Henderson beats top seed Maple in men’s freestyle quarterfinals; semifinals set at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Evan Henderson in deep on a shot against Kendric Maple at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Photo by Mark Lundy
CORALVILLE, Iowa – No. 8 seed Evan Henderson of Ohio RTC/TMWC upset 2022 U.S. Open champion and top seed Kendric Maple of the Sunkist Kids, 5-2 at 65 kg.
Henderson scored a first-period takedown to lead 3-2 at the break. Maple was unable to score in the second period, and Henderson added a takedown with one second left for the final margin of victory.
Maple made a comeback from retirement at the 2022 U.S. Open and won the title, which earned him the No. 1 seed at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Henderson was sixth at the 2022 U.S. Open.
The other nine top seeds all advanced to the semifinals.
The closest of the quarterfinal wins by a top seed came at 70 kg, where No. 1 seed Alec Pantaleo of Cliff Keen WC/TMWC edged Tyler Berger of the California RTC/TMWC, 3-2. The key points came in the second period when Berger scored a takedown with the match tied 1-1, and Berger holding the criteria edge.
Iowa State wrestler and No. 6 seed Ian Parker of the Cyclone RTC scored a stunning upset in the 65 kg quarterfinals over No. 3 seed and past U.S. Open champion Joey McKenna of the Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC, 8-5. Parker trailed 5-0 but came back strong with eight straight points. Parker took a 6-5 lead on a takedown with 36 seconds left, then spun behind on a McKenna shot for a takedown in the final seconds to clinch the victory.
No. 6 seed Daniel DeShazer of the Gopher WC RTC upset No. 3 seed and 2019 World bronze medalist Tyler Graff of New Jersey RTC/TMWC 3-2 in the 61 kg quarterfinals. DeShazer scored a key second period takedown to secure the victory.
In the most active quarterfinal match, past NCAA champion Seth Gross of the Sunkist Kids edged Indiana high school star Jesse Mendez of the Titan Mercury WC, 13-12 at 61 kg. Gross, who trailed 12-3 early in the second period, rallied with 10 straight points, including a tilt late in the match for the victory.
The semifinals in seven weight classes will be held during the Saturday afternoon session: 57 kg, 61 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg. The winners will battle on Sunday morning to earn their spot in Final X against a 2021 World medalist.
The semifinals in three weight classes will be held on Sunday morning: 65 kg, 70 kg and 125 kg. The winners of Sunday morning’s semifinals both advance to Final X.
WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
At Coralville, Iowa, May 20
Men’s freestyle results
Semifinal pairings
57 kg
Matthew Ramos (Boilermaker RTC) vs. Jakob Camacho (WOLF/TMWC)
Zane Richards (IRTC/TMWC) vs. Vitali Arujau (SPAR/TMWC)
61 kg
Nico Megaludis (PITT/TMWC) vs. Seth Gross (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
Daniel Deshazer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Joshua Rodriguez (NLWC/TMWC)
65 kg
Evan Henderson (ORTC/TMWC) vs. Nick Lee (NLWC/TMWC)
Ian Parker (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) vs. Yianni Diakomihalis (SPAR/TMWC)
70 kg
Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/TMWC) vs. Zain Retherford (NLWC/TMWC)
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC)
74 kg
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) vs. David Carr IA (CRTC/TMWC)
Thomas Gantt (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Joey Lavallee (LVWC/TMWC)
79 kg
David McFadden VA (PRTC/TMWC) vs. Chance Marsteller PA (TMWC)
Alex Dieringer OK (CKWC/TMWC) vs. Vincenzo Joseph CA (CAL/TMWC)
86 kg
Mark Hall (PRTC/TMWC) vs. Drew Foster (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)
Trent Hidlay NC (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
92 kg
Cameron Caffey (Michigan Wrestling Club) vs. Isaac Trumble NC (WOLF/TMWC)
Jonathan Aiello VA (CAV/TMWC) vs. Nathan Jackson NJ (New York Athletic Club)
97 kg
Michael Macchiavello (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Ethan Laird (Broncs Wrestling Club)
Timothy Dudley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Kollin Moore OH (ORTC/TMWC)
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
Anthony Cassioppi (HWC/TMWC) vs. Nick Gwiazdowski (SPAR/TMWC)
Quarterfinal results
57 kg
Matthew Ramos IL (Boilermaker RTC) dec. Aden Reeves IA (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)), 12-7
Jakob Camacho NC (WOLF/TMWC) dec. Anthony Molton IL (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 9-4
Zane Richards IL (IRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Timothy Levine CA (New England Regional Training Center), 10-0 3:36
Vitali Arujau NY (SPAR/TMWC) forfeit Gregory Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC)
61 kg
Nico Megaludis PA (PITT/TMWC) tech. fall Shelton Mack NJ (NYC/TMWC), 10-0 5:30
Seth Gross MN (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Mendez IN (TMWC), 13-12
Daniel Deshazer KS (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Tyler Graff VA (NJRT/TMWC), 3-2
Joshua Rodriguez PA (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Josh Kramer AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 4-0
65 kg
Evan Henderson OH (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Kendric Maple MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-2
Nick Lee PA (NLWC/TMWC) tech fall Matthew Kolodzik NJ (New York Athletic Club), 12-2 1:52
Ian Parker IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) dec. Joseph Mckenna NJ (PRTC/TMWC), 8-5
Yianni Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Luke Pletcher PA (PITT/TMWC), 10-0 2:02
70 kg
Alec Pantaleo MI (CKWC/TMWC) dec. Tyler Berger NE (CAL/TMWC), 3-2
Zain Retherford PA (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Doug Zapf PA (PRTC/TMWC), 4-1
Jordan Oliver NC (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Michael Blockhus MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC), 4-2
Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC) tech. fall Sam Sasso PA (ORTC/TMWC), 10-0 2:29
74 kg
David Carr IA (CRTC/TMWC) dec. Collin Purinton NE (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 15-6
Thomas Gantt NC (WOLF/TMWC) tech. fall Peter Pappas NY (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club), 10-0 4:00
Joey Lavallee MO (LVWC/TMWC) dec. Joshua Shields AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 11-7
79 kg
David McFadden VA (PRTC/TMWC) tech fall Brayden Thompson IL (Illinois), 10-0 4:12
Chance Marsteller PA (TMWC) dec. Carter Starocci PA (NLWC/TMWC), 5-4
Alex Dieringer OK (CKWC/TMWC) tech. fall Isaiah Martinez OR (BDRT/TMWC), 14-3 6:00
Vincenzo Joseph CA (CAL/TMWC) tech. fall Taylor Lujan GA (PWC/TMWC), 10-0 5:19
86 kg
Mark Hall PA (PRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Caleb Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:14
Drew Foster IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) tech. fall Marcus Coleman IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 12-2 3:59
Trent Hidlay NC (WOLF/TMWC) dec. Owen Webster MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC), 7-0
Zahid Valencia AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Andrew Morgan NY (SPAR/TMWC), 10-0 1:18
92 kg
Cameron Caffey IL (Michigan Wrestling Club) dec. Levi Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 5-3
Isaac Trumble NC (WOLF/TMWC) pin Pat Downey FL (Florida), 3:33
Jonathan Aiello VA (CAV/TMWC) tech fall Max Shaw NC (Tar Heel Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:10
Nathan Jackson NJ (New York Athletic Club) tech fall Michael Battista VA (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 11-0 2:04
97 kg
Ethan Laird PA (Broncs Wrestling Club) tech. fall Samuel Mitchell WI (Bulls Wrestling Club), 10-0 6:00
Timothy Dudley SC (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Duncan Lee IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 10-0 0:57
Kollin Moore OH (ORTC/TMWC) tech. fall Jason Carter NJ (MontCo Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:05
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Jordan Wood PA (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 4-1
Dominique Bradley MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ty Walz VA (SERT/TMWC), 1-1
Anthony Cassioppi IL (HWC/TMWC) tech. fall Derek White OK (CKWC/TMWC), 11-0 4:26
Nick Gwiazdowski NC (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Christian Lance MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:12
Round of 16
57 kg
Aden Reeves IA (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) tech. fall Gabriel Townsell IL (California Regional Training Center (CA RTC)), 16-6 2:58
Timothy Levine CA (New England Regional Training Center) dec. Caleb Smith NC (Boone RTC), 3-2
Gregory Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC) dec. Michael Tortorice IL (Knights RTC), 12-8
65 kg
Evan Henderson OH (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Patricio Lugo FL (HWC/TMWC), 7-4
Matthew Kolodzik NJ (New York Athletic Club) dec. Carter Young OK (CWC/TMWC), 9-7
Nick Lee PA (NLWC/TMWC) VPO1 Joshua Saunders MO (SPAR/TMWC), 10-3
Ian Parker IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) VPO1 Beau Bartlett PA (NLWC/TMWC), 5-5
Luke Pletcher PA (PITT/TMWC) VPO Dean Heil MD (OKRT/TMWC), 6-0
70 kg
Tyler Berger NE (CAL/TMWC) dec.Anthony Ashnault NJ (New York Athletic Club), 12-4
Michael Blockhus MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Jarod Verkleeren VA (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 6-2
Sam Sasso PA (ORTC/TMWC) tech. fall Dayne Morton MN (Wolves Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:00
79 kg
Brayden Thompson IL (Illinois) dec. Nick Reenan NC (WOLF/TMWC), 5-2
86 kg
Caleb Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club) dec. Julien Broderson IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 6-6
Andrew Morgan NY (SPAR/TMWC) dec. Caden Steffen MN (Mustang Wrestling Club), 8-2
CORALVILLE, Iowa – No. 8 seed Evan Henderson of Ohio RTC/TMWC upset 2022 U.S. Open champion and top seed Kendric Maple of the Sunkist Kids, 5-2 at 65 kg.
Henderson scored a first-period takedown to lead 3-2 at the break. Maple was unable to score in the second period, and Henderson added a takedown with one second left for the final margin of victory.
Maple made a comeback from retirement at the 2022 U.S. Open and won the title, which earned him the No. 1 seed at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Henderson was sixth at the 2022 U.S. Open.
The other nine top seeds all advanced to the semifinals.
The closest of the quarterfinal wins by a top seed came at 70 kg, where No. 1 seed Alec Pantaleo of Cliff Keen WC/TMWC edged Tyler Berger of the California RTC/TMWC, 3-2. The key points came in the second period when Berger scored a takedown with the match tied 1-1, and Berger holding the criteria edge.
Iowa State wrestler and No. 6 seed Ian Parker of the Cyclone RTC scored a stunning upset in the 65 kg quarterfinals over No. 3 seed and past U.S. Open champion Joey McKenna of the Pennsylvania RTC/TMWC, 8-5. Parker trailed 5-0 but came back strong with eight straight points. Parker took a 6-5 lead on a takedown with 36 seconds left, then spun behind on a McKenna shot for a takedown in the final seconds to clinch the victory.
No. 6 seed Daniel DeShazer of the Gopher WC RTC upset No. 3 seed and 2019 World bronze medalist Tyler Graff of New Jersey RTC/TMWC 3-2 in the 61 kg quarterfinals. DeShazer scored a key second period takedown to secure the victory.
In the most active quarterfinal match, past NCAA champion Seth Gross of the Sunkist Kids edged Indiana high school star Jesse Mendez of the Titan Mercury WC, 13-12 at 61 kg. Gross, who trailed 12-3 early in the second period, rallied with 10 straight points, including a tilt late in the match for the victory.
The semifinals in seven weight classes will be held during the Saturday afternoon session: 57 kg, 61 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg. The winners will battle on Sunday morning to earn their spot in Final X against a 2021 World medalist.
The semifinals in three weight classes will be held on Sunday morning: 65 kg, 70 kg and 125 kg. The winners of Sunday morning’s semifinals both advance to Final X.
WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
At Coralville, Iowa, May 20
Men’s freestyle results
Semifinal pairings
57 kg
Matthew Ramos (Boilermaker RTC) vs. Jakob Camacho (WOLF/TMWC)
Zane Richards (IRTC/TMWC) vs. Vitali Arujau (SPAR/TMWC)
61 kg
Nico Megaludis (PITT/TMWC) vs. Seth Gross (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
Daniel Deshazer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Joshua Rodriguez (NLWC/TMWC)
65 kg
Evan Henderson (ORTC/TMWC) vs. Nick Lee (NLWC/TMWC)
Ian Parker (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) vs. Yianni Diakomihalis (SPAR/TMWC)
70 kg
Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/TMWC) vs. Zain Retherford (NLWC/TMWC)
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC)
74 kg
Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) vs. David Carr IA (CRTC/TMWC)
Thomas Gantt (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Joey Lavallee (LVWC/TMWC)
79 kg
David McFadden VA (PRTC/TMWC) vs. Chance Marsteller PA (TMWC)
Alex Dieringer OK (CKWC/TMWC) vs. Vincenzo Joseph CA (CAL/TMWC)
86 kg
Mark Hall (PRTC/TMWC) vs. Drew Foster (Panther Wrestling Club RTC)
Trent Hidlay NC (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
92 kg
Cameron Caffey (Michigan Wrestling Club) vs. Isaac Trumble NC (WOLF/TMWC)
Jonathan Aiello VA (CAV/TMWC) vs. Nathan Jackson NJ (New York Athletic Club)
97 kg
Michael Macchiavello (WOLF/TMWC) vs. Ethan Laird (Broncs Wrestling Club)
Timothy Dudley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs. Kollin Moore OH (ORTC/TMWC)
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) vs. Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
Anthony Cassioppi (HWC/TMWC) vs. Nick Gwiazdowski (SPAR/TMWC)
Quarterfinal results
57 kg
Matthew Ramos IL (Boilermaker RTC) dec. Aden Reeves IA (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)), 12-7
Jakob Camacho NC (WOLF/TMWC) dec. Anthony Molton IL (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 9-4
Zane Richards IL (IRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Timothy Levine CA (New England Regional Training Center), 10-0 3:36
Vitali Arujau NY (SPAR/TMWC) forfeit Gregory Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC)
61 kg
Nico Megaludis PA (PITT/TMWC) tech. fall Shelton Mack NJ (NYC/TMWC), 10-0 5:30
Seth Gross MN (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Jesse Mendez IN (TMWC), 13-12
Daniel Deshazer KS (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Tyler Graff VA (NJRT/TMWC), 3-2
Joshua Rodriguez PA (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Josh Kramer AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 4-0
65 kg
Evan Henderson OH (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Kendric Maple MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-2
Nick Lee PA (NLWC/TMWC) tech fall Matthew Kolodzik NJ (New York Athletic Club), 12-2 1:52
Ian Parker IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) dec. Joseph Mckenna NJ (PRTC/TMWC), 8-5
Yianni Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Luke Pletcher PA (PITT/TMWC), 10-0 2:02
70 kg
Alec Pantaleo MI (CKWC/TMWC) dec. Tyler Berger NE (CAL/TMWC), 3-2
Zain Retherford PA (NLWC/TMWC) dec. Doug Zapf PA (PRTC/TMWC), 4-1
Jordan Oliver NC (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Michael Blockhus MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC), 4-2
Ryan Deakin CO (WILD/TMWC) tech. fall Sam Sasso PA (ORTC/TMWC), 10-0 2:29
74 kg
David Carr IA (CRTC/TMWC) dec. Collin Purinton NE (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 15-6
Thomas Gantt NC (WOLF/TMWC) tech. fall Peter Pappas NY (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club), 10-0 4:00
Joey Lavallee MO (LVWC/TMWC) dec. Joshua Shields AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 11-7
79 kg
David McFadden VA (PRTC/TMWC) tech fall Brayden Thompson IL (Illinois), 10-0 4:12
Chance Marsteller PA (TMWC) dec. Carter Starocci PA (NLWC/TMWC), 5-4
Alex Dieringer OK (CKWC/TMWC) tech. fall Isaiah Martinez OR (BDRT/TMWC), 14-3 6:00
Vincenzo Joseph CA (CAL/TMWC) tech. fall Taylor Lujan GA (PWC/TMWC), 10-0 5:19
86 kg
Mark Hall PA (PRTC/TMWC) tech. fall Caleb Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:14
Drew Foster IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) tech. fall Marcus Coleman IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 12-2 3:59
Trent Hidlay NC (WOLF/TMWC) dec. Owen Webster MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC), 7-0
Zahid Valencia AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Andrew Morgan NY (SPAR/TMWC), 10-0 1:18
92 kg
Cameron Caffey IL (Michigan Wrestling Club) dec. Levi Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 5-3
Isaac Trumble NC (WOLF/TMWC) pin Pat Downey FL (Florida), 3:33
Jonathan Aiello VA (CAV/TMWC) tech fall Max Shaw NC (Tar Heel Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:10
Nathan Jackson NJ (New York Athletic Club) tech fall Michael Battista VA (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 11-0 2:04
97 kg
Ethan Laird PA (Broncs Wrestling Club) tech. fall Samuel Mitchell WI (Bulls Wrestling Club), 10-0 6:00
Timothy Dudley SC (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. fall Duncan Lee IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 10-0 0:57
Kollin Moore OH (ORTC/TMWC) tech. fall Jason Carter NJ (MontCo Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:05
125 kg
Hayden Zillmer MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Jordan Wood PA (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 4-1
Dominique Bradley MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Ty Walz VA (SERT/TMWC), 1-1
Anthony Cassioppi IL (HWC/TMWC) tech. fall Derek White OK (CKWC/TMWC), 11-0 4:26
Nick Gwiazdowski NC (SPAR/TMWC) tech. fall Christian Lance MO (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:12
Round of 16
57 kg
Aden Reeves IA (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) tech. fall Gabriel Townsell IL (California Regional Training Center (CA RTC)), 16-6 2:58
Timothy Levine CA (New England Regional Training Center) dec. Caleb Smith NC (Boone RTC), 3-2
Gregory Diakomihalis NY (SPAR/TMWC) dec. Michael Tortorice IL (Knights RTC), 12-8
65 kg
Evan Henderson OH (ORTC/TMWC) dec. Patricio Lugo FL (HWC/TMWC), 7-4
Matthew Kolodzik NJ (New York Athletic Club) dec. Carter Young OK (CWC/TMWC), 9-7
Nick Lee PA (NLWC/TMWC) VPO1 Joshua Saunders MO (SPAR/TMWC), 10-3
Ian Parker IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC) VPO1 Beau Bartlett PA (NLWC/TMWC), 5-5
Luke Pletcher PA (PITT/TMWC) VPO Dean Heil MD (OKRT/TMWC), 6-0
70 kg
Tyler Berger NE (CAL/TMWC) dec.Anthony Ashnault NJ (New York Athletic Club), 12-4
Michael Blockhus MN (Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC) dec. Jarod Verkleeren VA (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 6-2
Sam Sasso PA (ORTC/TMWC) tech. fall Dayne Morton MN (Wolves Wrestling Club), 10-0 3:00
79 kg
Brayden Thompson IL (Illinois) dec. Nick Reenan NC (WOLF/TMWC), 5-2
86 kg
Caleb Hopkins AK (Buies Creek Wrestling Club) dec. Julien Broderson IA (Cyclone Regional Training Center C-RTC), 6-6
Andrew Morgan NY (SPAR/TMWC) dec. Caden Steffen MN (Mustang Wrestling Club), 8-2