Minnesota Storm wrestlers Patrick Smith, Ryan Epps, and Christian DuLaney win Challenge Tournament
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior World medalists Adam Coon (130 kg) and Aliaksandr Kikiniou (77 kg) were among 10 Greco-Roman champions from today’s World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Discovery Canyon High School to punch their tickets for Final X.
Today’s winners will compete in Final X against the 2023 U.S. Open champion at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on June 10.
Coon, a 2018 World silver medalist, scored a 9-0 technical fall over Donny Longendyke in the finals. Coon advances to Final X to face Cohlton Schultz of the Sunkist Kids, who defeated him in the U.S. Open finals in April. Coon had not wrestled until recently after pursuing professional football after the 2021 season.
Kikinou, a 43-year-old who won a 2009 World bronze medalist for Belarus, recently received U.S. citizenship and was second at the U.S. Open. He won his finals today with a technical fall over Payton Jacobson, 10-0. He earned a Final X rematch against Kamal Bey, who defeated him in the U.S. Open finals. Continue reading at teamusa.org →