Top 5 Storylines Heading Into The World Team Trials
Top 5 Storylines Heading Into The World Team Trials
Check out a breakdown of some of the top storylines heading into the 2025 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
The 2025 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament is set to take place on May 16-17 in Louisville, Kentucky. The winners of this tournament will qualify for Final X on June 14 for a chance to make the 2025 World Team for the United States. There are several storylines to follow at this event, but check out the article below for some of the biggest stories heading into the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
Final X Matchups Will Be Decided
The World Team Trials Challenge Tournament is the final opportunity for wrestlers to qualify for Final X. Final X will take place on June 14 in Newark, NJ, and will decide every world team spot for Team USA in the men’s and women’s freestyle divisions. Final X spots have already been decided for two weights in each division, so those weight classes will not be contested in Louisville. You can see all of the Final X matchups in men’s and women’s freestyle below.
Women’s Freestyle Final X Matchups
50 kg: Audrey Jimenez vs WTT Winner
53 kg: Brianna Gonzalez vs WTT Winner
55 kg: Cristell Rodriguez vs WTT Winner
57 kg: Helen Maroulis vs Amanda Martinez
59 kg: Abby Nette vs WTT Winner
62 kg: Kayla Miracle vs WTT Winner
65 kg: Macey Kilty vs Aine Drury
68 kg: Kennedy Blades vs WTT Winner
72 kg: Alex Glaude vs WTT Winner
76 kg: Yelena Makoyed vs WTT Winner
Men’s Freestyle Final X Matchups
57 kg: Spencer Lee vs Luke Lilledahl
61 kg: Vito Arujau vs Jax Forrest
65 kg: Joey McKenna vs WTT Winner
70 kg: Yianni Diakomihalis vs WTT Winner
74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink vs WTT Winner
79 kg: Evan Wick vs WTT Winner
86 kg Zahid Valencia vs WTT Winner
92 kg: Trent Hidlay vs WTT Winner
97 kg: Kyle Snyder vs WTT Winner
125 kg: Wyatt Hendrickson vs WTT Winner
Marcus Blaze vs Bo Bassett
Marcus Blaze and Bo Bassett are currently two of the best high school wrestlers in the country and are both registered for the World Team Trials at 65 kg. Blaze, a 2025 graduate and Penn State commit, finished third at the US Open at 61 kg. Bassett, a 2026 graduate and Iowa commit, finished third at the US Open at 65 kg in the U20 division. Both are U17 world champions (Bo in 2021 and Marcus in 2023) and U20 world bronze medalists (Bo at 65 kg in 2024 and Marcus at 61 kg in 2024). The potential matchup might be the most anticipated bout of the tournament and could be a preview of a future college rivalry between Bassett and Blaze at Iowa and Penn State.
Carter Starocci vs Kyle Dake
A 5-time NCAA champ vs a 4-time NCAA champ!?!? At the writing of this article, neither Dake or Starocci are registered for the WTT yet. However, we believe both will be entered at 86 kg and there’s a high likelihood that they’ll wrestle in Louisville. Because of past freestyle credentials, Dake should be considered the favorite, but not by much. Dake will likely be undersized and Starocci is a solid freestyler as a U23 World Bronze medalist. There’s also the familiarity factor with both training out of State College at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. This is a fascinating matchup for a variety of reasons and should be incredible if they wrestle at the Trials.
Kyle Dake's win over Parker Keckeisen at the 2025 US Open:
Amit Elor’s Return To 72 kg
Amit Elor will wrestle her first match in Louisville since winning an Olympic gold medal last August at 68 kg. Elor will also be moving back up to 72 kg where she has experienced incredible success in the past. At 72 kg, Elor is a 2-time senior world champion (2022 & 2023), 2-time U23 World Champion (2022 & 2023), and 2-time U20 world champion (2022 & 2023). Elor will undoubtedly be the biggest favorite of any wrestler to win the World Team Trials, and it will be fantastic to see her on the mat again.
Amit Elor's win in the 2023 World Finals:
Will Another High Schooler Make Final X?
Jax Forrest, a junior in high school, is already sitting in Final X at 61 kg after winning the US Open. However, there are still a handful of high school wrestlers who should be considered top contenders at the World Team Trials. I already mentioned Marcus Blaze and Bo Bassett above, but PJ Duke, Everest Leydecker, and Heather Crull should all be added to the list of high schoolers to watch at the trials.
PJ Duke will wrestle at 70 kg and is coming off his championship performance at the U20 US Open. Along with that result, Duke finished in third at the 2024 World Team Trials where he defeated Will Lewan, Bryce Andonian, Jarrett Jacques, and Yahya Thomas. The 70 kg bracket is LOADED in Louisville, but Duke should be considered one of the contenders to make Final X against Yianni Diakomihalis.
Duke talks about his desire to make both the U20 and Senior world team this year:
On the women’s side of things, Everest Leydecker and Heather Crull are both coming off solid performances at the US Open. Leydecker finished second at 55kg with a notable win over 2024 senior world team member Areana Villaescusa, while Crull placed 5th at 50 kg. Leydecker has already made the U20 world team, and Crull is coming off a U23 national title. Now they'll both look to leave their mark on the senior level at the trials.
Leydecker's win over Areana Villaescusa:
