USA Greco

Post-2021 Trials USA Greco-Roman Rankings

post trials usa greco-roman rankings
Sammy Jones & David Stepanian -- Photo: Sam Janicki

The 2021 World Team Trials tournament did what it was supposed to: serve as Team selection for Oslo and, naturally, inform the latest update for the Five Point Move USA Greco-Roman rankings. 

Since the first edition for the ‘21-’22 season was introduced just over two weeks ago, there have been two events responsible for yielding points: the Trials, and Thor Masters (Denmark). Just three Americans competed at Thor Masters, which means that the team selection tournament wielded the most influence pertaining to ranking concerns. “Inactivity” is still the buzzword, as many athletes who were Trials-qualified either opted not to compete or were not available for a variety of reasons. Athletes who are inactive are not necessarily dropped, though those who do enter events are, hopefully, justly rewarded. 

Post-2021 WTT USA Greco-Roman Rankings

55 kg

  1. Max Nowry (Army/WCAP) — 82 pts
  2. Taylor LaMont (Sunkist/UVRTC) — N/A
  3. Brady Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 48 pts
  4. Dalton Duffield (Army/WCAP) — 36 pts
  5. Jacob Cochran (NMU/NTS) — 30 pts
  6. Billy Sullivan (LOG-LV) — 52 pts
  7. Gabriel Gray (TX Panhandle) — 14 pts
  8. Cole Smith (Army/WCAP) — 4 pts
  9. Dane Durlacher (IRTC) — 2 pts
  10. Elijah Varona (Viking WC) — N/A

Changes from previous: only one flip-flop at 55 with Duffield and Cochran switching places due to how the Senior Trial results played out for both athletes. Duffield, a U23 World Team member in ‘18 and a National Teamer that same year, downed Cochran twice in Nebraska after falling to the NMU’er in the third place match at the April Open. Sullivan piled on a bevy of points by virtue of finishing second at Thor Masters, but his spot does not change on the heels of Cochran’s comeback win against him in the Trials’ consolation semis. 

60 kg

  1. Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 54 pts
  2. Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) — 28 pts
  3. Ryan Mango (Army/WCAP) — N/A
  4. Randon Miranda (Rise RTC) — 80 pts
  5. King Sandoval (Bandits) — 36 pts
  6. Dylan Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 28 pts
  7. Alec Thomsen (Nebraska Wrestling TC) — 18 pts
  8. Aiden Nutter (NMU/NTS) — 28 pts
  9. Joey Palmer (Bear Claw) — N/A
  10. KeVon Powell (LA) — 6 pts

Changes from previous: Roberts cleanly takes over at #1 in winning the best-of-three against Olympian Hafizov. But that alone is not why Roberts’ ranking has elevated (athletes are not guaranteed #1 based solely on prevailing in Trials finals). In April, he had claimed the Open crown, as well; the points plus the victory are why Roberts sits on the top of the ladder. Sandoval surges all the way from #8 to #5, whereas Koontz falls two spots and now occupies #7. The new addition is Aiden Nutter, who looks very much like the sort of young athlete who will wind up becoming a stout contender in this division sooner rather than later. Miranda, silver at Thor and the owner of a whopping 80 points, stays put one spot behind Mango. 

63 kg

  1. Sammy Jones (NYAC) — 30 pts
  2. David Stepanyan (NYAC/NTS) — 48 pts
  3. Mike Fuenffinger (Army/WCAP) — N/A
  4. Dylan Gregerson (UVRTC) — 24 pts
  5. We Rachal (IRTC) — 30 pts
  6. Corbin Nirschl (MWC) — 20 pts
  7. Mason Lewis (PA) — 14 pts
  8. Travis Rice (NYAC/IRTC) — N/A
  9. Chayse LaJoie (Spartan Wrestling RTC) — N/A
  10. Lillashawn Coleman (Army/WCAP) — 4 pts

Changes from previous: “The Wildman” was on fire in Lincoln and his first World Team appearance is accompanied by a #1 ranking. Fuenffinger, who would have been the top seed had he competed, is dropped to #3 after missing the tournament altogether; taking his place is ‘21 U23 World Team member and Jones’ runner-up, Stepanyan. Gregerson rightfully shoots up to the #4 with Rachal rising to #5. LaJoie is dropped to #9, and the inactive-for-now Rice falls to #8. 

67 kg

  1. Peyton Omania (NYAC/CYC) — 30 pts
  2. Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) — 28 pts
  3. Hayden Tuma (Suples) — 48 pts
  4. Jesse Thielke (Army/WCAP) — 12 pts
  5. Alston Nutter (Sunkist/NTS) — 28 pts
  6. Xavier Johnson (Marines) — 52 pts
  7. Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota Storm) — 8 pts
  8. Nolan Baker (NYAC) — 18 pts
  9. Jessy Williams (TMWC) — 12 pts
  10. Lenny Merkin (NYAC) — N/A

Changes from previous: all of the names are the same. It is just the order (and point totals) that is different. Similar to Roberts, Omania is not ranked #1 because he took out a reigning Olympian in the finals, thereby clinching Word Team honors. There is more to it. Omania also defeated Tuma and Thielke along the way, which more than justifies where he now stands. Johnson was always going to be dropped in the update, as it was widely-understood that he would not be able to compete. Baker is in the same boat, with the thrilling headlock machine stepping back two spots, going from #6 to #8. 

72 kg

  1. Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) — 30 pts
  2. Benji Peak (Sunkist/NTS) — 28 pts
  3. Jamel Johnson (Marines) — 52 pts
  4. Michael Hooker (Army/WCAP) — 30 pts
  5. Brandon Mueller (505 WC) — 8 pts
  6. Griffin Parriott (Minnesota Storm) — 12 pts
  7. Justus Scott (LOG-LV) — 20 pts
  8. Payton Jacobson (Ringers) — 8 pts
  9. Justin Koethe (Ubasa WA) — 6 pts
  10. Hunter Murphy (Olivet WC) — 4 pts

Changes from previous: the top-7 is the exact same. A major addition is Jacobson, who is likely more of a 67 going forward. But he certainly held his ground at 72 in Lincoln, his first Senior Trials event. 

77 kg

  1. Jesse Porter (NYAC) — 30 pts
  2. Peyton Walsh (Marines) — 44 pts
  3. Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm) — 32 pts
  4. RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) — N/A
  5. Fritz Schierl (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 28 pts
  6. Mason Manville (NLWC) — N/A
  7. Austin Morrow (NYAC/NTS) — N/A
  8. Britton Holmes (Army/WCAP) — 18 pts
  9. Nate Grimes (NYAC) — 8 pts
  10. Jake Fisher (Curby 3-Style) — N/A

Changes from previous: inactivity imparts a hefty influence at 77, with Perkins, Manville, Fisher, and Hope all taking a pass on the September Trials. Epps is gone from 77, as well; and because Schierl fought his way to the final, there is no choice but to reward him appropriately. Ortiz hops from #3 to #4, and Holmes bumps up to #8 from #10. Aside from Schierl there is one more new face: ‘20 U23 National champ Grimes, who acquitted himself quite well and should contend even more in the future. 

82 kg

  1. Ben Provisor (NYAC) — 82 pts
  2. Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP) — 52 pts
  3. Rich Carlson (Minnesota Storm) — 24 pts
  4. Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm) — 48 pts
  5. Tommy Brackett (Gator) — 32 pts
  6. John Hagey (505 WC) — 20 pts
  7. Tyler Cunningham (MWC) — 28 pts
  8. John Kent (Gator) — 4 pts
  9. Kyle Briggs (IA) — 6 pts
  10. Jordan Lara (TX Panhandle) — 2 pts

Changes from previous: Brackett, who is on the U23 Team this year and was the National runner-up at 87 in April, drops from #3 to #5 for two reasons, and neither should suggest a dip in performance: 1) Carlson, who decisioned Brackett for third in Lincoln; 2) to make room for Epps, who was second to Alan Vera in the 87 Trials final and, like Brackett, was second in the April Open (but at 77). Epps has intimated that 82 will be his landing spot going forward. Considering his points yield as well as two straight domestic finals appearances, Epps gets the nod over Brackett for the #4 spot.

87 kg 

  1. John Stefanowicz (Marines) — N/A
  2. Alan Vera (NYAC) — 30 pts
  3. Patrick Martinez (NYAC) — N/A 
  4. Tyler Hannah (Combat WC) — 28 pts
  5. George Sikes (NYAC/NTS) — 26 pts
  6. Dan Olsen (Combat WC) — 14 pts
  7. Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) — N/A
  8. Terrence Zaleski (Marines) — N/A
  9. Joel Nivar (Marines) — 12 pts
  10. Nick Reenan (Wolfpack WC) — 4 pts

Changes from previous: of the top-10, only four actually entered the September Trials — Vera, Hannah, Sikes, and Olsen. Vera inches ahead of Martinez due to his ascending to the World roster, while the rest are aligned with how they finished earlier this month. 87 sorely needs Stefanowicz, Martinez, and Stanghill to resume their careers. The same is true of Zaleski, though that matter is not exactly within his scope of control at the moment. 

97 kg

  1. G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist) — 30 pts
  2. Braxton Amos (Sunkist/Wisconsin RTC) — N/A
  3. Nick Boykin (Sunkist/Ohio RTC) — 52 pts
  4. Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) — 8 pts
  5. Khymba Johnson (NYAC) — 24 pts
  6. JD Souza (Army/WCAP) — 26 pts
  7. Chad Porter (Sunkist) — 18 pts
  8. Eric Twohey (Minnesota Storm) — N/A
  9. Vaughn Monreal-Berner (Marines) — 18 pts
  10. Diante Cooper (Air Force) — 6 pts

Changes from previous: Boykin jumps over Sheridan based on results, just like Johnson does at Souza’s expense. Everyone else moves down one rung accordingly, all three of whom were absent from Lincoln (Twohey, Monreal-Berner, and Cooper). 

130 kg

  1. Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) — 30 pts
  2. Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP) — 28 pts
  3. Tanner Farmer (NYAC/IRTC) — 24 pts
  4. Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm) — 36 pts
  5. West Cathcart (NYAC/IRTC) — N/A
  6. Brandon Metz (Bison WC) — 26 pts
  7. Malcolm Allen (LOG) — 24 pts
  8. Tommy Helton (Southern Illinois RTC) — 12 pts
  9. Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles) — N/A
  10. Kaleb Reeves (IA) — 6 pts

Changes from previous: Farmer cashes in on a strong Trials performance to climb two spaces, from #5 to #3, which reflects the tournament’s final results. Metz competed well in his own right, and therefore rises to #6. National champ Allen was unable to replicate his run from April, slotting him one spot lower to #7. Because Herrington is viewed as a viable prospect, provided he keeps coming back to Senior events, he is given #9. 

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