Three Jersey Wrestlers Triumph at U-20 World Trials
Geneva, Ohio – This past weekend, three talented wrestlers with New Jersey ties captured titles at the U-20 World Team Freestyle Wrestling Trials, securing their spots to represent the United States at the U-20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria from August 18-24.
Anthony Knox (57 kg), Luke Stanich (65 kg), and Will Henckel (79 kg) dominated their best-of-three finals to earn their titles. Knox, who recently became New Jersey’s fifth four-time state champion and is headed to Cornell, initially lost 3-2 to Ignacio Villasenior but rebounded with commanding wins of 13-5 in the second match and a swift 10-0 triumph in the deciding match, securing victory within 36 seconds.
Luke Stanich faced a tough battle against top recruit Bo Bassett, committed to Iowa. In a series that featured tightly contested bouts, Stanich split the first two – both ending in close 3-2 scores – before decisively winning the finale 10-0 in 5:15. Stanich, a Lehigh freshman All-American, is set to move up a weight class from 125 to 141 following a redshirt year.
Will Henckel, a Blair Academy graduate committed to Penn State, showcased his prowess by defeating Brock Mantanona 10-0 in two straight matches, concluding both contests in the first period.
In other highlights, Delbarton junior Jayden James, recognized as NJ.com’s Wrestler of the Year, performed admirably but fell in the 74 kg finals to Ladarion Lockett. James has committed to Penn State and showed his skills by dominating Penn State’s Joseph Sealey during the challenge tournament.
These victories reflect New Jersey’s strong wrestling legacy as these athletes prepare for international competition.
For more updates, follow Bill Evans at @bybillevans.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
