OMAHA, Neb. –2020 U.S. Olympian Ildar Hafizov and five other World Team members were among the Greco-Roman stars who have advanced to Sunday’s best-of-three Championship Series at the World Team Trials after strong performances in Saturday’s Championship Series.

In the four weight classes contested, both semifinal winners from Saturday’s Challenge Tournament advanced to Sunday’s Championship Series.

Hafizov, who is moving up from his normal 60 kg, scored a 10-0 technical fall in his semifinals match over Phillip Moomey. Hafizov will face Max Black in the Championship Series, after Black edged Dylan Gregerson, 5-3 in the other semifinals match.

At 72 kg, both semifinal winners are past U.S. World Team members, Benji Peak and RaVaughn Perkins. Peak, who competed on the 2022 World Team, scored an 11-1 technical fall over University of Nebraska star Peyton Robb in the semifinals. Perkins, a 2018 World Team member, won a tight 3-3 criteria decision over Hunter Lewis.

At 82 kg, top seed 44-year old Aliaksandr Kikiniou jumped to a big lead and emerged with a 10-3 win over Ryan Epps in the semifinals. Epps powered a visibly tired Kikiniou to his back for an apparent pin in the final seconds, but Kikiniou’s corner challenged. A foul was called on Epps during the move, rescinding the fall and allowing Kikiniou to complete the victory. Kikiniou was a 2012 Olympian and six-time Senior World Team member for Belarus before becoming a U.S. citizen.

Kikiniou will face 2021 World Team member Jesse Porter in the Championship Series, after Porter stopped Tyler Eischens in the other 82 kg semifinals, 3-1.

2023 World Team member Brady Koontz won his semifinals match at 55 kg over Peter Del Gallo, 7-3. Koontz will battle No. 3 seed Kenneth Crosby, who scoring the winning points late in his semifinals match to defeat No. 2 seed Billy Sullivan, 6-4.

The first round of the best-of-three Championship Series will be held alongside the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman series at 10:00 a.m. CT. The second match, and third if necessary, in each series are scheduled for the 2:00 p.m. session CT.

The event is being broadcast live on FloWrestling https://flosports.link/3XCeNF6

2024 Senior World Team Trials

Sept. 14, Omaha, Neb.

Best-of-three championship series matchups

Greco-Roman

55 kg – Brady Koontz (Dubuque RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Kenneth Crosby (NMU-National Training Center)

63 kg – Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) vs. Max Black (NMU-National Training Center/New York AC)

72 kg – Benjamin Peak (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling) vs. RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC)

82 kg – Aliaksandr Kikiniou (New York AC) vs. Jesse Porter (New York AC)

Challenge tournament semifinal results

Greco-Roman

55 kg

Brady Koontz (Dubuque RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Peter Del Gallo (Southside WC), 7-3

Kenneth Crosby (NMU-National Training Center) dec. Billy Sullivan (Army WCAP), 6-4

63 kg

Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) tech. fall Phillip Moomey (MWC Wrestling Academy), 10-0

Max Black (NMU-National Training Center/New York AC) dec. Dylan Gregerson (New York AC), 5-3

72 kg

Benjamin Peak (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling) tech. fall Peyton Robb (Nebraska WTC), 11-1

RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) dec. Hunter Lewis (North Carolina), 3-3

82 kg

Aliaksandr Kikiniou (New York AC) dec. Ryan Epps (Army WCAP), 10-3

Jesse Porter (New York AC) dec. Tyler Eischens (Tarheel WC/New York AC), 3-1

Championship Series finals set in Greco-Roman at World Team Trials in Omaha

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