NEWARK, N.J. — High school sensation PJ Duke pulled off the biggest upset of Final X on Saturday, defeating 2022 World silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis in dramatic fashion to earn his first Senior World Team berth at 70 kilograms.
The upset highlighted an exciting day at the Prudential Center that determined 19 of the 20 spots on the 2025 U.S. Senior World Team for the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, Sept. 13-21.
Duke, who has signed with Penn State, trailed 2-0 in the decisive third match before taking Diakomihalis to his back and securing a pin at 4:07. The victory capped a remarkable comeback after Diakomihalis dominated the opening match with a 10-0 technical fall.
The New York native forced the third match with a stunning 17-10 victory in bout two, overcoming a 9-2 deficit with a pair of four-point moves and turns in par terre.
Veterans Lead the Way
Three past World or Olympic medalists swept their finals series to secure spots on the team. Spencer Lee, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, qualified for his first Senior World Championships with a two-match sweep over Penn State freshman Luke Lilledahl at 57 kg.
Kyle Snyder, the 2016 Olympic champion and three-time World champion, extended his remarkable streak to 11 consecutive U.S. Senior teams with a dominant performance against Hayden Zillmer at 97 kg. Snyder won both matches 8-0 and 8-2, continuing a run of excellence that dates back to 2015.
Zahid Valencia, the 2023 World bronze medalist, defeated four-time World champion Kyle Dake in straight matches at 86 kg, winning 5-3 and 4-1.
Gopher Wrestling Club Spotlight
Two wrestlers from the Gopher Wrestling Club in Minneapolis faced different fates at Final X, with both falling short in their bids for World Team spots.
Hayden Zillmer Falls to Snyder
Hayden Zillmer, the 29-year-old from Crosby, Minnesota, was unable to break Kyle Snyder’s decade-long dominance at 97 kilograms. Despite making his second Final X appearance, Zillmer was outclassed by the veteran champion in both matches.
The former North Dakota State wrestler, who has made a remarkable transformation from a 149-pound freshman to a heavyweight competitor, was seeking to end Snyder’s streak that dates back to 2014. Zillmer previously made the 2022 World Team at 125 kg but moved down in weight class for this competition.
Zillmer took a circuitous path to Final X, initially competing at heavyweight at the U.S. Open before dropping to 97 kg for the Team Trials Challenge Tournament in May, where he defeated Eric Schultz and Jay Aiello to earn his spot.
Trent Hillger Outgunned by Hendrickson
Trent Hillger, the Holly, Michigan native who trains with the Gopher Wrestling Club, fell to rising star Wyatt Hendrickson in their heavyweight battle at 125 kg. The series showcased contrasting styles, with Hendrickson’s explosive offense overwhelming Hillger’s more measured approach.
Hendrickson dominated the opening match with a 10-0 technical fall in just 1:38, then survived a wild second bout to win 20-14. Despite Hillger’s pair of four-point takedowns that briefly gave him a 12-10 lead in the second period, Hendrickson answered with a counter takedown and three gut wrenches to secure victory.
Hillger had rebounded from a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Open to win the Team Trials and earn his first Final X berth. The former Wisconsin standout was seeking his first World Team after years of training alongside elite heavyweights like Hayden Zillmer and Gable Steveson in Minnesota.
Women’s Freestyle Dominance
On the women’s side, Olympic and World medalists Helen Maroulis, Kennedy Blades and Jacarra Winchester headlined a team mixing veteran stars with promising newcomers.
Maroulis, the 2016 Olympic champion, extended her remarkable career by pinning Amanda Martinez in both matches at 57 kg, qualifying for her 12th Senior World Team. The three-time World champion has now made 15 career U.S. Senior teams.
Kennedy Blades, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, swept Brooklyn Hays at 68 kg to earn her first World Championships berth. Blades was joined by Iowa teammates Macey Kilty (65 kg) and Kylie Welker (76 kg), giving the Hawkeyes three representatives on the World Team.
Winchester needed all three matches to defeat Abigail Nette at 59 kg, securing her sixth Senior World Team berth with a 10-0 technical fall in the decisive bout.
First-Time Qualifiers
Eleven wrestlers will compete in their first Senior World Championships, including Duke and several promising athletes across both men’s and women’s freestyle.
Men’s Freestyle First-Time Qualifiers:
PJ Duke (70 kg) – High school sensation who upset Yianni Diakomihalis
David Carr (74 kg) – Past U20 World Champion and Iowa State NCAA champion
Levi Haines (79 kg) – Penn State NCAA champion
Trent Hidlay (92 kg) – NC State star with age-group World medals
Wyatt Hendrickson (125 kg) – Oklahoma State NCAA champion and U23 World champion
Real Woods (65 kg) – Former Stanford/Iowa wrestler
Women’s Freestyle First-Time Qualifiers:
Audrey Jimenez (50 kg) – Lehigh University competitor
Felicity Taylor (53 kg) – Former Iowa NCWWC champion
Cristelle Rodriguez (55 kg) – 2024 U20 World champion from Doane University
Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg) – U.S. Army WCAP athlete
Alexandria Glaude (72 kg) – 2025 U.S. Open champion and McKendree University star
The remaining spot on the men’s team will be determined July 14 in Fargo, North Dakota, when 2023 World champion Vito Arujau faces 2024 U.S. Open champion Jax Forrest at 61 kg. Arujau received a delay due to injury, a privilege afforded only to Olympic or World medalists.
Alexandria Glaude won the women’s 72 kg spot by forfeit when two-time Senior World champion Amit Elor withdrew for personal reasons.
The complete World Team will look to build on Team USA’s strong tradition at the World Championships when competition begins in Croatia this September.
Men’s Freestyle Best-of-Three Championship Series
74 kg –. David Carr (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Mitchell Mesenbrink (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Carr dec. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout Two – Carr dec. Mesenbrink, 4-4
(Carr wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
79 kg – Levi Haines (Arendtsville, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Evan Wick (San Gabriel, Calif./Askren Wrestling Academy/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Haines tech fall Wick, 10-0, 2:31
Bout Two – Haines dec. Wick, 6-1
(Haines wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/U.S. Air Force WCAP) vs. Trent Hillger (Minneapolis, Minn./Gopher WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Hendrickson tech fall Hillger, 10-0, 1:38
Bout Two – Hendrickson dec. Hillger, 20-14
(Hendrickson wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
92 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Joshua Barr (Davison, Mich./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Hidlay dec. Barr, 6-1
Bout Two – Hidlay dec. Barr, 3-2
(Hidlay wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
97 kg – Kyle Snyder (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Hayden Zillmer (Deerwood, Minn./Gopher WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Snyder dec. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout Two – Snyder dec. Zillmer, 8-2
(Snyder wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Joseph McKenna (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Woods dec. McKenna, 7-3
Bout Two – Woods dec. McKenna, 5-4
(Woods wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
70 kg – PJ Duke (Slate Hill, N.Y./KD Training Center/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Yianni Diakomihalis (Rochester, N.Y./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Diakomihalis tech fall Duke, 10-0, 3:26
Bout Two – Duke dec. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout Three – Duke pin Diakomihalis, 4:07
(Duke wins series, 2 matches to one, to make the World Team)
57 kg – Spencer Lee (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Luke Lilledahl (Saint Charles, Mo./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Lee dec. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout Two – Lee dec. Lilledahl, 6-0
(Lee wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kyle Dake (Port Matilda, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Valencia dec. Dake, 5-3
Bout Two – Valencia dec. Dake, 4-1
(Valencia wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
Women’s Freestyle Best-of-Three Championship Series
55 kg – Cristelle Rodriguez (Fresno, Calif./Tiger WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Everest Leydecker (Phoenix, Ariz./Thorobred WC)
Bout One – Rodriguez dec. Leydecker, 12-8
Bout Two – Rodriguez dec. Leydecker, 8-5
(Rodriguez wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
62 kg – Adaugo Nwachukwu (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) dec. Kayla Miracle (Phoenix, Ariz./Valiant WC)
Bout One – Nwachukwu dec. Miracle, 14-8
Bout Two – Miracle dec. Nwachukwu, 4-3
Bout Three – Nwachukwu dec. Miracle, 8-4
(Nwachukwu wins series, 2 matches to one, to make the World Team)
53 kg – Felicity Taylor (Coralville, Iowa/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brianna Gonzalez (Baldwin, Calif./Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Taylor dec. Gonzalez, 2-1
Bout Two – Taylor dec. Gonzalez, 6-4
(Taylor wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
59 kg –Jacarra Winchester (Colorado Springs, Colo./USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Abigail Nette (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
Bout One – Nette dec. Winchester, 6-4
Bout Two – Winchester dec. Nette, 9-7
Bout Three – Winchester tech fall Nette, 11-0, 3:31
(Winchester wins series, 2 matches to one, to make the World Team)
65 kg – Macey Kilty (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Aine Drury (Westminster, Calif./New York AC)
Bout One – Kilty tech fall Drury, 10-0, 2:57
Bout Two – Kilty tech fall Drury, 10-0, 2:07
(Kilty wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
76 kg – Kylie Welker (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Dymond Guilford (Lancaster, Calif./USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Welker dec. Guilford, 2-1
Bout Two – Welker dec. Guilford, 9-1
(Welker wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
50 kg – Audrey Jimenez (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Erin Golston (Denton, Texas/New York AC)
Bout One – Jimenez dec. Golston, 10-2
Bout Two – Jimenez tech fall Golston 12-2, 5:48
(Jimenez wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Tiffin, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brooklyn Hays (Colorado Springs, Colo./USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Blades dec. Hays, 10-4
Bout Two – Blades dec. Hays, 5-2
(Blades wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)
72 kg – Alexandria Glaude (Atherton, Calif./Beaver Dam RTC/Titan Mercury WC) won by forfeit
Note: Amit Elor (Walnut Creek, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) did not compete
(Glaude makes the World Team)
57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Titan Mercury WC) dec. Amanda Martinez (Riverside, Ill./Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC)
Bout One – Maroulis pin Martinez, 1:51
Bout Two – Maroulis pin Martinez, 4:43
(Maroulis wins series, 2 matches to none, to make the World Team)