U20: Illinois Greco throws three into the Finals of the WTT

05/01/2025 7:46 AM

256

LAS VEGAS, NV • If there is a discipline in wrestling that Illinois is more widely praised for, it is Greco-Roman. And if there was ever a question as to the ability of Illinois wrestlers in the U20 division at The Open, that, too, was answered.

Out of the sixteen U20 wrestlers with Illinois ties, three would be crowned not only Open champions, but also earned a spot in the finals at the U20 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio, at the end of May at their respective weights.

Below is a quick look at each of the three Illinois wrestlers that captured Open championships.

Caleb Noble, 55kg • Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy

Warren’s two-time Illinois state champion who is known for his competitiveness, big-match electricity, and big-move capabilities is taking his show on the road, more specifically, to Ohio.

Noble, the weight’s two seed, after winning his first two matches by a combined score of 20-0, ran into his toughest opponent in his semifinal bout. In that match, Noble faced Ezekiel Witt of the Bison Wrestling Club, and after Noble went up 2-0 from scoring off a throw-by from his underhook, Witt would answer with a 2-2 sequence of his own—Witt would score two from a front head to an assassin, hold Noble for a moment, and then another two off a gut. Witt would go up, 4-2.

Noble, who stayed aggressive, went back to his left-handed underhook and scored off another throw-by as Witt tried to bail himself out with a headlock. Noble would catch him mid-air, and then add another two points with a lift and throw out of bounds. With that throw, Noble reclaimed control, leading by two, and headed into the break with a tight 6-4 lead.

In the final period, Witt scored two points to Noble’s one, but they were two one-pointers, both coming with under fifteen seconds left. The first was a big throw where Noble’s athleticism saved what would have been a four against seemingly anyone else. By Noble basically doing a round off in the air to keep his belly down and back up, no exposure took place. It was simply amazing kinesthetic awareness. This throw was challenged by Witt’s corner and lost; this was Noble’s one point. Witt’s second point, his final point, came off a passivity.

Ultimately, Noble won the bout 7-6, he then wrestled on and claimed the title one match later.

Here is a look at Noble’s tournament:

RD.32 • Bye

RD.16 • defeated Destin Maestas, Nevada • TS, 11-0 (1:36)

QTR-F • defeated Cadyn Coyle, MWC Wrestling Academy • TS, 9-0 (5:53)

SEM-F • defeated Ezekiel Witt, Bison Wrestling Club • Dec, 7-6

FINALS • defeated Titan Friederichs, MN Elite Wrestling Club • TS, 12-4 (5:24)

Wyatt Medlin, 73kg • Illinois RTC / Illini Wrestling Club

Maybe the best way to characterize Medlin’s wrestling at The Open, specifically his Greco, was that he was able to out “gut” any opponent he faced.

The two-time Illinois state champion out of Washington High School would outscore his first three opponents 25-0, and then literally gut his way through his semifinal bout.

After going up, 1-0, after his opponent, Patrick Brackett, was hit for passivity, Medlin would get on top and look for his turn. His efforts would, however, be stifled, but Medlin would win the period.

In the second, Brackett would be awarded the one for passivity and choose the top position in par terre. Once on top, Brackett would lift Medlin and work him back to the edge of the mat. From there, he looked to throw Medlin for a possible four-point exposure, but Medlin defended in the air and ended up on top of Brackett never having exposed his back—very impressive. For the lift, Brackett would be awarded one point; he now led 2-1 with about 1:45 remaining.

After the restart, a hard and heavy hand fight continued as each wrestler fought to stay centered, but as they fought, Brackett was hit for his second passivity and Medlin was awarded the top position with 1:08 remaining,

As soon as the whistle blew, Medlin locked up his gut and drove it over and through to score a two-point exposure to take a 3-2 lead with 0:48 remaining in the semifinal bout.

Once the match was restarted, it was Medlin holding center as Brackett was running his head into Medlin; he was desperate and in a flurry of trying to jump into a tie and fighting hard and wildly as he hoped to fall into some sort of score, be it, high dive, drag, or anything that might be available. Medlin would thwart all his efforts and win the bout, 3-2.

Now in the finals, Medlin would go back to shutting out his opponents and take home his Open crown with a 7-0 victory over the one seeded Jude Randall.

Here is a look at Medlin’s tournament:

RD.64 • Bye

RD.32 • defeated Carson Weber, Izzy Style Wrestling • TS, 8-0 (0:33)

RD.16 • defeated Troy Shannon, Pembroke, RTC • TS, 9-0 (3:40)

QTR-F • defeated Gabriel Delgado, Gold Rush Wrestling • TS, 8-0 (2:06)

SEM-F • defeated Patrick Brackett, NYAC • Dec, 3-2

FINALS • defeated Jude Randall, Bellator Pro Deus Wrestling • Dec, 7-0

Nick Nosler, 87kg • Southern Illinois RTC

Nosler, who was the 2024 US Open U20 champion, came in and did what a champion should do: repeated.

The Unity High School alum came into the bracket as the number three seed, and after he took out his first two opponents by way of a 9-0 and 8-0 technical superiority, he would face and defeat the two seed, Adonis Bonar of MWC Wrestling Academy.

This semifinal bout, however, would have very little drama involved. After Nosler scored the first point, he would relinquish his lead for a moment of thirty-five seconds before going 2-2-2 in the final 1:15 of the first period. In the second, he would add two more points, 1-1, and exit the match with a dominant 8-3 victory.

In the finals, again, Nosler was not looking to be dramatic. Going to work, Nosler closed out the job with a 8-0 technical superiority in 5:13 to once again head to Geneva, Ohio, and look to secure a World Team spot.

Three seeded Nosler, who

Waters one seed

Here is a look at Nosler’s tournament:

RD.32 • Bye

RD.16 • defeated Hunter Richardson, Western Colorado Wrestling • TS, 9-0 (1:29)

QTR-F • defeated Cain Tigges, Moen Wrestling Academy • TS, 8-0 (5:35)

SEM-F • defeated Adonis Bonar II, MWC Wrestling Academy • Dec, 8-3

FINALS • defeated Adam Waters, Steller Trained Wrestling • TS, 8-0 (5:13)