The first step this season for Greco-Roman athletes to qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials was cleared last week in New York with the conclusion of the Bill Farrell Memorial. Only three more opportunities remain but it is next month’s National tournament that is positioned to serve as the main pool from which the Olympic Trials brackets will be drawn. Thus, it is time to unveil the latest edition of the Five Point USA Greco-Roman Rankings.
The 5PM Greco-Roman rankings, first instituted in the fall of ’20, have undergone one primary change since their last publication a season ago. In order to address the multi-tier World Team selection process which includes a World Team Trials Challenge Tournament and Final X, point values have been re-clarified for those competitors who finish outside of the top-3 (i.e., US National Team).
— Athletes who were defeated in National Team placement matches at WTT events are designated as having finished 4th.
— Athletes who were defeated in third-place matches at WTT events, in brackets which hosted “true third” bouts, are designated as having finishing 5th.
— These point values were originally derived from the ’17 US WTT — which despite its status as a World Team selection tournament held placement matches from 1st through 7th.
— The only point value change in this edition is second place from Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifiers being increased from 16 to 18.
Another change for this update of the 5PM USA Greco-Roman rankings is the re-emergence of the “prior year reduction clause”, which decreases the point values for results from by 2%. Placements and results from ’21 are subject to this clause.
Inactivity
Inactivity is defined by this platform as any athlete who, be it due to injury or anything else, did not enter any Senior tournaments (domestic or otherwise) the previous season. Inactive athletes who hold point values can still be ranked but may not hold a ranking commensurate with their point totals. It should also be mentioned that active athletes with zero points may still be ranked based on reasonable consideration for their prospective candidacies.
Reminder
5PM Greco-Roman rankings are cumulative and not solely intended as “snapshots” of each athlete’s current status or standing, although recent/relevant head-to-head data might inform some, but not all, decisions regarding placement. The one departure from prior rankings is that each reigning US World Team member (from an Olympic weight category) has automatically been listed first, irrespective of point values or retroactive head-to-head statistics. 5PM rankings are designed to direct attention towards the Olympic Team selection process whilst simultaneously acknowledging wrestlers who have attempted, or are attempting, to embark on Senior World-level careers. For this pre-Nationals/Olympic Trials Qualifier edition, rankings are top-10 for each Olympic category. Upon completion of the December ’23 Nationals, rankings will be expanded to the top-15.
5PM USA Greco-Roman Rankings
November 2023
There is only one Senior tournament on the calendar before the December Nationals that is scheduled to have an American presence — the CISM World Military Games next week in Baku, Azerbaijan (designated as a Tier 1 International tournament). Both the Haparanda Cup (SWE) and Haavisto Cup (FIN) will also transpire prior to the US Nationals — but as of press time, no US athlete is expected to appear in either event.
*– Qualified for ’24 US Olympic Trials
60 kg
- *Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) – 222.96
- *Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP) – 204.92
- *Randon Miranda (NYAC) – 236.16
- *Sammy Jones (Sunkist/CTT) – 169.4
- Max Black (NMU/NTS) – 66
- Dylan Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) – 73.36
- Dylan Gregerson (Minnesota Storm) – 69.52
- Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) – 160.96
- Dalton Duffield (Army/WCAP) – 187.28
- Rhett Peak (OPTC) — N/A
Explanation: Jones, who represented the United States at the past two World Championships, comes in 4th simply due to not having touched 60 kg since the ’21 Olympic Team Trials. Dylan Koontz and Gregerson are virtually interchangeable at #6 and #7, respectively, with Koontz’s slight edge in points the difference as well as Gregerson just recently returning to this weight category. Peak — who now has precisely one Senior tournament under his belt — is considered too much of a potential threat to warrant exclusion. One athlete who is missing but will be in the mix is ’16 Junior World bronze/multi-time age-group World Team member Taylor LaMont (Minnesota Storm). LaMont — whose last appearance came at 55 kg for the ’21 U23 Worlds — is anticipated to make an impact in this category; but significant inactivity on the Senior circuit puts the superb talent on the outside looking in for the time being.
67 kg
- *Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) – 147.44
- *Jesse Thielke (Army/WCAP) – 137.52
- *Justus Scott (Army/WCAP) – 87.6
- Robert Perez III (Sunkist) – 111.6
- Alston Nutter (Army/WCAP) – 69.6
- *Peyton Omania (NYAC/CTT) – 73.4
- Xavier Johnson (Army/WCAP) – 84.96
- Hayden Tuma (Suples) – 135.04
- Lenny Merkin (NYAC) – 80
- David Stepanyan (NYAC/NTS) – 86.96
Explanation: ’19 Junior bronze Nutter, who will soon be officially joining Army/WCAP, limped to the finish last season, one year after pushing Sancho to the limit at Final X. His renewed health, point values, reputation, and time in the weight class are all why he still commands a place in the top-5. Omania was inactive through most of ’23 until re-appearing in Sweden earlier this month. As a World Team member (in ’21) and consistent top-placer in Senior events, Omania fits in nicely between Nutter and ’22 World Team rep at 63 kg, Johnson.
77 kg
- *Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP) – 176
- RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC) – 68
- *Payton Jacobson (Sunkist/NTS) – 92
- *Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm) – 185.4
- Britton Holmes (Army/WCAP) – 117.4
- *Jesse Porter (NYAC) – 81.4
- *Benji Peak (Sunkist/NTS) – 81.44
- Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm) – 43.52
- Ty Cunningham (NYAC/MWC) – 67.6
- Noah Wachsmuth (NYAC) – 88
Explanation: Smith re-entering at 77 kg has him immediately surge to #4 on the strength of his enormous allotment of points, which suggests that he should be ranked higher — but Jacobson’s consistency, progress, continuity in the weight class, and win last week in New York cannot be ignored. Holmes — whose ranking points might change before the Nationals as he will be wrestling in Baku — chose to compete at 72 kg in ’23 until surgery derailed his participation in the WT selection season. His holding onto #5 in this edition is not a penalty for the brief jaunt down to non-Olympic 72 so much as it is an indication of Jacobson’s rise. Holmes does have a head-to-head over Jacobson from ’22 (5-2), it should be noted. ’22 World Team member Peak likewise is coming off of injury — except he has been on the shelf for over a year. None of that should hold him back very long. Cunningham at #9 feels too low, but he also does not yet carry the same breadth of results as those above him. Wachsmuth is still waiting to try 77 but is awarded a top-10 ranking out of deference to his point total and status as a National Team member.
87 kg
- *Zac Braunagel (IRTC) – 48
- *Alan Vera (NYAC) – 171.4
- *Spencer Woods (Army/WCAP) – 228.96
- *Timothy Young (Army/WCAP) – 87.96
- Ryan Epps (Army/WCAP) – 129.04
- *Ben Provisor (NYAC) – 198.36
- Rich Carlson (Minnesota Storm) – 83.52
- *John Stefanowicz (Navy WC) – 32
- Aliaksandr Kikiniou (Poway) – 56
- Andrew Berrreyesa (NYAC) – 30
Explanation: Woods and Epps both took razor-thin wins from Provisor (at 82 kg) this past spring, which is the main reason why “Big Ben” — who might be even more effective in the heavier category — is all the way down at #6. Provisor made both the ’21 and ’22 World Teams in the non-Olympic class. Young earning gold in New York (with decisions over Carlson and Epps) along with having been a Final X runner-up in this weight (’22) prior to joining Army/WCAP equates to him holding down #4. Kikiniou is not actually “new” to this weight range, but his return to 87 had some hiccups last week, therefore he is at the moment staring up from the #9 position — which does not matter in the slightest when examining just how over-crowded this field is. Berreyesa, who caught and pinned Kikiniou to grab bronze, appears at #10 based on his Farrell performance as well as having recent head-to-head success over Tommy Brackett (NYAC, 81.36).
97 kg
- *Joe Rau (TMWC) – 118
- Christian DuLaney (Minnesota Storm) – 80
- *Braxton Amos (Sunkist) – 51.52
- Nick Boykin (Sunkist) – 130.96
- Luke Sheridan (Army/WCAP) – 48
- Cade Lautt (Tar Heel WC) – 28
- *George Sikes (NYAC/NTS) – 63.4
- David Tate Orndorff (NYAC) – 42
- Dan Miller (Marines) – 45.44
- Brandon Marshall (Big Game WC) – 20
Explanation: Even with losses to Lautt (at the ’23 WTT) and Sikes (last week), Boykin’s body of work dating back to ’21 is too considerable for him to be ranked lower than #4; plus, he has a head-to-head over #2 DuLaney to his credit. Amos suffered an ill-timed injury last spring and was unable to enter the World Team selection process. He still has enough in the bank to deserve #3 given, among other factors, his head-to-head resume that features decision victories at the expense of Boykin and ’22 Open winner Sheridan. Sikes staying at 97 is a question mark; but since this is where he earned a Trials berth, so he shall remain until he changes weight categories. Miller essentially came off the couch to pick up third at the US Open but had to miss the WTT. Whether or not he pursues OTT qualification, the two-time National champ has to be included either until other contenders emerge or if/when he confirms bypassing this year’s OT selection.
130 kg
- *Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist) – 192.4
- *Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen) – 68
- Donny Longendyke (Minnesota Storm) – 87.28
- Tanner Farmer (IRTC) – 105.52
- *Courtney Freeman (Marines) – 109.56
- Brandon Metz (ND) – 35.64
- West Cathcart (NYAC) – 20
- Aden Attao (Suples) – 8
- Luke Luffman (IRTC) – 12
- Malcolm Allen (LOG) – 27.52
Explanation: Academic on its face to start the season. The top-3 at heavyweight is comprised of current National Team members (only one of two weights in which the order holds along with 60 kg). ’22 U20 World bronze Attao (#8) defeated Cathcart (#7) in New York but Cathcart’s previous domestic accomplishments and the fact that he had been sidelined due to surgery for well past an entire year are why he is being given a grace period to get back on track. Too much stock built up in his case to hinge a ranking based off of one performance in over 18 months. Luffman sat out the ’23 Senior Greco season, as well, but is thought of too highly to exclude. Metz (#6) might not be back for the Olympic Trials-qualifying campaign but his ’23 Trials showing demands that he occupy a position on this list.
Listen to “5PM54: WCAP’s Ryan Epps and a Final X Greco-Roman Preview” on Spreaker.
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