Relive Final X and preview Fargo in June issue of WIN (V29I9)

Updated: June 22, 2023

For the first time in the four-year history of Final X, USA Wrestling event that determines a World Championship team in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, was held on one day and one location. That was June 10 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and what an historic event it turned out to be where there were plenty of upsets as 11 wrestlers earned their first World Team berths … and WIN Magazine was there to capture all the great moments.

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That included Chance Marsteller, who defeated six-time World champion Jordan Burroughs in three matches at 79 kilograms. You can read about Chance’s emotional story on how he also beat an addiction to opioids in the latest issue of WIN Magazine, which was printed on June 22.

Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine and relive many of the other struggles that took place in New Jersey … and also get yourself ready for July’s 16U/Junior Nationals that will once again take place at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

Below you will find a list of all the great features, columns and training/technique pieces that will remind you why amateur wrestling is the greatest sport.

Features

Page 8 – NCAA OPENS UP THE SCORING – Cornell coach Mike Grey, who has seen his wrestlers enjoy success on both the folkstyle and freestyle levels, likes the new NCAA rules that feature a three-point takedown and creates more action top.

Page 10 – ILLINOIS/USA WRESTLING NOTEBOOK – The 16U Illinois teams excelled at the National Duals in Loves Park, Ill., especially in Greco-Roman where the young men continued the state’s winning tradition, finishing second in both styles.

Page 11 – WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK – Emma Bruntil, who has written about many young wrestling stars from the Evergreen State, put herself in the headlines when the native of Acme earned her first World-Team berth at Final X in women’s freestyle.

Page 12 – IOWA USA WRESTLING NOTEBOOK – Dustin Roland, the Iowa USA Wrestling 16U coordinator, talks about the success of both the freestyle and Greco-Roman teams that won titles at the National Duals.

Page 13 – KANSAS USAW WRESTLING NOTEBOOK – The Southern Plains tournament, which has been held in Kansas for 18 of the past 20 years, drew nearly 2,000 wrestlers to the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kan., to break a record of 1,350 competitors.

Page 20 – FINAL X: TIME WAS RIGHT IN MEN’S FREESTYLE – There will be five “rookies” on the 2023 USA World Team in freestyle, including both Zane Richards and Chance Marsteller who upset past World champs to also overcome past personal disappointments.

Alejandro Sancho

Page 26 – FINAL X: THE ARMY WAY IN GRECO-ROMAN – The U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program has been tough in Greco since it started in 1997, but this year’s group — especially Alejandro Sancho and Kamal Bey — wants to earn a respect it once enjoyed.

Page 29 – FINAL X: ROLE MODEL OF PATIENCE IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE – Six-time World champ and a new mother of twins Adeline Gray qualified for her 10th World Team in exciting fashion as she overcame late deficits to avenge an U.S. Open loss to Kennedy Blades.

Adeline Gray

Page 38 – U20 & U23 NATIONALS/WORLD TEAM TRIALS – Returning U20 World silver medalists Mitchell Mesenbrink and Bennett Berge were among the young men to make the 2023 Team, while Dustin Plott and Jacob Cardenas regained spots on the U23 World Team.

Page 39 – UPDATED NCAA DIVISION I RECRUITING RANKINGS – A pair of charts illustrates that Michigan, Oklahoma State and Nebraska inked the top classes for this coming season; Meyer Shapiro, Christian Carroll and Ben Kueter headline Rob Sherrill’s 2023 Top-25 prospect list.

Page 42 – NWCA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS – Drexel, Cleveland State, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa and George Mason ranked as the top 5 schools in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Team GPA list; also featured are 291 academic All-Americans.

Izayiah Chavez (below)

Page 43 – RMN EVENTS FEATURE – Three-time Texas state champ and Rocky Mountain Nationals titlist Izayiah Chavez, his mother Rosario Nanes and club coach Donny Whitted share how this young man overcame tough times.

Plus there are WIN’s columnists:

Legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable examines the new NCAA rules and says that Final X showed how much wrestling depth the USA possesses;
WIN Publisher Bryan Van Kley takes a look at what it will take for Russia to return to the Worlds and Olympics after its invasion of Ukraine;
Maryland high school coach John Klessinger talks about how everyone can be inspired from what they saw at Final X;
High school columnist Rob Sherrill showcases the stars of the 16U and Junior National Duals and makes his predictions for Fargo finalists;
Former college wrestler Tristan Warner, who also works in the field of alternative education for a company that serves at-risk youth in central Pennsylvania, examines the personal trials of Chance Marsteller;
Sandy Stevens, long-time public address announcer, writes about the first and recent winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award;
Historian and WIN founder Mike Chapman about how wrestling can take you all over the world just as USA wrestlers prepare to head to Serbia for the World Championships;
Strength trainer Zach Even-Esh of The Underground Strength Gym, located in New Jersey, shows how wrestlers can take training to a higher level;
Eric Everard, head coach for girls wrestling at Vista Ridge High School and Cry Wolf Wrestling in Colorado Springs, shows how to execute a “Front Headlock Go-Behind to Tilt”;
Former Minnesota coach J Robinson illustrates a Sit-Out’;
WIN editor Mike Finn looks back at his 20 years of covering Fargo, including 2011 when he spoke with a 16-year-old Chance Marsteller who had big dreams back then.