Quick Thoughts on Each Final X Matchup

This weekend set the stage for Final X 2025. The winners at the World Team Trials advanced to Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 14th at the Prudential Center. Wrestling in Final X puts a wrestler only two wins away from a berth on the World Championship team. In the coming weeks, we’ll have specific previews surrounding each matchup; however, here are some brief thoughts on each of the series’ both in men’s and women’s freestyle. Men’s Freestyle 57 kg - Spencer Lee vs. Luke Lilledahl Two number-one overall recruits from two generations squaring off for a world team berth. 61 kg - Vito Arujau vs. Jax Forrest Could this be the most aesthetically pleasing match of the day? Two exciting wrestlers with many ways to score. 65 kg - Joey McKenna vs Real Woods Two ex-Stanford wrestlers who made the national finals out of the Big Ten. Guaranteed first-time world team member. 70 kg - Yianni Diakomihalis vs. PJ Duke Two all-time greats from the state of New York - Both are four-time state champions. Duke has passed every test thus far, could he do it? 74 kg - Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. David Carr Despite no Burroughs or Dake for the first time since 2010, the winner should be a high medal threat in 2025. 79 kg - Evan Wick vs Levi Haines Who will hit up Bernie Truax for the scouting report? Wick size/length will certainly present a difficult matchup for Haines. 86 kg - Zahid Valencia vs. Kyle Dake Rematch! Will the wily, veteran Dake be able to make the proper adjustments to reverse the US Open result? 92 kg - Trent Hidlay vs. Josh Barr Josh Barr continues to pass every test. Will he be able to handle Hidlay as the bar is raised yet again? 97 kg - Kyle Snyder vs. Hayden Zillmer What is Kyle Snyder’s status? Will he even compete in Newark? 125 kg - Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Trent Hillger Hillger was the only one at the Open able to go the full six minutes with Hendrickson. Now, can he close the six-point gap on the scoreboard? Women’s Freestyle 50 kg - Audrey Jimenez vs. Erin Golston After a decade on the scene, can Erin Golston finally make a Senior World team? Or it is time for the Jimenez show? 53 kg - Brianna Gonzalez vs. Felicity Taylor Ex-Iowa teammates squaring off. Taylor got the collegiate finals win, Gonzalez won the Open. Who gets the next win(s)? 55 kg - Cristelle Rodriguez vs. Everest Leydecker Leydecker is seeking to make a Senior world team before starting her Senior year of high school. Rodriguez stands in the way after a 4-1 win at the Open. 57 kg - Helen Maroulis vs. Amanda Martinez Helen has to slow down at some point, right? Right? Maybe not! Martinez will try to make history and unseat the queen. 59 kg - Abby Nette vs. Jacarra Winchester Winchester is looking to make her seventh World/Olympic team. Nette crushed the field in Vegas w/ two falls and two techs. 62 kg - Kayla Miracle vs. Adaugo Nwachukwo It’s a 2023 Final X rematch and a rematch of the 2025 US Open finals. To date, the high-scoring Nwachukwo hasn’t been able to solve the riddle that is Miracle. 65 kg - Macey Kilty vs. Aine Drury Kilty settles into the role of a veteran after her second Senior world medal. Drury’s big moves pushed her past Isabella Mir at the Open. 68 kg - Kennedy Blades vs. Brooklyn Hays With a silver medal in Paris, Kennedy Blades is quickly becoming the new face of US women’s freestyle. Hays will have her hands full. 72 kg - Alex Glaude vs. Amit Elor At the WTT’s, Skylar Grote pushed Elor like no one domestically has pushed her at the Senior level. Does that create an opening for Glaude? 76 kg - Kylie Welker vs. Dymond Guilford Don’t let her Iowa teammates (Kilty/Blades) overshadow how great Welker was at the Open. She teched Guilford’s frequent rival Yelena Makoyed. Both are past world teamer’s.

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Quick Thoughts on Each Final X Matchup

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