LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The 2025 CLAW U.S. Open kicked off on Wednesday at The Expo at World Market Center, featuring thrilling competitions in the Master’s men’s freestyle events.
The day concluded with 37 champions being crowned, showcasing a host of returning athletes making a mark in their respective divisions.
Among the notable repeat champions from 2024, two athletes stood out in Division C.
Rudy James, a prominent figure in the 78 kg category, claimed victory with an impressive 10-0 technical fall in the final match.
Demonstrating his versatility, James also aims to defend his title in Greco-Roman later in the week, having previously earned championships in both men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman last year.
Also in Division C, James Medeiros achieved his second consecutive title at 100 kg, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable competitor.
Division D featured three repeat champions defending their titles successfully.
Carson Gainey, competing at 58 kg, Derek Brignell at 78 kg, and Aaron Hayes 130 kg exemplified consistency and skill, with Brignell being recognized as one of the few Canadian competitors at the event.
The Masters E Division saw the highest tally of returning champions, with six athletes standing out.
Four of these champions—Don Jones at 70 kg, James Miller at 88 kg, Charles Jones at 100 kg, and Eric Mittlestead at 130 kg—successfully defended their titles.
Mittlestead is noteworthy as a multiple-time Veterans World Championships gold medalist, most recently winning both wrestling styles in Porec, Croatia, October 2024.
In Division F, three winners managed to retain their championships, including Raphael McDonald at 62 kg, Kevin Hejnal at 78 kg, and Ron Cole at 100 kg.
Hejnal’s path to victory included a decisive win against Bruce Moe, the defending champion from 2024 at 70 kg, who shifted weight classes for this year’s competition.
In the competitive environment of Division B, Brandon Precin, a three-time NCAA All-American and current Assistant Coach at North Central College, triumphantly defeated defending champion and 2019 Senior World Team member Tyler Graff by a score of 4-2.
Ben VomBaur, the reigning 2024 Veterans World Champion, maintained his impressive trajectory with a title win at 62 kg in the Masters C Division, securing victory through a cradle fall at just 1:17 into the match.
As the CLAW U.S. Open progresses, action continues on Thursday with the Masters Greco-Roman, Senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials, Senior Women’s freestyle, and U20 Greco-Roman tournaments lined up.
Fans can catch all the excitement and performances live on FloWrestling.
Here are highlights of the medal matches in the Masters A Freestyle category:
In the 58 kg weight class, Gerritt Bradley from Wasatch Wrestling Club took gold, defeating Skyler Wisecarver from Ohio.
Bradley clinched victory with a technical fall over Dai Le (Nor Cal Take Down Wrestling Club) and finished off Wisecarver decisively in the final match.
In the 62 kg division, Brandon James from Indiana won gold with a technical fall against Michael Harris from Ironclad Wrestling Club.
Ty Mundt of Thorobred Wrestling Club secured third place with another technical fall victory over Nathaniel Johnson.
At 70 kg, Aibek Toktoguluulu from Chicago Wrestling Club emerged victorious with a technical fall against Alexander Abono.
Wyatt Turnquist from Wolves Wrestling Club earned bronze after defeating Jeremy Huang, also by technical fall.
In the 78 kg category, Devin Bahr of Dubuque Wrestling Club claimed the championship title by defeating Adilet Anarbekov with a 4-0 decision.
James Culp from MO West Championship Wrestling Club secured third place in a close match against Blake Dixon.
The 88 kg division saw Seth Brossard from Wolves Wrestling Club finish strong with a 12-7 decision over Patrick Rhoads, taking home the gold medal.
Finally, Zeke Alleman from California took gold at 100 kg with a dominant technical fall over Gavin Henrie, while Michael Baumhart from Illinois secured the bronze.
In the 130 kg category, Michael Joseph from California triumphed over Benjamin Calamari, finishing the match with a score of 5-1.
In Masters B Freestyle, Desmond Moore from M80 Wrestling Club won gold in the 58 kg division, while Brandon Precin’s victory at 62 kg over Tyler Graff became one of the highlights of the day.
Ian Murphy of California and Vincent Mancuso from New Jersey also made headlines with their victories in the 100 kg and 130 kg categories, respectively.
The Masters C Freestyle matches also offered moments of excitement and remarkable performances.
Ben VomBaur continued his dominance with a decisive fall in 62 kg, while Bryan Wales of Michigan secured win at 58 kg.
In the Division F events, Raphael McDonald and Kevin Hejnal stood out amongst fierce competition, making their marks as champions in their weight classes.
Overall, the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open has already proven to be a platform for excellence and a battleground where seasoned wrestlers showcase their talent and experience.
As the competition heats up, fans and athletes alike look forward to the electrifying events still to come in the remaining tournament proceedings.
For those engaged in the world of wrestling, the CLAW U.S. Open stands as a testament to hard work, resilience, and the spirit of competition, providing moments that will be celebrated for years to come.
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