Two college sophomores and a freshman were among the men's freestyle champions crowned at the U.S. Open.
And those recent developments are setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and entertaining time for the sport with the 2020 Olympic Games just over a year away.
Here are my top takeaways from the freestyle portion of the U.S. Open:
Yianni's time is now
There was no question that two-time Cadet world champion Yianni Diakomihalis was going to contend at 65 kilograms. But what he did in Vegas was nothing short of phenomenal. Yianni won a loaded bracket by knocking off 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro and rolling past No. 1 seed Jordan Oliver before rallying past 2017 world team member Zain Retherford in the finals. Yianni is a two-time NCAA champion who is just a college sophomore, but freestyle is his best style. He can score in a variety of ways and he's always a threat to hit a big move. Yianni is very young and has a huge upside internationally.
Bo Nickal cruised to the title at 92 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Bo knows freestyle
Hodge Trophy winner Bo Nickal's title at 92 kilograms was not a big surprise. Nickal is an explosive and talented wrestler who steamrolled the competition at the U.S. Open. The question now is how will Nickal fare in a potential Final X showdown against reigning world champion and Olympic medalist J'den Cox. I can't wait to watch these high-level wrestlers battle on the mat.
Fan support
I've never completely understood why the crowd size is so much smaller for top freestyle events than it is for the NCAA tournament. Obviously, the team component of the NCAAs is a big attraction. But the quality of wrestling at the U.S. Open is off the charts with a significantly higher skill level. Plus, the freestyle rules are excellent now and more entertaining than college folkstyle. This is a golden age of freestyle in the USA with so many outstanding wrestlers competing right now. Fans that aren't watching are missing out. If you have an opportunity, go see the Final X events. You won't be disappointed.
The Fix is in
Daton Fix opened plenty of eyes last year when he advanced to the Final X after his redshirt season at Oklahoma Stare. The Junior world champion lost to 2017 world silver medalist Thomas Gilman in the Final X last year, but Fix bounced back to beat Gilman in the Open finals Saturday. Fix hasn't made the world team yet, but the redshirt freshman is in a good position after clinching a spot in the Final X. He may have to beat Gilman two more times to make the world team.
Deakin's surprise showing
Northwestern sophomore Ryan Deakin placed just sixth at the NCAA tournament, but he's more accomplished in freestyle. The 2017 Junior world silver medalist rallied from a late 6-3 deficit to down two-time world medalist James Green in the U.S. Open finals. Deakin is in the Final X where he will likely meet Green or three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf for the world team spot. Green edged Nolf at the Open, but expect Nolf to come back strong at the world team trials challenge tournament.
Alex Dieringer picked up the U.S. Open title at 79 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Putting them through the Ringer
Alex Dieringer has had a tremendous season and he destroyed the competition at the Open. Ringer could see 2018 Final X runner-up Zahid Valencia in the world team trials challenge tournament with world champion Kyle Dake awaiting the winner in the Final X at 79 kilograms. Dieringer is a dangerous wrestler who won a Junior world silver medal.
Kyven's quest
Past NCAA champion Kyven Gadson continues to wrestle at a high level and looked strong in winning the Open. He moved another step closer to another battle with Olympic and two-time world champion Kyle Snyder at 97 kilograms. That will be a tough task against Snyder, a World/Olympic finalist the last four years.
Downey not done yet
Pat Downey is a past Junior world silver medalist who put together a superb performance in Las Vegas. Downey proved you are never out of a match with his showing at 86 kilograms. He will need to continue to progress in a weight class where world champion David Taylor is waiting in the Final X.
Imar's mission
Isaiah Martinez looks on track to earn another shot at Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs in the Final X at 74 kilograms. Imar is making good progress, and he's an explosive athlete who is difficult to match up against. But how far he's come will be revealed when he tangles with Burroughs, who is still wrestling at a high level.
Cody Brewer celebrates after winning the U.S. Open (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Brewer wins battle of NCAA champs
Cody Brewer overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second period by scoring a fall over Nico Megaludis in a U.S. Open finals matchup of past NCAA champions at 61 kilograms. Expect to see these guys facing off again at the world team trials challenge tournament next month. Joe Colon is already in the Final X in this class as a returning world medalist.
USA system is working
The number of American athletes excelling at the Cadet and Junior world level has been impressive in recent years and that has translated to a high level of success on the Senior level. Wrestlers like Diakomihalis, Fix and Adam Coon have excelled on the world stage at a very young age. That experience and exposure of competing internationally as Cadets and Juniors has really paid off in a huge way for them.
Coon's commitment to both styles
Adam Coon won a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling, but he remains committed to wrestling both international styles. Second to world medalist Nick Gwiazdowski in the freestyle Final X last year, Coon won the U.S. Open freestyle title at heavyweight on Saturday. Coon has shown he can handle wrestling both styles, so why not continue to do it? He's been doing it for years and has been successful at every level. Coon has won world medals on the Cadet, Junior and Senior level with the lone gold coming in Cadet freestyle.
Who will make the 2020 Olympic Team?
It is unfortunate there are just six weight classes now per style for the Olympic Games in wrestling. There are so many elite and proven wrestlers in the USA right now, and with only six spots available, that there will some really good freestyle wrestlers who won't be representing their country next year in Tokyo. How will it all shake out? It will be a battle, no doubt about it. Will we see Burroughs wrestle Dake again? Will Cox face Taylor or move up to challenge Snyder? Will Nickal cut down a class to take on Taylor? Will Dake bump up to meet Taylor again? There are so many compelling potential storylines. But for now, numerous battles remain to determine the 2019 world team. And those will be fun to watch as well. It will be interesting to see which 10 wrestlers earn a trip to Kazakhstan for the 2019 World Championships. It is an important event because it's the main qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games. The top six wrestlers in each Olympic weight class at the World Championships qualify their country for the Olympics.
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