The US Open held late last month in Las Vegas was always going to cast the widest net of the season when it came to the rankings. And sure enough, nearly two dozen athletes who were previously not included now are; also, and just as importantly, the 5PM Greco-Roman rankings have finally been able to expand from 10 wrestlers to 12 for the first time in over a year.
But the Open was not the only points-eligible competition since April’s update. One week later was the Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico. Four Americans earned gold and three others walked away with bronze. In fact, according to our system, the annual continental gathering is graded higher than the Nationals. The Pan-Am Championships is considered a Tier 1 International Event, with point values reflective of its elevated esteem. (See chart below.)
EXPLANATIONS
Again, the primary issue affecting the Five Point Move USA Greco-Roman rankings is inactivity, be it by choice or due to injury. Injured athletes are often not penalized (i.e., they are not removed from the rankings; if their ranking is lowered, it is solely to reward the performance[s] of active competitors). In addition, there is what could be defined as “the WCAP transition phase”, though athletes in other situations fit this description, as well. For example, there are three established names who will soon return to competition as members of Army’s World Class Athletes Program. Basic training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) obviously precludes wrestlers from participating in practices and tournaments until they report to Fort Carson (CO) and officially receive their orders. Wrestlers in this situation are not penalized or removed through the duration of this process.
Last Chance Placewinners
As indicated in the chart above, the winner of a Last Chance Trials Qualifier receives 20 points with runners-up being gifted 16. In most weight categories, 20 points is currently not an insignificant total (nor for that matter is 16). But in every weight category for this edition (with the exception of 82 kilograms), most athletes who placed second at the ’22 Last Chance Qualifier remain unranked if unlisted previously. Rather, they are recognized under the “Others Receiving Points” headers located beneath each weight class. Aaron Dobbs (NMU/NTS) is one outlier, as he had entered the ’22 “Last Chance” event already owning two ranking points from the US Open.
Another would be Austin Craig (All-Navy). Craig qualified for the Trials by placing fifth at the US Open (5th = 6 points); but he also entered “Last Chance” at 97 kilograms and finished second to Timothy Eubanks (NMU/NTS). Craig double-dipped, apparently, for whatever reason; he receives points for both placings because competition results cannot be ignored.
From 10 to 12
The goal is for the number of ranked athletes in each weight category to reach 15 by the ’24 Olympic Team Trials. This ranking cycle began last year after the Olympic Team Trials with ten athletes per weight class. Now with two domestic events having already been decided (the Bill Farrell Memorial and US Open, respectively), rankings have expanded to 12.
Seeding
USA Wrestling released the seeds for the ’22 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament earlier today (Monday).
Qualification Does Not Equal Ranking
Several unranked athletes are registered and seeded for the ’22 World Team Trials. While there was a purposeful effort to impart a ranking designation on competitors who qualified for the Trials Challenge Tournament, those who did so via alternative means (i.e., age-group placings other than Senior) were not considered unless they had previously acquired ranking points according to our system.
TOP-5 POINTS EARNERS PRE-’22 WTT Challenge Tournament
1. Randon Miranda (Rise RTC) — 140 pts
2. Max Nowry (Army/WCAP) — 126 pts
3. Ben Provisor (NYAC) — 126 pts
4. Nick Boykin (Sunkist) — 92 pts
5. Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 78 pts
Sammy Jones (NYAC) — 78 pts
Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) — 78 pts
Pre-’22 Trials Challenge Tournament Rankings
*- Trials-qualified
**- registered for Trials as of press time
55 KG
- **Max Nowry (Army/WCAP) — 126 pts
- **Brady Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 76 pts
- **Dalton Duffield (Army/WCAP) — 72 pts
- **Jacob Cochran (NMU/NTS) — 42 pts
- Billy Sullivan (Unattached) — 52 pts
- **Drew West (Illinois) — 18 pts
- **Cole Smith (Army/WCAP) — 18 pts
- **Camden Russell (MWC) — 6 pts
- Gabriel Gray (TX Panhandle) — 14 pts
- **Dominic Robertson (Air Force RTC) — 4 pts
- Dane Durlacher (IRTC) — 2 pts
- **Jonathan Gurule (NMU/NTS) — 20 pts
Changes from previous: Taylor LaMont is removed from the rankings more to clear space for the Trials than anything else. LaMont’s ranking designation was anomalistic with which to begin, as he had earned his spot behind Nowry by defeating fellow established Senior Koontz in an age-group final (’21 U23 Trials). Koontz, meanwhile, just won the Pan-Ams, and sees a healthy increase in points for doing so. Sullivan has also not competed since the fall but keeps his place at the table due to the impending resumption of his career as part of the Army’s World Class Athletes Program.
New arrivals: West, who opened a lot of eyes at the Nationals; Russell, for basically doing the same; Gurule for winning “Last Chance”.
Others receiving points:
Samuel Braswell (Cougar WC) — 16 pts
60 KG
- **Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) — 78 pts
- **Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) — 68 pts
- **Randon Miranda (Rise RTC) — 140 pts
- **Dylan Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 46 pts
- *King Sandoval (Bandits) — 36 pts
- *Alec Thomsen (Nebraska Wrestling TC) — 18 pts
- **Max Black (NMU/NTS) — 28 pts
- **Mitchell Brown (Air Force RTC) — 12 pts
- **Phillip Moomey (Spartan Wrestling RTC) — 6 pts
- Kegan Calkins (IL) — 2 pts
- KeVon Powell (Scorpion WC) — 6 pts
- *Greg Totten (NJ) –20 pts
Changes from previous: ’19 World Team member Ryan Mango is removed due to officially declaring his exit from competition. Miranda — who earned a gutsy Pan-Am gold — is appropriately given Mango’s former #3. Sandoval maintains at #5 despite not registering for the Trials, and Koontz jumps to #4, Thomsen to #6, and Black to #7. Powell falls from #10 to #11.
New arrivals: The job of the US Open was to invite participation and therefore assist in rendering a clearer picture of each weight category going forward. Such is the hope, anyway, and three athletes who placed in Vegas are justly rewarded: Brown (#8), Moomey (#9), and Calkins (#10). “Last Chance” gold Totten slides in at #12.
Others receiving points:
Thomas Hicks (Marines) — 4 pts
63 KG
- **Sammy Jones (NYAC) — 78 pts
- **Jesse Thielke (Army/WCAP) — 52 pts
- **David Stepanyan (NYAC/NTS) — 48 pts
- *Mike Fuenffinger (Army/WCAP) — N/A
- **Mason Hartshorn (West Coast Greco RTC) — 12 pts
- **Aidan Nutter (NMU/NTS) — 56 pts
- **Corbin Nirschl (MWC) — 38 pts
- Dylan Gregerson (UVRTC) — 24 pts
- **We Rachal (IRTC) — 30 pts
- **Ty Lydic (Knights WC) — 12 pts
- **Logan Savvy (NYAC) — 6 pts
- **Diego Romero (NMU/NTS) — 20 pts
Changes from previous: Nutter rockets from #9 to #6 for making the Open final; Nirschl rises to #7 from #8 for placing third. Injured Gregerson remains in the mix as he is expected to return to action later this summer. Fuenffinger, for whom most believed 63 would present quite the cushy landing space post-Olympic Year, is recovering from a shoulder injury and keeps his spot based on competitive reputation.
New arrivals: Two US Open placers (Lydic and Savvy), and Romero for getting into the Trials right under the wire on Friday Atlantic City.
Others receiving points:
Mason Lewis (Modern Gladiators) — 6 pts
*Nick Leonetti (NMU/NTS) — 4 pts
Lilashawn Coleman (4 pts)
67 KG
- **Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) — 72 pts
- *Hayden Tuma (Suples) — 64 pts
- **Peyton Omania (NYAC/CYC) — 42 pts
- **Alston Nutter (Sunkist/NTS) — 46 pts
- **Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC) — 32 pts
- Robert Perez III (Sunkist) — 28 pts
- Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota Storm) — 16 pts
- *Xavier Johnson (Unattached)
- **Nate Moore (UNCO) — 6 pts
- **Jessy Williams (NYAC/Spartan RTC) — 32 pts
- **Morgan Flaharty (NYAC) — 4 pts
- Connor Parduhn (IGA) — 2 pts
Changes from previous: Tuma takes over at #2 on the strength of advancing to the Open final, which drops Omania down to #3. Although Nutter and Merkin both defeated Omania in Las Vegas, it is difficult to penalize a reigning World Team member too much, especially considering the National tournament was Omania’s first Greco event since the actual World Championships.
New arrivals: Perez is now ranked at 67 after initially making the list at 72. The age-group talent is not competing in the Senior Trials — but to leave him out, particularly with regard to this weight category, would be disingenuous considering the winter tour alone. Moore and Parduhn are ranked for the first time based on the US Open.
Others receiving points:
Nolan Baker (18 pts)
Logan Hatch (EAP) — 16 pts
72 KG
- **Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) — 78 pts
- **Benji Peak (Sunkist/NTS) — 52 pts
- **Jamel Johnson (Marines) — 52 pts
- **Michael Hooker (Army/WCAP) — 48 pts
- *Peter Ogunsanya (West Point WC) — 20 pts
- *Orlando Ponce (Minnesota Storm) — 14 pts
- Justus Scott (Unattached) — 20 pts
- **Brody Olson (NMU/NTS) — 12 pts
- **Noah Wachsmuth (Cobra) — 22 pts
- **Eddie Smith (Pickaxe WC) — 6 pts
- **Ryan Wheeler (CO Mesa WC) — 4 pts
- Garrett Johnson (MWC) — 8 pts
Changes from previous: The top-4 remains unchanged following Smith’s fourth-career Pan-Ams Championship gold ad Peak’s second National title; Mueller and Parriott are removed due to intentional inactivity (still holding point values), though Scott stays put for the exact same reason why Sullivan does at 55 (Army/WCAP transition).
New arrivals: Ogunsanya’s impressive performance in Vegas allows for a top-5 ranking right from jump street; Olson, Wheeler, and Smith also did great good work at the Open, hence their inclusion.
Others receiving points:
Brandon Mueller (8 pts)
Griffin Parriott (12 pts)
Logan Gumble (Bearcat WC) — 16 pts
Justin Koethe (Ubasa WA) — 6 pts
Hunter Murphy (Olivet WC) — 4 pts
Ryan Ojeda (CA) — 2 pts
77 KG
- **Jesse Porter (NYAC) — 46 pts
- **RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) — 40 pts
- **Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP) — 12 pts
- **Britton Holmes (Army/WCAP) — 54 pts
- **Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm) — 52 pts
- **Payton Jacobson (Sunkist/NTS) — 26 pts
- **Fritz Schierl (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 28 pts
- Austin Morrow (NYAC/NTS) — N/A
- **Jack Ervien (Viking WC) — 12 pts
- **Tyler Eischens (CARTC) — 6 pts
- *Justin McCunn (Viking WC) — 2 pts
- *Chad Walsh (NJ) — 20 pts
Changes from previous: Zero alterations within the top-5. Jacobson comes in at #6, which pushes Schierl to #7. Three removals on the docket this time: Mason Manville (NLWC), Nate Grimes (NYAC), and ’21 Last Chance winner Quentin Perez (CARTC).
New arrivals: Ervien, Eischens, McCunn, and “Last Chance” champ Walsh.
Others receiving points:
Quentin Perez (CARTC) — 20 pts
Terrance Parks (NY) — 16 pts
Nate Grimes (NYAC) — 8 pts
82 KG
- **Ben Provisor (NYAC) — 126 pts
- **Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP) — 88 pts
- **Ryan Epps (Minnesota Storm) — 74 pts
- **Tommy Brackett (Unattached) — 44 pts
- **Tyler Cunningham (MWC) — 64 pts
- *Jake Fisher (Curby 3-Style) — 4 pts
- John Hagey (505 WC) — 20 pts
- John Kent (Gator) — 4 pts
- *Adrian Artsisheuskiy (Elite) — 20 pts
- Kyle Briggs (IA) — 6 pts
- Aaron Dobbs (NMU/NTS) — 18 pts
- Jordan Lara (TX Panhandle) — 2 pts
Changes from previous: Enough of a dataset to comprise a full list, for starters. 82 kilograms has been a disappointment in terms of consistent participation since its reintroduction into the curriculum following the Olympic Trials. #1 through #5, no changes. Everywhere else, minor.
New arrivals: There is nothing new about Fisher aside from being ranked in this weight category, which is attributed to his qualifying performance in Vegas. Artsisheuskiy, who at press time is not registered for Coralville, debuts at #9 for emerging over the “Last Chance” field on Friday.
87 KG
- **Alan Vera (NYAC) — 70 pts
- *John Stefanowicz (Marines) — N/A
- *Patrick Martinez (NYAC) — N/A
- *Rich Carlson (Minnesota Storm) — 44 pts
- **George Sikes (NYAC/NTS) — 46 pts
- **Christian DuLaney (Minnesota Storm) — 24 pts
- **Timothy Young (IL) — 18 pts
- **Tyler Hannah (Combat WC) — 28 pts
- Kodiak Stephens (Beaver Dam RTC) — 8 pts
- Dan Olsen (Combat WC) — 14 pts
- *Gevorg Arakelov (NY) — 20 pts
- **Austin Craig (All-Navy) — 22 pts
Changes from previous: Vera reclaims #1 after winning his second National title. Stefanowicz and Martinez — both of whom have been inactive for nearly a year — now occupy #2 and #3, respectively. Sikes, who was Vera’s runner-up in Vegas, jumps to #5 as DuLaney is bumped down one spot in the order, and the same goes for on-the-shelf Olsen. Joel Nivar, who became ranked due to his showing at the ’21 Nationals, is for the time being absent from the rankings to make room for three Trials-qualified athletes.
New arrivals: Young, 3rd place at the Open, is immediately inserted at #7, but that is based more on presumed upside than it is his actual Vegas result. Arakelov and Craig are appropriately squeezed in at the pre-Coralville deadline.
Others receiving points:
Christos Avgeros (Buies Creek WC) — 16 pts
Joel Nivar (Marines) — 12 pts
*Sione Halo (Grays Harbor) — 4 pts
Nick Reenan (Wolfpack WC) — 4 pts
Carter Marx (Mustang WC) — 2 pts
97 KG
- *G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist; bye to Final X) — 70 pts
- **Nick Boykin (Sunkist/Ohio RTC) — 92 pts
- **Braxton Amos (Sunkist/Wisconsin RTC) — N/A
- **Lucas Sheridan (Army/WCAP) — 32 pts
- **Khymba Johnson (NYAC) — 44 pts
- **Chad Porter (Sunkist) — 22 pts
- *JD Souza (Army/WCAP) — 26 pts
- *Christian Rouleau (Minnesota Storm) — 16 pts
- **Haydn Maley (ROSE) — 18 pts
- **Guy Patron (Dubuque WC) — 16 pts
- **Brady Vogel (Dubuque WC) — 12 pts
- **Timothy Eubanks (NMU/NTS) –20 pts
Changes from previous: No changes within the top-5 with the exception of Boykin, Sheridan, and Johnson all adding to their point totals. Porter overtakes injured Souza’s spot; and Rouleau makes a small climb from #9 to #8.
New arrivals: Maley is a welcomed entrant in this weight category. In his first time competing in Greco since ’19 — and first time at 97 — he demonstrated the type of ability for which he was so often lauded during his age-group days. Vogel gets in for the pre-Trials edition, as does another Atlantic City hero, Eubanks.
Others receiving points:
Vaughn Monreal-Berner (18 pts)
Diante Cooper (Air Force) — 6 pts
Kash Anderson (Colorado Mesa WC) — 2 pts
130 KG
- **Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) — 54 pts
- *Jacob Mitchell (Army/WCAP) — 28 pts
- **Tanner Farmer (NYAC/IRTC) — 60 pts
- **West Cathcart (NYAC/IRTC) — 20 pts
- **David Tate Orndorff (TMWC/Ohio RTC) — 18 pts
- *Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm) — 36 pts
- Brandon Metz (Bison WC) — 26 pts
- *Malcolm Allen (LOG) — 28 pts
- **Courtney Freeman (Marines) — 44 pts
- **Kaleb Reeves (IA) — 24 pts
- **Tom Foote (NYAC) — 20 pts
- Tommy Helton (Southern Illinois RTC) — 12 pts
Changes from previous: Cathcart, who had needed some time to heal up after last season, looked excellent at the US Open and therefore leapfrogs the inactive Longendyke. Back to Greco is Orndorff, whose showing offered a vivid reminder of his capabilities in this discipline if he were to ever go all-in. Allen, Freeman, and Reeves are all dropped one spot, but only to provide the space necessary for Orndorff to grab #5.
New arrivals: The aforementioned Orndorff; “Last Chance” gold Foote.
Others receiving points:
Daniel Miller (20 points)
Robert Gray (Prince William FCA Wrestling) — 16 pts
Jonovan Smith (CA) — 2 pts
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