2024 US Open Wrestling U20 Men's Freestyle Preview
2024 US Open Wrestling U20 Men's Freestyle Preview
The 2024 U20 men's freestyle division at the US Open is full of incredible storylines. Here's a preview of all the action.
The U20 men's freestyle division at the 2024 US Open Wrestling Championships is loaded with top end high school talent and bright young NCAA wrestling stars. Before the action gets underway, check out a preview of some of the best wrestlers registered for all ten weights.
2024 US Open Wrestling Championship Brackets and Schedule
All the wrestlers registered for the 2024 US Open Wrestling Championships
57 kg
Returning World Teamers
Luke Lilledahl (2023 U20 silver, 2022 U17 gold, 2021 U17 silver)
Jax Forrest (2022 U17 silver)
Spencer Moore (2021 U17 14th)
Ranked High Schoolers
57 kg - #1 Anthony Knox, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC), New Jersey
57 kg - #1 Luke Lilledahl, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Missouri
57 kg - #2 Ayden Smith, Lost Boys Wrestling Club, PA
57 kg - #2 Jax Forrest, Bishop McCort High School Wrestling, Pennsylvania
57 kg - #2 Nathan Desmond, Pennsylvania, PA
57 kg - #3 Seth Mendoza, SPAR Wrestling Academy, IL
57 kg - #5 Ronnie Ramirez, Walnut High School Wrestling, CA
57 kg - #6 Aaron Seidel, Pennsylvania, PA
57 kg - #9 Moses Mendoza, Gilroy High School Wrestling, CA
57 kg - #9 Revin Dickman, Contenders Wrestling Academy, IN
57 kg - #10 Isaiah Quintero, California, California
57 kg - #14 Adrian Meza, Valiant Wrestling Club, AZ
57 kg - #14 Dean Houser, Pennsylvania, PA
57 kg - #16 Mack Mauger, Team Idaho Wrestling Club, ID
57 kg - #17 Davis Motyka, XCalibur Athletics, PA
57 kg - #17 Gage Walker, Raw Wrestling Club, Oklahoma
57 kg - #18 Edwin Sierra, Poway Wrestling, CA
57 kg - #20 Aydan Thomas, Cowboy Wrestling Club, OK
57 kg - #20 Dan Jones, New Jersey, NJ
Three former age-level World teamers, nearly twenty nationally ranked high schoolers, and plenty of tough young college wrestlers enter a bracket with over 100 total competitors. North Carolina’s Spencer Moore made a U17 team in 2021, and Olympic Trials qualifiers Jax Forrest and Luke Lilledahl both have U17 World silver medals. In addition to his U17 silver, Lilledahl also has a U17 gold and a U20 silver.
Cornell commit Anthony Knox reached the best of three final at the U17 World Team Trials a year ago, and he’s proven for years that he’s ready to compete to make a team. He, Forrest, Lilledahl, and Desmond are all returning to age-level competition after having competed on the senior level earlier this month.
The high schoolers aren’t the only ones to watch in Vegas this week. Nebraska freshmen Alan Koehler and Kael Lauridsen, Virginia’s Gable Porter, and Penn NCAA qualifier Max Gallagher are plenty capable of making deep runs in this bracket.
Jax Forrest vs Luke Lilledahl in the 2023 Ironman finals
61 kg
Returning World Teamers
Kyler Larkin (2022 U17 13th)
Sam Herring (2023 U17 Greco 13th)
Cory Land (2021 U17 Greco silver, 2019 U17 Greco 8th)
Zan Fugitt (2022 U17 Greco 13th)
Ranked High Schoolers
61 kg - #3 Kyler Larkin, Valiant Wrestling Club, AZ
61 kg - #4 JJ Ryan McComas, Cowboy RTC, OK
61 kg - #7 Matthew Botello, X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club, MA
61 kg - #9 Logan Swensen, Jackrabbit Wrestling Club, MN
61 kg - #11 Isaiah Schaefer, Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club, IN
61 kg - #11 William Dekraker, Virginia, VA
61 kg - #18 Tahir Parkins, Pennsylvania, PA
While 61 kg doesn’t have the volume of ranked high schoolers that 57 kg does, it has enough top level talent to be very interesting, ASU commit Kyler Larkin looks to win first U20 US Open after qualifying for the U17 team two years ago. He’s joined by three former U17 Greco World Team members in Bishop McCort’s Sam Herring, UNI’s Cory Land, and Wisconsin’s Zan Fugitt. Land made teams in both 2019 and 2021 and secured silver in his second attempt.
Larkin is the highest ranked high schooler in the mix, but he’s joined by six other tough ranked individuals. Most notably, JJ McComas presents problems for anyone in this bracket as he’s reached the finals at Fargo and Ironman within the last year.
Oklahoma State freshman Cael Hughes could be Daton Fix’s replacement in Stillwater, so Cowboy fans will expect a strong performance from him this weekend. Plenty more young college guys are in the mix here, but one still unattached former high schooler and AWA product, Ben Bast may look to earn some scholarship dollars with a solid showing.
Penn State freshman Braeden Davis was a late addition to the registration list. He was the top-seeded 125-pounder this year at the NCAA Championships, and he's capable of winning this whole bracket.
Kyler Larkin vs Cael Hughes at the U20 World Team Trials
65 kg
Returning World Teamers
Bo Bassett (2021 U17 gold, 2021 U17 Greco 12th)
Ranked High Schoolers
65 kg - #1 Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort High School Wrestling, PA
65 kg - #1 Daniel Zepeda, Gilroy High School Wrestling, CA
65 kg - #2 Aden Valencia, California Regional Training Center (CA RTC), California
65 kg - #3 Kollin Rath, Steller Trained Wrestling, PA
65 kg - #3 Sergio Vega, Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness, AZ
65 kg - #4 Jaxon Joy, Wadsworth Grizzly Wrestling Club, OH
65 kg - #4 Pierson Manville, Pennsylvania, PA
65 kg - #5 Jace Roller, Bixby Freestyle/Greco, OK
65 kg - #7 Drew Gorman, Teknique Wrestling, GA
65 kg - #9 Gabriel Bouyssou, Mayo Quanchi Wrestling Club, RI
65 kg - #10 Jaydon Robinson, Victory Elite Wrestling, IL
65 kg - #10 Tyler Wells, Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC, MN
Bo Bassett is lone former World teamer in this group. He won U17 gold in 2021 and competed in U17 Greco the same year. He’s joined in the field by Daniel Zepeda, the last high schooler to beat him, Aden Valencia who he narrowly defeated at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. This bracket contains a total of 12 nationally ranked wrestlers who are more than capable of making noise.
The college freshmen in the field are formidable. NC State’s Koy Buesgens, Wyoming’s Cole Brooks, and Michigan’s Sergio Lemley have all proven themselves in the past. Lemley was an NCAA qualifier for the Wolverines in his true freshman season this year. Brooks finished 4th in the U20 US Open a year ago. Buesgens is a former Super 32 finalist who went 2-0 at last year’s Open before withdrawing due to injury.
Bo Bassett vs Aden Valencia at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier
70 kg
Returning World Teamers
Jadon Skellenger (2021 U17 Greco 8th)
Braden Stauffenberg (2023 U20 Greco 9th, 2021 U17 Greco 17th)
Ranked High Schoolers
70 kg - #1 PJ Duke, KD Training Center, NY
70 kg - #2 Landon Robideau, MN Elite Wrestling Club, MN
70 kg - #4 Paul Kelly, Poway High School Wrestling, CA
70 kg - #6 Laird Root, Poway High School Wrestling, CA
70 kg - #7 Dorian Olivarez, Texas, TX
70 kg - #7 Kody Routledge, Dark Horse Wrestling Club, OK
70 kg - #8 Cooper Hilton, Boom Ranch Wrestling Club, TN
70 kg - #10 EJ Parco, California, CA
70 kg - #14 William Denny, Victory Elite Wrestling, IL
70 kg - #15 Jadon Skellenger, Team Idaho Wrestling Club, ID
70 kg - #18 Chase Van Hoven, Legacy Dragons Wrestling, VA
70 kg - #19 Kael Voinovich, Big Game Wrestling Club, IA
70 kg - #20 Ishmael Guerrero, Cowboy RTC, OK
A pair of former Greco age level World teamers are looking to establish themselves in freestyle. Lehigh commit Jadon Skellenger and Michigan State freshman Braden Stauffenberg were on the same U17 Greco team in 2021. Stauffenberg also made the U20 team a year ago.
Perhaps the most interesting potential matchup at this weight would be a showdown between Illinois freshman Kannon Webster and Penn State commit PJ Duke. Illini fans are excited to see Webster in the lineup next year after a 16-1 true freshman season that included a victory over Ohio State All-American Dylan D’Emilio. His only loss came at the hands of West Virginia All-American Ty Watters. Last year, Webster was a runner up at the US Open, even defeating Ohio State NCAA champ Jesse Mendez in the semifinals. Duke is just a high school junior, but he’s already earned titles at Fargo, Super 32, and Ironman. Injuries have kept him from competing at the US Open in the past, but he’s absolutely a contender at this weight.
Kannon Webster's 2023 US Open victory over NCAA champ Jesse Mendez
A potential Webster vs Duke showdown could be derailed by a tough field that includes over a dozen nationally ranked high schoolers and highly recruited college youngsters like Michigan’s Dylan Gilcher who was 4th at the U20 World Team Trials last summer.
One un-ranked high schooler to keep an eye on is Logan Paradice. The UNI commit was 4th at Super 32 but hasn’t been ranked recently due to inactivity. Don’t forget about him. Fans should also follow Dorian Olivarez. The Houston area junior is coming off titles at NHSCAs and Folkstyle Nationals. He has recent victories over Alex Braun and Pierson Manville, but he’s still somewhat untested as he competes in jiu jitsu as often or more often than he wrestles. At 17 years of age, he won an ADCC Trials tournament to qualify for ADCCs, the toughest no gi jiu jitsu tournament in the world.
74 kg
Returning World Teamers
Joseph Sealey (2022 U17 gold)
LaDarion Lockett (2023 U17 gold)
Beau Mantanona (2021 U17 14th)
Ranked High Schoolers
74 kg - #2 Joseph Sealey, Pennsylvania, PA
74 kg - #2 Vince Bouzakis, Pennsylvania, PA
74 kg - #3 Ladarion Lockett, Cowboy Wrestling Club, OK
74 kg - #4 Charlie Millard, Askren Wrestling Academy, WI
74 kg - #5 Grigor Cholakyan, Sunkist Kids Monster Garage, CA
74 kg - #9 Dominic Bambinelli, Roundtree Wrestling Academy, GA
74 kg - #17 Beau Priest, Driller Wrestling Club, CA
74 kg - #17 Latrell Schafer, The Storm Wrestling Center, Georgia
Beau Mantanona, Joe Sealey, and LaDarion Lockett have all competed at the U17 World Championships. Lockett and Sealey have both secured gold. Those two might be the favorites to reach the US Open finals. If they do, their meeting will be a rematch of an Ironman semifinal that Sealey won last December. Lockett is a Stillwater High School junior who’s coming off a victory over All-American Meyer Shapiro at the Olympic Trials while Sealey is a Wyoming Seminary senior who just missed qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Lockett is committed to Oklahoma State while Sealey’s headed to Penn State.
Lockett and Sealey's 2023 Ironman semifinal
Eight total ranked high schoolers are in the mix along with some talented young college guys. #2 Vince Bouzakis was a late addition to the field. He's ranked down at 157 lbs, but it appears he may be moving up. He'll be a contender in this bracket. The aforementioned Mantanona finished a 15-6 redshirt season at Michigan. Illinois true freshman Braeden Scoles was 10-4 this year, and Stanford’s Zach Hanson was 8-2 on the year. Purdue’s Joey Blaze was an NCAA qualifier in his true freshman campaign with victories over All-Americans Peyton Robb and Ed Scott. Plenty more tough tests await in this 100+ man bracket.
79 kg
Returning World Teamers
Cole Han-Lindemyer (2022 U17 Greco 17th)
Zack Ryder (2023 U17 bronze, 2022 U17 bronze)
Ranked High Schoolers
79 kg - #4 William Henckel, Blairstown Wrestling Club, CT
79 kg - #7 Cole Han-Lindemyer, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, MN
79 kg - #8 Dominic Federici, X-Calibur, PA
79 kg - #12 Jordan Chapman, New Jersey, NJ
79 kg - #18 Jed Wester, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, MN
79 kg - #19 Xavier Giles, New York, New York
Penn State fans will get a look at two-time U17 World bronze medalist Zack Ryder this weekend. The New York Nittany Lion commit spent his senior year training in State College and returns to competition against high schoolers for the first time since last year. He was 8-0 at college opens this season. Will Henckel, another Penn State commmit, will also be a threat to win this bracket.
Like Ryder, Stanford commit Cole-Han Lindemyer is also a returning World teamer. He made the U17 Greco squad in 2022.
There’s no shortage of tough college guys in this bracket. Stanford’s Lorenzo Norman is likely excited to be back in Vegas. The last time he competed there, he took out NCAA champ Shane Griffith at CKLV. Iowa State NCAA round of 12 finisher MJ Gaitan could go deep in this bracket as could Bucknell NCAA qualifier Noah Mulvaney. Oklahoma State true freshman AJ Heeg is also in the mix. He was 12-1 in open tournaments in his first year with the Cowboys.
Highlights from Zack Ryder's World bronze medal match in 2022
86 kg
Returning World Teamers
Aeoden Sinclair (2023 U17 8th)
Max McEnelly (2022 U17 bronze)
Ranked High Schoolers
86 kg - #1 Aeoden Sinclair, Askren Wrestling Academy, Wisconsin
86 kg - #4 Tucker Hogan, Pennsylvania, PA
86 kg - #6 Cade Ziola, MWC Wrestling Academy, NE
86 kg - #10 Eddie Neitenbach, Ohio, OH
86 kg - #11 Anders Thompson, Flathead High School Wrestling, MT
86 kg - #15 Leimana Fager, Charger Wrestling Club, Utah
86 kg - #19 Hoke Hogan, Georgia, GA
Two returning U17 World teamers, Aeoden Sinclair and Max McEnelly, will look to win the US Open at 86 kg. McEnelly, the former bronze medalist, just might be the favorite. He was 15-0 in his true freshman season at Minnesota. A strong showing in Vegas would give Gopher fans even more reason to be excited for his debut as a starter next year. If Sinclair can win this bracket, he has a chance of being joined at the top of the podium by fellow AWA teammates Connor and Cole Mirasola who are competing at the next two weight classes.
Seven nationally ranked high schoolers will be joined by solid NCAA youngsters like Cal Poly’s Daschle Lamer, Oklahoma State’s Jersey Robb, Princeton’s Kole Mulhauser, Ohio State’s Ryder Rogotzke, and Iowa State’s Tate Naaktgeboren. Rogotzke is the most credentialed of that group on the college level. He was an NCAA qualifier during his true freshman season this year. Rogotzke is one of the most exciting wrestlers in this field due to his ability to put opponents to their backs from just about any position and his complete aversion to risk.
Highlights from McEnelly's 2022 U17 bronze medal match
Penn State true freshman Josh Barr was a late addition to the field at 86 kg, and he makes a very tough weight even tougher. Barr is one of the most likely candidates to take over the Nittany Lions' starting role at 184 lbs after the departure of four-time All-American Bernie Truax. His performance here will be telling.
92 kg
Returning World Teamers
Gavin Nelson (2021 U17 5th)
Ranked High Schoolers
92 kg - #2 Connor Mirasola, Askren Wrestling Academy, WI
92 kg - #3 Karson Tompkins, Texas, TX
92 kg - #8 Cayaen Smith, Sons Of Atlas Wrestling Club, UT
92 kg - #15 Dillon Bechtold, Steller Trained Wrestling, PA
Minnesota true freshman Gavin Nelson was 5th at the 2021 U17 World Championships and will be one of the top contenders at 92 kg in Los Vegas. Penn State commit Connor Mirasola enters this field after competing on the senior level for the past several months. In that time he defeated NCAA champ Max Dean, qualified for the Olympic Trials, and secured the first takedown anyone’s earned against Olympian and four-time NCAA champ Aaron Brooks in months. He’ll be tough to beat here.
Nelson and Mirasola will be joined by ranked high schoolers Karson Tompkins, Cayaen Smith, and Dillon Bechtold as well as Virginia Tech true freshman Sonny Sasso and NCAA qualifiers Jack Wehmeyer of Columbia and Justin Rademacher of Oregon State.
97 kg
Returning World Teamers
Camden McDanel (2023 U20 bronze)
Ranked High Schoolers
97 kg - #3 Cole Mirasola, Askren Wrestling Academy, WI
The 97 kg bracket will likely have the fewest competitors of any U20 weight class. Cole Mirasola is the lone nationally ranked high schooler. The Penn State commit has a solid chance to win this bracket, but he’ll need to beat tough young college guys like Nebraska’s Camden McDanel and Virginia’s Steven Burrell.
Mirasola won’t be intimidated by college competition as he’s spent the last several months competing on the senior circuit, but he’ll have his hands full with McDanel and Burrell who met three times last year on the path to the U20 World Team. McDanel won all three meetings and ultimately brought a bronze medal home for Team USA from the U20 World Championships.
The decisive second bout in Burrell & McDanel's U20 best of three finals series
125 kg
Returning World Teamers
125 kg - Koy Hopke (2022 U17 gold, 2022 U17 Greco 8th)
125 kg - Nicholas Sahakian (2023 U17 Greco 5th)
125 kg - Aden Attao (2023 U20 Greco 7th, 2022 U17 Greco bronze)
125 kg - Jimmy Mullen (2021 U17 2nd, 2021 U17 Greco 5th)
Ranked High Schoolers
125 kg - #5 Koy Hopke, Wisconsin, WI
125 kg - #8 Nicholas Sahakian, Sunkist Kids Monster Garage, CA
125 kg - #9 Daniel Herrera, Coachella Valley Wrestling Club, CA
125 kg - #16 Rocco Dellagatta, New Jersey, NJ
125 kg - #19 Shilo Jones, Team Idaho Wrestling Club, ID
Four former age-level World Teamers make 125 kg especially top-heavy. Three of those wrestlers, Koy Hopke, Aden Attao, and Jimmy Mullen, have won medals overseas. Hopke is the lone gold medalist of the bunch.
Hopke, Attao, and Mullen all have history. Mullen beat both Hopke and Attao in 2021 when he made his Greco and freestyle U17 teams but hasn’t wrestled either since then. Hopke lost to Attao at the U20 trials last year then beat him in the Fargo finals in one of the most thrilling matches of the entire tournament.
It will be tough for someone other than the four returning World Team members to win this bracket, but there are several game challengers including ranked high schoolers Daniel Herrera, Rocco Dellagatta, and Shilo Jones along with a number of tough college wrestlers.
Koy Hopke's insane comeback over Aden Attao in the Fargo finals
