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Discussion Topic: U20 & U23 World Team Trials
Brian Mathews added to this discussion on June 3, 2022
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The U20 and U23 World Team Trials are taking place this weekend (in addition to Final X Stillwater). Freestyle starts Saturday morning.
I'm not sure how much people on this board follow USA age group teams, but even if you don't, there are a lot of Buckeyes and future Buckeyes involved that should keep you interested. Especially considering success on the international stage at the junior level is the most reliable predictor of success at the NCAA level that we have (nearly every world junior medalist we've produced has gone on to be at least a 1x NCAA AA, and usually more). See: Kollin Moore, Joey McKenna, Logan Stieber, Kyle Snyder, Mark Hall, Keegan O'Toole, Mekhi Lewis, etc., etc., etc...
Quick summary for OSU fans to follow below (freestyle only):
--- U20 Trials (Juniors) ---
57kg
Andre Gonzales (OSU redshirt) - US Open Runner-Up
Key competitors: Richie Figueroa (ASU redshirt), Nate Jesuroga (2023 Iowa commit, cadet world medalist), Troy Spratley (Minnesota commit, sitting in finals, beat Gonzales handily at the Open), Robbie Howard (PSU), Cooper Flynn (VT)
61kg
Nic Bouzakis (OSU incoming) - US Open Champ (sitting in finals)
Jesse Mendez (OSU incoming) - 3rd @ US Open seniors
Key competitors: Kyler Larkin (ASU commit class of 2024, ran through Cadet trials at the Open), Carter Bailey (Lehigh)
70kg
Still a chance he flips to Ohio State, so keep an eye on Cody Chittum
79kg
Rocco Welsh (class of 2023)
Key competitors: James Rowley (Wisconsin 2022 commit, cadet world medalist), Luca Augustine (Pitt, sitting in finals), Brayden Thompson (OkSU commit), Josh Barr (PSU commit 2023, ranked just ahead of Welsh)
92kg
Seth Shumate (OSU incoming)
Key competitors: Gavin Nelson (Minnesota 2023 commit), Kyle Haas (Oklahoma State redshirt), Jaxon Smith (Maryland redshirt, crushed everyone at the Open)
125kg
Nick Feldman (OSU incoming, sitting in finals)
Key comptetitors: weight looks pretty light. maybe there's a guy in there who's been in a college room for a year that is better than I know.
--- U23 Trials ---
65kg
Jordan Decatur, Dylan D'Emilio
Key competitors: Ridge Lovett (Neb), Cole Matthews (Pitt), Beau Bartlett (PSU), Kyle Parco (ASU)
74kg
Carson Kharchla
Key competitors: Jacori Teemer (ASU), Peyton Robb (Neb), Julian Ramirez (Cornell), PAt Kennedy (Iowa), Peyton Hall (WVU) -- loaded weight
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Discussion Topic: U20 & U23 World Team Trials
Ethan Moore added to this discussion on June 3, 2022
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Brian - thanks for the intel.
Where do you see who is registered?
Thanks,
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Discussion Topic: U20 & U23 World Team Trials
Brian Mathews added to this discussion on June 3, 2022
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Discussion Topic: U20 & U23 World Team Trials
Brian Mathews added to this discussion on June 6, 2022
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Quick wrap up:
Gonzales -- DNP
No easy matches in this tournament. Lost a winnable match vs. Cooper Flynn of VT, who went on to make the challenge finals. Again, missing some freestyle match IQ like at the open. Later dropped a disappointing match to Seymour from Lehigh in consis.
I think he's a better folkstyler.
Bouzakis & Mendez -- 1st & 2nd
As advertised. If you haven't watched their series, go do it.
Welsh -- 3rd/4th
Welsh was impressive. Lost one close match to Thompson (who is ranked below him in the class of 2023, and an Oklahoma State commit). I'm not too worried about that.
Shumate -- DNP
Some good, some bad. Relying on upper body attacks, and not the good kind. Doesn't look like a 197 to me, and regardless of his weight, he's got a long way to go before he's competitive at the NCAA level.
Feldman -- 1st
He said after he was feeling some nerves, and that this was the biggest tournament he's ever wrestled in. You could feel that in his best of 3 series (despite him winning comfortably 2-0). It's easy to forget he doesn't quite have the experience that Mendez or Bouzakis does. Regardless of if he medals or not, getting to experience a world championship should be huge for his development.
D'Emilio -- 2nd
Very good tournament. Beat Decatur, beat Bartlett who is a junior world medalist in FS, beat Saunders who's been on world teams. Dropped the final series 2-0 to Matthews... not surprising, but both of those matches were winnable (the 2nd in particular). Making a freestyle world team wearing headgear would have been a touching tribute to Coach Stieber.
Decatur -- 4th
Solid tournament. Lost to D'Emilio, of course, which considering freestyle pedigrees you could say is not a good thing. But, he wrestled something like 9 matches and only lost to his teammate, and an NCAA finalist. Lovett head pinched him for 8 pts in about 15 seconds, which you don't see every day.
Overall, some decent action from the Bucks. There were a few other OSU wrestlers competing that didn't place (Bryer Hall, Mike Misita, Isaac Wilcox). Personally I think these tournaments are incredibly valuable, win or lose. Recall Pletcher unlocking his offense up a weight class... Kollin Moore learning he can compete with the best on a national level... etc.
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