Quarterfinals set in U17 Freestyle Nationals; U17 World champions Sanchez, Kenny among stars to advance

The quarterfinals have been set for the 2025 U17 Freestyle Nationals in Las Vegas after a busy day of preliminary action at the CLAW U.S. Open on Saturday

Among those to advance to the quarterfinals was 2024 U17 World champion Samuel Sanchez at 51 kg. Sanchez is the only returning 2024 U17 Nationals champion in the field. He will battle 2025 U17 Nationals Greco-Roman champion Carter Shin in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning.

Paul Kenny of New Jersey, a 2023 U17 World champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals at 60 kg.

Eight of the 2024 16U Nationals freestyle champions have reached the quarterfinals:  Hayden Schwab of Iowa (51 kg), Shamus Regan of Pennsylvania (55 kg), Noah Bull of Utah (65 kg), Jayden James of New Jersey (71 kg), Lucas Boe of Indiana (71 kg), Justis Jesuroga (71 kg), Aaron Stewart of Illinois (80 kg) and Alex Taylor of Ohio (110). James and Boe wrestle each other in the quarterfinals.

Two 2024 U15 Nationals freestyle champions have also advanced, Keegan Bassett of Pennsylvania (45 kg) and Chase Karenbauer of Pennsylvania (48 kg). Both came in with No. 1 seeds.

Five of the 2025 U17 Greco-Roman Nationals champion are quarterfinalists, and remain in the hunt for a double title, Shin and Taylor, plus Ariah Mills of Georgia (48 kg), Arseni Kikiniou of California (65 kg) and Isai Fernandez of California (80 kg).

The competition concludes on Sunday, with a best-of-three championship finals series to determine the winners, who will represent Team USA at the 2025 U17 World Championships in Athens, Greece, July 28-August 3.

U17 NATIONAL FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Las Vegas, Nev., April 26-27

Men’s Freestyle Quarterfinal pairings

45 kg

Keegan Bassett (Bishop McCort High School Wrestling) vs. Luke Loren (Monster Garage Wrestling)

Lincoln Valdez (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado) vs. Carter Smith (Burnett Trained Wrestling)

Kooper Deputy (Orchard Wrestling Club) vs. Shiloh Joyce (New Jersey)

Wyatt Dannegger (Team Missouri Select) vs. Hudson Chittum (Tennessee)

48

Chase Karenbauer (Bad Karma Wrestling Club) vs. Cruz Gannon (Sebolt Wrestling Academy)

Lucas Forman (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling) vs. Thiago Silva (Izzy Style Wrestling)

Turner Ross (Oklahoma) vs. Anthony Curlo (New Jersey)

Connor Maddox (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club) vs. Ariah Mills (Roundtree Wrestling Academy)

51

Samuel Sanchez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) vs. Carter Shin (Palm Wrestling Academy)

Michael Batista (New Jersey) vs. Brayden Wenrich (Grit Mat Club)

Camden Rugg (Askren Wrestling Academy) vs. Cruzer Dominguez (MWC Wrestling Academy)

Analu Woode (Golden Back MRTC) vs. Hayden Schwab (Immortal Athletics WC)

55

Grey Burnett (Burnett Trained Wrestling) vs. Rocklin Zinkin (California)

Emilio Albanese (Grit Mat Club) vs. Ignacio Villasenor (Cowboy Wrestling Club)

Izayiah Chavez (Best Trained Wrestling) vs. Lukas Foster (Callan Wrestling Academy)

Shamus Regan (Pennsylvania) vs. Maximus Hay (Askren Wrestling Academy)

60

Mason Carlson (Sanderson Wrestling Academy) vs. Ashton Besmer (Dethrone Wrestling Club)

Dale Corbin (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling) vs. Nicholas Sorrow (Simmons Academy Of Wrestling)

Paul Kenny (New Jersey) vs. Brenden Jorden Agcaoili (Gold Rush Wrestling)

Grayson Davis (Steller Trained Wrestling) vs. Deven Lopez (La Gente Wrestling Club)

65

Noah Bull (Sanderson Wrestling Academy) vs. Braylon Reynolds (Red Cobra Wrestling Academy)

Austin Collins (Bear Cave Wrestling Club) vs. Arseni Kikiniou (Poway Wrestling)

Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah Wrestling Club) vs. Grayson Fuchs (Shamrock Select)

Greyson Music (Steller Trained Wrestling) vs. Austin Ellis (Sanderson Wrestling Academy)

71

Vaughn Strobel (Thorobred Wrestling Club) vs. Justus Heeg (Illinois)

Nathaniel Replogle (Steller Trained Wrestling) vs. Justis Jesuroga (Sebolt Wrestling Academy)

Maximus Fortier (Quest School Of Wrestling) vs. Titus Norman (Baylor School)

Lucas Boe (Spartan RTC@LHP) vs. Jayden James (KD Training Center)

80

Aaron Stewart (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy) vs. Nicholas Singer (Steller Trained Wrestling)

Isai Fernandez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) vs. Ladd Holman (Juab Wrestling Club)

Salah Tsarni (DMV RTC) vs. Mario Hutcherson (Young Guns Wrestling Club)

Kyle Scott (Pennsylvania) vs. Zane Gerlach (Avalanche Wrestling Association)

92

Ronan An (Level Up Wrestling Center) vs. Maximus Konopka (Connecticut)

Brady Brown (All-American Wrestling Club) vs. Evan Perez (Bear Cave Wrestling Club)

JT Smith (MWC Wrestling Academy) vs. Seer Godwise (Perry Meridian Wrestling Club)

Tanner Hodgins (Shore Thing Wrestling Club) vs. Sam Howard (Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club)

110

Alex Taylor (Beast Mode Wrestling) vs. Makhi Rodgers (Askren Wrestling Academy)

Eaghan Fleshman (Iowa) vs. Noah Mathis (Bobcat Wrestling Club)

Ryder Smith (Rabbit Wrestling Club) vs. Mateo Vinciguerra (Seagull Wrestling Club)

Luke Driedric (Askren Wrestling Academy) vs. Josh Hoffer (Dubtown Wrestling Club)