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5 storylines at the U.S. Open wrestling tournament
WIll David Carr build on recent win over Olympic silver medalist? Parker Keckeisen returns to the mat after closing college career; Hawkeye men and women in the field and more.
Apr. 22, 2025 11:52 pm, Updated: Apr. 23, 2025 9:11 am
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The 2025 U.S. Wrestling Open is this week in Las Vegas. The action begins Wednesday and ends Sunday. Champions in senior-level men’s and women’s freestyle will advance for a shot at the U.S. World Team, while this event serves as the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Trials. Here are five storylines to watch.
TRACKING DAVID CARR
Former Iowa State two-time NCAA champion David Carr posted a notable victory in February. He opened many eyes with his 10-7 victory over Japan’s 2024 Olympic silver medalist Daichi Takatani. Carr tallied two takedowns and six points from turns in the victory. At the time, Carr noted the potential boost the win provided, as he focused on his overall progress as a wrestler.
“It’s a good win,” Carr said in a post-match interview at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Feb. 26. “I have to continue to build and keep putting my faith in Jesus.”
Interestingly, Carr shed some light on his training before the Takatani bout. Not only has he worked with Brent Metcalf and Cyclone Wrestling Club staff but he spent time with Olympic champion and six-time gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, addressing footwork, shot fakes and head movement.
“He’s one of my mentors,” Carr said. “Being able to work with him and some other coaches, it’s cool to use those things and them working.”
It only makes him that much more dangerous. After all, Takatani defeated Kyle Dake at the Olympics.
Carr will compete at the 74-kilogram weight class with Penn State NCAA champion Mitchell Messenbrink. Carr defeated Messenbrink, 9-8, in the 165-pound NCAA finals in 2024, capping Carr’s college career. The pair are head-and-shoulders above the rest in the field and should contend for the title. If Carr can recapture his form and even build on it from the Takatani match, Carr is capable of representing Team USA in September.
KECKEISEN BACK IN COMPETITION
University of Northern Iowa NCAA champion and three-time national finalist Parker Keckeisen returns to the mat after capping his career with a fifth All-American performance and runner-up finish at the NCAA tournament in March. Keckeisen was phenomenal for the Panthers, placing third or better at each national tournament and becoming the second wrestler to win five Big 12 Conference titles.
Those accomplishments were in folkstyle. He hasn’t been heavily involved in freestyle in recent years. Many will say wrestling is wrestling and the discipline doesn’t make a huge difference. We’ve seen wrestlers like Tony Ramos come straight out of college and capture World team spots with limited freestyle action. Keckeisen’s relentless style and his ability to score points from his feet will transfer well. Add the fact he has a head coach (Doug Schwab), who was a 2008 Olympian.
Keckeisen will wrestle in a loaded 86-kilogram division with Kyle Dake, Zahid Valencia and Chance Marstellar. Keckeisen faces quite a challenge with the field but it also serves a great starting point for his international career. He will definitely receive a good gauge from this week’s event.
AUSTIN DESANTO, MASSOMA ENDENE IN THE FIELD
Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Austin DeSanto is in a deep and balanced 61 kg field. The weight has the most veteran names and a couple of young hot shots in the bracket. DeSanto is among the experienced competitors with Daton Fix, Nahshon Garrett, Seth Gross, Nico Megaludis and Nathan Tomasello. They will have their hands full with junior-level competitors – Marcus Blaze and Jax Forrest – who opted to compete at the senior level. Blaze was the runner-up at last year’s World Team Trials and has beaten Fix, Garrett and Gross. Blaze, a four-time Ohio State champion who signed with Penn State, is a legit contender. DeSanto lost to Gross at Flowrestling Night In America in February but never count him out since his motor never slows down.
Endene recently announced his commitment to the University of Iowa. He has one year of eligibility left after winning three NCAA Division III titles at Wartburg. Last year, he committed to Wisconsin before changing his mind and returning to Wartburg. Endene fills a need for the Hawkeyes at 197 pounds with the graduation of NCAA champion Stephen Buchanan. He will compete at 97 kg, where he was a member of last year’s U23 World Team. Iowa fans will get a good look at Endene against top competition, which includes Olympic champion Kyle Snyder.
IOWA WOMEN WELL REPRESENTED THIS WEEK
Iowa women’s wrestling earned their second national title in March. The Hawkeyes have multiple wrestlers with international experience and many will be on display in Las Vegas. At least eight current or former Hawkeyes will compete at the U.S. Open.
Olympic silver medalist and national champion Kennedy Blades will be at 68 kg. 2024 U24 World champion and senior-level bronze medalist Kylie Welker will be one of the top contenders at 76 kg. Interestingly, former Hawkeye national champion Marilynne Deede is a contender at 76 kg and the former teammates could cross paths.
Reese Larramendy, a two-time U20 World team member, will wrestle at 65 kg, along with former Hawkeye and current North Central College wrestler Bella Mir.
Former South Winneshiek prep and Hawkeye Felicity Taylor will wrestle at 53 kg. Taylor also wrestled in the 2022 World Cup at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Nanea Estrella (62 kg) and Rose Cassioppi (72 kg) are in the field.
Former William Penn and Iowa Wesleyan NAIA champion Adaugo Nwachukwu is at 62 kg and could compete with veteran Kayla Miracle.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFCANCE OF THE U.S. OPEN?
USA Wrestling’s U.S. Open has an impact on the U.S. World Team that competes at the United World Wrestling’s World Championships Sept. 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia. The U.S. Open champions in Greco-Roman will earn spots for Team USA. In men’s and women’s freestyle, the U.S. Open champion will advance to the Final X – a best-of-3 series between the top-two wrestlers at each weight. Spencer Lee (57 kg) and Vito Arujau (61 kg) and Helen Maroulis (57 kg) and Macey Kilty (65 kg) earned and accepted automatic bids to the Final X competition and will face this weekend’s winners at their weight.
If Larramendy wins the U.S. Open, she would force a Final X series with Kilty. The two were Iowa teammates last season.
Other U.S. Open champions will be paired against the winners of the World Team Trials on May 16-18 in Louisville, Ky. Final X will be held June 14 at Newark, N.J. and will determine World Team members.
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
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