On an annual basis, the age-group divisions experience significant turnover. Wrestlers advance both in years and relative to their physical and technical capacities, which by extension results in a different look each time the spring rolls around and we’re talking about World Team selection. 

This past weekend in the Wisconsin Dells, change was once again the story, but in a more dramatic sense. What else would you expect following a year-long postponement? Athletes with whom familiarity had previously been achieved were noticeably more viable. Hungrier, even. On the flipside, there were so many new faces it was difficult to keep track of them all — but that is always a positive sign, particularly when it comes to Greco-Roman. 

In the end, World Teams rosters were decided and, coming off of a 12-month hiatus, the lion’s share of the participants competed as though gratuity fueled their motivation as much as victory. 

U15 Greco-Roman World Team Trials Overview

Pins and points — that’s what the people want to see, and U15 delivered up and down the brackets. Things tightened up once the best-of-three finals arrived, which in its own way offered encouragement from a developmental standpoint. Athletes fighting tooth-and-nail with Team berths on the line demonstrated that they understood the gravity of the situation. 

Of course, not each finals series involved close scores; several weight categories were decided in one-sided fashion. That, too, was a regular occurrence. But even in those bouts, competitiveness never took a backseat. Sometimes, certain wrestlers are just further along in their progression than others. 

Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Minnesota came locked-and-loaded per usual. For 2021, Idaho took a step up with a pair of champions. At 48 kilograms, Matthew Martino sought out scores like a laser-guided missile en-route to the title. He has a gutwrench. Martino displayed patience and confidence from par terre, but he also put in some nifty work on the feet via arm drags and go-behinds. A beautiful hip toss made the highlight reel, as well. 

Martino was fitfully challenged in the best-of-three by Thomas Verrette (PA). They went back-and-forth in Match 1 with Martino nailing a clutch four-spot at the edge as time became a factor. Match 2 was...different. Verrette was penalized for fingers, and later another caution put Martino out in front. With 10 seconds to go, Verrette darted to the body and came up with his head. Martino took the brunt of the impact and was awarded the win in the caution-ending contest. Not how you want a series to reach its conclusion, but, you know… Greco is a nasty sport. 

The second, heavier Idahoan to cement a spot in the World School Combat Games goes by the name of Hudson Rogers (68 kg). Rogers and Emil Necula (Level Up) combined for one of the more tension-building series in the U15 tournament. They complimented one another well stylistically. Match 1 saw Necula do some very nice work with a gut that netted two turns. Shortly thereafter, Rogers got behind on the feet and launched a superb side lift for four. The throw altered the complexion of the bout, as Rogers eventually tacked on three more for what became a 7-5 decision. In Match 2, Necula was close. Really close. He had a 4-4 criteria lead with under a minute remaining when Rogers bumped him off the line for the decisive point. 

Elsewhere

The 52-kilogram class featured an athlete who certainly made his mark in Wisconsin, Jackson Heslin (Poway Elite). Heslin was the picture of dominance throughout the day, piling up 49 combined points. Against fellow Keystone Stater Brock Weiss, Heslin earned technical fall wins of 8-0 and 10-0, respectively. 

Even days later, people are still gushing over Vince Bouzakis’ ‘Outstanding Wrestler’ performance, and for good reason. The 57-kg dynamo never pumped the brakes, going all-out on what are defined as “meaningful attempts”. And more often than not, Bouzakis executed. He had cruised to the semifinals, where Landon Robideau (PINnacle) fought hard, and fought well. In fact, Robideau appeared a hair away in a couple of positions from completely taking over. But Bouzakis stayed firm to the end in garnering a seat in the final round. 

With a trip to the World tournament hanging in the balance, Bouzakis was at his best. Phoenix Contos (OH) started off Match 1 with a solid headlock for four, but was unable to fully capitalize because Bouzakis instantly rolled through ahead of converting a succession of guts. Bouzakis later piled on even more to pull out of reach via 14-5 tech. Match 2 did not invite much in the way of consternation for Bouzakis. A four-pointer in the first followed by a gut -- and then after a reset, a takedown — were all she wrote. 

Cadet Greco-Roman World Team Trials Overview

U15, in what is really only Year 2 for the age division, was expected to see massive turnover. Naturally. The Cadet division experienced the same shifting of personnel, though several who had been on other World Teams helped usher in a sense of familiarity. 

There was only one repeater — Cory Land (Ironclad). Up a full seven kilograms from ‘19 (48 to 55), Land was sharp and offensively-minded along his travels. He teched everyone, basically —  except for Gable Porter (Powerhouse WC), who achieved his own scores in Match 2 after Land raced to victory in Match 1 on the strength of an 8-0 VSU. 

For as many sprites were show-stoppers at U15, Cadet had even more, and one of the youngsters who stood out was Brock Bobzien at 60. Few eventual champs encountered the same scope of competition as Bobzien, and only two others were as in control throughout the tournament. His bout versus Elijah Paulson (PINnacle) gave way to a solid scrap, but Paulson was his only legitimate threat on Friday. The best-of-three offered a very tough opponent in the form of Ayson Rice (LOG), and Bobzien ran the table in two straight to ensure he will have the chance to compete for a World medal in July. 

Three wrestlers with ties to the ‘19 U15 roster had their say.

 ‘19 U15 rep Aden Valencia (Greco-Roman Development) emerged with the crown at 48 kilograms by pushing the pace all day long. He still had enough steam available by the time the finals arrived. Otto Black (Black Fox) was also impressive, which should be understood. The problem for Black was simply that Valencia had too much positional savvy along with an earnest repertoire of scoring options from which to choose. Valencia took both finals bouts via technical fall. 

65 kilograms offered a marquee duo in the final. ‘19 U15 World gold Jadon Skellenger (Suples) and ‘19 bronze Joel Adams (MWC) were equally stunning as they cleared their respective paths to the World Team round. Skellenger, long under the tutelage of Ivan Ivanov, was forced to bite down in Match 1 when Adams got on the board with a bursting over/under bodylock. Skellenger responded quickly following the score. First, he reversed position and rotated three turns before adding another pair of points. In the second period, and with Adams coming up with another over/under throw, Skellenger astutely minded positional mechanics and hung on for the entertaining 11-8 decision. 

Their second go-round on the day skewed in Skellenger’s direction early on and the dynamic didn’t change. Two step-out points in the opening frame represented the only hints of offense moving into the second period. But Skellenger, he can barrel his way to scores quickly, which he demonstrated by transitioning from an arm spin try to a takedown that was back-ended by two follow-up guts. Named the ‘Outstanding Wrestler’ on the Cadet side, Skellenger will be an athlete to watch once the Worlds hit the calendar later this summer.