On a near-annual basis, 60 kilograms is an easy weight category to discuss as a World Team Trials tournament approaches. Most years, the reigning World Team member is in the bracket, as well as those who finished just beneath him in the standings. Even when accounting for other capable registrants, difficult it is not to perceive where the puzzle pieces might fall once the event concludes. Consistency informs predictability. This is not a negative, but merely a byproduct of the circumstances. Top athletes perform consistently, and are therefore expected to seriously contend for World Team spots until they either retire, move up in weight, or are summarily pushed out of the running by younger wrestlers who are ready to take over.
2026 will hold to this pattern regarding primary participants. Max Black (NYAC/NTS) — who captured the 60 kg crown just under a year ago — is set to defend his status. Zane Richards (TMWC/IRTC), Black’s runner-up from the ’25 Trials — will also be in the mix. So too will #3 Randon Miranda (NYAC), and, of course, multi-time World Teamer, “The Swarm”, Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP).
The top-4 from the ’25 Trials were Black, Richards, Miranda, and ’24 U20 World silver Isaiah Cortez (Daniel Cormier WC). However, it is currently understood that Cortez may not opt to compete in the Senior Trials this year. As such, Roberts — whose outstanding career would warrant inclusion in this exploration, anyway — is slotted at #4 for the time being. It should also be noted that Miranda and Roberts might not occupy the #3 and #4 seeds, respectively, at the Trials. The reason for that will be addressed below the following scouting reports.
2026 WTT Bracket Watch
60 kg
#1 — Max Black (NYAC/NTS)
Most Recent Int’l Results:
— 5th, Muhamet Malo UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2026)
— 10th, GP Zagreb Open UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2026)
— 5th, U23 World Championships (Oct. 2025)
— 13th, World Championships (Sept. 2025)
Most Recent Domestic Results
— 1st, US World Team Trials (April 2025)
— 2nd, US Non-Olympic World Team Trials (Sept. 2024)
— 3rd, US Olympic Team Trials (April 2024)
Black vs. the top-4:
vs. Richards — 2-0
vs. Miranda — 3-5
vs. Roberts — 1-2
It has been a lot of activity for Black between his having appeared in both the Senior and U23 World Championships this past fall, overseas travel, January camp, and, most recently, two “Ranking Series” events (which included more overseas travel). The keyword used in the intro, “consistency”, is an important one and Black has begun to exhibit just that on an increasing basis. He was a confident sort prior to breaking through on the Senior level and is now obviously more so. There are still aspects of his game in need of further development (par terre top, especially internationally) but fierce competitiveness is why his trajectory has continued to point upward. Black is so tough for guys to deal with because he is not prone to making big mistakes, and because he is always convinced that he is going to succeed. Stuff between the ears affects outcomes significantly more often than biomechanical wonders. Black — who is certainly not a finished product — adapts and adjusts to the flow of a match better than most and challenges positions others take for granted. This is all, in part, why he was #1 last year and why he will be even more difficult to contest in ’26.
#2 — Zane Richards (TMWC/IRTC)
Most Recent Int’l Results:
— 9th, GP Zagreb Open UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2026)
— 3rd, Bill Farrell Memorial (Nov. 2025)
Most Recent Domestic Results:
— 2nd, US World Team Trials (April 2025)
Richards vs. the top-4:
vs. Black — 0-2
vs. Miranda — N/A
vs. Roberts — N/A
Richards had three matches at the Grand Prix Zagreb Open in February. In two of them, he looked like the best American lightweight at the tournament. Richards, 32, got by at the ’25 Trials in large part based on his “total wrestling” ability, competitive maturity, and because Bryan Medlin is his coach. But he also did not appear to know precisely what he wanted to do or how to go about it. Zagreb changed that perspective. There Richards’ positioning and conviction when seeking on-the-feet attacks made a big difference in his overall approach. He was, against a pair of solid foreigners, discerning how his own movement through various tie-ups influenced both the pace and responses from his opponents. And he was scoring. Par terre bottom against elite foes might be a vulnerability, but against other Americans in a domestic selection tournament? Maybe not. Probably not. Should Richards demonstrate sound-enough PT defense, then it would by no means be a jolt to the system if he were to run the table.
#3 — Randon Miranda (NYAC)
Most Recent Int’l Results:
— 1st, Bill Farrell Memorial (Nov. 2025)
— 2nd, Pan-Am Championships (Feb. 2024)
— 2nd, Bill Farrell Memorial (Nov. 2023)
— 19th, GP Zagreb Open UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2023)
Most Recent Domestic Results:
— 3rd, US World Team Trials (April 2025)
— DNP, US Olympic Team Trials (April 2024)
Miranda vs. the top-4:
vs. Black — 5-3
vs. Richards — N/A
vs. Roberts — 3-5
Miranda is the type who rarely gets straight-up beat, it is more that he beats himself. Both technically and athletically, at this stage, Miranda might not have any rivals at 60 kg. His toolkit is the most expansive of the current lot. He has finesse, instincts, speed, experience, and plenty of power to execute. His hang-up has been putting all of these traits together at the right moment(s). In its own way, that is what makes Miranda so impressive. We have rarely seen him click on all cylinders, yet he has been in the World Team conversation year-in and year-out for the better part of a decade — just as he is again in ’26. And his results displayed above, particularly those from domestic events, are misleading. He had injury-defaulted out of the Olympic Trials after falling to Sammy Jones, and had done the same at the December ’23 Nationals. But earlier in ’23, Miranda made National Team behind Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) and Roberts. In other words — and worth applying towards Miranda’s entire career — he is better than his results. Simultaneously, the domestic depth at 60 is increasing in terms of both youth and quality, which means that, more than ever before, Miranda has to avoid costly errors and stay focused each round of the tournament if climbing this mountain is to be deemed for him a doable proposition.
Miranda, pictured here en-route to his earning gold at the 2022 Pan-Am Championships, has amassed a large collection of international medals throughout his career including two Thor Masters silvers, two Bill Farrell Memorial titles, and a gold from the Ibrahim Moustapha tournament in Egypt, among others. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)
#4 — Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP)
Most Recent Int’l Results:
— 7th, Muhamet Malo UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2026)
— 13th, GP Zagreb Open UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2026)
— 12th, GP Zagreb Open UWW Ranking Series (Feb. 2025)
— 9th, CISM World Military Championships (Nov. 2024)
Most Recent Domestic Results:
— 1st, Armed Forces Championships (March 2026)
— 5th, US World Team Trials (April 2025)
— 1st, US Olympic Team Trials (April 2024)
— 2nd, Final X: Newark (June 2023)
Roberts vs. the top-4:
vs. Black — 2-1
vs. Richards — N/A
vs. Miranda — 5-3
At the Trials last year, Roberts did not at all look like himself. He looked worn and, at least for him, tentative. Caught in-between. So much so that following the event, there were various wonderings as to whether or not he might have been “over-trained”. Or something. It also did not help that his quarterfinal loss to ’24 U20 World silver Isaiah Cortez (Daniel Cormier WC) was the result of the officials apparently struggling to understand how to appropriately govern a consequential Greco-Roman wrestling match as according to the rules and guidelines laid forth by UWW. Nevertheless, it was a down showing for Roberts (who admirably wrestled the whole tournament and finished 5th), and so all caring eyeballs were yearning to check him out on the recent Euro tour. In Zagreb, Roberts was on his way to disposing of Corneliu Rusu (MDA) before being shockingly caught and pinned; in Albania, he was his usual gritty self in edging Kurmanbek Zhaparov (KGZ) and subsequently in full command against Ishkar Kurbayev (KAZ) prior to falling to Russian Sadyk Lalaev. The loss to Lalaev aside, the ship had been righted. Roberts also of course went 3-0 at Armed Forces last month, as well. When Roberts is operating at his apex, there are few 60 kg wrestlers worldwide who can handle the purposeful pressure he brings to every instance of contact. This methodology is what has defined his career. So long as health, weight-cutting, and zeal are not a concern, Roberts making his third World Team is, as one might suspect, highly-plausible.
Roberts (red) occupied the #1 spot in the US at 60 kilograms three times between 2018 and ’24, and twice during that span was #2 behind teammate Ildar Hafizov. The multi-time World Team member and National champ was eliminated from title contention early at the ’25 World Team Trials but has since returned to form and is expected to be a major candidate to represent the United States at the World Championships in October. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)
But Wait
Alas, there is an issue. While it is, perhaps, probable that these four athletes will have impactful performances based on who they are and their past results, there are others among them who could very well alter the complexion of this bracket as early as the quarterfinals.
Jayden Raney (NYAC/Cowboy RTC) is positioned as the premier catalyst in this regard.
Jayden Raney (left) was one of the most impressive Americans at the 2025 World Championships, going 2-1 (at 55 kg) with his lone loss coming via decision to multi-time World champ Eldaniz Azizli of Azerbaijan. Still just a teen, Raney’s confidence and overall skill-set make him a realistic threat to earn a spot on this year’s US World Team, as well. (Photo: Kostadin Andonov/UWW)
Raney — U17 World champ in ’24 and Senior World Team member last year at 55 — is moving up to 60 for this year’s selection campaign and, well, he is going to present major problems on his side of the bracket. Given that Raney is a returning World Team member, albeit from a different weight division, he is likely to be awarded either the #3 or #4 seed. A cogent argument could be made that the #3 slot is more appropriate. And although Raney’s Senior record is admittedly paltry (five matches between the ’25 Trials, Pan-Am Championships, and SR Worlds), there is little to no dispute pertaining to his ability. Outstanding hips, dynamic explosiveness, intuitive scrambles, and pro-level competitiveness all play a role in why he is such a severely-talented prospect — and also why the Greco program had virtually no shot of keeping him away from Division I college wrestling and all that comes with it.
Dylan Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) — Has come close on numerous occasions to stepping into the upper-echelon of this weight class. Koontz is sound, solid, balanced, and strong — and has relevant par terre top weapons at his disposal. Attributes-wise, he lines up with everyone here. But like his contemporary Miranda, the results have yet to correspond with the talent. Maybe that changes in this tournament. Koontz is firmly in his mid-20’s by now and after enduring a couple of injury-induced hiatuses might have a clearer perspective on what he can bring to this dance if he would just unleash it all and stop holding back.
Paxton Creese (NYAC/Minnesota Storm) — Creese is a tremendous athlete and has been dating back to his age-group days. He is an exciting, innovative attack-style scorer who gains momentum quickly. Like most, he has not yet demonstrated reliable par terre defense. Not a dealbreaker if he can pile up points. Creese can be a vital part of the Greco program’s future because he does not limit himself to only one approach. He’s got habits, but he is also unpredictable and a wrestler whose Greco scrambles tend to upset the rhythms of tight, linear opponents. Fun to watch.
Jace Koelzer (Position) — Koelzer isn’t being amplified because he won the Haparanda Cup (although there is something to be said for him winning the first international Greco tournament he has ever entered), he is being mentioned because of how he looked. He had five matches in that event and bruised all of his opponents up thanks to a blend of grinding tenacity and keen instincts. Koelzer — who is coached by Sam Hazewinkel — might not physically-overmatch potential US opponents the same way he did to everyone in Sweden, but the foundation is certainly there to posit that he could be a force in this thing, especially considering the improvements one would assume he has made over the winter.
King Sandoval (DMV RTC) — As a Junior/U20 competitor, Sandoval was on his way to developing into a potential wrecking machine at Senior but he was also embarking on a collegiate career for the University of Maryland. We cannot blame a wrestler for choosing a D1 college, but we likewise cannot act surprised when their development in Greco-Roman is stunted because of it. Sandoval has entered most domestic opportunities available in the time since and the talent is still visible when he competes. It’s hard to miss. But he has lacked the feel and refinement full-timers have, which has kept him from threatening for higher billing.
60 kg at the US World Team Trials will be contested beginning on April 23 and can be viewed live on FLOWrestling.
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