Meet the United States men's freestyle team competing at the Wrestling World Cup this week
Some of America's top wrestling talents will be at Coralville's Xtream Arena reppin' the United States this weekend.
The Men's Freestyle World Cup is set for this Saturday and Sunday. It was previously held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2018. But for the first time ever, the Women's Freestyle World Cup will be held alongside the men's competition, featuring the best wrestling countries in the world competing in a dual-style format.
Team USA qualified for the men's freestyle portion after winning the world team title at the 2022 Senior men's freestyle world championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in September, and many of the same wrestlers who contributed to that championship will be back on the mat this weekend aiming for another team title.
USA previously won the Men's Freestyle World Cup in 2018, when it was held in Iowa City. The U.S. has won this event 14 times, second only to Russia, which has won it 15 times total. Russia defeated Iran in the 2019 final while the U.S. finished third. The United State also previously made the finals in 2017 and 2015.
The U.S. men's freestyle World Cup roster features incredible star power, such as seven-time world and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs and eight-time world and Olympic medalist Kyle Snyder, as well as Yianni Diakomihalis, a three-time NCAA champion for Cornell and 2022 Senior world silver medalist for the U.S.
Familiar names are littered all over for the United States, including many of the nation's top up-and-coming freestyle wrestlers as well as wrestlers who found NCAA stardom at various colleges across the country. We've listed all 20 wrestlers here, as well as their weights, schools, notable accolades, and more.
The United States will face Mongolia, which finished fourth at the 2022 world championships, and Georgia, who took fifth, in Group A action on Saturday. Should the Americans win, they'll face Iran, Japan or the All-World team in a placement dual meet on Sunday.
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Zane Richards
Weight: 57 kilograms
College: Illinois
Club: Illinois RTC
Hometown: Carbondale, Ill.
Age: 28
Two-time All-American for the Illini, in 2016-17, with 111 career victories. Won the 2016 University national title at 61 kilos. Took third at the 2022 world team trials and fourth at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Nick Suriano
Weight: 57 kilograms
College: Penn State/Rutgers/Michigan
Club: Cliff Keen WC
Hometown: Paramus, N.J.
Age: 25
Three-time NCAA finalist and two-time NCAA champion, for Rutgers in 2019 (the first in school history) and Michigan in 2022. Fourth at the 2019 Senior national championships, won silver at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone ranking series event, and competed at 61 kilos at the 2021 world team trials.
Seth Gross
Weight: 61 kilograms
College: South Dakota State/Wisconsin
Club: Wisconsin RTC
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn.
Age: 26
2022 Senior World Team member. Two-time NCAA finalist and 2018 NCAA champion for South Dakota State. Two-time Big 12 champion. Made the 2016 Junior world team and 2013 Cadet world team. Currently an assistant coach at Wisconsin.
Daniel DeShazer
Weight: 61 kilograms
College: Oklahoma/Nebraska-Kearney
Club: Gopher Wrestling Club RTC
Hometown: Wichita, Kan.
Age: 29
Two-time NCAA Division II champion and three-time All-American at Nebraska-Kearney. Finalist at 2022 world team trials and fourth at the 2022 U.S. Open.
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Yianni Diakomihalis
Weight: 65 kilograms
College: Cornell
Club: Spartan Combat RTC
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Age: 23
Three-time NCAA champion. 2022 Senior world silver medalist. Two-time Senior World Team member. 2019 U.S. Open champion. Two-time Cadet world champion, in 2015-16. Currently a senior wrestler at Cornell.
Evan Henderson
Weight: 65 kilograms
College: North Carolina
Club: Lehigh Valley RTC
Hometown: New Florence, Pa.
Age: 30
Two-time All-American, with 125 career wins, and two-time ACC champion. Finalist at the 2022 world team trials. Five-time U.S. Open place-winner and 2020 finalist.
Tyler Berger
Weight: 70 kilograms
College: Nebraska
Club: Pennsylvania RTC
Hometown: Prineville, Ore.
Age: 26
Three-time All-American and 2019 NCAA finalist with 112 career wins. Took sixth at the 2022 U.S. Open, third at the 2022 world team trials, and fourth at the 2021 world team trials.
Alec Pantaleo
Weight: 70 kilograms
College: Michigan
Club: Cliff Keen WC
Hometown: Canton, Mich.
Age: 26
Three-time All-American. 2018 Big Ten champion. 2022 U.S. Open champion. Made the U23 world team in 2019 and Junior world team in 2016.
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Jason Nolf
Weight: 74 kilograms
College: Penn State
Club: Nittany Lion WC
Hometown: Yatesboro, Pa.
Age: 26
Three-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA finalist, with 118 career wins. 2022 U.S. Open champion. 2022 and 2019 world team trials finalist. Third at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Vincenzo Joseph
Weight: 74 kilograms
College: Penn State
Club: Sunkist Kids
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Age: 26
Two-time NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist. 2022 U.S. Open finalist. Finished third at 2022 world team trials.
Jordan Burroughs
Weight: 79 kilograms
College: Nebraska
Club: Pennsylvania RTC
Hometown: Sicklerville, N.J.
Age: 34
Six-time Senior world champion. 2012 Olympic champion and two-time Olympian. 10-time world and Olympic medalist. Four-time U.S. Open champion. Two-time NCAA champion, in 2009 and 2011. Dan Hodge Trophy winner in 2011.
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Chance Marsteller
Weight: 79 kilograms
College: Oklahoma State/Lock Haven
Club: NYC RTC
Hometown: New Park, Pa.
Age: 27
Two-time NCAA All-American. Took fifth at the 2022 U.S. Open and second at the world team trials. Three-time U.S. Open place-winner and 2019 finalist.
Zahid Valencia
Weight: 86 kilograms
College: Arizona State
Club: Sunkist Kids
Hometown: Bellflower, Calif.
Age: 25
Two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American, three-time Pac-12 champion. 2017 Junior world silver medalist. 2022 and 2018 world team trials finalist. 2019 U.S. Open champion.
Mark Hall
Weight: 86 kilograms
College: Penn State
Club: Pennsylvania RTC
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn.
Age: 25
2017 NCAA champion. Three-time NCAA finalist. Three-time Big Ten champion. Two-time Junior world champion. Cadet world champion. 2022 U.S. Open champion. Third at the 2022 world team trials. Currently an assistant coach at Penn.
Nathan Jackson
Weight: 92 kilograms
College: Indiana
Club: New Jersey RTC
Hometown: Crete, Ill.
Age: 28
Two-time All-American. 2022 world team trials finalist. 2020 Senior national finalist. Currently an assistant coach at Princeton.
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Jay Aiello
Weight: 92 kilograms
College: Virginia
Club: Cavalier WC
Hometown: Chantilly, Va.
Age: 24
Four-time NCAA qualifier. 2021 U23 world bronze medalist. Third at the 2022 U.S. Open. 2022 U.S. National Team member.
Kyle Snyder
Weight: 97 kilograms
College: Ohio State
Club: Nittany Lion WC
Hometown: Woodbine, Md.
Age: 27
Three-time Senior world champion and six-time world medalist. 2016 Olympic champion and 2020 Olympic silver medalist. 2013 Junior world champion and 2014 Junior world bronze medalist. Three-time NCAA champion, from 2016-17, and four-time NCAA finalist.
Kollin Moore
Weight: 97 kilograms
College: Ohio State
Club: Ohio RTC
Hometown: Burbank, Ohio
Age: 25
Three-time All-American and 2019 NCAA finalist. Three-time Big Ten champion. 2020 Olympic Trials runner-up. 2020 Senior national champion and 2019 Senior national runner-up. 2018 U23 world silver medalist and 2017 Junior world bronze medalist.
Hayden Zillmer
Weight: 125 kilograms
College: North Dakota State
Club: Gopher Wrestling Club RTC
Hometown: Crosby, Minn.
Age: 30
2022 Senior World Team member. Fifth at 2022 world championship. 2022 U.S. Open champion. 2019 Senior national champion. 2018 world team trials runner-up. In 2017, finished third at the freestyle world team trials and second at the Greco-Roman world team trials. 2015 NCAA All-American.
Nick Gwiazdowski
Weight: 125 kilograms
College: Binghamton/North Carolina State
Club: Spartan Combat RTC
Hometown: Delanson, N.Y.
Age: 29
Two-time Senior world bronze medalist, in 2017-18. Four-time Senior World Team member. 2022 world team trials runner-up. 2020 Olympic Trials runner-up. Two-time NCAA Champion, three-time NCAA finalist, four-time All-American.
Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the USA men's freestyle team competing at the Wrestling World Cup
