The wrestling Olympic Trials are set to go down in State College, Pennsylvania April 19-20. The winner of every bracket will earn the right to represent the United States at the Olympics in Paris this coming August. Check out the below article for a full preview and predictions of the 125 kg field at the Trials.

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The Favorite

• Mason Parris

Mason Parris will be sitting in the best of 3 finals after winning a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships. That advantage makes Parris a big favorite to win a 125 kg bracket filled with tough competitors. Beyond the advantage, Parris has victories over every top guy in the field including Nick Gwiazdowski, Hayden Zillmer, Greg Kerkvliet, and Dom Bradley. Beyond the victories, Parris hasn’t lost to anyone in this field since dropping a match to Kerkvliet at the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Before that, you’d have to go back to the 2021 World Team Trials where Nick Gwiazdowski defeated Parris twice to make the world team. 

However, since those losses, Parris has made notable improvements and his results reflect that. He defeated Kerkvliet 3 times in the 2023 college wrestling season and also defeated Nick Gwiazdowsk i(6-2) in the finals of the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Simply put, Mason Parris is the man to beat in this field. His athleticism, size, and offensive capabilities are world-class and if Parris makes the Olympic team, he’s proven capable of reaching the podium in Paris.

Mason Parris' win over Nick Gwiazdowski at the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament:

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The Contenders

• Hayden Zillmer
• Nick Gwiazdowski
• Greg Kerkvliet

The above group of three wrestlers has all proven they are capable contenders to challenge Mason Parris for the Olympic Team spot. First up, Hayden Zillmer - the 125 kg world team rep in 2022. Zillmer made that world team by taking out Nick Gwiazdowksi in a wild 3-match series. Zillmer then went on to go 1-1 at the World Championships failing to place after losing a close match to heavyweight legend Geno Petriashvili. Unfortunately, Zillmer suffered an injury in early 2023 and wasn't able to compete last season at the US Open or World Team Trials. If Zillmer’s fully healthy, he’s capable of challenging, and defeating, everyone in this weight class.

Zillmer's win over Gwiazdowski to make the 2022 World Team:

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Though he lost to Parris and Zillmer the last two years, Nick Gwiazdowski controlled the 125 kg weight class in the United States from 2017-2021. In that time frame, Gwiz made 4 world teams and won bronze at the World Championships in 2017 and 2018. Even in his losses to Parris and Zillmer, Gwiz was in the match and has wins over both wrestlers in the past. Gwiz is a seasoned vet, and no one should be surprised if he comes out on top at 125 kg.

Gwiazdowski's win over Dom Bradley at the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament:

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Greg Kerkvliet is the final wrestler who should be considered a contender in this field. Kerkvliet is fresh off his college season where he went undefeated on his way to winning his first NCAA title. Kerkvliet defeated Mason Parris three times in the 2021-22 college season and also handed Parris a loss at the 2020 Olympic Trials. Along with those wins over Parris, Kerkvliet won a cadet world title back in 2017 along with a cadet world silver in 2018. Despite those freestyle accolades, Kerkvliet hasn’t wrestled on the senior level since the 2020 Olympic trials and has never wrestled Hayden Zillmer, Nick Gwiazdowski, Dom Bradley, or Wyatt Hendrickson in freestyle. Even with the lack of results against the field, Kerkvliet might have the best skills of anyone and will be many wrestling fans' pick to win this bracket.

Kerkvliet's win over Wyatt Hendrickson at the 2023 NWCA All-Star Classic:

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Who Can Beat The Contenders?

• Dom Bradley 
• Wyatt Hendrickson

While Christian Lance, Gary Traub, Demetrius Thomas, Trent Hillger, and Jaron Smith are tough, I believe there are only 2 wrestlers who have shown they challenge the contenders - Dom Bradley and Wyatt Hendrickson. Dom Bradley has been a stalwart at heavyweight for the past 15 years winning 4 US Open Championships. Even though Bradley is 35 years old, he took third at the 2023 World Team Trials while defeating Ty Walz, Tony Cassioppi, and Wyatt Hendrickson. Bradley will be in close matches with all of the top guys in this weight, and while I’m not picking him to win, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bradley finishes in the top 4 at Trials.

Dom Bradley's win over Wyatt Hendrickson:

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Wyatt Hendrickson qualified for the Olympic Trials after winning a U23 World Title last summer and will absolutely be a threat to the contenders at this weight. In fact, Hendrickson almost defeated Mason Parris two different times last year. At the 2023 US Open, Hendrickson was up 7-0 in the third-place bout at the US Open before Parris came back to win 20-7. Then, in the semis of the World Team Trials, Hendrickson was leading Parris 10-4 with a minute to go in the match before Mason Parris came back to win 12-11. Though Hendrickson lost those matches, he’s proven to be right there with Parris and when his offense is clicking, it’s high-powered enough to take out any wrestler in this weight. 

Hendrickson's 12-11 loss to Parris at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament:

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125 kg Olympic Trials Predictions

Going into the Olympic Trials, I feel the most confident in either Mason Parris or Greg Kerkvliet coming out on top and winning the Olympic team spot. While the other top guys in the class like Gwiazdowksi, Bradley, and Zillmer are likely past their prime, Parris and Kerkvliet are wrestling the best they ever have and likely just entering the best years of their careers. In the end, I’m picking Mason Parris to defeat Kerkvliet in the finals of the Trials. Parris seems to have turned a corner in this rivalry and sitting in the finals will be a huge advantage for him. Razor-thin margins should decide the matches and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the series go a full three matches. Regardless of what happens, this will be one of the best weights to watch unfold from start to finish.

Top 4 125 kg Predictions

1. Mason Parris
2. Greg Kerkvliet
3. Nick Gwiazdowski
4. Wyatt Hendrickson