USA Greco

World Trials Quarterfinal Results & Semifinal Pairings

By 5PM Staff

Posted on September 14, 2024

Ryan Epps -- Photo: Sam Janicki

Several impressive performances courtesy of some of the country’s top athletes put a cap on Session 1 in Omaha.

The quarterfinal round of the 2024 US Non-Olympic Weight World Team Trials began at 10:00am local time from Omaha, Nebraska and streamed live on FLOWrestling.

not all roads lead to gold, parent edition, jim gruenwald

With only four weight categories to be contested, the action was always going to take on a compressed nature, which has therefore also raised the tournament’s intensity. That, coupled with a few wrestlers operating in otherwise unfamiliar weight divisions, delivered moments of immense interest as the championship field was hurriedly narrowed in preparation for this evening’s semifinal round.

82 kilograms in particular brought forth notable results in the quarterfinal. On the bottom half of the bracket, ’24 U23 World Teamer Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) held a 3-2 lead late in the second period against last year’s U23 World rep, Tyler Eischens (Tarheel WC) when a caution on the former put the latter ahead by a point. Melelashvili — who is a native of Georgia (the country) — dialed up his urgency and eventually sought to lock around Eischens in an effort to gather a throw. But Eischens beautifully countered, pivoted, and swooped behind Melelashvili to execute a picturesque suplex — before gaining a few more turns and securing for himself a 13-3 VSU along with a trip to the semifinals. Eischens will meet ’21 World Team member Jesse Porter (NYAC) this evening. The Minnesotan downed Porter last December via decision in the US Nationals.

On the top half of the 82 chart, a highlighted showdown between ’22 U23 World Teamer “Turbo” Ty Cunningham (NYAC/MWC) and ’23 Final X runner-up Ryan Epps (Army/WCAP) was anticipated to provide a down-to-the-wire type of outcome. Cunningham, who entered the match owning two wins over Epps, looked much fuller at 82 after initially trying his hand at 77 last season for the Olympic Year. Epps, of course, competed at 87 this past season and his massive physique appeared relatively unchanged.

One item with which Epps has struggled in Senior competition has been top par terre. He must have made some adjustments. Down by a passive point after the first period, Epps received his shot from top early in the second and lifted Cunningham to pick up four. Back standing, and Epps locked a two-point throw prior to trap-arming Cunningham and walking away the winner by way of an 11-1 technical fall. Epps will do battle with ’23 Final X/’24 Olympic Trials runner-up Aliaksandr Kikiniou (NYAC) in the semifinal.

63 & 72 KG

Multi-time World Team member and two-time Olympian Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) received a threatening test from Olympic Training Center athlete Riley Lomenick (IL) in the 63 kg quarterfinal that required all six minutes. Lomenick was the beneficiary of the first passivity/par terre of the match and went for a high-lock gutwrench that was reminiscent of his foe’s favorite scoring hold. And Lomenick, though with a variation, did in fact manage to turn Hafizov for two points; whilst on bottom, Hafizov reached up to snare Lomenick’s head and had appeared to score exposure — but he was instead cautioned and Lomenick held a 5-0 lead entering Period 2.

Hafizov got his chance from top in the second period and indeed went to his own high-lock waterfall for two turns. That made the score 5-5 but with Lomenick holding criteria on account of the caution. As time was running out, Hafizov scampered behind for a point on the edge. It was a literal buzzer-beater. However, Lomenick’s corner wanted a challenge as they had felt that Hafizov had used his legs to settle the position. Upon review, the call on the mat was upheld and Hafizov had survived by a final score of 7-5.

They were all on display in the 63 kg quarterfinal. Two-time U23 World Team member Phillip Moomey (MWC) got past new teammate, “The Quiet Man”, Corbin Nirschl, whereas Dylan Gregerson (NYAC/Minnesota Storm) outlasted top prospect Rhett Peak (Checkmate WC) 5-0. Finally, ’24 U23 World roster member and US National Teamer Max Black (NMU/NTS) defeated fellow Northerner (and ’22 Open runner-up) Aidan Nutter (NYAC) 9-0.

Peak & RaVaughn on Collision Course

’22 World Team member and top-seeded Benji Peak (72 kg, Combat WC) took down and lifted Clay Radenz (Bison WC) to move into Saturday night’s semifinal, where he will be opposed by NCAA star Peyton Robb (Nebraska Wrestling TC). Peak and Robb were part of the same USA tour of Sweden in the fall of ’17 (Peak’s first semester at NMU) but have yet to compete against one another. Robb, for his part, defeated a very tough Gunnar Hamre (NMU/NTS) to punch his ticket to the semis.

Hunter Lewis (NC) capitalized on a second period scoring sequence to emerge victorious over Eddie Smith (Dubuque RTC) in the quarterfinals, this after Smith had collected a sparkling victory at the expense of ’19 Junior World Teamer Jack Ervien Jr. (Viking WC).

#2 seed RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) overwhelmed young Jaxon Bearden (NMU/NTS) to the tune of a 9-0 VSU. Perkins will see Lewis in the semifinals.

Koontz & Sullivan at 55 kg

Brady Koontz (55 kg, TMWC/Dubuque RTC) was up 3-0 on Fabian Gutierrez (West Point WC) when the match went to par terre. Koontz did what he so often does, which is lock an elbow-to-elbow gutwrench. Koontz’s gut piled on six more points as he prevailed 9-0. ’24 U23 World Teamer Billy Sullivan (Army/WCAP), the #2 seed, disposed of Kody Tanimoto in dominant fashion, as well, with Sullivan closing the match thanks to a four-pointer.

Koontz will do business with Peter Del Gallo (Southside WC) in the semifinal while Sullivan is paired against NMU’s Kenny Crosby.

The semifinal round is scheduled for 5:00pm local time (6:00pm ET) and can be viewed live on FLOWrestling.