Jacobson, Foy win best-of-three series, Senior Greco-Roman World Team set at 2025 CLAW U.S. Open

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Senior Greco-Roman World Team is set following the 2025 Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials as part of the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open at The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two of the four Group B championship series went to a third match, with four champions decided on Saturday night.

In an electric series at 87 kg, Olympian Payton Jacobson defeated Spencer Woods in three matches. Woods forced a third match with a 6-5 win over Jacobson in the second round of the series. In round three, Jacobson hit a huge body lock on the edge in a 7-5 victory.

Jacobson was awarded one point on a step out, but Woods’ corner challenged the call, and the point was awarded to Woods. Jacobson was called for passivity, giving Woods a chance on top but he was unable to generate any par terre offense. The second period saw Jacobson take a 2-2 criteria lead with a takedown, but it was spoiled after he was cautioned and two were given to Woods. Another point was tacked on for Woods after a lost challenge from Jacobson’s corner.

With seconds remaining, Jacobson hit a body lock on the edge for four points, and a lost challenge from the Army WCAP corner pushed the score to 7-5. This is Jacobson’s first Senior World Team after making his first Olympic team in 2024.

At 97 kg, Michial Foy won his best-of-three series against Olympian Josef Rau. The series was tied up at 1-1 after Rau’s 3-1 victory in the second round to force a third match.

In round three, Rau opened the match with a 2-0 lead after scoring a takedown. Foy responded with a takedown of his own to gain the edge on criteria, then added two more points in a scramble near the edge for a 4-2 lead. After the break, Rau earned a point from Foy's passivity but couldn’t capitalize further, and Foy held on to win 4-3.

Beka Melelashvili, competing at 82 kg, secured a spot on the Senior World Team after round one, after his opponent Jesse Porter was injured and could not continue the series.

A similar situation occurred in the series at 130 kg, as Cohlton Schultz faced Adam Coon for the Senior World Team spot. Round one ended with a fall for Schultz, but an injury forced Coon to the bench for round two.

The Senior World Team that will head to Zagreb, Croatia, in September was established at the end of the session and is as follows:

55 kg – Jayden Raney (NYAC)

60 kg – Max Black (NMU-National Training Center/NYAC)

63 kg – Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP)

67 kg – Alston Nutter (Army WCAP)

72 kg – Alejandro Sancho (Army WCAP)

77 kg – Kamal Bey (Army WCAP)

82 kg – Beka Melelashvili (NYAC)

87 kg – Payton Jacobson (NMU-National Training Center/NYAC)

97 kg – Michial Foy (Army WCAP)

130 kg – Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC)

The 2025 CLAW U.S. Open continues with the U17 and U20 Men’s freestyle tournaments, and the UWW Futures Freestyle tournament. Action begins at 10 a.m. PT inside The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas. A detailed schedule of events is available at usawrestlingevents.com.

All the action from Las Vegas will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. Brackets and match-by-match results are available through USA Bracketing, USA Wrestling’s new best-in-class event management software.

At Las Vegas, Nev., April 26

Round One Results

82 kg

Round 1 - Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) over Jesse Porter (NYAC), inj. def.

Round 2 - Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) over Jesse Porter (NYAC), med. forf.

87 kg

Round 1 - Payton Jacobson (NMU-National Training Center/NYAC) dec. Spencer Woods (Army WCAP), 5-1

Round 2 - Spencer Woods (Army WCAP) dec. Payton Jacobson (NMU-National Training Center/NYAC), 6-5

Round 3 - Payton Jacobson (NMU-National Training Center/NYAC) dec. Spencer Woods (Army WCAP), 7-5

97 kg

Round 1 - Michial Foy (Army WCAP) dec. Josef Rau (Titan Mercury WC), 6-0

Round 2 - Josef Rau (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Michial Foy (Army WCAP), 3-1

Round 3 - Michial Foy (Army WCAP) dec. Josef Rau (Titan Mercury WC), 4-3

130 kg

Round 1 - Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC) pin Adam Coon (Cliff Keen WC/NYAC), 0:55

Round 2 - Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC) over Adam Coon (Cliff Keen WC/NYAC), med. forf.

Medal Match Results

82 kg

1st - Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) wins best-of-three series over Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club), two matches to none

3rd - Tyler Cunningham (New York Athletic Club) Dec. Tommy Brackett (New York Athletic Club), 6-1

5th - Fritz Schierl (Storm/Nyac) Dec. Andrew Berreyesa (New York Athletic Club), 5-5

7th - Aidan Squier (Combat W.C. School of Wrestling) Med. For. Arian Khosravy (California),

87 kg

1st - Payton Jacobson (NMU/NYAC) wins best-of-three series over Spencer Woods (Army (WCAP)), two matches to one

3rd - Zachary Braunagel (Illinois Regional Training Center/Illini WC) T.F. Adrian Artsisheuskiy (New York Athletic Club), 10-1 (5:53)

5th - Christian Rouleau (Storm/Nyac) Med. For. Jonathon Fagen (JG),

7th - Lukas Poloncic (Storm/Nyac) Med. For. Kyle Knudtson (Crook County High School Wrestling),

97 kg

1st - Michial Foy (Army (WCAP)) wins best-of-three series over Josef Rau (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), two matches to one

3rd - Timothy Young (Army (WCAP)) T.F. Austin Harris (Club Lucha), 9-0 (1:40)

5th - David Tate Orndorff (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) Disq. Nicholas Boykin (Ohio),

7th - Jayden Loehnig (Golden State Wrestling Club) Med. For. Eli Pannell (Dubuque RTC),

130 kg

1st - Cohlton Schultz (Atreus Wrestling Club) wins best-of-three series over Adam Coon (CKWC/NYAC), two matches to none

3rd - Aden Attao (NYAC) Dec. Courtney Freeman (All-Marine), 7-0

5th - Keith Miley (Ark/Nyac) T.F. James Hustoles (NMU-National Training Center), 9-1 (2:17)

7th - Cameron Dubose (Mustang Wrestling Club) Dec. Timothy Eubanks (NMU-National Training Center), 6-2