Finals set for an all-USA men’s freestyle gold-medal round at Bill Farrell Memorial
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
NEW YORK, N.Y. – It will be an all-USA gold-medal finals in men’s freestyle at the Bill Farrell Memorial International at the New York Athletic Club on Saturday.
Competition will be in the six Olympic weight classes, and all 12 of the semifinals winners come from the United States.
Included in the finals will be college freshman Kaleb Larkin of Arizona State, who will battle Matthew Kolodzic in the 65 kg finals. Larkin scored a 3-2 semifinals win over Patricio Lugo in the semifinals, while Kolodzik stopped Aden Valencia, 9-7.
Another finalist is two-time Senior World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, who will battle Christian Lance in the finals.
Multiple-time age-group World champion and former Iowa star Spencer Lee has reached the 57 kg finals, where he will face past Penn State star and past Senior National Team member Nico Megaludis. Lee won all three of his matches by technical fall, outscoring his opponents 32-0. His longest match lasted only 1:26
The other finals pairings has current National Team member Jason Nolf against Alex Marinelli at 74 kg, current National Team member Alex Dieringer against Trent Hidlay at 86 kg and current National Team member Michael Macchiavello against Jacob Warner at 97 kg.
Up for grabs are spots in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State in April. The top U.S. placewinner (in the top four) in each weight class who has not already qualified in each weight class will advance to the Challenge Tournament of the Olympic Trials.
Of the 12 finalists, Gwiazdowski is the only athlete to have already qualified for the Olympic Trials. That means, regardless of the outcome, Lance has punched his ticket for the Olympic Trials. The winner of the other five weight classes will earn their spot in the Olympic Trials.
The Bill Farrell Memorial International will conclude with the men’s freestyle finals at 5:00 p.m. ET.
This event is being broadcast live by FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/45tkcPw
BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., November 18
Men’s freestyle finalist pairings
57 kg - Spencer Lee (USA) vs. Nico Megaludis (USA)
65 kg - Kaleb Larkin (USA) vs. Matthew Kolodzik (USA)
74 kg - Jason Nolf (USA) vs. Alex Marinelli (USA)
86 kg - Alexander Dieringer (USA) vs. Trent Hidlay (USA)
97 kg - Michael Macchiavello (USA) vs. Jacob Warner (USA)
125 kg - Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) vs. Christian Lance (USA)
Men’s freestyle semifinals results
57 kg
Spencer Lee (USA) tech. fall Luke Lilledahl (USA), 11-0 1:26
Nico Megaludis (USA) dec. Brandon Courtney (USA), 9-3
65 kg
Kaleb Larkin (USA) dec. Patricio Lugo III (USA), 3-2
Matthew Kolodzik (USA) dec. Aden Valencia (USA), 9-7
74 kg
Jason Nolf (USA) tech. fall Michael Kemerer (USA), 10-0, 0:59
Alex Marinelli (USA) dec. Tyler Berger (USA), 5-3
86 kg
Alexander Dieringer (USA) dec. Connor Mirasola (USA), 9-3
Trent Hidlay (USA) dec. Avtandil Kentchadze (GEO), 14-10
97 kg
Michael Macchiavello (USA) tech fall Jay Aiello (USA), 11-0, 5:52
Jacob Warner (USA) dec. Benjamin Honis (ITA), 4-4
125 kg
Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) dec. Samuel Schuyler (USA), 7-2
Christian Lance (USA) dec. Gary Traub (USA), 6-0
Read More#
Andonian excels in repechage to advance to bronze match at Junior Worlds
RESULTS: Five series go the full three matches, as 15 make the 2022 Senior World Team with Final X Stillwater wins
Mesenbrink triumphs, Bouzakis and Berge bag bronze, freestyle takes second at U20 Worlds
WIN Magazine releases its Olympic Commemorative Issue; USA Wrestling members get subscription discount
USA Wrestling’s Giving Tuesday “Giving Your All” campaign focuses on Senior and Developmental programs
