NWCA Honors Montgomery, Randall with 2026 Trailblazer Awards

MANHEIM, Pa. - Two trailblazers who have led the way in the sport of women's wrestling at the collegiate level are being honored this year as the National Wrestling Coaches Association Trailblazer Award winners.

Toccara Montgomery and Archie Randall are the 2026 Trailblazer Awards honorees, as nominated by the NWCA's member collegiate women's wrestling coaches. Montgomery was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2024 while Randall received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.

The Leadership Group members from both the NCAA and NAIA groups, along with the slate of former Trailblazer Award winners then voted on the honorees, with Montgomery and Randall emerging as this year's top nominees.

The 2026 Trailblazer Awards will be presented at the Celebration of Women in Wrestling, July 31, as a part of the 2026 NWCA Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

Ultimate Fan Guide to USA Wrestling’s 2026 Final X, Presented by Kerberos Capital Management

Whether you’re attending Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, in person at Prudential Center or following every match from home, this Ultimate Fan Guide has everything you need to get ready for USA Wrestling’s flagship Senior-level event, Final X, including schedules, matchup previews, FAQs and lead-up coverage.

Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. World Team in two international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative at the 2026 Senior World Championships.

The Final X field includes Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winners Marcus Blaze, David Carr, Jax Forrest, Wyatt Hendrickson, Spencer Lee, Ridge Lovett, Chance Marsteller, Zain Retherford and Zahid Valencia and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winners Alexis Janiak, Everest Leydecker and Macey Kilty.

Pierson Manville Named USA Wrestling Athlete Of The Week

Pierson Manville (Tempe, Ariz./Southwest WC), who was the Pennsylvania winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2024, has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week.

Manville went 4-0 en route to the gold medal at the U23 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru. He teched his way into the gold medal match and then grabbed a 4-2 decision over 2026 Senior Pan American silver medalist Clisman Carracedo Veliz of Ecuador.

Real American Freestyle Wrestling Launches RAF CLUBS

Real American Freestyle Wrestling has announced the launch of RAF CLUBS, anew national network connecting local development, national competition and professional opportunity.

Blades, Welker, Woods Receive Medical Delay For Final X Series

2025 Senior World medalists Kennedy Blades, Kylie Welker and Real Woods have each requested and received medical delays for their 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, best-of-three championship series. 

These Final X series were originally scheduled for June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.—Blades against Isabella Mir at 68 kg in women’s freestyle, Welker against Dymond Guilford at 76 kg in women’s freestyle, and Woods against Bo Bassett at 65 kg in men’s freestyle. Mir, Guilford and Bassett qualified for Final X by winning the 2026 U.S. Open. 

Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. World Team in two international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative at the 2026 Senior World Championships.

The Final X field includes Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winners Marcus Blaze, David Carr, Jax Forrest, Wyatt Hendrickson, Spencer Lee, Ridge Lovett, Chance Marsteller, Zain Retherford and Zahid Valencia and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winners Alexis Janiak, Everest Leydecker and Macey Kilty.

DeSanto Defends Title; Alirez, O’Toole, Pico Post Statement Wins at RAF 10

ST. LOUIS – Austin DeSanto successfully defended his bantamweight title against Cuba’s Reineri Ortega on Saturday at Real American Freestyle 10, grinding out a 2-1 decision in the championship bout. Aaron Pico, Keegan O’Toole and Andrew Alirez also earned wins on the RAF 10 card.

U.S. Wins Six Gold Medals, Wyatt Claims Golden Boot at U23 Pan American Greco-Roman Championships

LIMA, Peru – Team USA concluded the 2026 U23 Pan American Championships on Saturday with six champions and eight total medalists in Greco-Roman. 87 kg champion Keenan Wyatt was awarded the Golden Boot as outstanding wrestler of the day.

The champions include National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winners Aden Attao and Pierson Manville.

Hidlay Earns Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Spot

CHANTILLY, Virginia – 2025 World champion Trent Hidlay sealed the series sweep at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, with a four-point maneuver with three seconds left to secure an 8-3 victory in the second match of the 92 kg men’s freestyle series at Freedom High School on Saturday.

With the Final X series victory, Hidlay earns the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2026 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, October 24-November 1.