
  • Austin DeSanto
  • Nic Bouzakis
  • Ben Davino
  • Nathan Tomasello
  • Nico Megaludis

65 kg​

  • Jesse Mendez
  • Joey McKenna
  • Real Woods
  • Josh Koderhandt
  • Aden Valencia

70 kg​

  • James Green
  • Yianni Diakomihalis
  • Alec Pantaleo
  • Will Lewan
  • Bryce Andonian
  • Yahya Thomas
  • Brayton Lee
  • Kaleb Larkin
  • Jackson Arrington
  • Doug Zapf

74 kg​

  • David Carr
  • Jarrett Jacques
  • Quincy Monday
  • Peyton Hall
  • Terrell Barraclough
  • Ed Scott

79 kg​

  • DJ Hamiti
  • David McFadden
  • Carson Kharchla
  • Evan Wick
  • Kennedy Monday

86 kg​

  • Zahid Valencia
  • Parker Keckeisen
  • Chance Marsteller
  • Dustin Plott
  • Rocco Welsh
  • Brayden Thompson

92 kg​

  • Trent Hidlay
  • Aeoden Sinclair
  • Eric Schultz
  • Mike Macchiavello
  • Cam Caffey
  • Seth Shumate

97 kg​

  • Jay Aiello
  • Gary Traub
  • Gavin Hoffman

125 kg​

  • Hayden Zillmer
  • Nick Feldman
  • Jordan Wood
  • Christian Lance
  • Trent Hillger
I bolded names with an Ohio tie. This also isn't a full list, just the wrestlers that Flo named as notable. 61kg an obvious standout, 70kg also an interesting weight to me.
Click to expand...
This list will get much stouter... the entire NLWC and PSU team hasn't registered yet, along with other big guns.
 
TheFan1 said:
This list will get much stouter... the entire NLWC and PSU team hasn't registered yet, along with other big guns.
Click to expand...
Already qualified for trials:

65kg: Nick Lee, Joey McKenna, Bo Bassett, Ruben Calderon, Real Woods, Jesse Mendez, Brock Hardy, Beau Bartlett
70kg: Zain Retherford, PJ Duke, Will Lewan, Ridge Lovett, Caleb Henson, Shayne Van Ness, Antrell Taylor, Joey Blaze, Tyler Kasak
74kg: Kyle Dake, Jason Nolf, Mitch Mesenbrink, LaDarion Lockett, Elroy Perkin, David Carr, Michael Caliendo, Peyton Hall
79kg: Chance Marsteller, Jordan Burroughs, Zack Ryder, Rocco Welsh, Dean Hamiti, Keegan O'Toole, Levi Haines
86kg: David Taylor, Aaron Brooks, Trent Hidlay, Josh Barr, Marcus Coleman, Nate Jackson, Carter Starocci, Parker Keckeisen, Max McEnelly
92kg: Zahid Valencia, Jacob Cardenas, Elijah Diakomihalis, Eric Schultz, Stephen Buchanan, AJ Ferrari
97kg: Kyle Snyder, Isaac Trumble, Kollin Moore, Justin Rademacher, Michael Macchiavello, Jay Aiello
125kg: Mason Parris, Hayden Zilver, Nick Gwiazdowski, Ben Kueter, Michael Mocco, Trent Hillger, Wyatt Hendrickson, Gable Steveson, Cohlton Schultz

Some of these guys will change weights (Dake) have retired (Nolf), or are Greco guys (Schultz), but this is the list I have.
 
Yankeefan33 said:

Notable Men's Freestyle Contenders​

57 kg​

  • Brandon Courtney
  • Caleb Smith
  • Beric Jordan
  • Liam Cronin
  • Brendan McCrone
  • Sheldon Seymour
  • Daniel DeShazer
  • Nico Provo

61 kg​

  • Marcus Blaze
  • Daton Fix
  • Nahshon Garrett
  • Austin DeSanto
  • Nic Bouzakis
  • Ben Davino
  • Nathan Tomasello
  • Nico Megaludis

65 kg​

  • Jesse Mendez
  • Joey McKenna
  • Real Woods
  • Josh Koderhandt
  • Aden Valencia

70 kg​

  • James Green
  • Yianni Diakomihalis
  • Alec Pantaleo
  • Will Lewan
  • Bryce Andonian
  • Yahya Thomas
  • Brayton Lee
  • Kaleb Larkin
  • Jackson Arrington
  • Doug Zapf

74 kg​

  • David Carr
  • Jarrett Jacques
  • Quincy Monday
  • Peyton Hall
  • Terrell Barraclough
  • Ed Scott

79 kg​

  • DJ Hamiti
  • David McFadden
  • Carson Kharchla
  • Evan Wick
  • Kennedy Monday

86 kg​

  • Zahid Valencia
  • Parker Keckeisen
  • Chance Marsteller
  • Dustin Plott
  • Rocco Welsh
  • Brayden Thompson

92 kg​

  • Trent Hidlay
  • Aeoden Sinclair
  • Eric Schultz
  • Mike Macchiavello
  • Cam Caffey
  • Seth Shumate

97 kg​

  • Jay Aiello
  • Gary Traub
  • Gavin Hoffman

125 kg​

  • Hayden Zillmer
  • Nick Feldman
  • Jordan Wood
  • Christian Lance
  • Trent Hillger
I bolded names with an Ohio tie. This also isn't a full list, just the wrestlers that Flo named as notable. 61kg an obvious standout, 70kg also an interesting weight to me.
Click to expand...

Yankeefan33 said:

Notable Men's Freestyle Contenders​

57 kg​

  • Brandon Courtney
  • Caleb Smith
  • Beric Jordan
  • Liam Cronin
  • Brendan McCrone
  • Sheldon Seymour
  • Daniel DeShazer
  • Nico Provo

61 kg​

  • Marcus Blaze
  • Daton Fix
  • Nahshon Garrett
  • Austin DeSanto
  • Nic Bouzakis
  • Ben Davino
  • Nathan Tomasello
  • Nico Megaludis

65 kg​

  • Jesse Mendez
  • Joey McKenna
  • Real Woods
  • Josh Koderhandt
  • Aden Valencia

70 kg​

  • James Green
  • Yianni Diakomihalis
  • Alec Pantaleo
  • Will Lewan
  • Bryce Andonian
  • Yahya Thomas
  • Brayton Lee
  • Kaleb Larkin
  • Jackson Arrington
  • Doug Zapf

74 kg​

  • David Carr
  • Jarrett Jacques
  • Quincy Monday
  • Peyton Hall
  • Terrell Barraclough
  • Ed Scott

79 kg​

  • DJ Hamiti
  • David McFadden
  • Carson Kharchla
  • Evan Wick
  • Kennedy Monday

86 kg​

  • Zahid Valencia
  • Parker Keckeisen
  • Chance Marsteller
  • Dustin Plott
  • Rocco Welsh
  • Brayden Thompson

92 kg​

  • Trent Hidlay
  • Aeoden Sinclair
  • Eric Schultz
  • Mike Macchiavello
  • Cam Caffey
  • Seth Shumate

97 kg​

  • Jay Aiello
  • Gary Traub
  • Gavin Hoffman

125 kg​

  • Hayden Zillmer
  • Nick Feldman
  • Jordan Wood
  • Christian Lance
  • Trent Hillger
I bolded names with an Ohio tie. This also isn't a full list, just the wrestlers that Flo named as notable. 61kg an obvious standout, 70kg also an interesting weight to me.
Click to expand...
It will be interesting to see whether any of the senior competitors can crack the Marcus Blaze stellar "defense code" after seeing him before . And be ready for his bread and butter re attacks.
 
TheFan1 said:
This list will get much stouter... the entire NLWC and PSU team hasn't registered yet, along with other big guns.
Click to expand...
Some of those guys registered today- Sealey, Mirasola(s) in U20, Lilledahl/Bartlett/Mesenbrink in Seniors. Lilledahl I think still has one year of U20, but this will be his only chance to make the senior team since there are no trials. He can always go to U20 trials if he doesn't win the bracket here. Jax Forrest is doing the same thing- he just switched from U20 to seniors because Vito took one spot
 
1$’s 2¢ said:
The reverse mullet that Marcus wears prevents his opponents from seeing what he's considering.
Click to expand...
Hohoho You may be on to something! But since he won 2 by the skin of his teeth last time, for me it will be very interesting as I said if his bread and butter defense holds up as well now since they know what to expect.
 
Pre-Seeds are out.

2025 CLAW US Open Wrestling Championships
57 KG
1. Luke Lilledahl (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Daniel Deshazer (Gopher WC)

3. Liam Cronin (Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Brandon Courtney (Atreus WC)

5. Domenic Munaretto (Illinois)

6. Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh Valley RTC)

7. Caleb Smith (Nebraska WTC)

8. Nico Provo (California RTC)

61 KG
1. Marcus Blaze (Titan Mercury WC)

2. Daton Fix (Cowboy RTC)

3. Nahshon Garrett (Lehigh Valley RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Seth Gross (MATPAC WC)

5. Austin DeSanto (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

6. Jax Forrest (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

7. Nico Megaludis (Pitt WC/Titan Mercury WC)

8. Nathan Tomasello (West Coast RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 KG
1. Joey McKenna (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Jesse Mendez (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Beau Bartlett (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Real Woods (Cliff Keen WC)

5. Aden Valencia (California RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

6. Joshua Koderhandt (Navy WC)

7. Carter Young (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

8. Vince Cornella (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 KG
1. James Green (Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Yianni Diakomihalis (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Alec Pantaleo (Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Will Lewan (Cliff Keen WC)

5. Yahya Thomas (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

6. Bryce Andonian (Southeast RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

7. Daniel Cardenas (California RTC)

8. Doug Zapf (Pennsylvania RTC)

74 KG
1. David Carr (Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Mitchell Mesenbrink (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Quincy Monday (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Jarrett Jacques (Tiger Style WC)

5. Peyton Hall (West Virginia RTC)

6. Terrell Barraclough (Brunson UVRTC)

7. Elroy Perkin (Titan Mercury WC)

8. Ed Scott (Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 KG
1. Evan Wick (SoCal RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Dean Hamiti (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Kennedy Monday (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Danny Braunagel (Illinois RTC/Illini WC)

5. Carson Kharchla (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

6. Simon Ruiz (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

7. Mohamed McBryde (New York AC)

8. Clayton Whiting (Minnesota RTC)

86 KG
1. Kyle Dake (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Zahid Valencia (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Chance Marsteller (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Parker Keckeisen (Panther WC RTC)

5. Rocco Welsh (KD Training Center)

6. Marcus Coleman (Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

7. Brayden Thompson (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

8. Dylan Fishback (Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 KG
1. Trent Hidlay (Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Michael Macchiavello (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Aeoden Sinclair (Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

4. Eric Schultz (Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

5. Dustin Plott (Cowboy RTC)

6. Cameron Caffey (Michigan WC)

7. Seth Shumate (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

8. Gavin Nelson (Minnesota RTC)

97 KG
1. Kyle Snyder (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

2. Jonathan Aiello (Pennsylvania RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

3. Massoma Endene (Burg Training Center)

4. Gary Traub (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

5. Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania)

6. Ethan Laird (DMV RTC)

7. Christian Knop (Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

8. Mahkyi Smith (Sons of Atlas WC)

125 KG
1. Hayden Zillmer (Gopher WC)

2. Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC/Air Force WCAP)

3. Trent Hillger (Gopher WC)

4. Nick Feldman (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

5. Jordan Wood (New York AC)

6. Christian Lance (Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC)

7. Lucas Stoddard (West Point WC)

8. Demetrius Thomas (Rhode Island
 
Anybody know what the acronym CLAW stands for. Looked around as much as I cared to and came up with nothing
 
TheFan1 said:
www.wrestleclaw.com

ABOUT

The Champions League of American Wrestling (CLAW) is launching in 2025 and will deliver on what wrestling fans want---a bona fide professional league featuring our sport's top stars. Many fans know...
www.wrestleclaw.com
Click to expand...
The Claw is a powerful submission hold, designed to cause pain and potentially induce submission. It was used by the Von Erichs to win matches and establish their dominance in the wrestling world.
 
Can someone post a link to the brackets? I'm finding that very difficult.

Looking for ladies senior freestyle mainly. It started today.
 
OCEagle said:
Anybody know what the acronym CLAW stands for. Looked around as much as I cared to and came up with nothing
Click to expand...
1745546051240.png
 
Koontz in the final...

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55 kg
Brady Koontz (Dubuque RTC/ Titan Mercury WC) vs. Jayden Raney (NYAC)

60 kg
Zane Richards (Illinois RTC/ Titan Mercury WC) vs. Max Black (NYAC/NMU)

63 kg
Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) vs. Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP)

67 kg
Otto Black (NYAC/Colorado Top Team WC) vs. Alston Nutter (Army WCAP)

72 kg
Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP) vs. Aliaksandr Kikiniou (NYAC)

77 kg
Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) vs. Aliaksandr Kikiniou (NYAC)

- The Kikiniou at 77kg is the father of the Kikiniou at 72kg.
- Richards was of course an All-American at Illinois. Koontz was a Buckeye. Raney, still a junior in high school, is (along with his twin Jordyn) the top class of 2026 recruits still uncommitted.
- I think this is Greco's world team trials? I know they aren't doing Final X, I can't remember whether they are doing a trials or not.
 
If you get a chance to watch some Greco, obviously Kamal Bey is a human Highlight reel, check him out. But, AT 72KG, Peyton Robb is also fun to watch. He got beat by the younger Kikiniou in the semis. Watch his wrestle-back to get in for 3rd. He is crafy.
 
Brackets are out.

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