The first round for the “Group B” categories has just been completed at the World Team Trials with three of the four bouts reaching unusual, or surprising, outcomes.
The finals for 82, 87, 97, and 130 kg at the 2025 World Team Trials began at 10:00am local time/1:00pm ET from the Expo in Las Vegas and streamed live on FLOWrestling.
Opening rounds in what are being referred to as the “Group B” weight categories have all been contested with the latter matches scheduled for later this evening.
The most buzz was created in the last bout between ’24 Olympian/’18 World silver Adam Coon (130 kg, NYAC/Cliff Keen) and three-time World Team member Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC). Instead of protracted battle, which is where the duo had left off, the ending came early and violently. Not long into the first period, Schultz gathered a front headlock and used the hold to spin behind for takedown points. He kept the front headlock following the spin and circled back to Coon’s head and pulled him over for four more points. Coon was in immediate danger on his back and the fall was called in haste. After the whistle, it became apparent that Coon had gone unconscious amid the action. He was tended to by his coaches and training staff and walked off the mat in fine regard. Nevertheless, Schultz moves onto Round 2 in the aftermath of an emphatic Match 1 triumph.
Recent U23 World Team member Michial Foy (Army/WCAP) turned heads by earning a 6-0 decision against Olympian Joe Rau (TMWC). Rau was called for passivity in the first period and Foy looked for a lift that was not producing fruit. However, Rau was cited for a caution, thus giving Foy one point and another chance from top par terre. Rau defended and back to the feet they were with the majority of time in the first period having elapsed. Still, there was enough time for Foy to dart in on Rau from a counter to score a body attack off the edge and the lead was his at 6-0 heading into intermission. Early in the second period, Rau appeared close to bumping Foy off the line until a reset was ordered. Later in the frame, signs indicated that perhaps Foy was on the verge of being dinged for passive himself — but just as such thoughts arose, he darted behind Rau to score his second takedown of the contest. There was no further scoring in the bout as Foy collected the 6-0 decision.
Beka & Jacobson
The two ’24 Five Point Move co-Athletes of the Year also earned Match 1 victories.
At 82 kg, ’24 U23 World silver Beka Melelashvili (NYAC) had attempted to lift ’21 World Team member Jesse Porter (NYAC) when a caution (and two) interuppted the proceedings. Porter went back down in bottom par terre with Melelashvili working hard to crank a gutwrench. He got it, and scored two points; but Porter was injured in the process and the bout was stopped. The official result was a injury default on Porter’s part with Melelashvili now leading the series 1-0. At press time, there is not yet word pertaining to Porter’s status for Match 2.
The first Olympic Trials rematch of the day occurred between Payton Jacobson (87 kg, NYAC/NTS) and two-time World rep, the “Alaskan Assassin” Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP). Last year in State College, the two combined for the most punishing and tense series of the Trials, a series that Jacobson won following a decisive third contest.
Match 1 on Saturday saw Woods garner the first passivity/par terre try and work for a reverse lift. He energetically bounded from side to side in order to gain traction, but Jacobson defended to force a stand-up. The passives flipped in the second period and Jacobson squeezed his way to a pair of turns to jump ahead 5-1. Woods kept a high pace through the remainder, in one instance generating an off-balance and subsequent step-out that was ruled a push instead. An entertaining battle it was, and they will do it at least once more on Saturday when action resumes.
Schedule
All second round bouts remaining at the ’25 World Team Trials are scheduled to start at 6:00pm local time/9:00pm ET and can be viewed live on FLOWrestling. Below are the results from Match 1 in each weight category.
2025 World Team Trials Finals
82 kg: Jesse Porter (NYAC) vs. Beka Melelashvili (NYAC)
Match 1: Melelashvili def. Porter via inj. def.
87 kg: Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS) vs. Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP)
Match 1: Jacobson def. Woods 5-1
97 kg: Joe Rau (TMWC) vs. Michial Foy (Army/WCAP)
Match 1: Foy def. Rau 6-0
130 kg: Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC) vs. Cohlton Schultz (Atreus WC)
Match 1: Schultz def. Coon via fall
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music
