14 Incredible Rematches We Could See At U23 Nationals/U20 World Team Trials
14 Incredible Rematches We Could See At U23 Nationals/U20 World Team Trials
The 2024 U23 Nationals and U20 World Team Trials could feature some incredible rematches! Here are 14 bouts we're hoping to see again.
The 2024 U23 Nationals and U20 World Team Trials could feature dozens of rematches between some of the nation's top wrestlers. Here are 14 rematches we'd love to see this weekend in Geneva, Ohio.
U20 61 kg - Ben Davino vs Marcus Blaze
Davino and Blaze met for the number one spot in the country in December's Ironman finals. Davino narrowly won that overtime bout, but the two haven't met since. Since that time, Blaze finished 3rd at the Olympic Trials. How will Ohio State commit Ben Davino fare in a rematch with the nation's top uncommitted recruit, Marcus Blaze? Hopefully we'll find out this weekend.
U20 65 kg - Bo Bassett vs Daniel Zepeda
2x California state champ Daniel Zepeda is the last high school wrestler to beat Bo Bassett. The two met at Who's Number One in September at 138 lbs. Since then, Bassett has won Super 32, Ironman, Powerade, a PIAA title, and the U20 US Open. For this rematch to happen, Zepeda will need to navigate the entire U20 World Team Trials mini tournament as Bassett awaits in the best-of-three finals.
U20 79 kg - Zack Ryder vs Gabe Arnold
It's been two years since Gabe Arnold and Zack Ryder met in the quarterfinals of the U17 World Team Trials. At the time, Arnold was the favorite to win that matchup, but Ryder won a tight contest. Afterward, he beat both Aeoden Sinclair and Connor Mirasola, the top seeds at this year's U20 World Team Trials at 86 kg and 92 kg respectively, then won two consecutive bronze medals at the U17 World Championships.
U23 61 kg - Nic Bouzakis vs Aaron Nagao
Bouzakis and Nagao met in a high-scoring battle this season during Ohio State's dual against Penn State. Bouzakis took their first matchup 13-7, but Nagoa won the rematch 3-0 in the consolation bracket at NCAAs. We just might see a rubber-match at this year's U23 Nationals.
U20 57 kg - Jax Forrest vs Seth Mendoza
These two met in folkstyle this season at the Carnahan Memorial where Forrest got the better of Mendoza, but their most recent meeting was a technical superiority victory for Mendoza at the U20 US Open. Can Forrest make the adjustments to get right in the series, or will Mendoza maintain his recent momentum?
U20 70 kg - PJ Duke vs Kannon Webster
Duke and Webster's U20 US Open meeting was highly anticipated. Penn State commit Duke is one of the top stars in high school wrestling, and Webster is an Illinois true freshman with All-American victories under his belt. Duke won their first meeting with multiple feed-to-back scores, but Webster is a pro at making adjustments. Hopefully we'll see this rematch in the best of three U20 World Team Trials finals.
U23 65 kg - Ryan Jack vs Cael Happel
NC State All-American Ryan Jack is 2-0 against UNI star Cael Happel. He won by 15-6 major decision at CKLV this season and by 6-3 decision in last season's UNI vs NC State dual meet. Happel has been knocking on the door to become an All-American himself, so this U23 matchup would be a welcome high-level test for the soon-to-be 5th year Panther.
U20 57 kg - Anthony Knox vs Luke Lilledahl
This rematch would be a long time in the making. Anthony Knox beat Luke Lilledahl handily during their Who's Number One matchup in 2021, but most of Lilledahl's most impressive performances have some since that time. Lilledahl holds the cards here as he's sitting in the best-of-three finals of the 57 kg U20 World Team Trials. For Knox to have a shot at the rematch, he'll need to run the table in a stacked mini-tournament first.
U20 61 kg - Sergio Vega vs Ben Davino
Cornell commit Sergio Vega pulled off one of the biggest upsets of this year's Super 32 tournament when he knocked off Ben Davino in the semifinals. He also competed one of the highest-profile matches of last month's US Open in a shootout with eventual champion Bo Bassett at 65 kg. Now he's dropped to 61 kg where he'll look to make noise against an ultra-competitive field.
U23 70 kg - Daniel Cardenas vs Ed Scott
We don't have footage of Daniel Cardenas and Ed Scott's round of 12 showdown at the 2023 NCAA championships. That's unfortunate because it was a 6-4 sudden victory decision for Scott. Hopefully we'll get that high-level rematch in the 70 kg bracket at this year's U23 Nationals.
U20 125 kg - Jimmy Mullen vs Nicholas Sahakian
Recent Michigan commit Nicholas Sahakian took a dominant lead against Virginia Tech true freshman Jimmy Mullen in their U20 US Open final, but Mullen ended the match with a feet-to-back fall. The abrupt ending to the match left wrestling fans wanting more. If Sahakian can win the World Team Trials mini tournament, we'll get that rematch two or three times on Saturday afternoon.
U20 65 kg - Bo Bassett vs Aden Valencia
The first meeting between these two in 2024 came at the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier where Bassett won in dramatic fashion. Bassett followed that up with another close victory in the finals of the U20 US Open. We were able to get incredible insight from both wrestlers as we followed them throughout that bracket. It would be fantastic to see them run it back in a best-of-three series.
U20 74 kg - LaDarion Lockett vs Joe Sealey
The U20 US Open finals was a rematch of this year's Ironman semifinals. Sealey won at Ironman, but Lockett won their most recent contest in Las Vegas. These are two of the most exciting wrestlers in all of high school wrestling, so a best-of-three series would likely be action packed.
U20 86 kg - Josh Barr vs Aeoden Sinclair
2023 U17 World team member Aeoden Sinclair and Penn State true freshman Josh Barr met last month in a highly anticipated US Open final. That match was all Sinclair. What adjustments have Barr and the Penn State staff made in the last few weeks? We could find out in the finals if Barr wins the mini tournament.
