The Complete World Team Trials Greco-Roman Preview – FloWrestling

It is a new start for Greco-Roman with the offering of the 2024 World Team Trials. Only five-plus weeks removed from the Paris Olympics, where Team USA struggled to generate momentum, the Senior Greco program has another opportunity to end the year on a high note. Selecting the World Team is the first step in that process and each of the four weight classes presented this coming weekend include familiar names and athletes whose resumes are littered with top-level experience. 

55 kg

Reigning World Team member at 55 kg Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) is one of the most proficient operators from top par terre in the country and the owner of a reliable gutwrench that threatens to end matches early — and often does. There is no pretense involved. Koontz can and will work to score from the feet, but his premier weapon system is found when on top of opponents. 

Camden Russell (NYAC/MWC) is the other holdover at 55 from the previous full-squad National Team selected in ‘23. He is an extremely capable and tenacious competitor who is well-schooled in all phases of the game but one who could use a go-to in par terre now that he is a firmly-established Senior. Coming in hot, however, is current U23 World Team member Billy Sullivan (Army/WCAP), who has not just improved over the past two years, the strides he has made since the spring alone have been hard to ignore. Sullivan is gaining confidence from top, his defense has become more solid, and he was always a scorer when standing.

Pre-Seeds

Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC)

Camden Russell (NYAC/MWC)

Billy Sullivan (Army/WCAP)

Kenny Crosby (NMU/NTS)

Ezekiel Witt (Bison WC)

Peter Del Gallo (Southside WC)

Zach Silvis (NYAC/Minnesota Storm)

Kody Tanimoto (Bison WC)

Tyler Klein (Dubuque RTC)

Fabian Gutierrez (West Point WC)

63 kg

63 kg in this tournament is mainly stocked with athletes who were in the running at Olympic 60 last season. This allotment is led, of course, by multi-time U.S. World Team member and ‘20 Olympian Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP), who is venturing north for a major domestic tournament for the first time in his American career. Hafizov is still the most well-rounded and skilled lightweight in the country, what with his saltos from the feet and his high-lock waterfall from par terre top. Hafizov, runner-up to teammate Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) at the Olympic Trials, is one of two current National Team members at 63 along with Northern Michigan’s Max Black, who like Sullivan is on this year’s U23 World roster. Black competes with a fiery attitude and pushes the issue for all six minutes; plus, his technical abilities are now starting to catch up with his aggressive mindset. 

Dylan Gregerson (Minnesota Storm), Aidan Nutter (NYAC/NTS), and two-time U23 World Teamer Phillip Moomey (Spartan Combat RTC) will all have their say. Gregerson and Nutter prefer 63, for the weight class was home to them prior to the Olympic Year. Moomey, who was second at 63 in June’s U23 Trials, is an exciting, scoring-friendly talent and certainly someone to take very seriously. So too are Corbin Nirschl (MWC), Nick Leonetti, and Rhett Peak (Checkmate WC). Nirschl, “The Quiet Man”, is perhaps most comfortable in this weight class and has had moments here. Leonetti is going to pose problems if his cut doesn’t hinder him, whereas young Mr. Peak should feel energized without having to wage as tough of a battle with the scale. Peak is probably seen as more of a sleeper in Omaha but he is a gifted prospect who is quickly gaining ground. 

Pre-Seeds

Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP)

Max Black (NMU/NTS)

Dylan Gregerson (Minnesota Storm)

Phillip Moomey (Spartan Combat RTC)

Corbin Nirschl (NYAC/MWC)

Rhett Peak (Checkmate WC)

Aidan Nutter (NYAC/NTS)

Riley Lomerick (IL)

Nick Leonetti (NMU/NTS)

David Medina (TN)

72 kg

Despite the imminent importance of eventually removing seeds from USA domestic Greco-Roman tournaments, this is one weight category in which, if the seeding holds up, the last two rounds of the tournament might deliver the most compelling theater. RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) returning to 72 is a big part of the reason why. Perkins’ best and most natural weight range from a competitive aspect is 72; and although he certainly performed very well at Olympic 77 for the past five seasons, he was never quite himself in the higher weight division, therefore making his reappearance in this bracket one to watch closely. Not to be outdone is “Mr. Fantastic” Benji Peak (Combat WC, and the #1 seed), who like Perkins was on a Senior World roster at 72 (the former in ‘18, the latter in ‘22). Given Peak’s height, general wrestling style, and a brief but impressive stint at 77, there were thoughts that he would attempt making this Team at 82. But no dice, and so there is a potentially thrilling finals showdown to be contested between these top-2 seeds, provided each does their part. 

Coming in as the #3 seed is Hunter Lewis (NC), whose kinetic and creative scoring prowess are legitimate assets once his confidence gathers steam. Lewis is so, so good when he gets on a roll, but defense from bottom against the more seasoned Seniors is a priority. Just as interesting as Lewis is Peyton Robb (Nebraska Wrestling TC). Robb, who has forged a sparking NCAA career, is an athlete the U.S. would have loved to have on a full-time basis in lieu of his attending a traditional folkstyle college. Robb has all the intangibles — grit, ferocity, instincts, and courage. Even without having the refinement most full-time Seniors boast, he is likely going to be a very tough out in this tournament. 

Pre-Seeds

Benji Peak (Combat WC)

RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC)

Hunter Lewis (NC)

Peyton Robb (Nebraska Wrestling TC)

Gunnar Hamre (NMU/NTS)

Logan Savvy (NYAC)

Clay Radenz (Bison WC)

Charlie Dill (NMU/NTS)

Jaxon Bearden (NMU/NTS)

Eddie Smith (Dubuque RTC)

Charles McKune (NMU/NTS)

82 kg

Garnering the #1 seed at 82 kg is Olympic Trials runner-up Aliaksandr Kikiniou. With Kikiniou, everyone is going to keep falling over themselves regarding his age (44), yet all he keeps doing is rendering that discussion next to meaningless. With him, his weight is the thing on which to focus your attention. Kikiniou — who once upon a time did his bidding at 85 kg — made waves a couple of years ago stateside at 77; he then briefly checked in at 87 last fall and that didn’t go so well for him. 82, one might think, should fit right in his wheelhouse. If it does, watching how he gets to his positions and handles par terre will tell the story of his candidacy. 

Beneath Kikiniou in seeding order is a cavalcade of terrific contenders: ‘21 World Team member Jesse Porter (NYAC), current U23 World rep Beka Melelashvili (NYAC), multi-time age group World Teamer Tyler Eischens (NYAC/Tarheel WC), Final X runner-up Ryan Epps (Army/WCAP), ‘22 U23 World Team member “Turbo” Ty Cunningham (NYAC/MWC), Riley Briggs (NMU/NTS), young high-profile prospect Aidan Squier (Combat WC)… It’s a long list. 

Melelashvili is expected to pose the most difficult issues when imagined against the rest of the field. He is smooth, strong, doesn’t waste motion, and his work from top par terre is likely the class of the bracket. Porter cannot be discounted, at all – but he will be punching up more than usual in this heavier weight division. He will need to cinch his lock in order to execute. Epps and Eischens – both from Minnesota – are hardcore goers who will work to outhustle their opposition. Eischens tends to express a more folk-infused sense of scrambling than does Epps, whereas Epps is without a doubt one of the most effective pummelers currently active in the US. 

Cunningham, who has earned his share of wins at the expense of top guys, including Epps, is perhaps the most well-rounded of this group. He has can’t-miss type of talent and his intuition with regards to what needs to be done in tight matches has only grown. As for Briggs, he is the most well-schooled and underrated guy in this bracket. He will be on the shorter side compared to most here, but he can score, and score big. Briggs’ focus on his education at NMU and nursing career ambitions have disrupted his trajectory. Even with that, he has too many tools and too much Greco-Roman programming in his brain to underestimate. 

Pre-Seeds

Aliaksandr Kikiniou (NYAC)

Jesse Porter (NYAC)

Beka Melelashvili (NYAC)

Tyler Eishcens (NYAC/Tarheel WC)

Ryan Epps (Army/WCAP)

Ty Cunningham (NYAC/MWC)

Riley Briggs (NMU/NTS)

Pat Curran (NMU/NTS)

Aidan Squier (Combat WC)

Aaron Dobbs (NMU/NTS)

Alex Hamm (FL)

Quinlan Nelson (IL)

Jordan Lara (505 WC)

Luke CIampa (LVWC)

Mason Parsons (Sons of Thunder)

Sam Beckett (PA)

Drew Allgeyer (MI)

Adam DeLeon Gonzalez (GA)