By David Gerhart
USA Wrestling

The Senior Greco-Roman field for the 2026 U.S. Open Championships has a strong mix of experience and young, up-and-coming wrestlers looking to make the 2026 World Team at The Expo at World Market Las Vegas.

Over 200 athletes have entered the Senior Greco-Roman division, which is set for April 23-25. Olympians, past Senior World Team members, current National Team members, age-group World medalists and high school stars are all in the mix looking to take home gold next week.

Online registration is open through April 19, leaving the possibility for several more top names to enter the field, which is expected. 

What’s At Stake

The Senior Greco-Roman tournament at the U.S. Open will serve as the World Team Trials and establish the 2026 Greco-Roman Senior World Team. The winner of the best-of-three series final at each weight class will represent the U.S. at the 2026 World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, from October 24-November 1.

The U.S. Senior National Team will also be decided with the top three finishers from each weight class making up the 30-man team.

26 Wrestlers To Watch

In a field mixed with experience and youth, many athletes have Olympic, Senior World and age-group World pedigrees. A quintet of wrestlers bring Olympic experience to the U.S. Open. Kamal Bey (82 kg), Payton Jacobson (87 kg) and Adam Coon (130 kg) competed at the 2024 Olympics and Alejandro Sancho (72 kg) represented Team USA at the 2020 Olympics. Aliaksandr Kikiniou, Sr. (77 kg) competed for Belarus at the 2004 and 2012 Olympics.

Along with being a 2024 Olympian, Coon finished with silver at the 2018 World Championships. Coon has also won three age-group World medals, including a U17 World title in freestyle.

Bey has been a member of four Senior World Teams and claimed the 2017 U20 World title. Sancho has competed at three Senior World Championships for Team USA.

Jacobson is coming off a strong 2025 season, where he made his first Senior World Team and captured bronze at U23 Worlds.

Kikiniou, Sr., took part in the 2024 World Championships for the U.S., which was his seventh appearance at Worlds. He won bronze for Belarus in 2009.

Five additional U.S. Open entrants have appeared on multiple Senior World teams. Cohlton Schultz, who is slated to compete at 130 kg, has made four World teams to lead the quintet. Schultz is a three-time age-group World medalist, including gold at the 2017 U17 World Championships. Three-time U.S. Open winner Max Nowry (55 kg) returns to the event for the first time since 2022. Nowry has competed at three World Championships for the U.S. with a pair of top-five finishes (2019 and 2022).

Brady Koontz (55 kg), Dalton Roberts (60 kg) and Benjamin Peak (72 kg) have all appeared on two World Teams.

2025 World Team member Jayden Raney and Beka Melelashvili both moved up a weight class for the 2026 season. Raney is set to compete at 60 kg and Melelashvili is entered at 87 kg. The duo made their first Senior World Teams last spring and won age-group World medals in 2024. Raney won gold at U17 Worlds, and Melelashvili finished with silver at U23s.

Max Black (60 kg) and Michial Foy (97 kg) round out the 2025 World Team members in the 2026 U.S. Open.

Past Senior World Team members entered in the Greco-Roman World Team Trials are Jacob Fisher (2010), RaVaughn Perkins (2018), Peyton Omania (2021), Jesse Porter, Jr. (2021), Xavier Johnson (2023), Zac Braunagel (2023) and Zane Richards (2023 in men’s freestyle).

In age-group World action, Omania won bronze for Team USA at the 2019 U20 World Championships. Joel Adams and Jordyn Raney come into the U.S. Open as U17 World champions. Jordyn Raney also has a U17 World bronze medal to his resume.

Rounding out the age-group World medalists are two-time medalist Aden Attao and Otto Black, along with 2025 U17 bronze medalist David Calkins, Jr.

A complete list of entries for all 10 Senior Greco-Roman weight classes is available below.

Four Weights to Watch

60 kg

A pair of 2025 World Team members are slated to compete at 60 kg in Las Vegas. Max Black returns to the weight class, and Jayden Raney moves up from 55 kg to join Black. The duo headlines the weight class, which features four current members of the U.S. National Team. Zane Richards, who finished as the runner-up at last year’s U.S. Open, and third-place finisher Randon Miranda are also in the mix at 60 kg. Two-time World team member Dalton Roberts also enters the fray.

63 kg

With Kaden Ercanbrack being the lone National Team member entered at 63 kg, some new faces look to emerge in the division. U17 World champion Jordyn Raney looks to crack the Senior National Team in his first appearance at the Greco-Roman World Team Trials. 2023 World Team member Xavier Johnson returns to the U.S. Open looking to compete for the title after placing sixth last spring.

87 kg

A colossal matchup could be on the horizon at 87 kg between 2025 World Teamers Payton Jacobson and Beka Melelashvili. 2024 Olympian Jacobson returns to the weight class he won last year, and Melelashvili moves up from 82 kg to 87 kg for this year’s U.S. Open. Looking to play spoiler this year is 2023 World Team member Zac Braunagel and fellow U.S. National Teamer Tyler Cunningham.

130 kg

A rematch of last year’s U.S. Open final could be on the cards at 130 kg between four-time World Team member Cohlton Schultz and 2024 Olympian Adam Coon. Schultz pinned Coon in the first match of the best-of-three series, and an injury forced Coon to medically forfeit the second round of the series. Two-time U20 bronze medalist Aden Aatto looks to take a step forward this year following a third-place finish at the U.S. Open in 2025.

How to Follow

The Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials run from April 23-25. The tournament is split into two groups. Group A (55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 77 kg) is competing on April 23 and 24. Group B (82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg) will be in action on April 24 and 25. The first day of competition for both groups features championship rounds through the semifinals. The second day will include the championship finals and medal rounds.

The full Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials schedule is listed below. A full detailed schedule of events is available at usawrestlingevents.com.

The 2026 U.S. Open Championships will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. Brackets and match-by-match results will be available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U.S. Open Championships

April 22-26, Las Vegas, Nevada

Senior Greco-Roman

Event Schedule

Thursday, April 23

Greco-Roman Group A (55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 77 kg) 

10 a.m. – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Consolations

4 p.m. – Semifinals, Consolations, Consolation Semifinals

Friday, April 24

Greco-Roman Group A (55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 77 kg) 

Greco-Roman Group B (82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg) 

10 a.m. – Championship Finals Round 1, Medal Matches (Group A)

10 a.m. – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Consolations (Group B)

4 p.m. – Semifinals, Consolations, Consolation Semifinals (Group B)

6 p.m. – Championship Finals Round 2, Championship Finals Round 3 (if necessary) (Group A)

Saturday, April 25

Greco-Roman Group B (82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg) 

10 a.m. – Championship Finals Round 1, Medal Matches

6 p.m. – Championships Finals Round 2, Championship Finals Round 3 (if necessary)

* All times listed are in U.S. Pacific Time.

Entry List (As of April 15)

55 kg (18 entries)

Anthony Alanis– Knights RTC

Kenneth Crosby – NMU-National Training Center

Peter Del Gallo – South Side WC

Elyle Francisco – NMU-National Training Center

Isaac Gibbs – Tiger WC

Fabian Gutierrez – Buies Creek WC

Ray Ray Harris – Tiger WC

William Jakeway – Sons of Thunder Wrestling

Brady Koontz – Titan Mercury WC

Manuel Martir – Community Youth Center – Concord Campus Wrestling

Nicholas Needham – Norse RTC

Abdullah Noori – United WC

Max Nowry – 309 Wrestling

Michael Pappaconstantinou – Capital City WC

Zachary Silvis – Greco-Roman Development

Everett Stephens – Gate Keepers Athletics Wrestling

Billy Sullivan – Army WCAP

Drew West – Iowa

60 kg (19 entries)

Max Black – NMU-National Training Center

Elijah Cater – Viking WC

Paxton Creese – Minnesota Storm

Elijah Halton – Ohio Greco Boys & Girls

Tyler Klein – Dubuque RTC

Jace Koelzer – Position Wrestling

Dylan Koontz – Titan Mercury WC

Randon Miranda – California

Treyden Morin – Suples WC

Dean Peterson – Hawkeye WC

Jayden Raney – Union County High School Wrestling

Zane Richards – Titan Mercury WC

Dalton Roberts – Army WCAP

Leo Rodriguez – All Navy Wrestling

King Sandoval – DMVRTC

Ryder Smith – NMU-National Training Center

Quade Smith – Empire

Cervando Tapia II – Beat the Streets – Los Angeles

Luis Vasquez – Eastside United WC

63 kg (21 entries)

Ruben Calderon – Paradigm Wrestling

Jayden Carson – Arkansas RTC

Joseph Couch – West Point WC

Landon Drury – NMU-National Training Center

Matthew Englehardt – Hilltopper WC

Kaden Ercanbrack – NMU-National Training Center

Job Greenwood – GRIT Athletics WC

Sayed Hashimi – California

Xavier Johnson – Army WCAP

Riley Lomenick – Illinois

Ty Lydick – New York AC

Pierson Manville – Southwest WC

Colby McDermott – Outlaw WC

David Medina – Tennessee

Carter Nogle – Air Force RTC

Rhett Peak – Position Wrestling

A.J. Polansky – Mustang WC

Jordyn Raney – Union County High School Wrestling

Dylan Sorenson – Eastside United WC

Blaze Thurber – Rabid Dawg WC

Robby Vaughn – Moses Lake WC

67 kg (22 entries)

Dimitri Alarcon – Mustangs WC

Otto Black – Colorado Top Team WC

Ryu Brown – Sons of Thunder Wrestling

Dylan Gregerson – New York AC

Jace Grizzle – Wichita Training Center

Savion Haywood – Iguana Athletics WC

Lukas Kanownik – Suples WC

Maddox Khalimsky – NMU-National Training Center

Jamarius Koshko – Louisiana

Vicente Loaiza – Arizona

Conrado Lopez – California

Baltazar Loza – Oklahoma

Rafaele Masi – Michigan

Ethan Mitchell – Ohio

Duncan Nelson – Colorado

Dean Noble – GRIT Athletics WC

Peyton Omania – Orange County RTC

Dylan Phelps – Olivet WC

Bronson Richins – North Summit Youth WC

Dante Rodriguez – Kearny MatCats WC

Santonio Thompson, Jr. – CK-Predators

Dominic Wilson – Ranger 47 WC

72 kg (24 entries)

Brett Back – Position Wrestling

Patrick Brackett – Tiger WC

Liston Brown, Jr. – New York

Giovanni Cassioppi – Nebraska Panhandle WC

Dominic Damon – Outlaw WC

Jesus Delgado – California

Joshua Gallo – Florida

Owen Hicks – West Point WC

Aliaksandr Kikiniou, Jr. – Poway High School Wrestling

Marc Kleyman – Beat the Streets New York City

Griffin Lundeen – Wolves WC

Declan Malone – South Dakota

Charles McKune – NMU-National Training Center

Farouq Muhammed – Ohio

Kobe Olson – Oregon

Calton Parduhn – Interior Grappling Academy

Benjamin Peak – Colorado

Robert Perez III – Colorado

Peyton Robb – Nebraska Wrestling Training Center

Alejandro Sancho – Army WCAP

TJ Schierl – Titan Mercury WC

Julian Slaastad – Beat the Streets Chicago – Midway

Grady Tisdale – Betterman Elite Wrestling

Noah Wachsmuth – New York AC

77 kg (22 entries)

Joel Adams – Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC

Drew Allgeyer – Michigan

Omaury Alvarez – Tar Heel WC

Ethan Barr – Golden One RTC

Alejandro Castro – Heidelberg WC

Andrew Cross – California

Tyler Eischens – Tar Heel WC

Jacob Fishers – Curby 3 Style WC

Kekana Fouret – OCRTC

Marco Frederico – Rampage Wrestling

Britton Holmes – Army WCAP

Aliaksandr Kikiniou, Sr. – California

Tyler Martinez – Knights RTC

Quinlan Nelson – Illinois

Jeremy Paradice – Lucha RTC

RaVaughn Perkins – New York AC

Clay Radenz – Gorilla WC

Justus Scott – Army WCAP

Jadon Skellenger – Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC

Donavan Smith – Long Island RTC

Kato White – Angry Fish WC

Caden Young – Wisconsin

82 kg (22 entries)

Michael Altomer – Curby 3 Style WC

Adrian Artsisheuskiy – New York AC

Jerrel Baskins – Georgia

Miles Bassett – Cavalier WC

Kamal Bey – Army WCAP

Tommy Brackett – Tiger WC

Will Dixon – Wisconsin

Aaron Dobbs – NMU- National Training Center

Thomas Even – Viking WC

Hassan Fouad – New York

James Foy – Minnesota Storm

Ramon Luis Guzmeliz Aguilar – Florida

DM Hallett – Colorado

Alex Hamm – Florida

Garran Leffel – NMU-National Training Center

Albert Mechamal – California

Carter Paulson – Mustang WC

Jesse Porter, Jr. – New York AC

George Sikes – New York AC

87 kg (23 entries)

Jonah Anderson – Mustang WC

Henry Baronowski – NMU-National Training Center

Zachary Braunagel – Navy WC

Fabian Chavez – Midwest RTC

Tyler Cunningham – MWC Wrestling Academy

Daniel Eubanks – NMU-National Training Center

Rio Gomez – Kansas

Michael Higgins – Michigan

Payton Jacobson – Sunkist WC

Kolton Kammeyer – Tiger WC

Ruben Karapetyan – Tiger WC

Arian Khosravy – California

Jack Lougen – Buzzsaw WC

Beka Melelashvili – Greco-Roman National Team

Amin Qouchbane – Peninsula WC

DJ Rock – Mustang WC

Christian Rouleau – Minnesota Storm

Fritz Schierl – Minnesota Storm

Devin Spear – Michigan

Aidan Squier – Combat W.C. School of Wrestling

Anthony Tuttle – Greco-Roman Development

Jackson White – Victory Wrestling

Keenan Wyatt – Knights RTC

97 kg (25 entries)

Jarrett Baker – South Medford Mat Club

Braden Baumgartner – Team Vision Quest Colorado

Nicholas Boykin – Ohio

David Calkins, Jr. – Liberty High School Wrestling

Ronald Dombkowski – Own Code Combat Club

Christian DuLaney – East St. Louis WC

Michial Foy – Army WCAP

Evan Grazzini – Knights RTC

Austin Harris – Lucha RTC

Soren Herzog – Air Force RTC

Bernd Holzapfel – Chicago WC

Zander Kenworthy – Mustang WC

MacAron Kukowski – Minnesota Storm

Cody Kwak – NMU-National Training Center

Brandon Marshall – Big Game WC

Keith Miley – Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy

Quinlan Morgan – Jackrabbit WC

David Tate Orndorff – Titan Mercury WC

Eli Pannell – Illinois

Michael Rogers – West Point WC

Ryder Rogotze – Ohio RTC

Damion Schunke – Southwest WC

Eric Schwark – Ashland WC

Tyler Westlund – Cincinnati RTC

Timothy Young – Army WCAP

130 kg (15 entries)

Aden Attao – Colorado

Max Balow – Viking RTC

Ryan Boersma – Region Wrestling Academy

Monte Britton – Buies Creek WC

Dylan Buschow – Mustang WC

Brennan Carey – NMU-National Training Center

Adam Coon – Cliff Keen WC

Courney Freeman – Marines

Isaiah Hill – Illinois

James Hustoles – NMU-National Training Center

Garret Johnson – Medical Lake Mat Maulers

Darrell Mason – Colorado

Cohlton Schultz – Sunkist Kids WC

Connor Shinn – 505 WC

Evan Thompson – Mustang WC