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'26 USA U23 Nationals, 5/29-31, thread

Tom McAndrew

Tom McAndrew

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The 2026 USA U23 Nationals are taking place on May 29 through May 31, at Spire Academy, in Geneva, OH.

U23 Greco-Roman competition takes place on 5/29

U23 Freestyle preliminaries & consolation take place on 5/30, while the quarters, semis, consolation, medal matches, and best 2-out-of-3 finals on 5/31.

Please use this thread for all pre-tournament, in-tournament, and post-tournament discussion.
 
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Acacia

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Psalm 1 guy said:
My understanding from a mistake I made regarding this exact question last year is no, he can't.
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I may be confused but I thought the top3 who made the Senior team (and age eligible) could bump the U23 trials champ. Blaze took 3rd last year at 65kg and then wrestled at U23s.
 
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Acacia

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Busch lists 440entrants for U23s. I only see 2 prior All Americans Nico Ruiz and Hunter Garvin.

Basch … damn auto correct
 
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Psalm 1 guy

Psalm 1 guy

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CarolinaFan1 said:
I would have thought yes unless he is under the minimum age requirement. What is the reason he can’t be the rep?
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This is what is noted for U23 in the below-linked USA Wrestling document: "World team selection: (Listed in rank order for selection) 1. The highest ranked, age eligible, athlete from 2026 Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team (top 3) 1. Final X winner, Final X runner-up and 3rd overall senior athlete via the 2026 Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Trials. 2. Deadline for this athlete to accept the position will be Monday, June 29th, 2026 @ 5:00pm Mountain Time 1. Confirmation sent to Joe Russell via email [email protected] 2. Fourth (4th) ranked, age eligible, athlete from the 2026 Men’s Freestyle World Team selection. 3. National team coaches will make a recommendation to the Men’s Freestyle Sport Committee for final approval."

If my reading is correct, then U20 placement is not a selection criteria, but Senior placement is. If none of the Senior-qualified wrestlers take the slot, then the U23 champion gets it. The selection criteria is complicated, but hopefully my interpretation is correct : )

 
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Acacia

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So potential top 3 Senior World Team age eligible to bump U23...

57KG Luke Lilledahl / Anthony Knox (Spencer Lee too old)
61KG Jax Forrest / Marcus Blaze / Ben Davino
65KG Bo Bassett ( Woods or Bartlett too old)
70KG Robideau or Henson (Retherford or Lovett too old)
74KG Jayden James (Carr or Green too old)
79KG Levi Haines (Marsteller or Wick/Kennedy too old)
86KG Aeoden Sinclair (Dake or Valencia to old)
92KG Seth Shumate (unsure of age) (Machchiavello or Hidlay too old)
97KG Kyle Snyder / Buchanan / Zillmer / Aiello --- all too old
125KG Coby Merrill or Isaac Trumble (Hendrickson or Parris too old)
 
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CarolinaFan1

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Psalm 1 guy said:
This is what is noted for U23 in the below-linked USA Wrestling document: "World team selection: (Listed in rank order for selection) 1. The highest ranked, age eligible, athlete from 2026 Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team (top 3) 1. Final X winner, Final X runner-up and 3rd overall senior athlete via the 2026 Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Trials. 2. Deadline for this athlete to accept the position will be Monday, June 29th, 2026 @ 5:00pm Mountain Time 1. Confirmation sent to Joe Russell via email [email protected] 2. Fourth (4th) ranked, age eligible, athlete from the 2026 Men’s Freestyle World Team selection. 3. National team coaches will make a recommendation to the Men’s Freestyle Sport Committee for final approval."

If my reading is correct, then U20 placement is not a selection criteria, but Senior placement is. If none of the Senior-qualified wrestlers take the slot, then the U23 champion gets it. The selection criteria is complicated, but hopefully my interpretation is correct : )

Click to expand...

So my reading is Jayden placed 3rd overall at Senior World Team Trials last week (no need for true third since he beat third place finisher Joe Sealey). The Final X participants are both ineligible due to being over age limit so by criteria, Jayden gets the spot if he wants it.
 
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CarolinaFan1

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Acacia said:
So potential top 3 Senior World Team age eligible to bump U23...

57KG Luke Lilledahl / Anthony Knox (Spencer Lee too old)
61KG Jax Forrest / Marcus Blaze / Ben Davino
65KG Bo Bassett ( Woods or Bartlett too old)
70KG Robideau or Henson (Retherford or Lovett too old)
74KG Jayden James (Carr or Green too old)
79KG Levi Haines (Marsteller or Wick/Kennedy too old)
86KG Aeoden Sinclair (Dake or Valencia to old)
92KG Seth Shumate (unsure of age) (Machchiavello or Hidlay too old)
97KG Kyle Snyder / Buchanan / Zillmer / Aiello --- all too old
125KG Coby Merrill or Isaac Trumble (Hendrickson or Parris too old)
Click to expand...

This is my list as well.
 
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Psalm 1 guy

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CarolinaFan1 said:
So my reading is Jayden placed 3rd overall at Senior World Team Trials last week (no need for true third since he beat third place finisher Joe Sealey). The Final X participants are both ineligible due to being over age limit so by criteria, Jayden gets the spot if he wants it.
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I appreciate the correction! I would love to see Jayden compete at U23.
 
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zzs006

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Just listened to Basch and Willie and they said Jayden is the U23 rep if he wants it and they said it sounds like he is planning on competing at U23’s. That’s awesome to hear. He likely makes the U20 team as well. Making 2 age level world teams as a 17 year old is pretty ******* sweet. He is improving at such a rapid rate as well.Not throwing shade but Bassett is 19. In 2 years James is going to be on another level
 
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Psalm 1 guy

Psalm 1 guy

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zzs006 said:
Just listened to Basch and Willie and they said Jayden is the U23 rep if he wants it and they said it sounds like he is planning on competing at U23’s. That’s awesome to hear. He likely makes the U20 team as well. Making 2 age level world teams as a 17 year old is pretty ******* sweet. He is improving at such a rapid rate as well.Not throwing shade but Bassett is 19. In 2 years James is going to be on another level
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Sorry for the misinformation I gave you and others earlier. And this is why I am normally hesitant to weigh in on topics I haven't researched thoroughly. I should have caught that Jayden was top three at Senior WTT and thus eligible for U23.
 
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zzs006

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Psalm 1 guy said:
Sorry for the misinformation I gave you and others earlier. And this is why I am normally hesitant to weigh in on topics I haven't researched thoroughly. I should have caught that Jayden was top three at Senior WTT and thus eligible for U23.
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No worries. You always bring great information to this forum. I always appreciate your posts. All the world teams are straight forward except for U23’s which is anything but. I wonder if Luke and Blaze make the senior team if they will do U23’s as well?
 
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CarolinaFan1

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zzs006 said:
No worries. You always bring great information to this forum. I always appreciate your posts. All the world teams are straight forward except for U23’s which is anything but. I wonder if Luke and Blaze make the senior team if they will do U23’s as well?
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I suspect no. Levi in same position. As you know, they flipped the timing of U23 to before senior worlds this year unlike prior years where it was after. Given it is only about 2 weeks before Seniors, I suspect any eligible Final X winner is unlikely to do u23s.
 
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zzs006

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CarolinaFan1 said:
I suspect no. Levi in same position. As you know, they flipped the timing of U23 to before senior worlds this year unlike prior years where it was after. Given it is only about 2 weeks before Seniors, I suspect any eligible Final X winner is unlikely to do u23s.
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I agree. I just wish they kept it like before. 2 weeks before seniors is way too close unfortunately
 
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vhsalum

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zzs006 said:
I agree. I just wish they kept it like before. 2 weeks before seniors is way too close unfortunately
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My dream schedule for UWW chips

1st week in July - U17
1st week in August - U20s
1st week in September - U23s
1st week in October - SRs
 
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