2026 Final X is set to go down on June 19 in Newark, New Jersey. This event will be streamed live on FloWrestling and will determine world team spots for the USA in the men’s and women’s freestyle teams. One of the best matches of the event will take place at 79 kg between world silver medalist Levi Haines and former world team member Chance Marsteller. Check out the article below for a full preview of what should be an incredible match at Final X.

Key Credentials

Levi Haines

• 2025 World Silver Medalist
• 2025 U23 World Champion
• 2X NCAA Champion (2025 and 2023), 4X All-American

Chance Marsteller

• 2023 Senior World Team Member
• 2X NCAA All-American (3rd in 2019, 4th in 2018)

Results Against Common Opponents

Levi Haines and Chance Marsteller have never wrestled in competition, but below are their results against common opponents.

Jordan Burroughs

• Jordan Burroughs over Levi Haines, 4-1 at the 2024 WTT
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 3-0 at the 2024 WTT
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 6-3 at the 2024 WTT
• Chance Marsteller over Jordan Burroughs, 8-3 at Final X 2023
• Chance Marsteller over Jordan Burroughs, 5-4 at Final X 2023
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 3-3 at Final X 2023
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 4-0 at the Final X 2022
• Chance Marsteller over Jordan Burroughs, 2-2 at Final X 2022
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 5-0 at Final X 2022
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 8-0 at the 2022 Yasar Dogu
• Jordan Burroughs over Chance Marsteller, 4-1 at the 2021 WTT

Evan Wick

• Levi Haines over Evan Wick, 6-1 at 2025 Final X
• Levi Haines over Evan Wick, 10-0 at 2025 Final X
• Levi Haines over Evan Wick, Pin (8-4) at the 2024 WTT
• Chance Marsteller over Evan Wick, 7-3 at the 2026 US Open
• Chance Marsteller over Evan Wick, 6-0 at the 2024 OTT
• Evan Wick over Chance Marsteller, Pin (4-0) at the 2020 OTT
• Chance Marsteller over Evan Wick, 10-0 at 2021 PWC 2

Keegan O’Toole

• Levi Haines over Keegan O’Toole, 6-0 at the 2024 WTT
• Chance Marsteller over Keegan O’Toole, 6-0 at the 2024 WTT

Georgios Kougioumtsidis

• Chance Marsteller over Georgios Kougioumtsidis, Pin (11-0) at the 2022 Zouhaier Sghaier
• Georgios Kougioumtsidis over Levi Haines, 3-2 at 2025 Worlds
• Georgios Kougioumtsidis over Levi Haines, 7-3 at the 2025 Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial

Complete Record vs Common Opponents

• Levi Haines - 5-3
• Chance Marsteller - 8-8

Breaking Down The Matchup

The matches between Levi Haines and Chance Marsteller at Final X are going to be a battle. Both are positional wrestlers who hand-fight hard and are extremely challenging to open up. Across the entirety of their senior-level career, both Haines and Marsteller give up, on average, less than 3 points per match. So while other Final X matches might be high-scoring shoot-outs, this one is more likely to be low-scoring and tactical.

Levi Haines has put together an incredible year both in freestyle and folkstyle. After finishing in third place at the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Haines cruised to his first senior world team by defeating Carson Kharchla (10-5) and Dean Hamiti (10-2) at World Team Trials before taking out Evan Wick in two straight matches at Final X (10-0 and 6-1). Haines then made an unlikely run to the world finals with impressive wins over world bronze medalist Khidir Saipudinov (5-2) and world champ Akhmed Usmanov (3-2). Haines fell just short to Georgios Kougioumtsidis in the World Finals (3-2) but then went on to win U23 Worlds. Haines also put together an undefeated college season this year to win his second NCAA Title. At just 21 years old, Haines is likely still entering his prime and is already more credentialed than Marsteller on the senior level. So, is it just that simple - should Haines be considered the clear favorite to win at Final X over Marsteller?

Every Levi Haines Match At The 2025 World Championships 

Though Haines is the more credentialed wrestler in this matchup, there’s a compelling argument for Marsteller to be considered the favorite. First, Marsteller has wins over a remarkable four different world champs - Jordan Burroughs, Trent Hidlay, Avtandil Kentchadze, and Georgios Kougioumtsidis. The win over Kougioumtsidis alone might be enough for some to pick Marsteller over Haines, especially considering Marsteller won by tech fall! Beyond the high-level wins, Marsteller is a master at preparing a game plan for specific opponents. His wins over Jordan Burroughs at Final X are the perfect example of Marsteller’s game planning expertise, but he also notably gave Zahid Valencia his closest match last year at the US Open (4-2). That match came just 3 months after Valencia teched Marsteller (10-0). With almost two months to prepare, Marsteller will come to Final X with a game plan to take out Levi Haines.

Chance Marseller’s Win Over Evan Wick In The 2026 US Open Finals

Prediction

As mentioned above, I expect these matches to be low-scoring battles. The matches at Final X between Haines and Marsteller could come down to who’s able to get 1 takedown each match. Marsteller has a dangerous arm spin and has one of the best lefty high crotches in the world. Marsteller is also challenging to move around in his stance and almost impossible to finish on when his opponent is in on his left leg. Marsteller has all the skills to defeat Haines and make his second world team.

For as good as Marsteller is, I’m picking Levi Haines to win at Final X. Haines is known for his outside step but has underrated leg attacks to both sides of his opponent. Beyond that, Haines is a high-percentage finisher on his leg attacks and often finishes them without giving his opponents time to defend. Because of that, and Haines’ ability to attack Marsteller’s right leg, I think we see Haines break through Marsteller’s defense with at least 1 takedown a match. Also, Marsteller’s conditioning held up in his US Open finals match against Evan Wick, but he did seem to fade significantly towards the end. Marsteller has a significant cut to 79 kg, and there’s a chance we see Haines’ pace and conditioning open up offensive opportunities as the match unfolds. Again, I expect a battle, and whoever comes out on top should be considered a title contender at Worlds in October. 

Final X Prediction - Levi Haines wins 2 matches to 1 over Chance Marsteller