Don’t let all the other crazy content we've posted lately distract you from the fact the 70kg Junior freestyle bracket at the 2018 U.S. Open features an explosion of talent.

Contenders:

• Brayton Lee
• Brock Mauller
• David Carr
• Jacori Teemer
• Jared Franek
• Jaron Jensen
• Mason Phillips
• Austin O’Connor
• Brady Berge
• Dom Demas
• Jarod Verkleeren

On the docket to compete this week in Las Vegas are Jacori Teemer and Brayton Lee, who just mixed it up at the Dream Team Classic. Even though that was a different style, you know they are both going to bring the heat.

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April 25-28

In my mind, the front-runner here is last year’s 66kg World Team Trials third-place finisher and Cadet world medalist, David Carr. The Iowa State recruit has shown that he has the tools to wrestle any style. He can scramble, defend, or even dictate with his attacks. It’s going to be tough to take him out. 

Watch Carr defeat Kanen Storr to place third at last year's Jr. WTT:

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A matchup I’d like to see again is Brock Mauller vs. Brayton Lee. These guys met on the backside at the Junior World Team Trials last year and produced one of the best comebacks of the tournament. Lee’s ability to grind out wins will play a huge factor if they meet again. (Watch Mauller vs. Lee above)

I'm also eager to see the long list of big-time redshirts compete after sitting out for a year, including Austin O’Connor, Brady Berge, Dom Demas, and Jarod Verkleeren. Out of all these guys, O’Connor had the most active redshirt year, going 20-3 with a seventh-place finish at Midlands. A Cadet world champ, Verkleeren was 9-2 with a seventh-place finish at the Southern Scuffle.

Needless to say, this weight is stacked and will be one of the top brackets to watch in Vegas.