Complete U17 Preview & Predictions For 2023 US Open Wrestling Championships
Complete U17 Preview & Predictions For 2023 US Open Wrestling Championships
The U17 division at the 2023 US Open is about as deep as it could possibly be. Here's a complete preview of all the action complete with predictions.
This year's U17 US Open is as deep as any tournament in recent memory. There aren't many top high schoolers who haven't registered, so wrestling fans should expect to see some of the best high school action of the year with a whole lot at stake. Here's what to expect at every weight.
45 kg - 1 Ranked in the Top 20
45 kg - #3 (106) Haakon Peterson, Dodgeville High School Wrestling, Wisconsin
45 kg - HM Kole Davidheiser, Team Renegade Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
45 kg - HM Cason Craft, Threestyle Wrestling Of Oklahoma, Oklahoma
45 kg - HM Caleb Noble, Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy, Illinois
45 kg - HM Mac Crosson, Sebolt Wrestling Academy, Iowa
45 kg - HM Ignacio Villasenor, Pomona Elite (PWCC), Colorado
In 2021 and 2022, Bo Bassett and Dominic Munaretto made their way onto Team USA at this weight before either had wrestled a high school match. Both went on to win U17 World titles, and both are currently ranked #1 in the country at 120 lbs and 106 lbs respectively. If you don’t know the names in this bracket, you will soon enough.
Haakon Peterson is currently ranked 6th in the country at 106 lbs despite being undersized at the weight. He was a finalist at this weight a year ago falling to eventual World champ Dom Munareto. He followed that performance with double stop signs in Fargo at 94 lbs. He might be the favorite in Vegas, but this weight has plenty of contenders.
U15 bronze medalist Mac Crosson and Caleb Noble met in a memorable Fargo final last summer. At the end of regulation, Noble won and even hit a celebratory backflip, but after a review, Crosson was declared the victor. Noble went on to win the Greco title a few days later. Both will be contenders.
Crosson and Noble's wild Fargo final
Kole Davidheiser was a double-Fargo placer a year ago and finished on the podium a PIAAs. Ignacio Villasenor won the 44kg bracket at U15s a year ago, so keep an eye on him. Middle schoolers Gavin Landers and Kavin Myleart will be serious factors in this bracket as well.
Prediction: 1) Haakon Peterson 2) Gavin Landers 3) Kavin Muyleart 4) Mac Crosson 5) Caleb Noble 6) Kole Davidheiser 7) Ignacio Villasenor 8) Cason Craft
48 kg - 3 Ranked in the Top 20
48 kg - #1 (106) Domenic Munaretto, Illinois
48 kg - #6 (106) Dominic Deputy, Pennsylvania
48 kg - #14 (106) Lincoln Sledzianowski, Pennsylvania
48 kg - HM Griffin Rial, Colorado
48 kg - HM Revin Dickman, Brownsburg Wrestling Club, Indiana
48 kg - HM Grey Burnett, Perrysburg Wrestling Club, Ohio
48 kg - HM Slater Hicks, Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage, California
48 kg - HM Alex Rozas, Predator Wrestling, Louisiana
48 kg - HM Cole Welte, MWC Wrestling Academy, Nebraska
48 kg - HM Che Jenkins, Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness, Arizona
48 kg - HM Paul Kenny, New Jersey
48 kg - HM Evin Gursoy, New York
48 kg - HM Dunia Sibomana, LONG BEACH-USA WRESTLING CLUB, New York
The defending World champ, Dom Munaretto, is the easy pick in this weight. He waited a long time to register, but now that he’s in, he’s the clear favorite to win this bracket and make a push at another World title. The weight has plenty of contenders, but it's hard to pick against someone with a World gold.
Domenic Munaretto's World championship match
PIAA finalist Dominic Deputy finished on the podium in the 45kg bracket that Munaretto won a year ago. Bishop McCort's Lincoln Sledzianowski was in the finals of last year's 44kg U15 bracket in freestyle and won the title in Greco. Those two both hold top-20 rankings at 106 lbs.
Other contenders with national-level freestyle or Greco accolades include Griffin Rial who was 6th at 45kg Greco a year ago, Revin Dickman who placed in U15 Greco and in both styles in Fargo, Grey Burnett, who was a double champ at U15s, Slater Hicks who was 5th at 45kg last year and 4th in Fargo, Cole Welte who placed in both divisions in Fargo and finished on the podium at 45kg at the US Open a year ago, Fargo placer Che Jenkins, and U15 bronze medalist Dunia Sibomana.
Keep your eyes on Louisianna's Alex Rozas, New Jersey's Paul Kenny, and New York's Evin Gursoy as well.
Prediction: 1) Dominic Munaretto 2) Dominic Deputy 3) Slater Hicks 4) Grey Burnett 5) Alex Rozas 6) Lincoln Sledzianowski 7) Revin Dickman 8) Cole Welte
51 kg - 11 Ranked in the Top 20
51 kg - #2 (113) Christian Castillo, Thorobred Wrestling Club, Arizona
51 kg - #3 (113) Keanu Dillard, Steller Trained Wrestling, Pennsylvania
51 kg - #6 (113) Seth Mendoza, Region Wrestling Academy, Illinois
51 kg - #10 (113) Jayden Raney, Union County High School Wrestling, Kentucky
51 kg - #14 (113) Jake Knight, Sebolt Wrestling Academy, Iowa
51 kg - #15 (106) Hudson Loges, MWC Wrestling Academy, Nebraska
51 kg - #18 (113) Cadell Lee, Integrity Wrestling Club, Virginia
51 kg - #19 (113) Ayden Smith, Lost Boys Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
51 kg - #19 (106) Aydan Thomas, Cowboy Wrestling Club, Oklahoma
51 kg - #20 (113) Edwin Sierra, Poway Wrestling, California
51 kg - HM Titan Friederichs, No Nonsense Wrestling, Minnesota
51 kg - HM Mikey Ruiz, Omada Kitrinos Wrestling Club, Texas
51 kg - HM Lawson Eller, New Prague Wrestling, Minnesota
51 kg - HM Kody Tanimoto, Spartan Mat Club, Texas
51 kg - HM Jace Hedeman, Immortal Athletics WC, Iowa
51 kg - HM Tyson Roach, Bronco Wrestling Club, Louisiana
51 kg - HM Rylan Seacrist, Seasons Freestyle Club, Ohio
51 kg - HM Nikos Filipos, X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
51 kg - HM Landon Sidun, Knights Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
51 kg - HM Evan Sanati, Integrity Wrestling Club, Virginia
Christian Castillo is a returning World silver medalist, but he’ll have his hands full to make another World team. Two-time Illinois state champ Seth Mendoza was Castillo’s finals opponent at both last year’s U17 trials last spring and Super 32 in the fall. Castillo has gotten the most recent wins, but Mendoza won their 2021 Fargo Final and has surely been working to get the series moving in his direction.
Christian Castillo & Seth Mendoza's deciding best-of-three bout last year
Mendoza’s Fargo finals opponent, Jayden Raney, might be the most dangerous guy in the bracket. He, like his twin brother Jordyn, wrestles at a break-neck pace and isn’t afraid of taking risks in order to win. Raney got the better of Mendoza in the Fargo finals but hasn’t had a crack at Castillo yet. He has basically no aversion to risk which could cost him a big match but might also lead him to win this whole bracket.
Freshman PIAA champ Keanu Dillard has plenty of freestyle chops. He was a Fargo finalist last summer and currently holds the #3 ranking at 113 lbs. Iowa freshman Jake Knight won a tough state final over nationally ranked Dru Ayala this year. He finished on the podium at this tournament a year ago and was 4th in Fargo.
Those five wrestlers might be at the top of the field, but this bracket boasts 11 total top-20 competitors and just as many who have already established themselves as threats to crack the podium at an event this prestigious.
Prediction: 1) Jayden Raney 2) Christian Castillo 3) Isaiah Cortez 4) Seth Mendoza 5) Keanu Dillard 5) Jake Knight 6) Cadell Lee 7) Ayden Smith 8) Edwin Sierra
55 kg - 9 Ranked in the Top 20
55 kg - #1 (120) Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort High School Wrestling, Pennsylvania
55 kg - #2 (120) Marcus Blaze, Perrysburg Wrestling Club, Ohio
55 kg - #2 (126) Anthony Knox, Rhino Wrestling LLC, New Jersey
55 kg - #5 (120) Jordyn Raney, Union County High School Wrestling, Kentucky
55 kg - #7 (120) Isaiah Cortez, Gilroy High School Wrestling, California
55 kg - #7 (113) Moses Mendoza, Gilroy High School Wrestling, California
55 kg - #8 (113) Lukas Littleton Mascaro, Malvern Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
55 kg - #9 (120) Gauge Botero, Lion's Den Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
55 kg - #10 (106) Liam Neitzel, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Wisconsin
55 kg - #14 (120) Caio Aron, Boneyard Wrestling Academy, Texas
55 kg - HM Gus Cardinal, Arizona
55 kg - HM Keyan Hernandez, Montana
55 kg - HM Nathan Carrillo, Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage, California
55 kg - HM Elijah Cortez, Gilroy High School Wrestling, California
55 kg - HM Maximus Riggins, Moen Wrestling Academy, Iowa
55 kg - HM Jason Worthley, Sanderson Wrestling Academy, Utah
55 kg - HM Christian Fretwell, Lake Gibson High School Wrestling, Florida
55 kg - HM Isaiah Schaefer, Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club, Indiana
55 kg - HM Declan Koch, Team Nazar Training Center, Wisconsin
55 kg - HM Jackson Blum, Michigan
55 kg - HM Devon Harrison, Victory Wrestling, Missouri
55 kg - HM Adam Bilby, South Central Punisher Wrestling, Kansas
55 kg - HM Geronimo Rivera, Sanderson Wrestling Academy, Utah
55 kg - HM Ronnie Ramirez, Pounders WC, California
55 kg - HM Seach Hibler, New Jersey
55 kg - HM Mason Carlson, Sanderson Wrestling Academy, Utah
55 kg - HM Michael Romero, Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage, California
55 kg - HM Kolter Burton, J.E.T., Idaho
This is probably the deepest weight in the U17 division with a #1, two #2s, and double-digit ranked wrestlers. Bo Bassett is a World champ and ranked #1 in the country. He has the most recent win over #2 (at 126 lbs) Anthony Knox in the Super 32 finals and fellow World champ Luke Lilledahl who has aged out of the U17 division, but the last time he was in a bracket that included many of these guys, he fell to both #5 Jordyn Raney and #9 Gauge Botero. That's no slight against Bassett, just a testament to how tough this field will be in Vegas. There's a good chance that Bassett's World title earns him the #1 seed which would likely put Knox and Blaze on the same side of the bracket.
The aforementioned bracket happened in Fargo. It included Bassett, Knox, Blaze, Raney, and Botero who are all in this field and are all ranked. Blaze took home that stop sign with a semifinal victory over Raney and a 3-3 criteria win over Knox. He also has an Ironman title in his career. His head-to-head results probably make him the on-paper favorite.
Marcus Blaze vs Anthony Knox in the 2022 Fargo finals
Anthony Knox was the latest addition to the field. He's a two-time New Jersey state champ who owns a Fargo stop sign, a Super 32 belt, and two victories at Who's Number One. Still, he's lost his most recent meeting with both Blaze and Bassett, so expect him to be on a war path.
Kentucky freshman Jordyn Raney made a name for himself by pinning Bo Bassett in Fargo last summer. Since then, he's been a consistent placer at the nation's top tournaments. He'd love to represent the US at the World Championships this summer. Gauge Botero also owns a win over Bassett. He took home a PIAA title this season.
California state champ Isaiah Cortez and National Prep champ Lukas Littleton Mascaro are the kinds of guys who would be top seeds in most tournaments, but in a bracket this deep, they may run into the top seeds in the quarterfinals. Gilroy's #7 Moses Mendoza will be back in action this week as well. He missed the California postseason after winning titles at Doc B and 5 Counties.
Wrestling fans are lucky to have a bracket as deep as 55kg. I'm making predictions because I've done that at every other weight, but it's a fool's errand. I'm mostly going with the most recent results between these athletes, but I fully expect I'll be wrong.
Prediction: 1) Marcus Blaze 2) Bo Bassett 3) Anthony Knox 4) Gauge Botero 5) Jordyn Raney 6) Isaiah Cortez 7) Moses Mendoza 8) Lukas Littleton Mascaro
60 kg - 6 Ranked in the Top 20
60 kg - #1 (126) Benjamin Davino, St. Charles WC, Illinois
60 kg - #3 (132) Jax Forrest, Pennsylvania
60 kg - #6 (126) Kellen Wolbert, Askren Wrestling Academy, Wisconsin
60 kg - #7 (132) Landon Robideau, MN Elite Wrestling Club, Minnesota
60 kg - #18 (132) Sam Herring, Bishop McCort High School Wrestling, Pennsylvania
60 kg - #19 (132) Cooper Hilton, Boom Ranch Wrestling Club, Tennessee
60 kg - HM Timothy Koester, Big Game Wrestling Club, Iowa
60 kg - HM Manuel Saldate, Gold Rush Wrestling, Nevada
60 kg - HM Matthew Botello, Massachusetts
60 kg - HM Owen Pritchard, Askeo International Mat Club, Washington
60 kg - HM Noah Torres, Black Cat Wrestling Club, Arizona
60 kg - HM Giosue Hickman, Aces Wrestling Academy, Arizona
60 kg - HM Gunner Andrick, Mothman Wrestling Club, West Virginia
60 kg - HM Elias Navida, Poway High School Wrestling, California
60 kg - HM Anthony Lucchiani, Integrity Wrestling Club, Virginia
60 kg - HM Leo Macias, California
60 kg - HM Max Wirnsberger, Buffalo Valley Regional Training Center, Pennsylvania
60 kg - HM Eren Sement, Pennsylvania
60 kg - HM Wyatt Medlin, Super Soldiers Wrestling Club, Illinois
Standing atop the 60kg bracket are #1 Ben Davino and U17 World silver medalist Jax Forrest. They met last year in a back-and-forth battle that was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. Forrest won that contest. Since then, both Davino and Forrest have put together incredible seasons. If that rematch happens in a best-of-three series, buckle up.
Forrest vs Davino from last year's U17 Trials
Before you think the top two are unbeatable, keep in mind that Forrest just suffered a defeat to #19 Cooper Hilton at Elite 8 Duals. Hilton also lost to #18 Sam Herring at the event which demonstrates the depth of this weight.
#8 Kellen Wolbert is a freshman phenom. The Fargo champ at 113 lbs just beat Nebraska commit Alan Koehler at the AWA vs Pinnacle dual and beat nationally ranked Ben Bast in the Wisconsin state finals. Now he's up at 60kg. It would be a surprise if Wolbert took out one of the top guys at the weight, but he's proven to be full of surprises.
#7 Robideau is a staple atop the rankings. He finished in the top 8 at Super 32 this year and was a Fargo finalist last summer, only falling to Davino.
Outside the top 20, there are plenty more guys ready to make noise. This will be one of the most fun weights at the U17 US Open.
Prediction: 1) Jax Forrest 2) Ben Davino 3) Landon Robideau 4) Kellen Wolbert 5) Sam Herring 6) Cooper Hilton 7) Manuel Saldate 8) Elias Navida
65 kg - 6 Ranked in the Top 20
65 kg - #3 (145) Kollin Rath, Pennsylvania
65 kg - #3 (138) Brock Mantanona, Coachella Valley Wrestling Club, California
65 kg - #4 (145) Collin Gaj, Quakertown High School Wrestling, Pennsylvania
65 kg - #16 (138) Maddox Shaw, Pennsylvania
65 kg - #17 (145) Vince Bouzakis, Pennsylvania
65 kg - #18 (138) Gabriel Bouyssou, Mayo Quanchi Wrestling Club, Rhode Island
65 kg - HM Melvin Miller, Bishop McCort High School Wrestling, Pennsylvania
65 kg - HM Adyn Bostick, Arizona
65 kg - HM Bas Diaz, Big Game Wrestling Club, Iowa
65 kg - HM Tre Haines, Ascend Wrestling Academy, Washington
65 kg - HM Kane Naaktgeboren, Big Game Wrestling Club, Iowa
65 kg - HM Tyson Charmoli, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Minnesota
65 kg - HM Blue Stiffler, Roundtree Wrestling Academy, Georgia
65 kg - HM Brock Weiss, M2 Training Center, Pennsylvania
65 kg - HM Donny Almeyda, Edge Wrestling, New Jersey
65 kg - HM Benjamin Weader, Integrity Wrestling Club, Virginia
65 kg - HM Billy Greenwood, GRIT Athletics Wrestling Club, Colorado
65 kg - HM Emil Necula, Level Up Wrestling Center, Georgia
65 kg - HM David Gleason, Team Central Wrestling Club, Missouri
65 kg - HM Garrett Reece, Black Fox Wrestling Academy, Colorado
65 kg - HM Gabriel Delgado, Gold Rush Wrestling, Nevada
Kollin Rath and Collin Gaj each won a PIAA title this year as sophomores. Rath won when they met in the 3rd place match at the 2022 PIAA Championships, but Gaj took their freestyle rematch at last year's Northeast Regional. Now, they just might meet with a U17 World Team spot on the line, but 2022 California state champ Brock Mantanona would love to spoil that party. Mantanona has yet to wrestle either Gaj or Rath, but his appearance in the Super 32 finals suggests he just might be ready to win a bracket this deep.
Kollin Rath vs Collin Gaj at the 2022 Northeast Regional
Maddox Shaw, Vince Bouzakis, and Gabriel Bouyssou are also ranked in the top 20 and could make things interesting at this weight. A year ago, Bouyssou took out PJ Duke in a massive upset. He's capable of knocking off the best. Bouzakis and Shaw met in the 2021 Powerade finals in a match that Bouzakis won. This bracket has plenty of depth outside of the top 20. Keep an eye on 8th grader Melvin Miller who has made serious noise this spring.
Prediction: 1) Collin Gaj 2) Kollin Rath 3) Brock Mantanona 4) Vince Bouzakis 5) Maddox Shaw 6) Gabriel Bouyssou 7) Melvin Miller 8) Tyson Charmoli
71 kg - 2 Ranked in the Top 20
71 kg - #3 (152) Ladarion Lockett, Cowboy Wrestling Club, Oklahoma
71 kg - #9 (152) Claudio Torres, Spartan RTC FL, Florida
71 kg - HM Brandon Ploehn, Stallions Wrestling Club, Utah
71 kg - HM Bronson Baxter, Spartan Mat Club, Texas
71 kg - HM Tristan Steldt, Fennimore Wrestling Association, Wisconsin
71 kg - HM Christopher Creason, Wrestling Prep - Virginia, Virginia
71 kg - HM Christopher Mance, Climmons Trained/AWC, Georgia
71 kg - HM Evan Rizzo, Seasons Freestyle Club, Ohio
71 kg - HM Aliaksandr Kikiniou, Poway High School Wrestling, California
71 kg - HM Waylon Cressell, North Dakota
71 kg - HM Cameron Clark, Warrior Regional Training Center, Indiana
71 kg - HM Nicholas Campagna, New Jersey
71 kg - HM Cade Parent, Level Up Wrestling Center, Georgia
71 kg - HM Jake Stoffel, Askren Wrestling Academy, Wisconsin
71 kg - HM Jamar Dixon, DELSEA JR. WRESTLING ASSOC., New Jersey
71 kg - HM Christopher Crawford, KD Training Center, New York
71 kg - HM Kody Routledge, Dark Horse Wrestling Club, Oklahoma
LaDarion Lockett was on pace to make the U17 finals at this weight a year ago but fell to KJ Evans in a weird semifinal. Now, the #3 ranked 152-pounder in the country is the favorite to win the whole thing.
Claudio Torres is a surging sophomore who’s won National Prep and NHSCA titles this year taking out Ironman finalist Will Henckel (who beat Lockett in a strange match), so Torres is clearly the top contender at the weight. Don't be surprised to see Lockett vs Torres in the best of three on Sunday.
The last time Lockett and Torres met was in the U15 Greco quarterfinals at 62kg two years ago. Torres led with a little over a minute to go, but Lockett ended up with a tech. Don't make too big a deal of that 2-year-old Greco result.
Kody Routledge would love to spoil the Lockett vs Torres final. He won a Fargo title last summer with victories over PIAA champs Kollin Rath and Collin Gaj last summer. He competes everywhere and is capable of massive wins.
Chris Crawford trains in the Wyoming Sem room and has big wins throughout his career. He just might be poised for a big-time result. Keep an eye out for Fargo AA Jake Stoffel, U15 bronze medalist Christopher Creason, Fargo Greco champs Tristan Steldt and Aliaksandr Kikinou, and Fargo Greco AA Waylon Cressell.
Prediction: 1) LaDarion Lockett 2) Claudio Torres 3) Kody Routledge 4) Christopher Crawford 5) Jake Stoffel 6) Jamar Dixon 7) Evan Rizzo 8) Nicholas Campagna
80 kg - 3 Ranked in the Top 20
80 kg - #2 (182) Zack Ryder, M2 Training Center, New York
80 kg - #18 (170) Adam Waters, Lion's Den Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
80 kg - #19 (182) De'Alcapon Veazy, Legends of Gold Wrestling, Indiana
80 kg - HM David Alonso, California
80 kg - HM Mason Ontiveros, Pitman High School Wrestling, California
80 kg - HM Marcell Booth, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Minnesota
80 kg - HM Isaac Sheeren, Spring Klein Wrestling Club, Texas
80 kg - HM Anthony Rinehart, Howe Wrestling School, LLC, Indiana
80 kg - HM Peyton Westpfahl, Victory Wrestling, Missouri
80 kg - HM Dylan Pile, Bay Area Dragons Wrestling Center, California
80 kg - HM Brent Slade, Moen Wrestling Academy, Iowa
80 kg - HM Braedon Welsh, Knights Wrestling Club, Pennsylvania
80 kg - HM Cade Ziola, M2 Training Center, Nebraska
80 kg - HM Bryce Burkett, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Minnesota
80 kg - HM Hudson Rogers, Team Idaho Wrestling Club, Idaho
80 kg - HM Aydan Carlson, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Minnesota
80 kg - HM Samuel Watkins, Hoxie Kids Wrestling Club, Kansas
80 kg - HM Elijah Diakomihalis, New York
80 kg - HM Conor Mccloskey, Teknique Wrestling, Georgia
80 kg - HM Aiden Peterson, Eagle Club, Ohio
80 kg - HM Jordan Chapman, New Jersey
80 kg - HM Tyrel Miller, Eagle Club, Ohio
80 kg - HM Peter Snyder, McDonald Wrestling Academy, Maryland
Penn State commit Zack Ryder won this tournament last year and brought home a bronze medal from the U17 World Championships. Despite missing some time this year due to injury he's been excellent and will be the clear favorite in Vegas.
Zack Ryder's U17 World bronze medal match
Ryder's biggest threat just might be Pennsylvania freshman Adam Waters who won a PIAA title in dramatic fashion this season. He’s as dangerous as they come as evidenced by the headlock he hit in the state finals.
Nebraska sophomore Cade Ziola will be a household name soon. He was undefeated at Elite 8 Duals a few weeks ago and finished on the podium in Fargo last summer. He can make serious noise in this bracket.
Bryce Burkett was a double Fargo finalist a year ago. He was a runner-up in freestyle and a Greco champ. Keep an eye on Fargo placers Jordan Chapman, Peyton Westphal, Hudson Rogers, Brent Slade, Hudson Rogers, Aydan Carlson, Samuel Watkins, Tyrel Miller, and Peter Snyder as well.
Prediction: 1) Zack Ryder 2) Adam Waters 3) Bryce Burkett 4) Cade Ziola 5) Jordan Champman 6) Peyton Westphal 7) Hudson Rogers 8) Elijah Diakomihalis
92 kg - 4 Ranked in the Top 20
92 kg - #3 (195) Aeoden Sinclair, Askren Wrestling Academy, Wisconsin
92 kg - #8 (220) Cash Henderson, Sanderson Wrestling Academy, Utah
92 kg - #12 (195) Dreshaun Ross, Sebolt Wrestling Academy, Iowa
92 kg - #16 (195) Vincenzo Lavalle, Edge Wrestling, New Jersey
92 kg - HM Aiden Cooley, Allen High School Wrestling, Texas
92 kg - HM Rocco Dellagatta, New York Athletic Club, New Jersey
92 kg - HM Jason Singer, Pennsylvania
92 kg - HM Carson Gooley, Team Idaho Wrestling Club, Idaho
92 kg - HM Melvin Whitehead, Gold Rush Wrestling, Nevada
92 kg - HM Kayden Cartee, Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage, California
92 kg - HM Brennan Carey, Nixa High School Wrestling, Missouri
92 kg - HM Karson Tompkins, Warrior Trained Wrestling, Texas
92 kg - HM Mason Ellis, Alabama Takedown Academy, Alabama
It’s hard to believe Aeoden Sinclair is still U17 eligible because he's been a serious factor on the national level for years and is already committed to Missout, but he’s a young Junior. He’s the clear favorite, but his match against Joey Novak in the AWA vs Pinnacle Dual showed that the right kind of opponents can score on him. Sinclair was a Fargo champ a year ago and finished 3rd in this tournament at 80kg.
Sinclair will have multiple Fargo champs in his way. Fort Dodge, Iowa freshman Dreshaun Ross won this tournament in the U15 division a year ago and followed it up with a Fargo title a few months later. Now he has an Iowa state title under his belt and is looking to prove that he belongs with the nation’s best. His preparedness for an opponent as seasoned as Sinclair is one of the most interesting questions of the entire U17 tournament. Utah's Cash Henderson was an Ironman finalist this year and won 220 lbs bracket in the U16 division at Fargo last summer. That means last year's Fargo champs at 182 lbs, 195 lbs, and 220 lbs will all be in the same bracket in Vegas.
New Jersey 3rd place finisher Vincenzo Lavalle was Dreshaun Ross' Fargo finals opponent last summer. Lavalle won the takedown battle against Ross 2-1 last summer, so even though he lost, he's likely to approach the rematch with a gameplan and a lot of confidence.
Dreshaun Ross vs Vincenzo Lavalle in last year's Fargo finals
Fargo freesytle placers Melvin Whitehead, Rocco Dellagatta, Aiden Cooley, Jason Singer, Kayden Cartee and Mason Ellis can do damage in this bracket as can Fargo Greco champ Brennan Carey and placer Karson Tompkins.
Prediction: 1) Aeoden Sinclair 2) Dreshaun Ross 3) Cash Henderson 4) Vincenco Lavalle 5) Rocco Dellagatta 6) Melvin Whitehead 7) Karson Tompkins 8) Jason Singer
110 kg - 2 Ranked in the Top 20
110 kg - #13 (285) Sampson Stillwell, Kobra Kai Training, Missouri
110 kg - #16 (220) Nicholas Sahakian, Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage, California
110 kg - HM Jacob Levy, Georgia
110 kg - HM Adam Farha, Poway High School Wrestling, California
This is by far the smallest bracket in the U17 division. Currently, only 15 wrestlers are set to compete. Still, Team USA should have a quality representative when it's all said and done. Sampson Stillwell is the 13th-ranked heavyweight in the nation on the strength of a third-place finish at Fargo a year ago and plenty of other excellent results. His biggest competition looks to be Nicholas Sahakian of California who's ranked #16 at 220 lbs. Sahakian won the California state title this year, and he's been a threat on the national level since he entered high school He’s yet to bring home a title on a national stage like the one he’ll have in Vegas, but this might be the one. Sahakian and Stillwell met in both Freestyle and Greco at the Open a year ago. Stillwell won the Greco bout, but Sahakian won a tight contest in Freestyle.
Sahakian vs Stillwell in freestyle at last year's US Open
The two top-20 ranked wrestlers will likely be pushed by Fargo finalists Jacob Levy of Georgia and Adam Farha of California. Both of these wrestlers have proven to be factors on the national stage.
Prediction: 1) Nicholas Sahakian 2) Sampson Stillwell 3) Adam Farha 4) Jacob Levy