One of the great things about the U.S. Open is that it allows for some under-the-radar guys to make their names known and become a point of conversation before the World Team Trials.

Going back to 2013, here were the best breakout performers of each year.

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2017: Brandon Wright, 61kg

Wright was a two-time NAIA national champ for Grand View after winning two Indiana state titles. He continued his wrestling career on the senior level but finally showed the same promise everyone saw in him when he won Fargo Cadets back in 2008.

Starting with the round of 16, he ran a gauntlet that included past U.S. Open finalist Andrew Hochstrasser. Wright also teched Johnni DiJulius and then had a 6-6 barn burner with Joe Colon.

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Dec. 2015: Erkin Tadzhimetov, 57kg

Like a shadow in the night, Utah Valley assistant Erkin Tadzhimetov made waves at the December 2015 Olympic Trials qualifier and then just as quickly disappeared back into the ether.

The then 35-year-old lost his first-round match to Jon Morrison and clawed all the way back to get fourth. In the process, he teched Brad Pataky, Dan Mitcheff, and Andrew Hochstrasser and then pinned Angel Escobedo. What a run.

May 2015: Anthony Valencia, 74kg

This breakout had a lot to do with the fact that Valencia was a senior in high school at the time. Coming off a junior world team in 2014, Valencia decided to go seniors and wound up running through the field.

His reign of destruction on his way to getting third? Valencia beat Colt Sponseller 10-5, 11-1 over Quinton Godley, and 10-0 over four-time All American Tyler Caldwell. I don't think 18-year-olds are supposed to be able to do that to grown men.

2014: Quinton Godley, 74kg

Just like this year, there is a lack of star power at 74kg below Jordan Burroughs. That allows guys like Godley to step in and make an impact at the Open. Godley didn't beat quite the caliber of opponents mentioned by some of the guys above, but someone who never placed at NCAAs was able to get fourth at the senior level and qualify for WTT.

2013: Kellen Russell, 66kg

It seems odd to say that a two-time NCAA champ "broke out" at the Open, but this was an exceptional case. Back then, there was a qualifying tournament at three weights just to get into the Open! So Russell won four matches in one day, and then came back the next day, won four in a row, and got a bye to the Trials finals.