While we wait for the finals in the Senior and U20 divisions at the US Open, we'll be treated to incredible action from the early rounds at the U17 World Team Trials. Here are some early matches to watch.

45 kg

This is one of the smaller brackets, and it’s pretty well separated, so most of the highly anticipated matchups will take place later on, but a potential showdown between Carter Pearson and Tyler Garvin in the round of 16 is pretty interesting. Pearson is coming off a strong showing at the Elite 8 Duals, and Garvin has been on the podium at Fargo. It’s presumptuous to assume the quarters, but the ones on the list would be a whole lot of fun.

Round of 16

Carter Pearson vs Tyler Garvin

Quarterfinals

Javaan Yarbrough vs Slater Hicks

Haakon Peterson vs Davis Motyka

Aydan Thomas vs Davis Motyka

48 kg

The US brough home a silver medal at this weight last year thanks to Luke Lilledahl, and we’ll see some fun early matchups that could impact the World team. Mack Mauger, who just finished second in Greco on Wednesday, will try to finish one step higher, but he’ll have to get past the tough Poway product Devin Bobzien in the round of 16. (Mauger is separated from his Greco finals opponent Christian Castillo, by the way). 8th grade Blair commit Tyler Dekraker will see Fargo 3rd place finisher Gage Singleton in the round of 16 as well. Dekraker is a title threat to be sure.

Round of 16

Mack Mauger vs Devin Bobzien

Tyler Dekraker vs Gage Singleton

51 kg

Cooper Hilton has risen through the rankings this year and has big potential in this bracket, but he’ll face a tough California product in Moses Mendoza in the round of 64. In the round of 32, Cadet World champ Bo Bassett will start his tournament in the round of 32 against National Prep and Beast of the East placer Carter Nogle. Keep an eye on Nate Desmond as he’ll see Arizona stud Gabriel Ramirez in the round of 32 as well.

Round of 64

Cooper Hilton vs Moses Mendoza

Round of 32

Bo Bassett vs Carter Nogle

Nate Desmond vs Gabriel Ramirez

55 kg

I’m sure he would say he’s the bad draw, but no one in the tournament probably has a worse draw than Vinny Kilkeary. He’ll have to go #5 Ben Davino in the second round only to meet two-seed and #8 in the country Leo Deluca in the round of 16. The winner gets the pleasure of wrestling young phenom Jax Forrest, who some people are picking to win the entire bracket. That is absurd a quarter as it gets.

We knew Mason Gibson was going to get thrown into a weird place in this bracket with seeding criteria and his position sets up a potential quarterfinal with Cadet World medalist Nathan Jesuroga, who received the top seed.

It’s hard to say there’s a good place in this bracket, but I think Nebraska’s Kael Lauridsen got the best draw he could. He’s looking at a potential quarter with Sam Herring, making him the favorite to make it to the top semifinal out of the 2nd top quarter.

Round of 32

Vinny Kilkeary vs Ben Davino

Round of 16

Vinny Kilkeary / Ben Davino vs Leo DeLuca

Kamdyn Williams vs Mason Gibson

60 kg

Athletes, coaches, and parents of the 60 kg bracket can breathe a slight sigh of relief as the pretournament favorite, PJ Duke, and contender, Vince Bouzakis, both bumped up to 65 kg. The next highest-ranked guy in the bracket, Zan Fugit should hold in his sigh, however, as he’s in a toss-up match with #12 Tyler Vazquez in the round of 64. The winner gets a very tough and under-the-radar Carter Freeman, who trains at Sebolt Wrestling Academy, in the round of 32. Ridiculous. 

The bottom half of the bracket isn't quite as jaw-dropping. I’ll be highly anticipating a Matty Lopes - Brock Mantanona quarterfinal.

Round of 64

Zan Fugit vs Tyler Vazques

Round of 32

Zan Fugit / Tyler Vazques vs Carter Freeman

65 kg

With both PJ Duke and Vince Bouzakis moving up, this bracket got VERY interesting. Duke’s position in the bracket sets up a fun round of 32 match with Oklahoma’s Jace Roller and the match of the bracket (imo) in the quarterfinals with Fargo champ Joel Adams. Bouzakis’ draw is a little more favorable, but he’ll still have #15 Nicholas Kunstek in the round of 16. Kunstek should have a considerable size advantage considering he’s been wrestling at 152 lbs. Tyler Kasak probably got the most favorable draw of the bracket with the #2 seed.

Round of 32

PJ Duke vs Jace Roller

Round of 16

PJ Duke vs Joel Adams

Vince Bouzakis vs Nicholas Kunstek

71kg

The two ranked wrestlers in this weight - #6 Joseph Sealy and #9 Ladarian Lockett are separated on opposite sides of the bracket. Lockett is up top with a number of potential challengers on his side of the bracket. A few of the notable early-round matchups on the top side with KJ Evans (Oklahoma commit) and Braxton Strick (SIUE commit) meeting in the round of 128. Other notable matches on the top side of the bracket are potential round of 32 matches in David Mayora vs Evan Rizzo and Brodie Dominique vs Christopher Crawford. Any of those aforementioned wrestlers will be the lead challengers to Lockett in making the finals.

On the bottom side, Sealy also will have a number of potential contenders in his way in Latrell Schafer, Mekhi Neal, Moses Espinoza-Owens, Paul Ognissanti, Ryan Badgett, and Travis Grace. Espionza-Owens and Ognissanti have the potential to meet in the round of 32 along with Badgett and Grace. Look for the winners of those head-to-head matchups to make a run in this bracket.

Round of 128

KJ Evans vs Braxton Strick

Round of 32 

David Mayora vs Evan Rizzo

Moses Espinoza-Owens vsPaul Ognissanti

Ryan Badgett vs Travis Grace

80 kg

This bracket is LOADED with 7 wrestlers ranked in the top 20. Fargo champ #4 Gabe Arnold is the highest-ranked wrestler registered and is in the top side of the bracket along with #11 Zack Ryder, #14 Aeden Sinclair, and #16 Zack Ryder. Arnold’s biggest challenge on the way to the quarters will likely be Lars Michaelson (Fargo 5th) in the round of 16. For Arnold to make the semis, he’ll likely face Ryder in the quarters. On the other half of the top side, Aeoden Sinclair and Luke Vanadia will likely battle it out in the quarters but Vanadia will be tested on his way there. Vanadia will likely see Cole Han-Lindemyer in the round of 32 and Toby Schoffstall in the round of 16. 

The bottom side of the bracket has three ranked wrestlers in #16 Daschle Lamer, #5 Jude Correa, and #12 Connor Mirasola. Correa and Mirasola are in the same quarter at the very bottom of the bracket while Lamer is up top as the favorite to meet them in the semis. Noteworthy unranked wrestlers to watch on this side of the bracket are De’Alcapon Veazy, Justin Rademacher, Peyton Westpfahl and Anders Thompson. Veazy and Rademacher are likely to meet in the round of 16 while Peyton Westpfahl and Anders Thompson will wrestle in the round of 64!

Round of 64

Peyton Westpfahl vs Anders Thompson

Round of 32

Luke Vanadia vs Cole Han-Lindemyer

Round of 16

Oscar Williams vs Connar Mirasola

Gabe Arnold vs Lars Michaelson

De’Alcapon Veazy vs Justin Rademacher

92kg

Lehigh Valey blue chip recruit and #10 nationally Sonny Sasso sits in pole position at the top of the bracket. His first big test may not come until the quarters where he’s on course for a match against Max Vandia of Ohio. #11 at 182 Camden McDanel (also of Ohio) is on the same side of the bracket as Sasso but those two hammers are not slated to hit until the semis. 

In the bottom half of the bracket is name-to-watch (don’t say you weren’t warned!) #5 ranked nationally and #9 on the 2024 Big Board Sawyer Bartlet of Florida will be tested in his second match of the day against Cole Mirasola of the Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin, a club that’s been having solid results here in Vegas. 

In the quarters, Bartlet will likely see Cody Merrill, a Cormier trained athlete from California who’s ranked #20 in the nation at 195-pounds. Merrill will have to navigate his way past the very tough Hunter Sonnenberg in the Round of 16. 

Also on the bottom half of the bracket is #13 Max McEnelly, who will likely see the winner an excellent Round of 16 bout of Kingsly Menifee vs Austin Joshnon in the quarters.

Round of 16

Sawyer Bartlet vs Cole Mirasola

Cody Merrill vs Hunter Sonnenberg

Kingsly Menifee vs Austin Joshnon

Quarterfinals

Sonny Sasso vs Max Vandia

110kg

Wisconsin rising star Koy Hopke (#8 on the 2024 Big Board) is at the tippy top of the bracket and is the favorite to ear the world team spot at heavyweight. Two of the toughest challengers on Hopke’s side of the bracket got drawn into their first match match of the tournament in the Round 16, which will put #18 at 220 Parker Ferrell over VIrginia against Colorado’s Dirk Morley. 

On the bottom side of the bracket, #11 at 220 Carter Neves of Ohio is on a collision course with Jacob Walker of Iowa, who was placed at the very bottom position of the bracket. Contender Nicholas Sahakian of California powerhouse St John’s Bosco is in the top quarter of that bottom half of the bracket and could see the winner of that match in the semis. 

Round of 16 

Parker Ferrell vs Dirk Morley

Quarterfinals

Carter Neves vs Jacob Walker