61 kg Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Preview
61 kg Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Preview
A full 61 kg men's freestyle preview for the 2024 World Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 14-15.
The 2024 World Team Trials are September 14-15 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Champions determine this year’s representatives at the World Championships in Tirana, Albania, on October 28-31.
A challenge tournament will be held to determine who will wrestle in the best-of-three finals. Returning 2023 World medalists are eligible for an automatic spot in the best-of-three finals at the weight they won a medal.
Below is a schedule and breakdown of the 61-kilogram men’s freestyle bracket. This preview is based on the wrestlers who might be in attendance. All matches are streamed live on FloWrestling.
Schedule
Saturday, September 14
10 AM — Session I: Prelims, Quarterfinals, and Consolations
5 PM — Session II: Semifinals and Consolations
Sunday, September 15
10 AM — Session III: Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, 3rd Place and Round 1 best-of-three finals
2 PM — Session IV: Round 2 best-of-three and Round 3 if necessary
Overview
The 61-kilogram division could be the most competitive and compelling men’s freestyle weight class at the 2024 World Team Trials. Vito Arujau won the 2023 World Championships but skipped the 2024 Olympic Trials to focus on his health. He earned a spot in the best-of-three finals since he is a returning World medalist.
Five registered wrestlers are the front runners to face Arujau in the finals: Marcus Blaze, Austin DeSanto, Daton Fix, Nahshon Garrett, and Seth Gross.
Four of the above entrants have qualified for World Teams.
Styles make matchups and this weight has a treasure trove of possibilities.
Speed vs Length.
Power vs Flexibility.
Skill vs Will.
This weight has it all.
Team USA: 61 kg World Championship History
The Favorite: Vito Arujau
Arujau is halfway to making his second straight World Team and will wait in the best-of-three finals for his opponent. He did not cut to 57 kilograms for the 2024 Olympic Trials to focus on his health.
The former Cornell University star’s 2023 season was among the most memorable in wrestling history. He won the NCAA Championships as the third seed with a 12-4 semifinal win over three-time national finalist Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) before knocking off Penn State’s two-time returning NCAA champion Roman Bravo-Young in the finals, 10-4.
A few weeks later, Arajau dominated the US Open as the two-seed for a spot in Final X where he won 6-5 and 13-10 over former Big Red standout Nahson Garrett. He outscored his first four opponents at the World Championships 40-4 before a thrilling 10-9 win in the finals over 2021 World champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov.
Arujau struggled with injuries during his 2024 college campaign, dropping a pair of matches to Lehigh’s Ryan Crookham before the NCAA Championships. The Syosset, New York, native considered skipping the national tournament but persevered for his second NCAA title, including a 13-3 win over Crookham in the semis and a 5-3 win over Fix in the finals.
This is Arujau’s first freestyle competition of 2024 and the first since his World title. Unlike the US Open, he won’t get a warm-up match to ease into the tournament. Arajau is the favorite but will face a World-caliber wrestler for his first freestyle match of the season and his first match since March. His opponent survived a grueling mini-tournament the day prior.
Finding early offense is paramount. Arujau is the most dynamic and creative wrestler in the field. A slow, methodical match won’t serve him well. He should test his opponent early and show why he is a World champion.
The Contenders
Nahshon Garrett
Garrett was close to being on a World Team. He won 2018 Final X — two matches to one — over Joe Colon. Colon opened with a 7-5 win before Garrett stormed back for 10-5 and 12-0 wins.
Colon replaced an injured Garrett at the World Championships and eventually won bronze.
The time is now for the 31-year-old Garrett. He moved to 65 kg for the 2024 Olympic Trials and had limited success in the heavier class. Garrett fell 10-6 to Beau Bartlett in his opening match, defeated Seth Gross 15-8, and lost 11-0 after earning injury defaults against James Green and Andrew Alirez.
Garrett proved he belongs after pushing Arujau to the wire at 2023 Final X after a 12-4 win over Fix in the World Team Trials Challenge tournament finals. He has a slingshot double and can finish clean on any wrestler. The more Garrett can score from space, the better. He has the tools to make it to the best-of-three finals and compete at the World Championships if he’s at his best.
Garrett had a dominant victory over Fix at the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge tournament
Daton Fix
All eyes will be on Fix in Omaha. This is his first competition since David Taylor took over as Oklahoma State’s head wrestling coach. Taylor stated publicly that keeping Fix in the Cowboy RTC was a priority.
The Sand Springs, Oklahoma, native has been a staple of the program, reaching the NCAA tournament finals four times with five All-American honors. He made the 2019 World Team at 57 kg over Thomas Gilman before winning 61 kg silver in 2021.
Fix cut to 57 kg for the Olympic Trials and won 5-1 over Nick Suriano before falling to Gilman, 6-0, and forfeiting out of the tournament. Gilman is currently on the Cowboy coaching staff and is likely training with Fix.
The 26-year-old has international experience, winning multiple age-level World medals, including 2017 Junior gold. Fix is tough to score on and has explosive turns if he gets on top.
Daton Fix looked sharp during his 2021 World semifinals
Marcus Blaze
Blaze is fresh off a third-place finish in the 57 kg mini-tournament at the 2024 Olympic Trials. The top pound-for-pound high school wrestler fell to Suriano, 4-2, in the opening round and bounced back with wins over NCAA champion Nico Megaludis and high school stars Luke Lilledahl and Jax Forrest.
This will be the ultimate test for Blaze to see if he belongs with the senior elite. He won the 2023 U17 World Championships with three dominant wins and two one-point victories. The Perrysburg, Ohio, native shocked the wrestling world when he knocked off national number one and returning NCAA finalist Matt Ramos of Purdue, 4-1, at the 2023 Clarion Open on November 5.
Will the youth movement have its say at 61 kg? Blaze has the skills to put the world on notice.
Marcus Blaze came up clutch during his 2023 U17 World finals match
Austin DeSanto
Perhaps no wrestler in the field brings more excitement to the mat than Austin DeSanto. His high-octane and relentless pace makes him a fan favorite. The former Iowa star didn’t compete at the 2024 Olympic Trials due to an injury but had an impressive performance at the 2023 US Open. DeSanto defeated Colon in the quarters, 12-0, and Gross in the semis, 5-4, before falling to Arujau, 10-0, in the finals.
Austin DeSanto and Seth Gross had an exciting match in the 2023 US Open semifinals
Seth Gross
Gross can score in bundles even if he gives up position to make it happen. He is the most unpredictable and unorthodox wrestler in the field, making him a dangerous match-up.
His breakthrough performance was 2022 Final X where he arrived late in Tulsa and had to take an Uber to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to face Daton Fix the following day. Gross dropped a 5-5 match to Fix before bouncing back with 5-4 and 9-5 wins in front of a partisan crowd. The Apple Valley, Minnesota, native had a solid showing at Worlds, going 3-2 and wrestling for a medal.
The results of the recent Olympic Trials do not accurately represent Gross's abilities. Competing at 65 kg wasn’t ideal for the undersized Gross. This is his best weight, and he can prove it in Omaha.
Watch Seth Gross and Daton Fix highlights from 2022 Final X
Prediction
Expect another all-Cornell final with Arujau taking the series over Garrett.