7 Incredible Semis Will Decide Final X Competitors
7 Incredible Semis Will Decide Final X Competitors
A preview of some of Sunday's best semi-final matches at the world team trials.
The semi-finals at the World Team Trials will take place on Sunday, May 22 at 11:00 am (ET) and will decide Final X spots for 16 weights across men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman. Check out a preview of some of the most notable semi-final bouts that will go down in Coralville, Iowa!
Alec Pantaleo vs Zain Retherford, 70kg
Zain Retherford has owned this matchup, but Alec Pantaleo has been on the rise in freestyle and is currently ranked #14 in our international rankings. These two met last met in September of 2020 when Retherford narrowly came out on top, 3-2. Look for this match to be a similar competitive and low-scoring bout that could be decided in the final seconds!
Pantaleo's win over Berger in the trials quarter-finals:
Jordan Oliver vs Ryan Deakin, 70kg
Ryan Deakin has been the #2 wrestler at 70kg since 2019 - could this be Deakin’s year with James Green retired? Jordan Oliver will certainly be a game opponent but Deakin’s size advantage could be an issue in this matchup. Oliver and Deakin have never met in competition and this match has the potential to be the match of the session.
Deakin's tech fall win over Sasso in the trials quarter-finals:
Tony Cassioppi vs Nick Gwiazdowski, 125kg
Has Cassioppi improved enough to challenge Gwiazdowski? That’s the question that will be answered tomorrow morning when these two big men take the mat. Gwiazdowski has two past wins over Cassioppi - both 10-0 tech falls. However, those wins were also from before we saw a total transformation from Cassioppi. Since those matches, we’ve seen Cassioppi win a U23 world title and get in remarkable shape. That should lead us to expect a much more competitive bout in their semi-final match tomorrow.
Gwiazdowski's win over Cassioppi at 2021 Senior Nationals:
Dom Parrish vs Ronna Gross, 53kg
Ronna Gross (Heaton) had a remarkable 2021 taking second place at both the Olympic and World Team Trials. Will she be able to get over the hump this year and make her first world team? Dom Parrish will certainly have something to say about that in tomorrow’s semi-finals and has had a great start to her freestyle season. Parrish won a bronze medal at the Yasar Dogu in February and more recently won gold at the Pan-Am Championships where she defeated Canada’s 2021 world bronze medalist, Samantha Stewart. This one should be a good one with the winner being the favorite to make the world team at 53kg.
Parrish's win over world bronze medalist Stewart:
Yelena Makoyed vs Oliva Robinson, 76kg
Team USA will have a new rep for the first time since Adeline Gray took a year off in 2017. With Gray stepping aside to give birth to her twins later this year, the weight is wide open and Makoyed and Robinson are the young underdogs of the weight. Robinson secured a surprise upset win in the quarter-finals over US Open runner-up Precious Bell. Makoyed was dominant in her semi-final win over Jordan Nelson as she won 11-0. The winner of this match will earn a spot in Final X to take on the winner of the between veterans Dymond Guilford and Victoria Francis.
Olivia Robinson's upset win over Precious Bell:
Kamal Bey vs Jesse Porter, 77kg
Kamal Bey is back but standing in his way is Olympic Trials champ and 2021 world team member Jesse Porter. These two most recently met in the semi-finals of the 2022 Bill Farrell where Porter won in a controversial fashion. Bey was leading 3-1 when he went to extend his lead but Porter countered for 2. However, during the counter, it appeared as though Porter committed a leg-foul that was never called. Porter held on to win 4-3 but Bey has his shot at revenge in the semis with a trip to Final X on the line!
Porter’s win over Bey at the Farrell:
Alejandro Sancho vs Peyton Omanio
An Olympian vs a world team member! Sancho made the Olympic team last summer in a bracket where Omania failed to place. Then at the world team trials in September, Omania made the world team with two straight wins over Sancho in the finals. With a spot to Final X on the line, Sancho will be looking for revenge in tomorrow morning’s semis.
Omania’s win over Sancho to make the 2021 World Team:
While the above are the most notable, below is every semi-final match taking place in Sunday morning's session with winners going to Final X.
Men's Freestyle:
- 65kg: Yianni Diakomihalis vs Ian Parker
- 65kg: Evan Henderson vs Nick Lee
- 125kg: Hayden Zillmer vs Dom Bradley
Women's Freestyle:
- 53kg: Felicity Taylor vs Haley Franich
- 59kg: Nane Estrella vs Lexie Basham
- 59kg: Michaela Beck vs Abigail Nette
- 72kg: Skylar Grote vs Marilyn Garcia
- 72kg: Amit Elor vs Marlynne Deede
- 76kg: Victoria Francis vs Dymond Guilford
Men's Greco-Roman
- 55kg: Max Nowry vs Drew West
- 55kg: Dalton Duffield vs Brady Koontz
- 60kg: Dalton Roberts vs Randon Miranda
- 60kg: Dylan Koontz vs Ildar Hafizov
- 63kg: Sammy Jones vs David Stepanian
- 63kg: Aidan Nutter vs Jesse Thielke
- 67kg: Lenny Merkin vs Alston Nutter
- 72kg: Pat Smith vs Jamel Johnson
- 72kg: Michael Hooker vs Benjamin Peak
- 77kg: RaVaughn Perkins vs Britton Holmes
- 82kg: Ben Provisor vs Ryan Epps
- 82kg: Tyler Cunningham vs Spencer Woods
- 87kg: Alan Vera vs Christian DuLaney
- 87kg: George Sikes vs Timothy Young
- 130kg: Cohlton Schultz vs Tate Orndorff
- 130kg: West Cathcart vs Tanner Farmer
Don't forget about Sunday evening's session - the best 2 of 3 finals with 1 Final X spot on the line. You can check out all of Sunday's matchups here.