WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Minnesota battled back from early deficits and forced a winner-take-all final match before falling just short of a national title, dropping a 40-33 heartbreaker to Maryland in the Greco-Roman championship dual at the 2026 14U National Duals on Wednesday.
After dominating the Gold/Silver Pool A with consecutive victories over Illinois (54-19), Wisconsin (44-29), and Michigan Blue (42-34), Minnesota advanced to the final as the pool’s top seed.
In the championship dual, Minnesota quickly found itself in a 14-4 hole after dropping three of the first four matches. Gabriel Jasso provided an early spark for the team at 96 pounds, picking up a 10-2 technical fall over Maryland’s Caleb Tsikerdanos.
Minnesota then launched a ferocious middle-lineup rally to tie the dual at 15-15. Hunter Houle started the surge at 105 pounds with an 8-0 technical fall in just 31 seconds over Logan Brickley. Bryce Siem followed with a gritty 6-0 decision at 110 pounds, and Johnny Salas leveled the team score with a 10-2 technical fall over Leo Wheeler at 115 pounds.
Maryland reclaimed the lead by capturing the next three bouts, but Minnesota refused to back down. Trailing 29-15, the team mounted a second comeback by rattling off three consecutive dominant victories to knot the dual at 29-29 with four matches remaining.
Nolan Meisch ignited the crowd at 140 pounds with an 8-0 technical fall over Logan Hartzell. Thomas Snyder kept the momentum rolling at 155 pounds, needing only 52 seconds to secure a 10-2 technical fall over Jayden Carter. Luke Kelly then tied the dual with a dramatic pin against Nate Hart in 1:12 at 175 pounds.
With the championship on the line, the teams traded outcomes in the upper and lower weight classes. Minnesota dropped a tight 3-2 decision at 225 pounds, but Jacob Graber answered back at 75 pounds with a clutch 5-1 decision over Carter Townsend. A narrow 5-2 loss at 80 pounds set up a winner-take-all finale at 84 pounds, where Maryland’s Ethan Encarnacion secured an 8-0 technical fall over Minnesota’s Eli Richter to seal the dual.
To get to the championship Gold/Silver Pool, Minnesota defeated New Jersey (52-26), Utah (55-22), and Pennsylvania Blue (45-29) on Tuesday.
Greco-Roman action concluded Wednesday, but Minnesota’s tournament run continues Thursday as men’s freestyle competition begins at 8 a.m. EST.
2026 14U National Duals
At Wesley Chapel, Fla., June 9-12
Greco-Roman Gold/Silver Pool Results
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- California Gold
- Wisconsin
- Michigan Blue
- Pennsylvania Blue
- Illinois
- Washington
Championship Dual: Maryland 40, Minnesota 33
- 88: Korbin Kiessling (MD) pinned Cameron Rodgers (MN), 3:01
- 92: Luke Briggs (MD) tech. fall Jett Foster (MN), 8-0 (0:50)
- 96: Gabriel Jasso (MN) tech. fall Caleb Tsikerdanos (MD), 10-2 (3:39)
- 100: Edward Encarnacion III (MD) tech. fall Lincoln Schuelke (MN), 9-0 (1:10)
- 105: Hunter Houle (MN) tech. fall Logan Brickley (MD), 8-0 (0:31)
- 110: Bryce Siem (MN) dec. Logan Noonan (MD), 6-0
- 115: Johnny Salas (MN) tech. fall Leo Wheeler (MD), 10-2 (1:47)
- 120: Esaias Perez (MD) pinned Micah Donahue (MN), 0:47
- 126: Justin Wildy, Jr. (MD) pinned Chael Johnson (MN), 0:40
- 132: Brody Clemons (MD) dec. TJ Richardson (MN), 3-2
- 140: Nolan Meisch (MN) tech. fall Logan Hartzell (MD), 8-0 (0:33)
- 155: Thomas Snyder (MN) tech. fall Jayden Carter (MD), 10-2 (0:52)
- 175: Luke Kelly (MN) pinned Nate Hart (MD), 1:12
- 225: Luca Wynn (MD) dec. Hank Gutormson (MN), 3-2
- 75: Jacob Graber (MN) dec. Carter Townsend (MD), 5-1
- 80: Declan Solito (MD) dec. Easton Schut (MN), 5-2
- 84: Ethan Encarnacion (MD) tech. fall Eli Richter (MN), 8-0 (1:48)
2026 14U National Duals Greco-Roman All-Tournament Team
75 pounds Jacob Graber, Minnesota, 5-0
96 pounds Gabriel Jasso, Minnesota, 7-0
105 pounds Hunter Houle, Minnesota, 7-0