2018 US Open Wrestling Championships

U.S. Open Junior Bracket Breakdown

U.S. Open Junior Bracket Breakdown

Brackets were released for Junior Freestyle and we breakdown each weight.

Apr 27, 2018 by Willie Saylor
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Finally! Wrestling fans across the country have been scouring the entries for the U.S. Open and now we have brackets.

The prelude to senior freestyle, the best up-and-comers populate the junior brackets here on FloArena.

Below, we'll break down each weight and what to watch for this weekend in Las Vegas.

Juniors go through the quarterfinals today and finish with semis and finals on Saturday.

Watch the 2018 U.S. Open LIVE on FloWrestling

57kg

Top Half: Two-time Cadet world team member Gavin Teasdale is up top after missing last year with an injury. Brandon Courtney, who lost in JR Trials finals to Daton Fix last year, is the four seed, with Fargo champ Patrick McKee at the eight.

Bottom Half: This bracket is led by three-time world team member Malik Heinselman as the three seed. The #2 seed is Aaron Cashman, who made the Cadet team in 2016. Watch for Paul Bianchi, who made the finals of the Open last year.

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: Julian Tagg vs. Malik Heinselman (Quarters)

61kg

Top Half: Austin Gomez has made a Cadet world team and was oh so close to making the JR team last year, losing to Mitchell McKee in a thriller. He's is the top seed, with Fargo champ Josh Saunders at the four.

Bottom Half: Vitali Arujau, a Cadet world finalist in 2016, had a barn burner with Gomez in the challenge tournament finals last year. He's the #2 seed opposite Jordan Decatur, last year's Cadet world team member, who is the three. 

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: Justin Mejia vs. Colin Valdiviez (Round 2)

65kg

Top Half: Returning runner-up Kanen Storr is the top seed. In his half of the bracket are Alex Lloyd and two Cali youngsters, Jaden Abas and Jesse Vasquez.

Bottom Half: Fargo runner-up Kaden Gfeller is the two, with Ben Freeman at the three seed. Another Fargo finalist, Natrelle Demison is the six. And watch out for unseeded Dom Demas and Kendall Coleman down there.

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: Jesse Vasquez vs. Max Murin (Round 2)

70kg

Top Half: An absolutely loaded weight class with Cadet world champion David Carr drawing top position and last year's Cadet world bronze medalist, Jacori Teemer, as the four seed. Austin O'Connor is the five, and Brock Mauller drew the eight.

Bottom Half: As good of a bottom half as, say, Nicki Minaj. Jared Verkleeren, the 2015 Cadet world champion, is the #2 seed with his Penn State teammate and 2016 Cadet world teamer Brady Berge as the 3. Mason Phillips, a Fargo runner-up to Teemer two years ago, is the seven, with Brayton Lee as the six.

Can't-Miss Day 1 Matches: 

David Carr vs. Brock Mauller (Quarterfinal)

Austin O'Connor vs. Jacori Teemer (Quarterfinal)

Mason Phillips vs. Jared Verkleeren (Quarterfinal)

Brady Berge vs. Brayton Lee (Quarterfinal)

74kg

Top Half: Fargo runner-up Tyler Dow, who won Greco on Thursday, is the top seed. Ohio State stud Kaleb Romero is the four. Also up top are Josh Kim and Dustin Plott.

Bottom Half: Three strong contenders in the bottom: Layne Van Anrooy (Michigan) and Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech), who are redshirt freshmen, and Jarret Jacques.

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: Dustin Plott vs. Kaleb Romero (Quarterfinal)

79kg

Top Half: The best weight of the tournament. Travis Wittlake beat Aaron Brooks to make the world team last year only to suffer an injury and see Brooks go on to win world gold. Wittlake is the top seed. Up there with him as the four seed is Trent Hidlay, the Fargo runner-up to Brooks. Also up top is Fargo champ Marcus Coleman, Nebraska redshirt stud Mikey Labriola, and Pan Am Team Member Mike O'Malley.

Bottom Half: Brooks is the two seed with multiple-time Fargo finalist Beau Breske as the three. Jacob Covaciu, who won the Open last year at a non-world weight, is the six. 

Can't-Miss Day 1 Matches:

Mikey Labriola vs. Trent Hidlay (Quarterfinal)

Beau Breske vs. Jacob Covaciu (Quarterfinal)

Anthony Mantanona vs. Aaron Brooks (Quarterfinal)

86kg

Top Half: A Cadet world bronze medalist last year, Gavin Hoffman is the #1 seed. Max Lyon, who destroyed the field at Fargo last year, is the four with Binghamton stud Louie Deprez as the 5. 

Bottom Half: The #2 seed is Jelani Embree, who made the 2015 Cadet world team. He's opposite Michael Beard, the Cadet Trials runner-up to Jacob Warner in 2016. Also looming are Kevin Parker and Nino Bonaccorsi.

Can't-Miss Day 1 Matches: 

Max Lyon vs. Louie Deprez (Quarterfinal)

Michael Beard vs. Nino Nino Bonaccorsi

92kg

Top Half: Jacob Warner, who won Cadet world bronze in 2016 at 97kg, is the top seed here. Also dropping in weight is Noah Adams, the Cadet team runner-up to Gable Steveson that same year. He's the #4. 

Bottom Half: Fargo finalist John Borst is the second seed. The #3 (Jake Woodley) and #6 (Christian Brunner) both had a folk win over Warner this year. 

Can't-Miss Day 1 Matches:

Noah Adams vs. Jacob Raschka

Jake Woodley vs. Chrisitan Brunner

Luke Davison vs. John Borst

97kg

Top Half: A Cadet world champion at 100kg last year, Greg Kerkvliet sheds a few pounds to grab the #1 seed at 97kg. It's not a deep bracket, but his top competition will likely come from college guys like John Jakobsen or Matt Correnti.

Bottom Half: Fargo champs from Missouri Zach Elam and Jake Boyd are the #2 and #3 seeds, respectively. 

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: John Jakobsen vs. Matt Correnti (Quarterfinal)

125kg

Top Half: A solid, not spectacular group in a weight devoid of returning Junior world champion Gable Steveson, who is wrestling seniors this weekend. Fargo champ Gannon Gremmel is the #1 seed along with Fargo AAs Sammy De Seriere and Paul Robinson.

Bottom Half: Fargo runner-up Brandon Metz is the two, opposite Penn State incoming recruit Seth Nevills, who drew the three. Max Darrah and Iowa's Aaron Costello are also down below. 

Can't-Miss Day 1 Match: Aaron Costello vs. Seth Nevills (Quarterfinal)