Senior World Team Trials

[Harris]

The Wisconsin RTC has 6 athletes competing at the Senior World Team Trials in Lincoln, NE on September 11-12.  The winner of each weight class will represent the United States at the World Championships in Oslo, Norway October 2-10.

Men's Freestyle
61 KG Seth Gross #5
61 KG Ethan Rotundo
65 KG Henry Pohlmeyer

Women's Freestyle
53 KG Ronna Heaton #1
53 KG Erin Golston #8
59 KG Michaela Beck #2

[Harris]

The pre-seeds are out and my favorite weight class is 61KG where we could potentially see some fun matchups with Seth Gross and former Badger Tyler Graff. 

In the round of 16 Gross could face #12 seed Ethan Lizak from Minnesota.  Lizak was a 3X All-American at Minnesota finishing 2nd at 125 in 2017.  Gross finished 2nd at 133 in 2017 and 1st in 2018.  I am excited to see Gross at 61 KG (134.2 LB) which is closer to his more natural weight than when he wrestled 57KG at the Olympic Trials.

After Gross beats Lizak, he will potentially wrestle #4 Daton Fix from Oklahoma State.  Daton is a 2X All-American finishing 2nd at 133 in 2019 and 2021.  I think Gross is a bad matchup for Fix because of his unique style of attack and counter attack offense along with his ability to scramble from all positions.  I think this will be a tight match that will come down to a few mad flurries of action with Gross getting his hand raised.  I can't wait for this matchup and I hope it happens.

In the semi finals, Gross would then find himself potentially facing #1 seed Tyler Graff who we all remember wrestling for the Badgers from 2010-2014.  Graff was a 4X All-American for Wisconsin finishing 2nd in 2014 in one of the most agonizing tiebreaker losses to Tony Ramos of Iowa.  That match still bugs me just thinking about it.  Graff earned the #1 seed at the world trials because he was the 2019 USA World Team Member at 61KG.  He was also the 2017 Pan Am Champion.  Graff has not wrestled much since the 2019 World Championships so we don't know what we are going to get when he takes the mat.  If we get the 2019 Tyler Graff it is going to be a battle.  Graff is tough in freestyle because he is a takedown machine and the matchup with Gross could be epic for Badger fans because Gross is such a good counter wrestler.  For those of you who were around in 2014 you may remember that Tyler Graff stayed when other wrestlers left.  For that reason, he will always hold a special place in Wisconsin wrestling fans hearts so I will be happy regardless of who wins this match. 

The winner of that match will potentially face #2 Joe Colon or #3 Nick Suriano.  If you haven't seen it, Flo has put out a free 15 minute documentary on YouTube of Suriano and they are pushing him pretty hard in their FRL podcast as someone who will win this bracket.  I admit he looked good in the video but I am rooting for Gross or Graff to win 61KG.  This weight class is stacked and whoever comes out on top will have earned it the hard way.

61 kg
1. Tyler Graff (NJRTC/Titan Mercury WC)
2. Joe Colon (Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
3. Nick Suriano (Sunkist Kids)
4. Daton Fix (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
5. Seth Gross (Wisconsin RTC/Sunkist Kids)
6. Nathan Tomasello (Oklahoma RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
7. Nahshon Garrett (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC)
8. Shelton Mack (NYCRTC/Titan Mercury WC)
9. Josh Kramer (Sunkist Kids)
10. Zane Richards (Illinois RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
11. Daniel DeShazer (Gopher WC RTC)
12. Ethan Lizak (Pennsylvania RTC/New York AC)

[MakingABadgerer]

Great analysis Harris. Thanks for the breakdown of Seth's bracket. Rooting for Seth and then Graff. Never underestimate the power of Fix's water bottle. 


Wonder if Downey shows/makes weight.

[Harris]

Seth Gross with a nice win over Lizak 10-0 sets up his match with Fix in the quarterfinals.  Rotondo with a first round win before falling to Joe Colon.  There are only 6 wrestlers in the bracket at 65KG so Pohlmeyer hasn't wrestled yet.

Ronna Heaton and Seth Gross got married I thought but she is still listed as Heaton.  She had a bye the first round and will face Emily Shilson in the quarters.  Shilson beat Erin Golston 10-3 in the previous round.  Michaela Beck also had a bye.

[Harris]

Heaton with the pin over Shilson to advance to the semifinals.  Beck with the dominating win 13-6 to make the semi's as well.  Great job!

[Harris]

Fix over Gross 11-0.  I couldn't have been more wrong on my prediction above.  Graff vs. Fix next round.  Let's go Graff!

[Harris]

Pohlmeyer goes down 12-2 against Evan Henderson at 65KG

[Harris]

Nato takes out Suriano, Nolf knocks out Evan Wick, Wisconsin native Alex Dieringer into the semi's against Imar.  Some great matches.

[Harris]

Ethan Rotondo defeats 2X All-American and 4X qualifier Zane Richards from Illinois in the consolations.  His conditioning helped him in the comeback victory.  Gross beat Rotondo in the next round.

[bigoil]

Ethan looked great

[BuckyMatt]

Ethan looked great

Ethan has improved leaps and bounds since the new coaching staff arrived! Great kid and great to see!

[Harris]

What a day of wrestling.

Ronna Heaton into the finals with a 10-0 win over the 5 seed.  She takes on Amy Fearnside in the finals.  Beck loses a tough one 5-3.  Junior world champions will collide again when Kennedy Blades takes on Wisconsin's own Kylie Welker. 

Graff loses to Fix 2-0.  Daton Fix is wrestling tough this weekend.  Dieringer into the finals against Jordan Burroughs which will be fun to watch.

[Numbers]

I think I counted 4 Wisconsin Greco men in the finals tomorrow!

[Harris]

4 WI Greco Men in the finals!!!!!

Brady Koontz
Benjamin Peak
Fritz Schierl
Ben Provisor

[Harris]

Jesse Thielke made it to the semi finals as well.