GENEVA, Ohio — The stakes were monumental under the Friday night lights at SPIRE Academy, as the opening day of the 2026 U23 Nationals & U20 World Team Trials officially set the roster for the U20 Men’s Freestyle World Team.

With ten champions earning the right to represent Team USA at the 2026 U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, this August, the finals delivered a mix of triumph and devastation for the California wrestling contingent.

Cortez Cements Freestyle Status at 57 kg

Isaiah Cortez is heading back to the global stage, but this time in a different discipline. After successfully making the Greco-Roman U20 World Team in both 2024 and 2025, Cortez proved his elite versatility by securing the freestyle spot at 57 kg.

Earning a bye to the best-of-three championship round thanks to his U20 Nationals title at the U.S. Open, Cortez looked fresh and dominant. He systematically dismantled Grey Burnett in a two-match sweep, controlling the pacing to take the first bout 5-1 before turning up the heat for a decisive 10-0 technical fall in the second.

Heartbreak in the Finals

While Isaiah celebrated his berth to Slovakia, his brother Elijah Cortez faced a buzzsaw at 61 kg. Squaring off against Aaron Seidel (SERTC-TMWC), Elijah struggled to find his offense. Seidel showcased relentless pressure, sweeping the series with back-to-back 10-0 technical falls to claim the spot.

Another Golden State standout, Brock Mantanona of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, met a similar fate. Wrestling against Aeoden Sinclair (Tiger Style Wrestling Club), Mantanona dropped the opening match 6-0. Sinclair then closed the door in round two with a 10-0 technical fall, leaving Mantanona as the runner-up.

The 125 kg Marathon

The most dramatic showdown of the night came in the heavyweight division, featuring the lone best-of-three series to go the distance.

Dreshaun Ross bonused his way through the challenge tournament to force a highly anticipated rematch against age-group World medalist Coby Merrill. Because Merrill outlasted Ross 8-6 at the U.S. Open, he enjoyed a bye directly into the finals.

Initially, the rest advantage seemed to pay off. Merrill dominated the opening round on Friday with an 11-0 shutout. However, Ross dug deep, adjusting his strategy to battle back and take the second match 9-2. In the winner-take-all third bout, Ross maintained his momentum to win 7-1, locking in his U20 World Team spot and extending his all-time series lead over Merrill to 5-2.

California’s Challenge Tournament Placers

Despite the tough breaks in the championship series, California wrestlers made their presence felt throughout the challenge tournament brackets.

Wrestler	Weight Class	Placement	Training Club
Ronnie Ramirez	57 kg	2nd Place	Cowboy RTC
Arseni Kikiniou	65 kg	4th Place	Poway RTC
Branson John	92 kg	3rd Place	DWC RTC
Levi Bussey	92 kg	4th Place	Central Coast RTC
Robert Platt	97 kg	3rd Place	Tar Heel Wrestling Club