In just under 45 minutes, the opening round of the finals for the first six weight classes has come and gone with one series not taking place and three longtime Senior stars emerging victorious.
The disappointing news is that reigning two-time World Team member Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) had reportedly weighed-in just barely over the 55 kg limit, and was therefore scratched from being eligible to compete this afternoon. This means that Jayden Raney (NYAC/IRTC) — a ’24 U17 World champ — has automatically been elevated to his first-ever World Team spot at only 18 years of age.
Elsewhere, Max Black (NYAC/NTS) held on for a 3-2 decision against Zane Richards (TMWC/IRTC) in Match 1 of the 60 kg best-of-three series. Black had climbed ahead 3-0 entering the second period when Richards got on the board with a passivity point and step-out.
At 63 kg, Ellis Coleman (Army/WCAP) was able to engulf teammate Ildar Hafizov in an elbow-to-elbow gutwrench in the first, and only, par terre opportunity of the bout and achieve four rotations for the 9-0 Match 1 VSU.
Coleman/Hafizov was just the beginning of an Army takeover as the next three Round 1 match-ups were all won by the World Class Athletes Program.
Alston Nutter used a bodylock late in the first period and then added points from par terre before holding on for a pin to defeat wunderkind Otto Black (NYAC/CTT) in the opener at 67 kg. One weight north, at 72 kg, Alex Sancho was tested by Aliaksandr Kikinou Jr. (NYAC) in a nailbiter that ended with Sancho clinging to a 2-1 lead. And at 77 kg, ’23 Pan-Am Games gold Kamal Bey decisioned Aliaksandr Kikiniou Sr. (NYAC) 7-2. Bey had his chances in that match, including during a pivotal sequence in the second period which saw him put Kikiniou to his back. But the former Belarusian National Team representative survived and all in all put in a gritty effort against the sensational Bey.
Round 2 of the “Group A” (60, 63, 67, 72, and 77 kg) World Team Trials finals resumes this evening at 6:00pm local time (9:00pm ET) and will stream live on FLOWrestling.
2025 World Team Trials Finals
55 kg: Jayden Raney (NYAC/IRTC) def. Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC)
Koontz forfeited the series
60 kg: Max Black (NYAC/NTS) vs. Zane Richards (TMWC/IRTC)
Match 1: Black def. Richards 3-2
63 kg: Ildar Hafizov (Army/WCAP) vs. Ellis Coleman (Army/WCAP)
Match 1: Coleman def. Hafizov 9-0, TF
67 kg: Alston Nutter (Army/WCAP) vs. Otto Black (NYAC/CTT)
Match 1: Nutter def. Black via fall
72 kg: Alex Sancho (Army/WCAP) vs. Aliaksandr Kikiniou Jr. (NYAC)
Match 1: Sancho def. Kikiniou Jr. 2-1
77 kg: Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP) vs. Aliaksandr Kikiniou Sr. (NYAC)
Match 1: Bey def. Kikiniou Sr. 7-2
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
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