TKDWN MEDIA
Jesse Smith, RD
Wrestling Ranking Surgeon™️
The U20 age group at this weekend's U.S. Open represents a unique battleground where the nation's top high school wrestlers collide with collegiate athletes in their quest for World Team Trials qualification.
Unlike the U17 division where champions earn direct world team spots, U20 champions advance to the World Team Trials finals in late May, adding another layer of competition to their journey.
What makes the U20 division particularly compelling is the mix of competitors (elite high schoolers looking to prove themselves against older competition, and college wrestlers seeking international opportunities).
Let's break down each weight class and identify the favorites, top challengers, and key storylines.
57KG
This Year's Favorites: Grey Burnett & Antonio Mills
Top High School Challengers: Sammy Sanchez, Hayden Schwab, Ignacio Villasenor, Cam Sontz, Brock Rothermel. Burnett gets the slight nod over Mills based on their comparative results against Ignacio Villasenor - Burnett beat him, Mills didn't.
Two-time gold medalist Sammy Sanchez represents a wild card as he adjusts to the age and weight increase. Villasenor himself is dangerous, having beaten Anthony Knox at last year's World Team Trials, If he can do that, he can beat anyone here when he's on his game.
61 KG
This Year's Favorite: Ashton Besmer
Top High School Challengers: Paul Kenny, Antonio Rodriguez, Dean Anderson, Keanu Dillard, Slater Hicks. With top-ranked Moses Mendoza not in the bracket, last year's world team member Ashton Besmer gets the slight edge. He's been on fire to end his high school career.
Former world gold medalist Paul Kenny and 2024 bronze medalist Keanu Dillard are serious threats. Any of these wrestlers could be standing atop the Vegas podium.
65 KG
This Year's Favorite: Bo Bassett
Top High School Challengers: Kellen Wolbert, Tyler DeCraker, Clinton Shepherd, Jesse Grahita, Sam Herring
College Threat: Aaron Seidel
The biggest star in high school wrestling enters as the overwhelming favorite. Bassett has a pattern, any time he loses he comes back to the same event with a vengeance. His toughest challenge likely comes from college wrestler Aaron Seidel. Seidel has a nice rivalry going with Bo’s NCAA champion high school teammate, Jax Forrest. The size difference (Bassett finishing this season at 145, Seidel at 133) could play a factor, but ultimately, this is Bo's bracket to lose.
70 KG
This Year's Favorites: Melvin Miller (high school) vs. Landon Robideau (college)
Top High School Challengers: Wyatt Medlin, Zeno Moore, Jake Miller, Dallas Russell, Michael Romero, Charlie DeSena, Gus Cardinal. This weight class is absolutely loaded, 14 of the top 16 and all of the top 8 nationally ranked high schoolers.
A Robideau-Miller finals would be fantastic, with Robideau looking to repeat his head to head success over Miller. The depth here is staggering, making this one of the most competitive brackets for high school wrestling fans.
74 KG
This Year's Favorite: Jayden James
Top High School Challengers: Haakon Peterson, Liam Crook, Justin Wardlow, Mason Petersen, Lucas Boe, Gabe Logan, Bruno Cassioppi, Declan Koch
College Threat: Kody Routledge
With 9 of the top 11 nationally ranked wrestlers, including #1 Jayden James, this bracket is deep. James seems to be the clear favorite, though college wrestler Kody Routledge could provide the stiffest test. James made the wtt 74KG finals last year against LaDarion Lockett, showing he's ready for this level of competition.
79 KG
This Year's Favorite: Mario Carini
Top High School Challengers: Joe Jeter, Maximus Dhabolt,
College Threats: Asher Cunningham, Ryan Burton
Carini enters as the #1 ranked high schooler, with former world team member Joe Jeter at #2. The college competition gets stronger at these higher weights, with Cunningham potentially having a slight edge over Burton in freestyle. Nadav Nafshi is an intriguing dark horse after massive improvements, including a national prep title.
86 KG
This Year's Favorite: Aeoden Sinclair (college) or Brock Mantanona (college)
Top High School Challengers: Waylon Cressell, Lucas Ricketts, Nick Singer, Mason Ontiveros, Eli Leonard.
With #1 ranked Adam Waters not competing, Waylon Cressell leads the high school contingent. Several 175-pounders are making the jump up, creating interesting matchups. However, the college duo of Sinclair and Mantanona are heavy favorites. Cressell’s hot streak might give him an outside shot at an upset.
92 KG
This Year's Favorite: Angelo Posada (college)
Top High School Challengers: Jimmy Mastny, Tanner Hodgins, Lincoln Jipp, Ladd Holman
College Threat: Branson John
The top four nationally ranked high schoolers are all here. Mastny consistently impresses, while former U17 world team member Tanner Hodgins is looking to take the next step up. Lincoln Jipp has made a significant weight jump from 175 last Spring to 205+. College wrestler Angelo Posada is the overall favorite, but the high school talent is very good here.
97 KG
This Year's Favorite: Max Konopka and Michael Boyle
Top High School Challengers: Billy Ward, Cash Cooley, Carter Brown.
The top 2, Konopka and Boyle each only lost once last Spring. Konopka fell to Ronan An at this event last year. He would come back and beat An for 3rd. Boyle fell to Cade Ziola in the Fargo finals. Something has to give if the top two in our freestyle rankings meet.
Ward, Cooley and Carter Brown are all going to be tough outs.
125 KG
This Year's Favorite: Dreshaun Ross
Top High School Challengers: Coby Merrill, Michael Mocco, Dean Bechtold, Tyson Martin.
The 125 bracket might be the one to watch all weekend, certainly when it comes to the top 4 here. Last Spring they battled each other, though a clear pecking order was established. Ross is the lead dog, Merrill is right behind him, Mocco right behind him and then Bechtold. We expect another Ross vs Merrill finals but nothing from this top group would surprise me. I mention Tyson Martin because he might not be quite in that top tier, he’s the leader of the next one.
A couple top level heavyweight recruits are in the mix as well with Nicholas Sahakian and Rocco Dellagatta vying for US Open crowns.
Final Thoughts
The U20 division showcases the transition point in American wrestling: where high school phenoms test themselves against college competition before making their run at senior-level teams.
With champions advancing to World Team Trials finals in late May, this weekend's results will serve as a big first step for those chasing world team dreams. For high school wrestling fans, weights like 70 kg and 74 kg offer incredible depth with nearly all the top-ranked wrestlers competing.
For those interested in the college-high school dynamic, weights like 65 kg (Bassett vs. Seidel) and 86 kg provide fascinating style matchups.
