2018 US Open Wrestling Championships

Ranking The Junior Freestyle Weight Classes At The 2018 US Open

Ranking The Junior Freestyle Weight Classes At The 2018 US Open

What are the toughest junior freestyle weight classes at the 2017 US Open? We rank them all and find out.

Apr 23, 2018 by Andrew Spey
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Although registration is still open, as of this morning there are over 290 juniors registered in freestyle for the 2018 U.S. Open. Every weight class is going to be packed with hammers this week in Las Vegas, but which weight is going to be the most impressive? We dug into the latest lists and ranked the divisions by overall strength. 

You can check out a list of everyone who is registered in all weights and styles here on FloArena

Watch the 2018 U.S. OPEN LIVE on April 25-28

1. 79kg

Aaron Brooks was last year's 76kg Cadet world champ, but he'll have to get past the guy who actually beat him at Cadet team trials, Travis Wittlake, and the guy who beat Wittlake at Who's #1, Michael Labriola. And that's just to start. There are also NCAA qualifiers Matt Finesilver from Duke and Hunter Bolen from Virginia Tech. And then there are Fargo finalists Beau Breske and Trent Hidlay. And former Cadet world team member Joe Grello. And a host of other hammers too numerous to mention. For all those reasons and more, 79kg is currently looking like the deepest and toughest bracket in Vegas.

Watch Labriola take out Wittlake at the 2016 edition of Who's #1:

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2. 57kg

There is an avalanche of Cadet world team members entering 57kg, which tends to happen when there are four weights lighter than 57kg in the UWW Cadet age group. The upshot for fans is Malik Heinselman, Julian Tagg, and Cevion Severado all in one bracket. 

3. 70kg

With 42 registrants, 70kg is as of now the largest of all the Junior freestyle weight classes. And with two Cadet world bronze medalists in David Carr and Jacori Teemer as well as 2015 Cadet world champ Jarod Verkleeren, there is an argument that this is the toughest weight class as well. 

Watch Carr add a Who's #1 belt to his trophy case:

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4. 61kg

The 61kg weight class stakes its case with silver world medalist Vito Arujau and PanAm double gold winner Austin Gomez. There's also Colin Valdiviez, who won two matches at the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland for Northwestern.

5. 65kg

A plethora of college talent makes 65kg a very enticing bracket. Iowa State's Ian Parker, Oregon State's Grant Willits, Michigan's Kanen Storr, North Carolina's Quincy Monday, Wyoming's Sam Turner, and Northwestern's Yahya Thomas will all be making the most of their UWW Junior eligibility in Vegas.

6. 86kg

Gavin Hoffman brings his Cadet world bronze to the Open. Hoffman's Pennsylvania high school rival and future Big Ten rival Michael Beard is also registered. Lou DePrez, Nino Bonaccorsi, Kordell Norfleet, and Kevin Parker will all be in Vegas after a year in a DI wrestling room. 

Watch Hoffman and Beard battle it out at 2017's Who's #1:

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7. 92kg

There is a distinct drop off after 86kg, but Fargo placers Jakob Woodley and Lucas Davison should keep things plenty interesting at the South Point Arena at 92kg. And headlining the division is Fargo champ, Cadet world bronze medalist, and Hawkeyes redshirt freshman Jacob Warner. 

8. 74kg

It may be a down year at the Open for 74kg, but that doesn't mean guys like Fargo finalist Tyler Dow and college studs Mehki Lewis and Kaleb Romero won't be putting on a show. Fargo fifth placer and Harvard commit Josh Kim could also do big things Vegas. 

9. 125kg

Upper weights are typically thinner than the lower weights at the Junior division, so it's no surprise that 125kg has half as many entries as 65 or 70kg. Four-time California state champ and Penn State commit Seth Nevills has plenty of impressive credentials, however, as does Fargo runner-up and future North Dakota State Bison Brandon Metz.

10. 97kg

One could argue that Cadet world gold medalist Daniel Kerkvliet's presence alone makes 97kg a tough bracket, but when depth is taken into account, 97 just doesn't have enough firepower to stack up with the other divisions. But that just speaks to the depth of American wrestling as a whole. It also means every Junior weight class is filled with world-caliber talent. It is indeed a great time to be a USA Wrestling fan.