Get ready, wrestling world! The U.S. World Team Trials are the proving ground, the place where dreams of international glory are forged and the road to representing the Stars and Stripes on the global stage begins, happening right now, May 16-17, 2025. And if you’re looking for fireworks, the 86 kg bracket is where the real heat is. We’re talking a seriously loaded field! While guys like Jesse Mendez, Trent Hidlay, and Aaron Brooks are all names to watch, the tension is practically palpable between a couple of key players, based on those brackets shared by Saturday Night Lights on FloWrestling.

Just hours before the 86 kg wrestling was set to kick off, Carter Starocci, the Penn State phenom who just made history by becoming a five-time NCAA champ back in March, decided to turn the intensity up to eleven. The 23-year-old superstar hopped onto X  and dropped a direct message for his rival, Chance Marsteller, that sent the wrestling internet into a frenzy: “Ole marstellar. Been waiting to see you 😎.” Mic drop. That kind of taunt isn’t just trash talk; it’s a direct challenge, especially when you remember their recent history – Marsteller actually got the better of Starocci just earlier this month at the Trials Challenge Tournament! So, can Starocci back up that bold talk when they potentially meet on the mat?

But hold on, Chance Marsteller isn’t just some pushover. This guy’s a former Junior Hodge winner. His performance at the 2023 Final X was unforgettable; he defeated Jordan Burroughs to make his very first senior-level United States World Team. Representing the U.S. at 79 kg later that year, he placed 14th at the World Championships. He’s got that grit, that drive for redemption. With the Trials officially underway, the potential clash between Starocci and Marsteller at 86 kg is absolutely essential viewing. Will Marsteller prove his recent win wasn’t a fluke, or will Starocci add another epic chapter to his already legendary story? You do not want to miss this!

The showdown begins now

As the clock is ticking down, and the U.S. World Team Trials are about to EXPLODE onto the mats tonight, May 16, 2025, right there in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center. In just a couple of hours from now, America’s absolute best freestyle wrestlers are stepping onto that mat, ready to throw down for the chance to wear the Red, White, and Blue on the national team. The next two days, May 16-17, are the battleground that decides who gets to move on to Final X on June 14 in Newark, N.J., where they’ll face the U.S. Open champs in a best-of-three series for that coveted Team USA spot. So, who’s dream is about to be made… or heartbreakingly broken… tonight?

The stakes couldn’t be higher. This is their shot at the 2025 Senior World Championships – their shot at global glory! With weigh-ins already done and dusted, the energy in the building has got to be absolutely buzzing. We’re all watching that 86 kg bracket with Carter Starocci and Chance Marsteller circled, expecting a potential war, but trust me, other weights are just as fiery! Christian Pyles has been keeping us updated, and guys like Marcus Blaze and Jesse Mendez are heating things up big time at 65 kg. Who is going to rise to this incredible pressure cooker of an occasion?

Look, the Trials aren’t just a tournament; they’re a crucible. This is where skill is tested under maximum pressure. There are only 16 spots on the line across these freestyle weights, which means every single takedown, every single scramble, every single match is going to matter. Will the established veterans hold their ground, or is tonight the night we see a new star truly explode onto the scene and claim their spot? You absolutely do not want to miss this!