2022 USMC US Open Wrestling Championships

Wrestlers We NEED To See At The US Open

Take a look at the wrestlers who will benefit most by competing at the US Open.

Apr 7, 2022 by Jon Kozak

We’re still a few weeks away from the US Open and registrations are just heating up for the event. In this article, we’ll look at the benefit for athletes competing at the US Open and what wrestlers we “need” to see there.

Apr 27-May 1, 2022, TBD

2022 USMC US Open Wrestling Championships

What’s The Point Of The US Open?

USA Wrestling has established the US Open this year to help determine seeding at the World Team Trials and as a qualifier for the Trials on May 21-22. Specifically, the top 7 placers at the US Open will qualify for trials with the champion receiving the automatic #1 seed. That means the automatic bye to Final X for US Open champs are not a part of this year’s procedures as they were in the past. With that in mind, take a look at the top athletes below who would benefit the most from competing at the US Open.

Yianni Diakomihalis/Nick Lee/Joey McKenna

Unless a dark horse comes into 65kg, there seems to be a clear, three-man race for the world team spot - Yianni Diakomihalis, Joey McKenna, and Nick Lee. All three have traded wins and losses over the last year and look to be able to challenge for a medal on the senior level. Nick Lee defeated Yianni at the Olympic Trials but also lost to McKenna there. After that, Diakomihalis is 3-2 against McKenna over the past 3 years. Depending on the day, any one of these three could make the world team at 65kg.

All three are already qualified for the World Team Trials, so what’s the incentive to participate at the Open? The #1 seed for the trials is on the line! That means whoever wins the US Open at 65kg will avoid the other two wrestlers in the bracket at the world team trials and have an “easier” path to Final X. At this point, none of the three are registered, but we'll keep you up to date if they do!

Joey McKenna's win over Yianni in match 1 of the 2021 World Team Trials finals:

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Alec Pantaleo

Pantaleo is currently ranked #14 in the world at 70kg but has yet to qualify for the World Team Trials. He IS already entered for the US Open and will need to finish in the top 7 to earn a spot at the trials. That shouldn’t be a problem for Pantaleo who had an incredible 2021 season before getting injured in the semi-finals of the world team trials against Ryan Deakin. It’s especially important for Pantaleo to win the Open considering the depth of the field already qualified for the trials in the likes of James Green, Ryan Deakin, Zain Retherford, and Jordan Oliver.

Pantaleo's win over James Green at the 2021 Poland Open:

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Isaiah Martinez

It’s hard to believe Isaiah Martinez isn’t qualified for the world team trials, especially considering he took a match from Jordan Burroughs at Final X in 2019. However, because of an injury, Imar didn’t wrestle at the Olympic Trials last year and then forfeited out of the world team trials after losing to Alex Dieringer in the semi-finals. Look for an incredible bracket at the US Open with Isaiah Martinez, Alex Dieringer, and Chance Marsteller already registered!

Imar's loss to Dieringer at the 2021 World Team Trials:

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Mark Hall

With a cadet and 2 junior world titles, Mark Hall was one of the best freestyle prospects for Team USA in the last 10 years. However, Hall hasn’t competed much on the senior level after graduating from Penn State and coaching at The University of Pennsylvania. Hall’s only competition this year was at the Yasar Dogu in February where he went 0-1 losing to Tarzan Maisuradze (GEO), 8-5. Hall isn’t currently qualified for the World Team Trials and will be fascinating to watch should he enter.

Mark Hall's win over Myles Martin at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone:

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Greg Kerkvliet

I believe Greg Kerkvliet can win a world medal this year on the senior level at 125kg. Kerkvliet has incredible age-level credentials including a cadet world title in 2017, cadet silver in 2018, and U23 5th in 2019 (when he was still 18). On top of those credentials, Kerkvliet defeated Mason Parris (who has defeated Nick Gwiazdowski) at last year's Olympic Trials before losing to Gable Steveson and Tony Nelson. We saw Kerkvliet make huge strides since last year during this year’s college season and, if healthy, Kerkvliet presents the toughest challenge to two-time world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski.

Kerkvliet's win in the 2017 Cadet World Finals:

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Because the Open is still a few weeks away, we're continuing to see new registrations daily. Check out everyone who is currently registered for the US Open here.