Repeat champions, ranked wrestlers highlight 2025 Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in Des Moines

From California’s Sammy Sanchez to Iowa’s Ashton Honnold, some of the nation’s top-ranked wrestlers dominated the mats as USA Wrestling’s Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals and Boys National Recruiting Showcase crowned champions in Des Moines.

Ashton Honnold of Nodaway Valley (Iowa) won his third Boys Showcase championship, this time at 285. / Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

USA Wrestling’s Annual Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals and Boys National Recruiting Showcase Crowned the Showcase Champions on Saturday afternoon at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The 9th/10th and 11th/12th grade boys’ divisions began competition on Thursday and concluded Friday. The Showcase kicked off on Friday.

The girls got underway as the Boys Showcase was winding down and will have their medal matches on Sunday afternoon. Three wrestlers that appear in our latest Boys National Rankings won titles in both other divisions.

Top-Ranked Wrestlers Shine at Showcase Finals

The 9th/10th grade champs were Michigan’s Dylan Nieuwehuis (113, Honorable Mention at 106 pounds), Texas’ Oliver Pulliam (120 pounds, HM at 113), and No. 28 Kade Splinter of Wisconsin at 215 pounds.

On the 11th/12th grade slate, No. 25 Cruz Gannon of Iowa claimed the 106-pound crown. Oklahoma’s No. 29 Cason Craft took home the 113-pound gold and Nebraska’s Cruzer Dominguez (No. 25 at 113) claimed the title at 120 pounds after being third at 106 in the 9th/10th brackets a year ago.  

Honnold Powers to Third Straight Title

Iowa’s No. 9 Ashton Honnold needed overtime to gain his second consecutive Boys Showcase Championship, and third in a row counting a 9th/10th title as a sophomore. The first two came at 215 pounds but now Honnold is walking amongst the biggest boys as a heavyweight.

Honorable Mention Nehemiah Lendobeja (Wisconsin) traded escapes with Honnold after a scoreless first period. About midway through the first overtime period, Honnold saw an opening and exploded for a power double/football tackle that Wisconsinite had no chance at defending for the 4-1 win.

Sanchez and Miller Lead the Repeat Parade

California’s two-time U17 World Champion, Sammy Sanchez (No. 1 at 113 pounds), made it two Showcase titles in a row with a 17-0 dismantling of Pennsylvania’s Flynn Arnestad at 120 pounds. Sanchez, who won at 106 last year, posted three pins and a technical fall to reach the finals.

Oklahoma Leads All States with Three Champions

For the third repeat champ, Oklahoma’s Jake Miller, it was also his second Showcase with a gold as he took home the 150-pound honors in 2024. The senior is currently ranked fourth at 144 pounds as that was his weight the last time we saw him at Fargo.

Seeing him here, it is obvious, Miller’s days at 144 are long over. Up at 157 pounds, Miller looked comfortable and bulked up putting up three takedowns versus Arizona’s Marcus Killgore on the way to a 10-3 win. The first two takedowns were strange outcomes that weren’t necessarily moves as much as results of the circumstances. The final takedown near the end of the third came on a cradle with 15 seconds left.

Killgore is an incoming freshman who made his mark this weekend with two upsets as he marched to the finals. In the quarterfinals, Killgore won an overtime bout with Missouri’s Jet Brown (No. 14 at 150 pounds), 8-5, then decked Honorable Mention Gavin Regis of Utah, 4:24, in the semis.

Oklahoma had two more champs, with their three being the most of any state. The 126-pound final was a showdown of two ranked Oklahoma grapplers, No. 26 Isaiah Jones and No. 28 Van Smith. The two met at the 6A State Tournament with Jones edging Miller, 4-3.

This one would be easier and far more one-sided as Jones rolled to a 12-0 major decision, simply overwhelming his rival. It was 5-0 after the first when a low single’s momentum brought them to their feet where Jones finished it off, catching Smith on his back for two near-fall points. An escape in the second led to a late takedown and another single leg was secured in the third for the final count.

Briar Hooks and Jason Hampton had a low-key bout at 132 pounds. Hooks was able to squeeze by Hampton after falling behind early to give the Sooner State their third gold, 5-4.

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2025 Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals Boyss Champions

• 106: Wyatt Dannegger, Collum Trained School of Wrestling
• 113: Chase Karenbauer, Bad Karma Wrestling Club
• 120: Samuel Sanchez, Esperanza High
• 126: Isaiah Jones, Threestyle Wrestling of Oklahoma
• 132: Bryar Hooks, Cowboy Wrestling Club
• 138: Griff Powell, Izzy Style Wrestling
• 144: Michale Lopez, Mile High Wrestling Club
• 150: Donovan Rosauer, Yorkville Wrestling Club
• 157: Jake Miller, Broken Arrow Wrestling Club
• 165: Jordan Fincher, BullTrained Wrestling
• 175: Ryder Schulte, Reddot Wrestling Club
• 190: Dylan Reel, Compound Wrestling
• 215: Carter Brown, Missouri

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Breakout Performances Define the 2025 Event

Both of Illinois’ champions used upsets to advance through the brackets. The greatest of those being authored by Donovan Rosauer at 150 pounds when he shocked No. 13 Mason Petersen of Nebraska, 9-7, in the quarterfinals. In the finals, Rosauer beat another Illini Grappler, Dana Wickson, 14-6.

Griff Powell took out Iowa’s Nico DeSalvo (No. 24 at 126 pounds) in the 138-pound semis, 6-2. Like Rosauer, Powell would face a foe from his home state in his final, Demetrios Carrera. No one scored in the first and escapes were exchanged leading to a third period ending that needed a review since Powell secured his winning takedown off a hip heist with one second on the clock.

One of Missouri’s champs was unexpected, Jordan Fincher (165 pounds) and the other, No. 21 Carter Brown (215) was the favorite.

Fincher took out Michigan’s Honorable Mention Donny Beaufait, 4-0, in the quarters. In the gold medal match, Fincher fell behind 4-1 to Arizona’s Jozeph Valenzuela Smith before rallying for the win on the strength of two takedowns in the middle frame including one on a cradle that was accompanied by two back points. An escape, stall point, and technical violation would be added to Fincher’s tally in the third for an 11-6 final.

Brown faced off with a familiar face in state mate, Porter Talbot. Talbot is unranked and Brown had little trouble securing his championship, putting up a 13-4 major decision.

Wisconsin’s No. 20 Wyatt Dannegger toed the line with Honorable Mention Abe Heysinger of Iowa in the 106-pound finals. Dannegger placed 5th in the 9th/10th part of things a year ago and pocketed the Showcase gold this time with a 4-1 decision. Dannegger was close to securing back points a few times early in the second on a tilt, then worked an arm bar and half to the point of exhaustion before breaking through with a four-point tilt at the end of the period.

Pennsylvania’s No. 9 Chase Karenbauer was injured at last year’s tournament, so his sixth-place finish comes with an asterisk. There will be no need for a notation this year as the sophomore blew Iowa’s Carew Christensen off the mat with a 17-1 tech fall at 113 pounds.

Colorado’s Michael Lopez came down from 150 pounds, where he is an honorable mention entry, to claim the 144-pound title with a 15-2 assault of Arizona’s Owen Proper. Lopez continually attacked with low singles and ankle picks to which Proper had no answers.

Arizona’s No. 29 Ryder Schulte built a 9-1 lead after two periods over Texas’ Sean Perez at 175 pounds. A slide-by and throw-by got Schulte his first two scores, with a snap and spin behind in the second. Perez hit a single and changed to a double with 22 seconds left to post his only non-escape points.

Georgia’s Dylan Reel secured the 190-pound bracket with a 10-7 win over Arizona’s Jeremy LeBlanc. LeBlanc landed in the finals after clobbering No. 29 Deacon Moran (Missouri), 17-4, in the semis.

Bracket Links (you need to create an account, but it’s free)

Finals Results

106 pounds 

1st - Wyatt Dannegger (Collum Trained School of Wrestling) dec. Abe Heysinger (Immortal Athletics WC), 4-1

3rd - Jackson Parmater (DC Elite Wrestling) fall Karson Wuebker (Sebolt Wrestling Academy), 1:42

5th - William Alves (Montana) dec. Joseph Hamilton (Center Grove Wrestling Club), 9-4

7th - Triston Mouton (Tennessee) dec. Dylan Sandness (MATPAC Wrestling Club), 4-0, SV

113 pounds 

1st - Chase Karenbauer (Bad Karma Wrestling Club) tech. fall Carew Christensen (Iowa), 17-1 (4:22)

3rd - Mason Moody (Askren Wrestling Academy) fall Khy'ree Thomas-Calloway (MWC Wrestling Academy), 2:01

5th - Arav Pandey (American Dream Wrestling Club) dec. Lukas Salas-Sanchez (Cornerstone Mat Club), 4-1

7th - Kaden Haakinson (Berge Elite Wrestling Academy) dec. Ian Henderson (Missouri), 14-11 SV

120 pounds 

1st - Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza High School Wrestling) tech. fall Flynn Arnestad (American Dream Wrestling Club), 17-0 (4:31)

3rd - Carson Miles (Reddot Wrestling Club) maj. dec. Rodolfo Rojas (Team Tulsa Wrestling Club), 10-1

5th - Kipton Lewis (Immortal Athletics WC) fall Jeremy Carver (Contenders Wrestling Academy), 4:24

7th - Brand'n Edstrom (Team Idaho Wrestling Club) dec. Lincoln Swick (Askren Wrestling Academy), 4-2

126 pounds 

1st - Isaiah Jones (Threestyle Wrestling of Oklahoma) maj. dec. Van Smith (Mustang High School Wrestling), 12-1

3rd - Cale Vandermark (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) maj. dec. Jamiel Castleberry (The Wrestling Academy), 11-1

5th - Aaron Meza (California) dec. Jordan Manyette (American Dream Wrestling Club), 4-3

7th - Elijah Scriven (Bad Karma Wrestling Club) dec. Brody Gossen (Berge Elite Wrestling Academy), 13-11

132 pounds 

1st - Bryar Hooks (Cowboy Wrestling Club) dec. Jason Hampton (Callan Wrestling Academy), 5-4

3rd - Eric Casula (Cowboy Wrestling Club) dec. Jaxsen Bailey (South Side Wrestling Club), 13-12

5th - Mason Shirk (Big Game Wrestling Club) dec. Michael Malizzio (Team El1te Wrestling), 4-1

7th - Gage Spurgeon (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) dec. Chance Fisher (Tuttle Wrestling Club), 3-0

138 pounds 

1st - Griff Powell (Izzy Style Wrestling) dec. Demetrios Carrera (Team El1te Wrestling), 5-1

3rd - Nico DeSalvo (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) dec. Jonathon Romero (Volcano Vista High School Wrestling), 4-1

5th - Timmy Boda (BFW) and Lorenzo Gallegos (Volcano Vista High School Wrestling), double forfeit

7th - Carter Schmauss (Immortal Athletics WC) dec. Hunter Arriaga (Flathead High School Wrestling), 7-1

144 pounds 

1st - Michael Lopez (Mile High Wrestling Club) maj. dec. Owen Proper (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness), 15-2

3rd - Isaiah Gallegos (Mile High Wrestling Club) dec. Gavin Green (M2 Training Center), 10-3

5th - Landen Davis (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) dec. Kameron Luif (Team El1te Wrestling), 8-6

7th - Chris Lalonde (Bear Cave Wrestling Club) fall Benjamin Ploehn (Stallions Wrestling Club), 0:21

150 pounds 

1st - Donovan Rosauer (Yorkville Wrestling Club) maj. dec. Dana Wickson (ISI Wrestling Club), 14-6

3rd - Mason Petersen (UWC) tech. fall Noah Garcia-Salazar (Top Notch Wrestling Club), 16-0 (3:38)

5th - Graham Wilde (Berge Elite Wrestling Academy) dec. Roman Clouse (Gardner Edgerton High School Wrestling), 8-5

7th - Joseph Mahoney (Connecticut) dec. Elijah Blewitt (Sebolt Wrestling Academy), 9-8

157 pounds 

1st - Jake Miller (Broken Arrow Wrestling Club) dec. Marcus Killgore (Mustang Wrestling Club), 10-3

3rd - Jet Brown (MO West Championship Wrestling Club) maj. dec. Gavin Regis (Sanderson Wrestling Academy), 13-3

5th - Parker Casey (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) maj. dec. Dimitri Kizer (Tough N Technical Wrestling Club (TNTWC), 21-11

7th - David Burchett (Black Fox Wrestling Academy) dec. Olin Neuville (Askren Wrestling Academy), 4-2

165 pounds 

1st - Jordan Fincher (BullTrained Wrestling) dec. Jozeph Valenzuela Smith (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness), 11-6

3rd - Don Beaufait (Michigan) dec. Tyree Graham (Gladiator Wrestling), 6-0

5th - Landen McDowell (Greater Heights Wrestling) med. for. Emerson Tjaden (Lawrence Elite Wrestling Club)

7th - Kristian Scott (Red Stick Wrestling Club) dec. Knox Verbais (Illinois), 11-6

175 pounds 

1st - Ryder Schulte (Reddot Wrestling Club) dec. Sean Perez (Jflo Trained), 10-5

3rd - Louis Smith (Michigan) fall Nikolas Gallardo (Aniciete Training Club), 0:46

5th - Dayne Serio (SPAR Wrestling Academy) dec. Slade Barnett (Minnesota), 4-1

7th - Alexander Tack (Cory Clark Wrestling) tech. fall Kace Fullmer (Team Idaho Wrestling Club), 21-5 (2:47)

190 pounds 

1st - Dylan Reel (Compound Wrestling) dec. Jeremy LeBlanc (Arizona), 10-7

3rd - Gabriel Barragan (Esperanza High School Wrestling) dec. Deacon Moran (Zumwalt Wrestling Club), 7-4

5th - Braden Strain (Berryhill High School Wrestling) fall Carter Harms (Missouri), 3:08

7th - Joseph Heim (MN Elite Wrestling Club) dec. Emery Johnson (CRWC), 5-3

215 pounds 

1st - Carter Brown (Missouri) dec. Porter Talbot (Springfield Wrestling Club), 11-4

3rd - Ivan Petrich (Minnesota) dec. McGregor Miller (Team Idaho Wrestling Club), 7-5

5th - Blaise Turner (Team Idaho Wrestling Club) fall Noah Butler (ACH Wrestling Club), 0:49

7th - Elijah Gawronski (Volcano Vista High School Wrestling) maj. dec. Camden Williams (Whiteland Wrestling Club), 10-2

285 pounds 

1st - Ashton Honnold (Moen Wrestling Academy) dec. Nehemiah Lendobeja (Team Nazar Training Center), 4-1, SV

3rd - Elijah Schunke (Heartland Wrestling Academy) fall Jacob Ramirez (Grand Prairie High School Wrestling), 2:49

5th - Carlos Rodriguez Jr. (Heartland Wrestling Academy) med. for. Luke Driedric (Askren Wrestling Academy)

7th - Redmond Lindsey (Raw Wrestling Club) med. for. Connor Williams (Bees Wrestling Club)