Las Vegas once again plays host to the world's largest annual meathead convention! It's USA Wrestling's US Open, and this year is set to be the steak-iest Open in recent memory!

I'll be following all the action from inside and outside the South Point, to bring out all the major news from this super, mega, King-Kong Open.

First, a quick rundown of what's at 'steak' this year ('steak', har har har):

• Spots in Final X for senior level athletes in Men's and Women's Freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions
• Seedings for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in weights where a returning medalist is not already in Final X
• World team spots for the U17 men's freestyle & Greco-Roman divisions (this is a team trials tourney for them)
• Seeding for the U20 World Team Trials in men's freestyle & Greco-Roman
• Pan-Am team spots for the U15 men's freestyle & Greco-Roman divisions
• Competition and scouting opportunities for the High School Girls Showcase wrestlers
• Competition and scouting opportunities for the Futures divisions  (10-12 years old)
• National championships for the Masters divisions (25 and older)

All that under one roof!

Links to the live stream, brackets (which are on FloArena, not Treackwrestling), previews and the schedule can be found here. Now back to blogging.

Day 1

SCHEDULE

1 pm - SR GR prelims, Masters GR prelims

7 pm - SR GR semis and consis, Masters GR medals

RULON WATCH

Greco legend and Olympic gold and bronze medalist Rulon Gardner registered for the senior level Greco-Roman 130-kilo weight class at the age of 51. Rulon recently competed in an exhibition match against a much younger though still accomplished Greco heavy Jacob Mitchell last December. 

Unfortunately, Rulon did not make it to weigh-ins this morning. 

Rulon Gardner did not show up to weigh ins at the U.S. Open. https://t.co/XfA7ufcWdB

— Adam Engel (@AdamEngel9) April 26, 2023

But there are still 10 Greco weights competing today, with ten Final X spots to be determined by tomorrow and the shape of the WTT Challenge Tourney that will decide the other ten competitors nearly fully formed. 

Here's an excellent Greco preview from the excellent people at 5pt Move if you'd like to prepare yourself for the tourney (altho you're running short on time if you want to avoid spoilers!).

Our own Kyle Klingman caught up with Rulon in Vegas to get his perspective on his comeback attempt, the state of US Greco, and more. 

Brackets are live!

UPSETS

Mostly chalk in the Greco brackets as the day ended with most of the top 4 seeds in the semifinals. 

The 6 seed beat the 3 seed in the quarterfinals in several brackets (55, 60, 77 & 82). Darryl Aiello beat #4 seed Courtney Freeman in the 130kg round of 16. 

Then there is Jack Ervien Jr at 72kg. He beat #4 seed Michael Hooker in the round of 32, then in the quarters he beat Jamel Johnson, the #5 seed. Ervien has two pins and a tech so far in the tourney. He'll face #1 seed and three-time world team member Pat Smith tomorrow in the finals. 

The biggest match of the Greco tourney so far though is 2022 u17 world champ Joel Adams, who took out #1 seed Alejandro Sancho in a thrilling quarterfinal bout. Adams will face another rising star in American Greco, Robert Perez 111, a 2019 U17 and 2022 U20 world team member, in the semifinals. 

FINALS MATCHUPS

55: #1 Brady Koontz (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) vs #2 Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP)

60: #1 Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) vs #2 Dalton Roberts (Army WCAP)

63: #1 Sammy Jones (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs #3 Hayden Tuma (Suples Wrestling Club) 

67: #3 Jesse Thielke (Army WCAP) vs #4 Robert Perez 111 (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)

72: #1 Patrick Smith (New York Athletic Club) vs #6 Justus Scott (Army WCAP)

77: #1 Kamal Bey (Army WCAP) vs #6 Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway) 

82: #1 Ben Provisor (New York Athletic Club) vs #2 Spencer Woods (Army WCAP) 

87: #1 Alan Vera (New York Athletic Club) vs #3 John Stefanowicz (Navy Wrestling Club)

97: #1 Josef Rau (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) vs #2 Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) 

130: #1 Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs #3 Adam Coon (New York Athletic Club)

Many 1s vs 2s in the finals after an excellent evening semifinal round, so kudos to the seeding committee! 

Notably, young Robert Perez 111 ended young Joel Adams cinderella run at 67kg. Perez has 2016 Olympian Jesse Thielke in the finals. 

Human highlight reel Kamal Bey has 43-year-old Aliaksandr Kikiniou, formerly of Belarus, now wrestling in Southern California at Poway. 

Two NCAA finalists will meet in the heavyweight finals. Coon made the finals in 2015 and 2018 while wrestling for Michigan, while Schultz was a finalist in 2022 for the Arizona State Sun Devils. 

GRECO BOMBS

We'll end Day 1 in Vegas with a classic Bey Bomb, but check out our social media channels as we'll be posting highlights all weekend long!

Kamal Bey doing Kamal Bey things. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/c413RxMPFP

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2023

Some other matches to check out that include some slick 5 point moves: Sammy Jones, Ildar Hafizov, and Dalton Duffield. 

Tomorrow (or today, or previously, depending on when you're reading this), we'll see the men's freestylers and Spencer Lee, Gable Steveson, Nick Suriano, Austin DeSanto and many more will wrestle! 

Day 2

Here are some pics from the great Sam Janicki before the tournament started to give you an idea of what the arena looks like. 

SCHEDULE

1 pm - SR MFS prelims, SR GR consis, U17 GR though semis & consis, Masters MFS prelims

6 pm - U17 GR finals, Masters MFS

7 pm - SR GR finals, SR MFS consis

9 pm - SR MFS semis & consis, Masters MFS medals

DATON WATCH

Four-time All-American and 2021 world silver medalist Daton Fix was a last minute registrant at 61kg for the senior men's freestyle division. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Fix's body is going to let him compete. 

BRACKETS ARE OUT

Our guy Jon Kozak already identified some fire first-round matchups for the men's freestylers. 

SPENCER WATCH

Spencer Lee returned to the wrestling mat a little over a month after his final collegiate mat to rep the Hawkeye Wrestling Club at the Open. He teched his first opponent in under 30 seconds. It took Spencer 53 second to tech his second opponent in the round of 16. 

Lee was beating Caleb Smith 9-0 at the end of the first period in the quarterfinals before eventually winning 9-4. Unfortunately, Spencer would be physically unable to wrestle in the semifinals to finish the rest of the tournament.

GABLE WATCH

Gable Steveson's return to the mat after winning his second NCAA title in 2022 won't happen for a couple of rounds, as Steveson has a bye until the round of 16. 

Steveson needed 57 seconds to get a tech in his first match. He then needed two minutes and nine seconds to ring up a 12-0 tech of 2023 NCAA All-American Wyatt Hendrickson in the quarterfinals. 

In the semifinals, Steveson put on another masterful performance, defeating 2023 Hodge Trophy winner Mason Parris 12-1 in three minutes and 19 seconds. After the match Gable played to the crowd, hinting at a backflip before demuring and jogging off the mat. I have a feeling we'll see a backflip tomorrow though. 

UPSETS

I doubt we're going to see a bigger upset for the rest of the event than #1 seed Alec Pantaleo getting lat dropped and pinned by unseeded Jacob Butler in the round of 32 at 70kg. Because Zain Retherford is already sitting in Final X, Alec Pantaleo's quest for a world team spot is now over. 

Causing chaos in the round of 16 was Nebraska Cornhusker Silas Allred, who beat #2 seed Morgan Smith at 97kg. At 70kg, an unseeded Jayden Eierman beat #6 seed Caleb Henson, who just recently earned All-American honors as a true freshman at Virginia Tech. John Gunderson defeated #8 seed Michael Battista at 92kg. And at heavyweight, five-time EIWA champ Jordan Wood defeated #6 seed Derek White. 

In the quarterfinals, (which were more or less universally fire), Jakob Camacho defeated recently minted national champ Pat Glory 10-0 off a leg lace at 57kg. At 61kg Austin DeSanto dominated 2018 world bronze medalist Joe Colon 12-0. 

65kg had a pair of upsets as Ridge Lovett took out Pat Lugo (though it was merely a 5 over a 4 seed), and 2023 NCAA third placer Beau Bartlett defeated #2 seed Evan Henderson 11-6.  

#7 seed Josh Sheilds beat #2 seed Joey Lavallee at 70kg. And at 79kg, #5 David McFadden (who won last year's Open by the way) beat #4 Alex Marinelli. 

THE BUTLER REALLY DID IT

Speaking Jacob Butler, (remember from the big upset over Alec Pantaleo), he just announced on social media that he's transferring to Rutgers. Butler was a 2022 national qualifier for Oklahoma at 141-pounds. Butler bulked up to 157 in 2023 but Jared Hill ended up being the postseason starter for the Sooners. 

Busy day for Jacob Butler!

MEET THE U17 GRECO WORLD TEAM

45: Henry Aslikyan, California

48: Ezekiel Witt, Kansas

51: Hudson Loges, Nebraska

55: Jordyn Raney, Kentucky

60: Sam Herring, Pennsylvania

65: Garrett Reece, Colorado

71: Arvin Khosravy, California

80: De'alcapon Veazy, Indiana

92: Dreshaun Ross, Iowa

110: Trayvn Boger, Utah

These bruisers are going to Istanbul, Turkey at the end of July to compete with the best 17 and under wrestlers in the world!

10 FINAL X GRECO SPOTS TBD

The Greco-Roman finals will decide the first competitor to make Final X. The second competitor will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on May 20-21. And the winner of Final X, as we all know, is Team USA's representative at the World Championships. 

55: Brady Koontz teched Dalton Duffield 9-0. Koontz has made U7, U20 and U23 world team, only the seniors have thus far eluded him. 

60: Ildar Hafizov hit a gnarly headlock in the final 10 seconds of his match with Dalton Roberts but he couldn't get the fall and Dalton held on to win 7-6. 

63: Hayden "It's Not A" Tuma tamed "Wild Man" Sam Jones 3-1. 

67: Robert Perez 111 (yes he prefers to use "111" instead of "III", I asked!) continues his ascent to the top of the US Greco ladder with an 8-0 tech of three-time World & Olympic teamer Jesse Thielke.

72: Another three-time world teamer went down in the finals as Justus Scott beat Pat Smith 6-4. Scott was extremely pumped up about the victory. 

77: Kamal Bey did Kamal Bey things in the finals, teching Aliaksandr Kikiniou of Poway, California by way of Belarus with two four-point moves in the first 33 seconds of the match. 

82: 2022 world team member Spencer Woods returns to Final X after beating 2021 world teamer and 2016 Olympian Ben Provisor 4-3. 

87: Alan Vera of New Jersey by way of Cuba ran through John Stefanowicz 9-0 in just over two minutes. 

97: Joe Rau punched his ticket to Final X with a dominant 10-1 tech fall over Nicholas Boykin. 

130: Cohlton Schultz put on a command performance, tossing Adam Coon early for four and then wrapping things up with a head pinch and an 11-0 first period tech.

THE SEMIFINALS ARE HERE, AND THEY ARE SPECTACULAR

I love these semifinal matchups. I'm literally in love with them. 

I would just like to say: I love these US Open semifinals. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/A3C1GpGPch

— Andrew Spey (@SpeyWrestle) April 27, 2023

Remember for all weights except 61, 92 and 125, these are do-or-die matches. If you don't win, you don't go to Final X, and your quest to make the world team is over. 

We start with some sad news: Spencer Lee has withdrawn from the US Open and Nick Suriano will receive a forfeit in the semifinals at 57kg. Spencer did not look well after his quarterfinal bout and injuries once again will deprive us of an opportunity to watch him compete. Major bummer but we wish Lee well and hope he returns to the mat soon!

Aside from the unfortunate news about Lee, I feel pretty confident declaring these the best US Open men's freestyle semifinals in recent memory, and there have been some hella good Open semifinals in recent memory.

A few favs from this year's editions of pure fire: DeSanto over Gross 5-4 at 61; McKenna over Lovett 8-3 at 65; Lee over Bartlett 10-10 on criteria at 65; Berger over Hidlay 11-10 at 70; Nolf over O'Toole 9-2 at 74; and Macchiavello over Jackson 3-2 at 92.

About the all-NLWC 65kg semifinal bout: Beau Bartlett originally got his hand raised against Nick Lee, however, a caution on Bartlett did not get entered after the last scoring exchange when there were just 3 seconds left in the match. The 3 seconds were wrestled with both wrestlers thinking Bartlett led on criteria, but when the caution was added it gave Lee criteria. The final result of Lee winning has been confirmed. 

MEN'S FREESTYLE FINALS

To be wrestled Friday at 9:00pm Eastern with a spot in Final X on the line. 

57: Zane Richards vs Nick Suriano

61: Vito Arujau vs Austin DeSanto

65: Joey McKenna vs Nick Lee

70: Sammy Sasso vs Tyler Berger

74: Jason Nolf vs Vincenzo Joseph

79: Chance Marsteller vs Alex Dieringer

86: Aaron Brooks vs Zahid Valencia

92: Kollin Moore vs Michael Macchiavello

97: J'den Cox vs Isaac Trumble

125: Gable Steveson vs Nick Gwiazdowski

Try to pick a favorite you're most looking forward to. It's basically impossible! Tomorrow is going to rule.

DON'T SLEEP ON THE CONSI ROUND

But before that, some highlights from the consolation rounds. Unseeded Austin Assad made it past the bloodround at 57. Pat Glory withdrew from the tournament giving Assad a forfeit to the consi quarters. 

California high schooler and future Stanford Cardinal Aden Valencia advanced to day two with wins over Shelton Mack and Josh Rodriguez at 61kg. 

Alec Pantaleo shook off a round of 32 loss at 70kg and wrestled all the way back to the consi semis, winning five bouts in a row on the backside and benefiting from a forfeit in the consi quarters. 

Unseeded Derek Gilcher of Indiana University is still alive thanks to a 10-0 tech fall over Julian Ramirez in the bloodround of 74kg. 

The consolation rounds of 79kg is a blood bath. Just go look for yourself. 

Okay, thats all for today. Time to head back to the Air BnBB. The extra B is for Business. The only business I know: Blogging. 

Day 3

SCHEDULE

1 pm - SR WFS prelims, SR MFS consis, U20 GR prelims, HS Girls Showcase through semis

5 pm - SR WFS quarterfinals, U20 GR semis & consis

7 pm - SR WFS semis, Futures FS prelims, U15 FS prelims

9 pm - SR MFS finals, U20 GR finals, Future FS finals, U15 FS quarterfinals

MEN'S CONSI ROUND WRAPS

Nothing but the medal matches are left for the men's freestylers. The medical forfeits and withdrawls as only 3 weights (61, 92 & 125) were there Team Trials qualifying bids up for grabs (for the top 8). Only national team spots (top 3 at the end of Final X) were at stake. 

But awesome stuff still happens in the wrestlebacks! Like what? Well, how about, for example: 

• High school junior Aden Valencia beat 2018 world bronze medalists Joe Colon 13-11. 
• 2023 NCAA third placer Beau Bartlet beat 2019 NCAA champ Anthony Ashnault 8-2. 
• Alec Pantaleo pinned Hayden Hidlay. Pantaleo doing 'ultimate road warrior stuff, winning 7 bouts in a row on the backside to make the 3rd place match. 
• David McFadden beat Michael Kemerer 11-9, in a bout featuring 7 NCAA All-American honors, 2 NWCA All-American honors, and 9 NCAA tournament qualifications. 
• Unseeded Silas Allred makes the 3rd-place bout after falling one win shy of an All-American honor at the 2023 NCAAs.

WOMEN'S FREESTYLE TAKES CENTER STAGE

The female freestylers filled the arena at the South Point, wrestling to the semifinals by lunch time (which is great because I really didn't want to have to push lunch. I'm not sure you're allowed to do that). 

Several world medalists are still alive for a Open title and a spot in Final X: Two-time world bronze Alyssa Lampe at 50kg, 2021 world bronze medalist Forrest Molinari at 68kg, and six-time world gold medalist Adeline Gray makes her return to the mat after giving birth to twins. 

And apologies for the shameless plug but Who's Number One alumnae are also having an excellent tournament. Wrestlers who competed in that high school all-star event and are still alive in the semis include: Audrey Jimenz and Sage Mortimer at 50kg, Katie Gomez at 53kg, Shelby Moore at 57kg, SaVannah Cosme at 59kg, Macy Kilty at 65kg, and Rose Cassioppi at 72kg. 

HOW ABOUT AN XMP POWER BOMB TO ENJOY AT THE LUNCH BREAK?

Great idea, let's do it. 

XMP 💣 at the Open pic.twitter.com/nysFqp6Qku

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 28, 2023

Very nice. 

WOMEN'S SEMIFINAL NOTES

50: Sunnyside Arizona high schooler Audrey Jimenez teched her way into the finals where she'll wrestle a two-time world bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe in the 50kg finals.

53: Youth was served again at 53kg when teenaged Katie Gomez of California advanced to the finals where she'll wrestle Samara Chavez, the #5 seed that upset #1 seeded 2021 world team member Amy Fearnside.

55: Lauren Mason was losing 8-0 when she countered Areana Villaescusa to her back to collect a fall in the 55kg semis. She'll take on 2022 U23 world bronze medalist Alisha Howk in the finals. 

57: Another wrestler who earned a bronze medal at the U23 worlds in Pontevedra, Spain, Alex Hedrick, advanced to the finals at 57kg. She'll have her hands full in the finals with Xochitl Mota-Pettis, who survived a wild 12-10 bout with Amanda Martinez. 

59: Michaela Beck and Maya Nelson both brawled their way to the 59kg finals, which should make for an entertaining match. 

62: Another excellent style matchup is on deck for the 62kg finals, as the proficient veteran Jen Page will face off against the high-flying young Adaugo Nwachukwu. 

65: The #1 and #2 seeds of 65kg both blitzed their way to the finals. Emma Bruntil pinned her opponent in the first period while Macey Kilty teched her 11-0 in under three minutes. 

68: This weight also saw two dominant wins by the finalists. 2021 world bronze medalist Forrest Molinari and 2018 U23 world bronze medalist Alexandria Glaude will meet with a Final X spot on the line.

72: A pair of falls powered Rose Cassioppi and Joye Levendusky into the finals at 72kg. 

76: This was the marquee weight class of the women's tournament and the semis did not disappoint. Dymond Guilford executed a perfect gameplan against Adeline Gray for the first 5 minutes. Guilford had Gray on her back for a solid minute in the first period and was leading 8-0 late in the third. But Gray's mental and intestinal fortitude proved to be too much, and Gray ran Guilford off that mat three times in 12 seconds, forcing three consecutive cautions for fleeing from Guilford, giving Adeline the improbable victory. 

In the other 76kg bout, Yelena Makoyed gave Kennedy Blades all she could handle, and was leading 8-7 at one point of the match. But Blade his a slick counter to a Makoyed shot, locked up a cradle and collected a fall to advance to a showdown with the winningest women's wrestler in US history. 

MEN'S FREESTYLE FINALS NOTES

Instead of live blogging I'm going to dead blog these finals. This will hopefully afford me more time to compose my thoughts and avoid typos, although I make no promises. 

57: A very tactical and measured bout between Nick Suriano and Zane Richards. Suriano was the pick of most pundits but Richards proved he could get a takedown when it mattered most. Down 3-1 with 30 seconds left in the match, Richards dug deep and came up with a score to set himself up with a FInal X date with Thomas Gilman. Final score 3-3 Richards on criteria. 

61: Vito ended this one in a flash. A quick takedown of Austin DeSanto followed by an expert transition to a leglace and that's all she wrote. In less than a minute Vito Arujau won the Open, punched his ticket to Final X and looked every bit the medal contender. Dare I say, a gold medal contender? 

DeSanto's season isn't over yet, however, as this weight class will be contested at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Colorado Springs at the end of May. Winner of that tournament will face Vito in Final X on June 10, so we could see a rematch then. 

65: It looked like Joey McKenna had the perfect gameplan for Nick Lee. He scored the first takedown and then kept chipping away with step outs, leading 5-0 at the break. But the second period belonged to Lee. McKenna's defense began to falter as Lee found some openings and pounced. Two sets of takedowns and turns gave Lee the lead and he never relinquished it, ultimately winning 10-5 for the comeback of the evening (so far!). Lee will wrestle Yianni Diakomihalis in Final X. 

70: One of the tightest, most action-packed matches, certainly of the night and potentially of the tournament. Tyler Berger raced out to a 4-0 lead over Sammy Sasso which held until the break. Sasso then came storming back, scoring seated head pinch turns for two off of Berger's shots and taking the lead 7-5. It went back and forth once more, making it 9-7 Sasso with the lead and just 8 seconds on the clock. But Berger found Sasso's legs off the whistle and this time Sasso couldn't muster a counter, and Berger took the lead on criteria 9-9 with the buzzer beater takedown. 

Sasso's corner's challenge failed and the final was 10-9. An ecstatic Berger celebrated the hard-fought win. Berger will face Zain Retherford in Final X. 

74: Jason Nolf and Vincenzo Joseph squared off in a battle of Penn State legends. Joseph, however, now trains at Arizona State with the Sunkist Kids while Nolf stayed in Happy Valley and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. 

Joseph struck first, with a nifty feet-to-back counter that elicited oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Cenzo's 4-0 lead did not last long in the second period. Nolf closed the gap to two points and then peeled off two 4-pointers to give himself an insurmountable lead. The final score was 10-5, Nolf, who now has a date with Kyle Dake at Final X. Dake also trains at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, which should make for an interesting month or so of training until June 10. 

79: This match was a dog fight from start to finish, as Chance Marsteller and Alex Dieringer laid hands on each other for 6 straight minutes in ways that would be considered major crimes in any other setting. They traded takedowns in the first period. Neither score was flashy. By dint of the last score, Dierginer held criteria at the start of the second period. And in that second period, Marsteller did enough to put Dieringer on the clock. Chance's defense held up the rest of the way, and he took the match in a brawling, if not particularly pretty, 3-2 victory. Marsteller now gets a rematch with Jordan Burroughs at Final X in JB's home state of New Jersey. 

86: It's tough to call any bout a marquee matchup with a slate this monstrous, but if you had to pick a finals match to highlight, it would probably Zahid Valencia vs Aaron Brooks. And boy howdy did it deliver. Valencia struck first with a low double to plant Brooks on his butt and score a quick four points, nearly adding another turn before running out of real estate. Zahid then extended the lead to 6-0 with a takedown early in the second period, and looked like he may cruise to a victory. 

That's when Brooks turned the script and flipped the tables. An opportunistic counter takedown was followed by a low double (nearly a mirror image of Zahid's first-period four-pointer) plus two turns from a leg lace and just like that it was 8-6 in Brooks' favor. Zahid tried to mount of a comeback of his own but Brooks only redirected his efforts into two points of his own via step outs and won 10-6. That sets Brooks up with a match against fellow Penn Stater and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member David Taylor. That, too, should make for an interesting month of training. 

92: Kollin Moore entered the match a favorite on paper over Michael Macchiavello, but that is why matches are not wrestled on paper but on a mat, because those shoes would tear a paper surface to shreds. Moore did get the first takedown, and held that lead into the second period. But then Macch struck back with a takedown of his own to lead via criteria. Another takedown for Macch followed by four hellacious turns from a death grip leg lace painfully ended the bout via 12-2 tech-fall for Michael Macchiavello. Moore and the rest of the field are still alive to make FInal X but they'll have to go to Colorado and win the Team Trials. 

97: The biggest favorite of the evening according to Vegas (if our host city ever deigned to set odds for this tournament, that is), J'den Cox found himself in an unexpected 2-0 hole to a game Isaac Trumble after about 90 seconds of wrestling. It was all Cox from that point on, save for a rather questionable step out call that went against Cox. Six takedowns, however, were more than enough for J'den, who won 12-3 and now finally has his showdown with Kyle Snyder scheduled for Final X. 

125: I hope you heard that Gable Steveson was returning to freestyle wrestling for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics. That was kind of our job, to let you know that he was competing in the US Open. Two-time world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski was Steveson's opponent, and Gable did Gable things, winning 10-0 in very comfortable, and very impressive manner. That win was followed by a prerequisite back flip, much to the delight of the fans. The perfect bow on an absolutely tremendous evening of wrestling. 

I'll go ahead and say it, that was the best US Open in recent memory. Ever? I'll let someone who has seen more US Open's than me make that call. 

NOTEWORTHY MEN'S FREE MEDAL MATCHES

• At 57kg, NC State Wolfpacker Jakob Camacho took third over surprise placer Austin Assad, who never started a post-season match in five years at Michigan, which is not to throw shade but to provide context and trumpet his recent accomplishment!
• Besides a loss to eventual champ Vito Arujau, Nahshon Garrett went unscored upon on his way to a third place finish.
• California high school Aden Valencia qualified for the world team trials with a seventh place finish at 61kg.
• Princeton grad Matt Kolodzik finished third with an 8-6 win over Beau Bartlett, who lost via criteria 10-10 to eventual champ Nick Lee.
• Alec Pantaleo won 8 straight matches on the backside to place 3rd at 70kg, earning the unofficial Ultimate Road Warrior award for the men's freestyle tournament. 
• Watch out for Indiana Derek Gilcher next year at NCAAs. The rising junior finished 5th in a loaded 74kg field. 
• David McFadden is perhaps one of the most overlooked wrestlers on the senior level at the moment. He beasted his way to a 79kg third place finish with a 10-0 tech of Alex Marinelli.
• Nate Jackson shook off a heartbreaking loss to eventual champ Mike Macchiavello in the semis to place third with a 4-2 win over Eric Schultz at 92kg. 
• 2023 Hodge Trophy winner Mason Parris put 20 points on the board in a tech fall over Wyatt Hendrickson to place 3rd at heavyweight. 

Day 4

SCHEDULE

1 pm - U15 MFS semis, U20 MFS prelims, SR WFS consis, U17 MFS prelims, HS Girls Showcase consis

4 pm - U20 MFS quarterfinals

5 pm - U17 MFS quarterfinals

7 pm - U15 MFS finals, U20 MFS semis & consis, U17 MFS semis & consis, Future GR prelims

9 pm - SR WFS finals, HS Girls Showcase finals, Future GR finals

We get U17 AND U20 men's freestyle tournaments PLUS the finals of the senior women's tournament? Dang this is going to be a pretty good day, and that's AFTER the greatest men's freestyle Open finals in history. Not bad!

U17 PRELIMS

These are the world team trials for the U17 men's freestyle weights so the brackets are as loaded as can be. The semifinals are later this evening but there has been plenty of excitement in the prelim rounds. 

• Elijah Cortez upset #1 seed and 2021 U17 gold medalist Bo Bassett in the quarterfinals of the 55kg bracket. 
• The #2 ranked 126-pounder Anthony Knox will wrestle Cortez in the semis. 
• The other semifinal at 55kg will be the #10 ranked 113-pounder Jayden Raney vs the #2 ranked 120-pounder Marcus Blaze. Knox beat Jayden's brother Jordyn in the quarterfinals. Jordyn is ranked #5 at 120. Pretty good bracket that 55kg U17 division.
• Rising high school sophomore Jax Forrest, who placed in three college opens last season, cruised to the 60kg semifinals after 4 tech-fall wins.
• De'Alcapon Veazy at 80kg and Dreshaun Ross at 92kg are the only two wrestlers still alive to win both the Greco and men's freestyle. Both Veazy and Ross are the #2 seeds in their respective brackets. 

U20 PRELIMS

No world team spot will be decided here, that will happen in Geneva, Ohio over the first weekend of June. 

• Unranked high school Cael Nasdeo of Pennsylvania upset #3 seed Alan Koehler of the University of Nebraska 9-8 in the 57kg quarterfinals.
• The Iowa Hawkeyes' Jace Rhodes has been on a rampage at 61kg. He beat #4 seed Zeke Seltzer in the round of 64. Two tech-falls later he beat Cowboy commit Cael Hughes with a score in the final 7 seconds of the quarterfinals. 
• Nasir Bailey and Emelio Ysaguirre wrestled in the 61kg quarterfinals in a rematch of their 2021 Fargo Junior final. Bailey would take this bout in another razor close finish, 7-6 in this instance, sending Bailey to the semifinals.
• Cornell's 2022 U20 world teamer Vince Cornella is the #1 seed at 65kg and has two pins, two techs and a decision on the day as he's in the semis against Penn State commit Tyler Kasak.
• Cornell has a commit in the semis of 70kg as well in Meyer Shapiro, who has 4 techs and a decision on the day. 
• Unseeded David Mayora upset #2 seed Jadon Skelleger in the first round, opening the door for the #10 seed Antrell Taylor to make the semis from the bottom quarter of the bracket at 70kg. 
• Recently announced Penn State transfer and 2022 U20 world champ Mitchell Mesenbrink is in the semis as the #1 seed, as is PSU commit Joseph Sealey, who is the #2 seed. 
• #15 seed Luca Augustine, an NCAA national qualifier for Pitt, upset Penn State commit Josh Barr, the #2 seed, in the 79kg round of 16. 
• 86kg went all chalk to the semifinals. 
• Another Penn State commit and #2 seed was also upset by a Pitt Panther in the tournament. At 92kg, #10 seed Mac Stout beat #2 Cole Mirasola in the quarterfinals. 
• Both semifinalists on the bottom half of 97kg are unseeded, Joey Braunagel of the Illinois Illini and Colden Dorfman of the Virginia Cavaliers. 
• No seed higher than #6 Christian Carroll made the 125kg semifinals.

U20 FINALS MATCHUPS

57: Jore Volk WY (Wyoming RTC vs Luke Lilledahl (X-Calibur WC) 

61: Nic Bouzakis PA (Pennsylvania) vs Kale Petersen (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) 

65: Tyler Kasak PA (Pennsylvania) vs Kannon Webster (Illinois) 

70: Meyer Shapiro MD (Spartan Combat RTC) vs Antrell Taylor (MWC Wrestling Academy) 

74: Mitchell Mesenbrink WI (Askren Wrestling Academy) vs Hunter Garvin (Iowa) 

79: Rocco Welsh (Young Guns WC) vs Gabriel Arnold (Level Up WC

86: Bennett Berge (Jackrabbit WC) vs Max McEnelly (Waconia WC)

92: Stephen Little (Arkansas RTC) vs Jack Darrah (Missouri)

97: Camden Mcdanel (Ohio) vs Joey Braunagel (Illinois RTC) 

125: Bradley Hill (Hawkeye WC) vs Christian Carroll (Cowboy RTC)

U17 FINALS MATCHUPS

45: Kavin Muyleart (American Dream WC) vs Ignacio Villasenor (Pomona Elite)

48: Paul Kenny NJ (New Jersey) vs Grey Burnett OH (Perrysburg WC)

51: Christian Castillo (Thorobred WC) vs Seth Mendoza (Region Wrestling Academy) 

55: Anthony Knox (Rhino WC) vs Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg WC) 

60: Jax Forrest (Bishop McCort) vs Benjamin Davino (St. Charles WC)

65: Kollin Rath (Steller Trained) vs Brock Mantanona  (Coachella Valley WC) 

71: Ladarion Lockett (Cowboy WC) vs Vince Bouzakis (Pennsylvania) 

80: Zack Ryder (M2 Training Center) vs De'Alcapon Veazy IN (Legends of Gold)

92: Dreshaun Ross (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) vs Aeoden Sinclair (Askren Wrestling Academy)

110: Nicholas Sahakian (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage) vs Sampson Stillwell (Kobra Kai Training)

WOMEN'S FINALS

Another not-quite-live blog for the women's finals. Final X spots are on the line for all ten weight classes. For the competitors at 55, 59, 68 and 76 kilos, a loss does not mean the end of their quest to make the world team, as they can still win the team trials and make Final X. It's do-or-die for the other six weights though, as the returning medalists for 50, 53, 57, 62, 65 & 72 have all accepted their bids to Final X. 

50: It would be hard to script a more dramatic first bout of the finals. 2012 and 2013 world bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe scored the first eight points against the teenange two-time age level world medalist Audrey Jimenez. Things looked to be all wrapped up for Lampe when Jimenez struck back in the second period and then locked up a leg lace that she used for three turns to tie things up 8-8 and take the lead via criteria. Jimenez opted for using offense as her best defense and kept shooting, which gave Lampe an opening to counter with a lift for an exposure and the 10-8 lead. But in the ensuring scramble, Jimenez grabbed leg, brought both herself and Lampe up to their feet, then finished for a takedown. It was ruled just a reversal for one, but Audrey's corner challenged and won, giving her a 10-10 win via criteria and a trip to NJ for a bout with Sarah Hildebrandt at Final X.

53: There was a little less drama at the next weight class. Samara Chavez from the great state of Texas got the first takedown against California native Katie Gomez, but it was all Gomez from then on out. Four takedowns and two turns iced it early in the second period and Gomez earned herself a best two-out-of-three series with reigning world champ Dom Parrish at Final X. 

55: Lauren Mason was game to give 2022 U23 bronze medalist Alisha Howk all she could handle, but Howk proved to be too much for Mason. The Wisconsin native gave up the first point but then ended the period with 6-1 lead and never looked up. It was an 8-3 official win for Howk. This weight is up for grabs though, so Mason can earn a rematch at the team trials, although she will likely also have to contend with 2019 world champ and 2022 fith-placer Jacarra Winchester. 

57: The crowd in the South Point arena got their money's worth in the 57kg bout. Bomb throwing, highlight reel machine Xochitl Mota-Pettis from the great state of Texas picked up Alex Hedrick (a 2022 U23 world bronze medalist) and got full rotation on a suplex for four early in the first period. Three turns later and that was it for 57kg. XMP is going to NJ for a match with one of America's all-time greats, Helen Maroulis. 

59: Another weight class who's second Final X opponent will be determined in Colorado in May. The first competitor though, will be Michaela Beck, who countered a Maya Nelson shot for a feet to back for four points in the second period. That would be all the points Nelson needed, though Nelson did hit a nifty armspin go behind for two late in the match. It was a 5-3 final as Beck won a very physical bout against a very talented 2017 U20 world champ and a 2021 senior world team member. 

62: Back to do-or-die for 62kg, as 2022 silver medalist Kayla Miracle will be in the Prudential Center to defend her world team spot. Her opponent will be a newcomer to the senior circuit, 2022 U20 world bronze medalist Adaugo Nwachuwku, who put up 10 points on experienced and accomplished veteran Jen Page. Both wrestlers scored four-pointers but Nwachukwu came through clutch in the second period to erase a four-point deficit and take the match by a 10-8 final. 

65: Both Macey Kilty and Emma Bruntil have been rising stars in the USA women's programs that are now primed to take their place at the top of the senior level pyramid. Both have been getting a lot of experience at international tournaments the last couple of years and are ready to challenge 2022 world bronze medalist Mallory Velte to be Team USA's rep in Belgrade for the 2023 Worlds. Kilty broke open a tight 1-1 bout with a takedown and turn to ice it late in the second period to earn herself a trip to New Jersey for Final X by a final score of 5-1. Kilty has medaled at the U17, U20 and U23 worlds. All that's missing from her collection is a shiny colored disc from the senior world championships. 

68: Three-time world team member and 2021 world bronze medalist Forrest Molinari came to Vegas with something to prove and a new weight class in which to compete. And with Olympic gold medalist and 2022 world champ Tamyra Mensah-Stock taking the year off, 68kg was up for grabs. Alexandria Glaude faught her way through a loaded bracket, but Molinari would not be denied. She scored all 8 points in the match and capped things off with a pin in the second period. She'll go to NJ for a best two-of-three series against an opponent to be determined. 

72: Two fresh faces to the senior level took the main stage for a chance to take on teenage phenom Amit Elor in FInal X. Joye Levendusky left no doubt about who the top challenger for the throne is, with a 10-0 tech fall. Rose Cassioppi fended off Levendusky's relentless attacks for as long as she could, but eventually, she wore down and Levendusky punched her ticket to Final X in emphatic fashion. 

76: The most hyped women's matchup in a long time finally came to fruition, fittingly in the last women's match of the US Open. Just competing at the Open is a major accomplishment for six-time world champ and Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray, as she very recently gave birth to twins. Kennedy Blades has been a rising star but injuries have plagued her, though she did win a U20 gold medal in 2021. The bout would be a handing of the torch, from the legend and pioneer Adeline Gray to the future and present Kennedy Blades. Blades scored four takedowns and a feet to back and only gave up a single takedown to win via tech fall, 12-2 early in the second period. Gray can still earn the world team spot by winning trials and defeated Blades at Final X, but for now, the moment belongs to Kennedy Blades, who also earned the Outstanding Wrestler award for the tournament. 

Here's a highlight reel from Kennedy's win:

KENNEDY BLADES DOES IT!!!

Blades wins the US Open with a 12-2 tech over 6-time world champ Adeline Gray! pic.twitter.com/Wuqc3YlrKG

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 30, 2023

That's a wrap for the women's competition here in Vegas! Team USA is definitely in the midst of a youth movement, as nine of the Open winners (everyone but Molinari) is still U23 eligible. 

Tomorrow, we pick a U17 men's freestyle world teamers, crown 10 U20 Open freestyle champs, and watch 10 U15 Greco wrestlers win titles. See you then!'

Day 5

Can you believe the Mega Open is really almost over? I can scarcely believe it. I feel like the South Point is my home now. I live here now.

SCHEDULE

1 pm - U17 MFS consis, U20 MFS consis, U16 GR prelims

6:45 pm - U15 GR finals

7 pm - U17 MFS finals

8 pm - U20 MFS finals

As always, you can find the results and links to matches inside FloArena. 

MEET YOUR U17 WORLD TEAM

45: Ignacio Villasenor, Colorado

48: Paul Kenny, New Jersey

51: Christian Castillo, Arizona

55: Marcus Blaze, Ohio

60: Ben Davino, Illinois

65: Brock Mantanona, California

71: Ladarion Lockett, Oklahoma

80: Zach Ryder, New York

92: Aeoden Sinclair, Wisconsin

110: Sampson Stillwell, Missouri

These guys are all going to Istanbul, Turkey at the end of June to compete at the U17 World Championships. I like these guys. I think these guys are going to win a lot of medals. 

MEET YOUR U20 US OPEN CHAMPS

These champs all receive byes to the best-of-three finals at U20 World Team Trials in the first weekend of June in Geneva, Ohio. I've listed the college they either go to or will go to after their names, as opposed to their home state, because I feel like that's the information that you, dear reader, would be most interested in.

57: Luke Lilledahl, Penn State

61: Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State

65: Tyler Kasak, Penn State

70: Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

74: Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State

79: Gabe Arnold, Iowa

86: Bennett Berge, South Dakota State

92: Jack Darrah, Stanford

97: Camden McDanel, Minnesota

125: Christian Carroll, Oklahoma State

These guys haven't made the U20 world team yet, but they are two matches away from doing so. And whether it's these 10 or 10 other guys who run the team trials gauntlet and make the team instead of them, I like Team USA's chances at the U20 World Championships in Warsaw, Poland during the third week in August.

I have a feeling all the champs from these last several days in Vegas are going to win a lot of medals for America. It's a great time to be a fan of USA wrestling!

See you next time, friends!