By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

LAS VEGAS – The 2026 U.S. Open Championships men’s freestyle finals started with last-second drama and finished with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pin.

And in between those bookend results, eight other champions were crowned – ranging everywhere from bright young talents to seasoned veterans.

But it’s appropriate that this recap kicks off where the night began – with a thrilling bout at 57 kg.

There, in a rematch of last year’s Final X, it was Luke Lilledahl (NLWC/TMWC) who turned the tables on 2024 Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee – scoring the final five points of a 5-4 decision.

The last of those proved most critical, as the 2026 NCAA champion from Penn State hit a headlock just before time expired to take his first lead of the match.

A result which seemed improbable after an opening four minutes dominated by Lee, lit up the packed crowd at The Expo at World Market Center and got the evening’s finals off and running.

As for the aforementioned nightcap, Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC/WCAP) needed just 0:27 to send folks heading for the exits.

Facing Demetrius Thomas in a rematch of last year’s 125 kg final (won 14-3 by Hendrickson), the 2025 World Teamer scored an early takedown and quickly worked for a turn and subsequent pin.

For his efforts, Hendrickson was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Senior men’s freestyle division.

If any match approached the thrill of Lilledahl/Lee, it came at 70kg.

Featuring Ridge Lovett (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) and Caleb Henson in a rematch of a 2025 NCAA final (won 1-0 by Lovett), a 2-0 slugfest at the break quickly descended into pure madness.

Henson would shoot and Lovett would counter – then the process would repeat itself again and again.

When everything was said and done, Lovett emerged as a 14-12 winner – though not before multiple reviews/challenges were levied (by all parties) in an attempt to make sense of it all.

(You’re going to want to go back and rewatch this one, folks – even if you were tuned in live as it happened.)

Like Lovett (and Lilledahl), several other winners on Saturday night continued their journey towards a first Senior World Team.

Starting with 61 kg, Marcus Blaze (NLWC/TMWC) evened his ongoing series with college rival Ben Davino in a 4-1 decision.

The Nittany Lion (Blaze) and Buckeye (Davino) had wrestled 30 minutes worth of folkstyle matches during the NCAA season without a single takedown being scored. So, when Blaze finally converted with 0:29 seconds to go, he not only cemented his first U.S. Open title, but he also broke the ice on the defense-heavy rivalry between the two college freshmen.

Meanwhile, it was a high schooler who emerged victorious just one weight class above, as Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury WC) continued his ongoing ascent with a 10-0 tech fall of returning 65 kg champion Joseph McKenna.

The Pennsylvania native’s pace and pressure proved too much for McKenna – who took injury time to get his knee wrapped after Bassett struck for a takedown in the opening 10 seconds.

97 kg was also won by a relative newcomer to the Senior freestyle scene – albeit a collegiate graduate (and 2025 NCAA champion) in the form of Stephen Buchanan (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC).

Buchanan used a pair of early takedowns – including one that just beat the first-period buzzer – to earn himself a 5-3 decision over 2022 World Teamer Hayden Zillmer.

At the weight class prior (92 kg), Michael Macchiavello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC) may not have a World Team on his resume yet, but he has won a U.S. Open title before – as recently as 2023.

Now, he can add another to his ledger thanks to a 4-3 decision over four-time Oklahoma State All-American Dustin Plott – who made things interesting in the waning moments, but to no avail.

As for the three other champions crowned in Las Vegas, the bright lights and big stage are no stranger to them.

In succession at 74, 79 and 86kg – two-time World medalist James Green (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC), 2023 World Teamer Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury WC) and seven-time World/Olympic medalist Kyle Dake (NLWC/TMWC) each prevailed.

For Green – whose previous World Team berths all came at down at 70kg – a 4-0 lead was enough to secure victory over 2026 NCAA All-American Kannon Webster (Illinois), 5-3.

Similar stories held true for Marsteller and Dake – neither of whom trailed in their respective final.

Marsteller’s 7-3 final margin came at the hands of returning U.S. Open champ Evan Wick, with whom he engaged in several high-level scrambles throughout the six minutes of action.

As for Dake – an 8-2 winner – he was able to use the aggressiveness of 2024 NCAA champ Parker Keckeisen against him – countering multiple shots for scores of his own, the first of which was followed by an exposure that staked the veteran to an early 4-0 lead.

With the victory, Dake – along with four other U.S. Open champions – also knows whom they must defeat next in order to make the 2026 World Team.

Facing the likes of Bassett, Marsteller, Dake, Macchiavello and Buchanan will be a quintet of returning World medalists:

• 65 kg – Real Woods (bronze)

• 79 kg – Levi Haines (silver)

• 86 kg – Zahid Valencia (gold)

• 92 kg – Trent Hidlay (gold)

• 97 kg – Kyle Snyder (gold)

But that’s to be settled at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management on June 19th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Meanwhile, Lilledahl, Blaze, Lovett, Green and Hendrickson will each learn their Final X foes following the results of the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 14-15.

And on a final championship-related note for the evening, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club came away with the Senior men’s freestyle team title – repeating its feat from the night before in the Senior women’s freestyle division.

Archived matches from the 2026 U.S. Open Championships are available on FloWrestling.

Brackets and match-by-match results are available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U.S. Open Championships 

At Las Vegas, Nevada, April 25 

Reference Links 

• Live stream

• Brackets

• Event hub

Senior Men’s Freestyle Results

Finals Results and Medal Matches

57 kg

1st - Luke Lilledahl (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Spencer Lee (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-4

3rd - Anthony Knox (Scarlet Knight WC) Dec. Liam Cronin (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-3

5th - Brody Teske (PWC RTC) Dec. Austin Assad (Seasons Freestyle Club), 8-5

7th - Ezekiel Witt (Bison WC) Disq. Eric Barnett (Wisconsin RTC)

61 kg

1st - Marcus Blaze (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Benjamin Davino (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 4-1

3rd - Jax Forrest (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Austin DeSanto (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-0

5th - Michael McGee (Arizona/New York AC) Med. For. Seth Gross (Titan Mercury WC)

7th - Nathan Tomasello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Kyle Burwick (Bison WC), 14-4 (4:09)

65 kg

1st - Bo Bassett (Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Joseph McKenna (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 (3:55)

3rd - Beau Bartlett (NYCRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. David Evans (Brunson UVRTC), 12-3

5th - Pierson Manville (SOUTHWEST WC) Med. For. Jesse Mendez (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC),

7th - Vitali Arujau (Spartan Combat RTC/ Titan Mercury WC) Med. For. Brock Hardy (NEBWTC/ Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg

1st - Ridge Lovett (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Caleb Henson (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC), 14-12

3rd - Jordan Williams (Threestyle Wrestling) Dec. Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort HS Wrestling), 10-9

5th - Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC) Med. For. Tyler Kasak (NLWC/TMWC)

7th - Edward Scott (Brunson UVRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Jaivon Jones (Arkansas RTC), 2-1

74 kg

1st - James Green (NEBWTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Kannon Webster (New York AC/IRTC), 5-3

3rd - Joseph Sealey (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. David Carr (Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-3

5th - Cameron Amine (Cowboy RTC/ Titan Mercury WC) For. Quincy Monday (NJRTC/ Titan Mercury WC)

7th - Will Lewan (CKWC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Jarrett Jacques (Tiger Style WC), 4-3

79 kg

1st - Chance Marsteller (Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC), 7-3

3rd - Patrick Kennedy (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) Med. For. Muhamed McBryde (WVRTC),

5th - William Henckel (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Bernie Truax (Having Fun), 8-8

7th - Matthew Singleton (Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Disq. Dean Hamiti Jr (Cowboy RTC/ Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg

1st - Kyle Dake (NLWC/TMWC) Dec. Parker Keckeisen (PWC RTC), 8-2

3rd - Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Marcus Coleman (Titan Mercury WC), 8-6

5th - Rylan Rogers (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) For. Rocco Welsh (NLWC/TMWC),

7th - Cade DeVos (Jackrabbit WC) Dec. Mekhi Lewis (NJRTC/Titan Mercury WC), 4-2

92 kg

1st - Michael Macchiavello (LVWRTC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Dustin Plott (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 4-3

3rd - Seth Shumate (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Patrick Brophy (Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 12-1 (1:44)

5th - Dillon Bechtold (Buffalo Valley RTC) Disq. Joshua Barr (NLWC/TMWC),

7th - Cody Merrill (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) Disq. Jacob Cardenas (CKWC/ Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg

1st - Stephen Buchanan (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) Dec. Hayden Zillmer (Gopher RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-3

3rd - Jonathan Aiello (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) T.F. Justin Rademacher (Beaver Dam RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 (5:17)

5th - Connor Mirasola (NLWC/TMWC) T.F. Zane Lanham (Arkansas RTC), 12-1 (3:47)

7th - Layne Malczewski (Cyclone RTC) F. Nick Stemmet (California RTC), 2:14

125 kg

1st - Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC/WCAP) F. Demetrius Thomas (New York AC), 0:27

3rd - Anthony Cassioppi (Titan Mercury WC) Med. For. Daniel Kerkvliet Jr (Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC),

5th - Jimmy Mullen (SERTC/Titan Mercury WC) For. Coby Merrill (New York AC),

7th - Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) Dec. Koy Hopke (Minnesota - RTC), 4-1