- by Brock Hite

The 2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials will be live on FloWrestling Friday, June 12, 2015. The challenge tournament begins at 10am EST, and the best-of-three championship finals begin at 3pm EST. Champions will represent the United States in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil August 11th-16th. The Junior Trials mirror the Senior level with a challenge tournament winner taking on the National Champion in a best-of-three series.

Two weight classes could see special exemptions as Joey McKenna and Kyle Snyder compete in the Senior WTT. They are both still eligible for the Junior age group, and could request a wrestle-off with the champion that is crowned in Madison. This exemption is extended to returning Junior World medalists. McKenna won silver at the 2014 Championships and Snyder followed is 2013 gold medal with a bronze in Croatia.

50kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Danny Vega of Tucson Cyclones
2nd Place - Devin Brown of Young Guns
3rd Place - Brandon Courtney of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place - Brock George of Wyoming Wrestling RTC
5th Place - Liam Cronin of Servite
6th Place - Jordan Martinez of Front Range Wrestling Club
7th Place - Kevin Nash of Panther Wrestling Club

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Jabari Moody- 2014 Junior World 5th
Spencer Lee- 2014 Cadet World Champion

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Brock George
Jordan Martinez
Kevin Nash

A small but talented field at Junior Nationals saw Danny Vega(AZ) pin Devin Brown (PA) in the finals, and reserve his spot in the best of three championship series. The big news comes from the entries that didn’t enter the field out in Las Vegas. Jabari Moody(IL) is your returning World Team member at 50kg, and Spencer Lee(PA) was the 2014 Cadet World Champion at 50kg. Brown recently defeated Moody in folkstyle at the Dapper Dan Classic, he rounds out the field as the third former World Team member in the challenge bracket. Lee becomes a solid favorite down a weight class from UWW Cadets where he finished runner-up to Daton Fix. He ousted Vega from the pool at the Cadet Trials in 2014 and defeated him at Super32.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Spencer Lee
• Jabari Moody
• Devin Brown

I think Lee is too far ahead of the field technically. The one question is the weight, but with his frame I don’t think a day-before weigh-in will cause any performance issues.

Championship Series Prediction:
Spencer Lee over Danny Vega 2-0
Lee has defeated Vega before, and there is no reason to believe he won’t be the guy representing the United States in Brazil.


55kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Daton Fix of Team Big
2nd Place - Stevan Micic of Chicago RTC
3rd Place - Barlow McGhee of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
4th Place - Austin Gomez of Gomez wrestling academ
5th Place - Jack Mueller of Seasons Freestyle Club
6th Place - Ethan Lizak of Minnesota Storm
7th Place - Ronnie Rios-Bresser of NWRTC
8th Place - Ian Parker of St. Johns High School Wrestling

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Darian Cruz- 2014 NCAA All-American, 2015 University Freestyle 2nd

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Austin Gomez
Ethan Lizak
Ian Parker

Daton Fix(OK) has been among the elite age group wrestlers in the United States for a few years. This summer Fix will look to make is mark internationally. If his domestic results are any indication, he is ready to take that step. He will be representing the United States at the Cadet World Championships at 54kg for the second straight year. Here he sits in the best-of-three championship finals after defeating Micic(IN) in impressive fashion in Las Vegas. Both guys finished off each opponent by technical fall on the way to the finals. That included a win for Fix over former Junior World Team member Ethan Lizak(PA) in the semi-finals. This field continues to bring credentials to the table with multiple Fargo titles on Mueller’s(TX) resume and Darian Cruz(PA) has a lengthy and impressive resume as well. The real intrigue for me at the weight class is the variety of ages and lack of past match-ups between the competitors. Remember that Fix is a high school sophomore that exempted into the age group, while Cruz just finished his sophomore year at Lehigh.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Darian Cruz
• Stevan Micic
• Austin Gomez
Micic defeated Cruz in the challenge tournament last year. I am taking Cruz to reverse the outcome this time around.

Championship Series Prediction:
Darian Cruz over Daton Fix 2-1
This will be a style clash as Cruz should give Fix fits with his legs attacks. In order to win he needs to convert quickly to stay away from counter exposures and letting Fix get multiple opportunities in per terre. I think Fix’s ability to score in bunches gets him one match, but Cruz takes the series.


60kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Gary Harding of Cowboy wrestling club
2nd Place - Mitchell McKee of Pinnacle
3rd Place - Colton McCrystal of Nebraska Wrestling Training Center
4th Place - Josh Terao of DCAC
5th Place - Luke Pletcher of Latrobe
6th Place - William Erneste of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
7th Place - Joshua Alber of Panther Wrestling Club RTC
8th Place - David Zemenak of Husky Wrestling Club

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Brock Zacherl- 2015 University Freestyle 3rd, 2014 USAW Junior Freestyle 2nd
Matthew Kolodzik- 2014 Fila Junior Nationals 2nd
Kaid Brock- 2013 Fila Cadet WTT 2nd, 2014 USAW Junior Freestyle 5th
Anthony Giraldo- 2013 Cadet Greco World Team, 2014 Fila Junior Nationals 6th

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Gary Harding
Josh Terao
Luke Pletcher

We are going to proceed, as Gary Wayne Harding(OK) will be registered and wrestling in the best-of-three championship series. Harding, Mitchell McKee(MN), Kaid Brock(OK), and Brock Zacherl(PA) were all All-Americans in Fargo last summer with McKee winning a title. The odd thing is that they were at three different weight classes. McKee and Brock faced off in the semi-final at 126lbs with McKee winning on the way to the title. Harding took 5th at 132lbs and Zacherl was the runner-up at 138lbs. Matthew Kolodzik(OH) caries a long resume of accomplishments and was 2nd at Fila Junior Nationals in 2014. Keep an eye on Zacherl. He had a very good University Nationals tournament defeating George DiCamillo and Nathan Kraisser before dropping his semi-final to Rossi Bruno. After competing at higher weight classes in the past 61kg seemed to be a good weight with day-before weigh-ins. Let’s see how he handles the extra kilogram.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Brock Zacherl
• Mitchell McKee
• Matthew Kolodzik
Zacherl was able to push the pace all day in Akron at University Nationals and I expect him to be able to do the same down just one more kilogram.

Championship Series Prediction:
Brock Zacherl over Gary Wayne Harding 2-0
I am kind of hesitant to pick against the champ here because of the advantage of sitting until the best-of-three series. One thing to keep in mind is that Zacherl didn’t get to the heavy hitters until day two in Akron. I am going to pick him on his performance there and assume he will be the same wrestler.


66kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Aaron Pico of Titian Mercury Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Zain Retherford of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Griffin Parriott of Pinnacle
4th Place - Alfred Bannister of Terrapin Wrestling Club
5th Place - Andrew Crone of Badger Wrestling Club
6th Place - Chandler Pyke of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
7th Place - Jake DeAngelo of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
8th Place - Dante Rodriguez of Iowa State

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Anthony Ashnault- 2014 University Freestyle 1st, 2015 NCAA All-American
Fredy Stroker- 2014 USAW Freestyle 4th
Kevin Jack- 2015 NCAA All-American
Max Thomsen-
Vincenzo Joseph- 2014 USAW Freestyle 2nd

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Griffin Parriott
Alfred Bannister
Chandler Pyke
Jake DeAngelo
Dante Rodriguez

The expectation at 66kg is that we will see Zain Retherford(PA) and Aaron Pico(CA) meet in the best-of-three series. Who could be disappointed with that? After dominating the bouts with Retherford in the trials process last year Pico found himself in a dogfight in Las Vegas. Both guys are fierce competitors with Cadet World Titles on their resume, and don’t show that they are particularly fond of one another when they take to the mat. If Retherford is to set up that showdown again he will have to navigate a strong field that adds a lot of firepower that wasn’t there in Las Vegas. Anthony Ashnault(NJ) stunned a lot of people last year when he made the University World Team. Ashnault and Kevin Jack(CT) were NCAA All-Americans this year that will be exciting to watch. Jack showed amazing improvement in the Wolfpack room over the season before it becoming necessary for him to be pulled from his red-shirt very late in the season. Geordan Martinez(CO) has been an All-American in Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Three outstanding graduating seniors also join the mix in the challenge tournament. Vincenzo Joseph(PA) seemed to progress a great amount his senior year and leads the way. Max Thomsen(IA) and Fredy Stroker(IA) are also no strangers to high placements at national level tournaments.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Zain Retherford
• Anthony Ashnault
• Vincenzo Joseph
Retherford and Ashnault have had close matches in the past and expect this to be no different. Don’t be surprised if you see Joseph play the spoiler role.

Championship Series Prediction:
Aaron Pico over Zain Retherford 2-0
I think we saw Zain close down the gap some from last year, but Pico is just too good. Pico’s camp wasn’t happy about Retherford’s hands to the face in Las Vegas. This series could get chippy.


74kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Mark Hall of Minnesota Storm
2nd Place - Jason Nolf of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Chance Marsteller of Cowboy WC
4th Place - Jon Jay Chavez of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place - Joe Smith of Cowboy wrestling club
6th Place - Austin Reese of Bobcat Wrestling Club
7th Place - Garett Hammond of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
8th Place - Jacen Petersen of Arizona State

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Fox Baldwin- Previous Fargo Champ
Mason Manville- 2014 Cadet World Champion
Nick Reenan- Previous Fargo Champ

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Chance Marsteller
Jon Jay Chavez
Joe Smith

74kg was the talk of the tournament in Las Vegas, and should be a great bracket again. Las Vegas answered some questions, but there are plenty more to be answered. The one disappointing piece to this bracket is Mark Hall(MN) getting what he earned by winning in Las Vegas, and that is a bye to the final series. The more different matches we get to see at this weight the better for the fans. The true wild card at the weight is Jason Nolf(PA). What he lacks in freestyle experience, he makes up for with great leg attacks, relentless attitude, and a gas tank that is second to none. The final match with Hall was a long affair with many breaks that took away the advantage Nolf showed to have over the rest of the field that he wrestled. Keep in mind that Jon Jay Chavez was one turn away from finishing Nolf off with a trapped arm gut wrench in their semi-final. Baldwin(FL), Reenan(TX), and Manville(VA) are a pretty good trade-off, but it is natural for wrestling fans to want to see the best bracket possible. That won’t happen with Smith, Chavez, and Marsteller not being registered.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Jason Nolf
• Logan Massa
• Mason Manville
Massa had a disappointing tournament in Las Vegas, but I think he rebounds to make the challenge final. I am taking Nolf to win, but with so many talented wrestlers with significant freestyle experience each match will be a potential landmine.

Championship Series Prediction:
Mark Hall over Jason Nolf 2-1
Hall is a great freestyle wrestler with great leg attack defense and he has the ability to rack up counter exposures quickly. Due to all the stoppages in Las Vegas we didn’t get to see if Nolf’s pace could wear Hall down. I would pick Nolf if he didn’t have to wade through a tough challenge bracket prior to facing Hall.


84kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Zahid Valencia of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Myles Martin of McDonogh Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Riley Lefever of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
4th Place - Jaden Bernstein of Navy-Marine Corps Mat Club
5th Place - Peter Renda of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
6th Place - Corey Griego of NWRTC
7th Place - Ryder Newman of OTC
8th Place - Chris Pfarr of Minnesota Storm

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Ryan Christensen- Previous Fargo Champ
Ricky Robertson- 2014 Fila Junior Nationals Champion

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Myles Martin
Corey Griego

Zahid Valencia(CA) has shown that moving up weight classes doesn’t mean a whole lot as long as you are wrestling in your appropriate weight class. He has won everything he has entered this year and waits in the best-of-three championship. Both Ricky Robertson(IL) and Peter Renda(PA) won Fila Junior Nationals last year. Robertson was defeated by Gabe Dean in the championship series and kept off the world team. Renda won a weight class that is not contested at worlds, 79kg. The absence of Myles Martin is a big deal. Another Badger with some national credentials joins Robertson in the field. That is former age group National Champion Ryan Christensen(WA). Riley Lefever(IN) is the highest placer from nationals in the challenge tournament. He has wrestled on the platform at Fargo and should be in the mix.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Ricky Robertson
• Riley Lefever
• Peter Renda
Robertson won this weight class at nationals last year over Timothy Dudley. Dudley had knocked off Dean earlier in the tournament. I think Robertson gets back to the best-of-three series.

Championship Series Prediction:
Zahid Valencia over Ricky Robertson 2-0
I think these matches will be closer than some might anticipate.


96kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Anthony Cassar of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Jacob Seely of Unattached
3rd Place - Marcus Harrington of Iowa State
4th Place - Ben Honis of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place - Preston Weigel of Cowboy WC
6th Place - Chip Ness of Carolina Wrestling Club
7th Place - Malik McDonald of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
8th Place - Chance McClure of Unattached

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
None

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Preston Weigel
Chip Ness
Chance McClure

A small field has Penn State freshman Anthony Cassar(NJ) waiting in the championship series. Marcus Harrington(IA) brings the only national credentials. He was a 2014 USAW Junior National Champion. Cassar upended him 15-14 in the semi-final.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Marcus Harrington
• Jacob Seely
• Ben Honis

Championship Series Prediction:
Anthony Cassar over Marcus Harrington 2-1
Cassar has been on an upward trajectory since he entered his senior year of high school. I expect that he has continued to make gains and will hold of Harrington in the series.


120kg:
UWW Junior Nationals top 8
1st Place - Nathan Butler of Stanford Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Jeramy Sweany of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Jake Scanlan of Iowa
4th Place - Jesse Webb of Bobcat Wrestling Club
5th Place - Jacob Aven of Boiler Elite Wrestling Club
6th Place - Tate Orndorff of pindog wrestling club
7th Place - Cory Daniel of Carolina Wrestling Club
8th Place - Sam Eagan of Wyoming Wrestling RTC

Notable entrants that did not wrestle at Junior Nationals:
Garrett Ryan- 2013 Cadet World 5th

Place winners that have not entered as of press time:
Tate Orndorff
Cary Daniel
Sam Eagan

Nathan Butler(KS) awaits the challenge tournament champion at 125kg. Butler is a former Fila Cadet National Champion. He isn’t the only former Cadet Champion in the field as Garrett Ryan(AZ) has also won in that age group. Ryan placed 5th in his appearance at the World Championships.

Challenge Tournament Prediction:
• Garrett Ryan
• Jeramy Sweany
• Jake Scanlan
Ryan has experience and has shown that he can win in World Team qualifying situations. He spent a year at the OTC before heading to Columbia.

Championship Series Prediction:
Nathan Butler over Garrett Ryan 2-1
Both guys have extensive Freestyle experience. I’ll pick Butler to hold serve as he sits and waits during the day in the championship final. He has a naturally bigger frame that could exploit Ryan’s fatigue.